To maximize the flux pinning in high-temperature superconductor (HTS) thin film applications, we have experimentally studied the effect of BaZrO₃ (BZO) nanorod density within the YBa₂Cu₃O_6+x (YBCO) lattice. Even though the BZO decreases the self-field critical current density J_c (0) and the absolute J_c (B) at high fields is observed being the highest for 4% BZO doped YBCO, the maximized pinning property is observed at the level of 10% of BZO, when the distance between the outer edge of the nanorods is in the order of the diameter of the nanorod. In general, as also theoretically calculated, the flux pinning is increased even above 10% of BZO, but the improvement is limited by disturbance of the nanorod growth, weakening the flux pinning and decreasing the absolute J_c drastically. The results evidently show that by maximizing the flux pinning using higher BZO doping concentration than earlier expected and taking care of the maximum self-field J_c(0), which is strongly dependent on the electron mean free path, would offer the keys to resolve the challenges in the future HTS power applications.