How much does YouTube pay per 1,000 views?

YouTube pays creators based on CPM (cost per 1,000 ad impressions) which varies by niche. Gaming channels earn $2-4 per 1,000 views, Tech channels $5-8, and Finance channels $8-12. After YouTube's 45% cut, your RPM (revenue per 1,000 views) is typically 55% of CPM.

What are YouTube monetization requirements in 2026?

To join the YouTube Partner Program, you need 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 watch hours in the past 12 months (or 10 million Shorts views). You must also comply with YouTube's monetization policies and have an AdSense account.

Do YouTube Shorts earn less than long-form videos?

Yes. Shorts typically earn $0.05-0.10 per 1,000 views compared to $2-10 for long-form content. However, Shorts can drive massive view counts and help grow your subscriber base, leading to more long-form revenue.

What is RPM vs CPM on YouTube?

CPM is what advertisers pay per 1,000 impressions. RPM is what you actually earn after YouTube takes its 45% cut. If your CPM is $6, your RPM would be approximately $3.30. RPM is the more accurate metric for tracking your actual earnings.

Can I earn money on YouTube without ads?

Yes. Creators earn from channel memberships ($4.99/mo), Super Chats during live streams, Super Thanks on videos, YouTube Shopping affiliate commissions, sponsored brand deals, and merchandise sales. Many successful creators earn more from these sources than AdSense.

How much can I earn from 1 million YouTube views?

Earnings vary widely by niche. Gaming channels earn $2,000-4,000 per million views, Entertainment $3,000-5,000, Tech $5,000-8,000, and Finance $8,000-12,000. This is from AdSense alone — sponsorships and memberships can double or triple this amount.

YouTube Tool

YouTube Money Calculator

Calculate your potential YouTube earnings from AdSense, memberships, sponsorships, and affiliate income. See how much YouTube pays per 1,000 views by niche.

Enter your YouTube stats

RPM = CPM × 0.55 (YouTube takes 45% of ad revenue)
Data is never saved or shared.

Calculate YouTube earnings

Enter your daily views and CPM to estimate your potential YouTube revenue from ads and other income streams.

How YouTube pays creators in 2026

YouTube pays creators through AdSense revenue based on CPM (cost per 1,000 ad impressions). YouTube takes a 45% cut, leaving creators with 55% of ad revenue (called RPM). In 2026, CPM varies widely by niche — gaming channels earn $2-4, while finance channels earn $8-12 per 1,000 views. Use our social media scheduler to plan and publish YouTube content consistently.

Partner Program Requirements

To monetize, you need 1,000 subscribers + 4,000 watch hours in the past 12 months (or 10M Shorts views in 90 days).

Long-Form vs Shorts

YouTube Shorts earn $0.05-0.10 per 1,000 views (10-20x less than long-form). Focus on 8+ minute videos for maximum ad revenue.

RPM = Real Earnings

CPM is what advertisers pay. RPM (revenue per 1,000 views) is what you earn after YouTube's cut. Always track RPM, not CPM.

5 ways to increase YouTube revenue

Target high-CPM niches

Finance, tech, and business content earns 2-3x more per view than gaming or entertainment. Consider your niche carefully.

Make 8+ minute videos

Videos over 8 minutes allow mid-roll ads (multiple ads per video), significantly increasing revenue per view.

Enable all monetization features

Turn on memberships, Super Chats, Super Thanks, and YouTube Shopping to diversify income beyond AdSense. Track performance with our YouTube engagement calculator.

Land brand sponsorships

Once you hit 10K subscribers, reach out to brands for sponsored videos. Most creators earn more from sponsorships than AdSense.

Improve watch time retention

YouTube rewards videos with high watch time. Use our AI content generator to plan engaging scripts.

YouTube CPM by niche (2026 data)

Gaming

$2-4

Entertainment

$3-5

Education

$4-7

Tech

$5-8

Finance

$8-12

CPM varies by audience location, seasonality, and advertiser demand. US/UK audiences typically have 3-5x higher CPM than international viewers. Post at optimal times using our best time to post tool to maximize reach.

How to Use the YouTube Money Calculator

Enter your daily views

Input how many views your channel gets per day on average.

Set your CPM

Use our niche presets or enter a custom CPM based on your YouTube Analytics data.

See your earnings breakdown

View estimated AdSense revenue, plus potential income from memberships, sponsorships, and affiliate marketing.