Estimate how much a YouTube channel could earn from ads, per day, month and year, based on views and RPM for long-form videos and Shorts.
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How YouTube earnings are worked out
The number that matters is RPM (revenue per mille): what a creator actually earns for every 1,000 views, after YouTube’s share. Earnings are simply views ÷ 1,000 × RPM.
RPM is lower than the CPM advertisers pay, because not every view shows an ad and YouTube keeps part of the revenue. In the YouTube Partner Program, creators get 55% of net ad revenue on long-form videos and 45% of the revenue allocated to them from Shorts.
Worked example
| Views per day | RPM | Per month | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Long-form | 10,000 | $3.00 | $912.60 |
| Shorts | 20,000 | $0.06 | $36.50 |
| Total | $949.10 |
RPM varies widely: finance, business and tech channels with audiences in the US and UK tend to earn far more per view than entertainment channels with audiences in lower-income countries. Ad rates also rise in Q4 before Christmas. The calculator shows a range from half to double the estimate for that reason.
YouTube Partner Program requirements
| Level | What you need | What you unlock |
|---|---|---|
| Early access | 500 subscribers and 3 public uploads in the last 90 days, plus 3,000 public watch hours in 12 months or 3 million Shorts views in 90 days | Memberships, Super Chat, Super Thanks, Shopping |
| Full YPP | 1,000 subscribers, plus 4,000 public watch hours in 12 months or 10 million Shorts views in 90 days | Ad revenue sharing |
You also need to follow YouTube’s monetisation policies and have an AdSense account linked.
Frequently asked questions
How much does YouTube pay per 1,000 views?
It depends on your RPM, which commonly ranges from under $1 to over $10 for long-form videos. Shorts RPMs are usually a few cents. Check yours in YouTube Studio.
How much does a YouTuber with 1 million views make?
At an RPM of $3, 1 million long-form views would earn about $3,000. At $1 it’s $1,000; at $8 it’s $8,000.
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 views after YouTube’s share, so it’s always lower.
Do Shorts make money?
Yes, through the YPP, but usually far less per view than long-form videos.
Sources
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