diff --git a/backend/playlist/serializers.py b/backend/playlist/serializers.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..b4ae1c73
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backend/playlist/serializers.py
@@ -0,0 +1,51 @@
+"""playlist serializers"""
+
+# pylint: disable=abstract-method
+
+from common.serializers import PaginationSerializer
+from rest_framework import serializers
+
+
+class PlaylistEntrySerializer(serializers.Serializer):
+    """serialize single playlist entry"""
+
+    youtube_id = serializers.CharField()
+    title = serializers.CharField()
+    uploader = serializers.CharField()
+    idx = serializers.IntegerField()
+    downloaded = serializers.BooleanField()
+
+
+class PlaylistSerializer(serializers.Serializer):
+    """serialize playlist"""
+
+    playlist_active = serializers.BooleanField()
+    playlist_channel = serializers.CharField()
+    playlist_channel_id = serializers.CharField()
+    playlist_description = serializers.CharField()
+    playlist_entries = PlaylistEntrySerializer(many=True)
+    playlist_id = serializers.CharField()
+    playlist_last_refresh = serializers.CharField()
+    playlist_name = serializers.CharField()
+    playlist_subscribed = serializers.BooleanField()
+    playlist_thumbnail = serializers.CharField()
+    playlist_type = serializers.ChoiceField(choices=["regular", "custom"])
+    _index = serializers.CharField(required=False)
+    _score = serializers.IntegerField(required=False)
+
+
+class PlaylistListSerializer(serializers.Serializer):
+    """serialize list of playlists"""
+
+    data = PlaylistSerializer(many=True)
+    paginate = PaginationSerializer()
+
+
+class PlaylistListQuerySerializer(serializers.Serializer):
+    """serialize playlist list query params"""
+
+    channel = serializers.CharField(required=False)
+    subscribed = serializers.BooleanField(required=False)
+    type = serializers.ChoiceField(
+        choices=["regular", "custom"], required=False
+    )
diff --git a/backend/playlist/views.py b/backend/playlist/views.py
index 79f6ea09..4718dfdf 100644
--- a/backend/playlist/views.py
+++ b/backend/playlist/views.py
@@ -2,8 +2,15 @@
 
 import uuid
 
+from common.serializers import ErrorResponseSerializer
 from common.views_base import AdminWriteOnly, ApiBaseView
 from download.src.subscriptions import PlaylistSubscription
+from drf_spectacular.utils import OpenApiResponse, extend_schema
+from playlist.serializers import (
+    PlaylistListQuerySerializer,
+    PlaylistListSerializer,
+    PlaylistSerializer,
+)
 from playlist.src.index import YoutubePlaylist
 from playlist.src.query_building import QueryBuilder
 from rest_framework import status
@@ -25,17 +32,34 @@ class PlaylistApiListView(ApiBaseView):
     search_base = "ta_playlist/_search/"
     permission_classes = [AdminWriteOnly]
 
+    @extend_schema(
+        responses={
+            200: OpenApiResponse(PlaylistListSerializer()),
+            400: OpenApiResponse(
+                ErrorResponseSerializer(), description="Bad request"
+            ),
+        },
+        parameters=[PlaylistListQuerySerializer],
+    )
     def get(self, request):
-        """get request"""
+        """get playlist list"""
+        query_serializer = PlaylistListQuerySerializer(
+            data=request.query_params
+        )
+        query_serializer.is_valid(raise_exception=True)
+        validated_query = query_serializer.validated_data
         try:
-            data = QueryBuilder(**request.GET).build_data()
+            data = QueryBuilder(**validated_query).build_data()
         except ValueError as err:
-            return Response({"error": str(err)}, status=400)
+            error = ErrorResponseSerializer({"error": str(err)})
+            return Response(error.data, status=400)
 
         self.data = data
         self.get_document_list(request)
 
-        return Response(self.response)
+        response_serializer = PlaylistListSerializer(self.response)
+
+        return Response(response_serializer.data)
 
     def post(self, request):
         """subscribe/unsubscribe to list of playlists"""
@@ -88,11 +112,25 @@ class PlaylistApiView(ApiBaseView):
     permission_classes = [AdminWriteOnly]
     valid_custom_actions = ["create", "remove", "up", "down", "top", "bottom"]
 
+    @extend_schema(
+        responses={
+            200: OpenApiResponse(PlaylistSerializer()),
+            404: OpenApiResponse(
+                ErrorResponseSerializer(), description="playlist not found"
+            ),
+        },
+    )
     def get(self, request, playlist_id):
         # pylint: disable=unused-argument
-        """get request"""
+        """get playlist"""
         self.get_document(playlist_id)
-        return Response(self.response, status=self.status_code)
+        if not self.response:
+            error = ErrorResponseSerializer({"error": "playlist not found"})
+            return Response(error.data, status=404)
+
+        response_serializer = PlaylistSerializer(self.response)
+
+        return Response(response_serializer.data)
 
     def post(self, request, playlist_id):
         """post to custom playlist to add a video to list"""