How YouTube earnings are calculated
YouTube pays creators in the Partner Programme a share of the advertising revenue from their videos — 55% for long-form videos and 45% of the allocated pool for Shorts. The number that matters to you is RPM (revenue per mille): what you earn per 1,000 views after YouTube's cut.
This calculator uses typical RPM ranges by niche and adjusts them for audience location, because advertisers pay much more to reach viewers in the US, UK and Canada than in India or Southeast Asia.
Typical RPM by niche (US audience, long-form)
| Niche | Typical RPM |
|---|---|
| Finance, investing, crypto | $8 – $20+ |
| Business, marketing, software | $6 – $15 |
| Education, how-to | $4 – $12 |
| Health, fitness, beauty, travel | $3 – $10 |
| Entertainment, vlogs, comedy | $2 – $6 |
| Gaming, music, kids | $1.5 – $5 |
| Shorts (most niches) | $0.03 – $0.30 |
Why Shorts pay less
Ads run between Shorts in the feed instead of inside a video, and revenue is pooled and shared across creators by views. Shorts RPM is typically just a few cents per 1,000 views. Many creators use Shorts to grow subscribers, then earn from long-form videos, sponsorships and their own products.
How to increase your YouTube RPM
- Make videos longer than 8 minutes so you can place mid-roll ads — if viewers actually stay.
- Target valuable topics. Reviews, tutorials and comparisons attract advertisers who want buyers.
- Reach high-value countries. English-language content reaches US/UK viewers; subtitles help too.
- Publish before Q4. Ad rates rise from October to December and drop in January.
- Diversify. Sponsorships, affiliate links and memberships often earn more than ads.
YouTube Partner Programme requirements
To earn ad revenue you need 1,000 subscribers plus either 4,000 public watch hours in the past 12 months or 10 million valid Shorts views in the past 90 days, and you must follow YouTube's monetisation policies.
Frequently asked questions
How much does YouTube pay for 1,000 views?
Most channels earn between $0.50 and $10 per 1,000 views from ads, depending on niche and audience country. Finance channels with US viewers can earn more; Shorts usually earn a few cents.
How much do 1 million views pay?
With a $3 RPM, one million long-form views would earn about $3,000. With an Indian audience at $0.50 RPM it would be about $500.
What is the difference between CPM and RPM?
CPM is what advertisers pay per 1,000 ad impressions. RPM is what you earn per 1,000 video views after YouTube's share and including views with no ads, so RPM is always lower.
Is this calculator accurate?
It gives a realistic range, not an exact figure. Your own RPM in YouTube Studio is the most accurate number — use the slider to match it.
