How the YouTube money calculator works
Earnings are views divided by 1,000, multiplied by RPM, the revenue per 1,000 views that creators actually receive. The calculator starts from a typical RPM range for your niche with a mostly US and UK audience, then adjusts it for where your viewers live. Shorts views use a separate, much lower RPM.
- Enter your average daily views, or drag the slider.
- Set how much of your traffic comes from Shorts.
- Choose your niche and your main audience region.
- If you already earn on YouTube, enter your own RPM from YouTube Studio for a tighter estimate.
Typical long-form RPM by niche
Estimated ranges for channels with a mostly US, UK, Canadian or Australian audience. Your own figures can differ a lot.
| Niche | RPM range (USD) |
|---|
Ways to earn more than ads
- Make videos longer than 8 minutes so you can add mid-roll ads, when it suits the content.
- Turn on channel memberships, Super Thanks and Super Chat once you are eligible.
- Add affiliate links for products you actually use. They often pay more than ads per viewer.
- Use Shorts to grow subscribers who then watch your better-paid long videos.
To join the YouTube Partner Program with full ad revenue, a channel generally needs 1,000 subscribers and either 4,000 public watch hours in the last 12 months or 10 million public Shorts views in the last 90 days.
Estimates only, not financial advice. Last reviewed October 2026.
Frequently asked questions
How much does YouTube pay per 1,000 views?
For long videos, creators typically earn between about $1 and $20 per 1,000 views, depending mostly on the niche and where viewers live. For Shorts it is far lower, usually between $0.03 and $0.15 per 1,000 views.
What is the difference between CPM and RPM?
CPM is what advertisers pay per 1,000 ad impressions, before YouTube takes its share. RPM is what you actually earn per 1,000 views, after YouTube’s share and including views that showed no ad. RPM is always lower, and it is the number this calculator uses.
Why do niches pay so differently?
Advertisers pay more to reach viewers who are about to spend money. Finance, business software and real estate audiences are worth more to them than audiences watching comedy or music, so RPMs in those niches are several times higher.
Why do Shorts pay so little?
Shorts are paid from a shared pool of ad revenue from the Shorts feed, split between creators according to their share of views. Each view is worth much less than a long video view, but Shorts can bring subscribers to your long videos.
How accurate is this calculator?
It gives a realistic range, not a promise. Your real RPM can be well outside it depending on your audience, video length, season and ad settings. Once you are in the YouTube Partner Program, enter your own RPM from YouTube Studio for the best estimate.
How many views do I need to make $1,000 a month?
At a long-form RPM of $4 you would need about 250,000 monetized views a month. With Shorts at $0.06 per 1,000 views it would take over 16 million. Use the calculator with your own niche to see your number.