A midroll is a video ad that plays in the middle of the content, once the viewer is already partway through watching, rather than before it starts (preroll) or after it ends (postroll).
Quick facts
- Also known as: mid-roll ad
- Category: Advertising & monetization
- Applies to: YouTube · Facebook
- Key requirement (YouTube): a video must be at least 8 minutes long to run midroll ads, a rule that's been in place since 2020 and remains unchanged in 2026
What is a midroll ad on social media?
Midroll ads exist because they interrupt a viewer who has already demonstrated real interest by watching part of the video, unlike a preroll ad, which plays before anyone knows whether the viewer actually wants to watch, a midroll ad reaches someone already invested in finishing the content, which platforms and advertisers generally treat as a stronger, more attentive audience.
The tradeoff is viewer experience: interrupting a video mid-watch is a more disruptive placement than a preroll ad the viewer expects and can more easily skip before the content even starts.
How do midroll ads work?
On YouTube, a video must be at least 8 minutes long before midroll ads are eligible to run at all, a video sitting at 7:59 cannot show midrolls while the same video at exactly 8:00 can, and creators can place these breaks manually at natural pause points or let YouTube insert them automatically (vidIQ, YouTube mid-roll ads: the 8-minute minimum).
Videos under 8 minutes can still run preroll, postroll, and overlay ads, just not midrolls specifically. Facebook's in-stream ads follow a similar midroll logic for longer-form video content, inserting a break once a viewer has watched enough of the video to indicate real engagement, rather than interrupting immediately.
Frequently asked questions
Why does YouTube require an 8-minute minimum for midroll ads? The rule, in place since 2020, is meant to balance ad revenue against viewer experience, ensuring a midroll interruption only happens in videos long enough that a mid-video ad break doesn't dominate a short viewing experience.
Are midroll ads more effective than preroll ads? They generally reach a more engaged viewer, since anyone still watching partway through has already shown real interest, though the tradeoff is a more disruptive interruption to an experience the viewer is already invested in.
Can a video shorter than 8 minutes ever run a midroll ad on YouTube? No, that threshold is a hard requirement; shorter videos can still monetize with preroll, postroll, and overlay ad formats, just not midrolls.
Related terms: What is CPM (cost per mille)? · What is a call to action (CTA)?
By Arif Akdoğan, reviewed by Altuğ Altuğ. Last updated 2026-08-27. Sources: vidIQ, YouTube mid-roll ads: the 8-minute minimum and how to use them
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