Creator calculator
YouTube Revenue Calculator
Estimate monthly and annual YouTube earnings from RPM-based ad revenue, channel memberships, sponsorships, and affiliate or merchandise sales.
Long-form videos typically earn $1–$8 per 1,000 views.
Estimated monthly revenue
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Estimated gross revenue before taxes and expenses.
How the YouTube revenue calculator works
The calculator estimates YouTube earnings from monthly views, using RPM (revenue per 1,000 views), which is the net amount creators receive from ad revenue after YouTube's platform cut. RPM is the figure shown in YouTube Studio and varies by niche, audience country, and season.
Choose your content type—long-form videos or Shorts—which affects the typical RPM range but doesn't change the calculation: the input RPM is applied directly to your views. You can also add revenue from channel memberships, sponsorships, and affiliate or merchandise sales. The results show each revenue stream separately, the monthly total, and an annualized figure that assumes the same month repeats twelve times. Amounts represent gross revenue before taxes and expenses.
RPM versus CPM
RPM (revenue per 1,000 views) is the net amount creators earn per thousand views, after YouTube takes its cut. CPM (cost per mille) is what advertisers pay per thousand ad impressions. Creators keep roughly 55 percent of YouTube's share of watch-page ad revenue, meaning CPM is typically much higher than RPM.
Not every view shows an ad because some viewers skip ads, use ad blockers, or view on ad-free content. This is why RPM is always lower than CPM: it accounts for both YouTube's platform cut and the fact that not every view generates an ad impression. Your YouTube Studio dashboard shows your actual RPM, which is the most accurate figure to enter into this calculator.
Typical RPM ranges
These rough ranges are based on public creator reports and vary significantly by audience country, season (Q4 rates are typically higher; Q1 lower), and other factors. Always check your own YouTube Studio data for your actual RPM.
- Finance/business: $8–$25+
- Tech: $4–$12
- Education: $3–$8
- Gaming: $1.50–$4
- Entertainment/vlogs: $1–$3.50
- Shorts: $0.05–$0.15
Beyond ad revenue
Channel memberships allow viewers to pay a monthly fee for exclusive perks. YouTube takes a 30 percent cut and creators keep 70 percent, but the calculator treats membership inputs as what the creator receives, so enter your net revenue directly.
Super Thanks and Super Chat are one-time payments from viewers; many creators lump these into sponsorship income for estimation purposes. Sponsorships are brand deals negotiated per agreement and often represent more revenue than ads for mid-size channels. Affiliate commissions from product links and merchandise sales (Teespring, Printful, or direct) arrive off-YouTube and creators keep 100 percent after platform or vendor fees.
Monetization requirements
To join the YouTube Partner Program and earn ad revenue, creators need 1,000 channel subscribers plus either 4,000 public watch hours in the past 12 months, or 10 million Shorts views in the past 90 days. Once approved, ad revenue is available on eligible content. Channel membership eligibility varies by country and typically requires 10,000 subscribers.
Frequently asked questions
How much does YouTube pay per 1,000 views?
YouTube pays creators via RPM, which is the net revenue per 1,000 views after YouTube's cut. RPM varies widely by niche: finance and business content typically earns $8–$25+, while entertainment and vlogs earn $1–$3.50, and Shorts earn just $0.05–$0.15. Your YouTube Studio dashboard shows your actual RPM, which is the best figure to use for estimation.
How much do YouTubers make per million views?
With a typical RPM of $3, one million views earns about $3,000. At an RPM of $5, it's $5,000. Since RPM varies by niche and audience country (typically $1–$8 for long-form), your earnings per million views depend on your actual RPM. Check YouTube Studio for your specific rate.
What is a good RPM?
A 'good' RPM depends on your niche. Long-form video content typically ranges from $1–$8, with finance and business niches earning $8+, tech $4–$12, and gaming $1.50–$4. Shorts earn much less: $0.05–$0.15. Your personal RPM also depends on your audience's country, viewing habits, and the time of year (Q4 usually higher, Q1 lower).
Do Shorts make less than long-form videos?
Yes, dramatically. Shorts earn much less per view than long-form videos—typically $0.05–$0.15 RPM compared to $1–$8 for long-form. This happens because the short-form ad pool is smaller and lower-priced, advertisers pay less per impression, and Shorts' single-column feed makes viewing ads less appealing to advertisers than long-form watch pages.
How do I find my actual RPM?
Go to YouTube Studio and navigate to Analytics > Revenue. Your RPM is listed there alongside CPM, ad impressions, and total ad revenue. This is your actual creator revenue per 1,000 views and is the most accurate figure to use in this calculator.