YouTube Money Calculator
How much does a YouTube video earn? Set the views, the niche and where the audience lives, and get a realistic range - not one made-up number. Based on what creators report as RPM in 2026.
- Real 2026 RPM ranges
- 11 niches · 20 countries
- Free, no sign-up
Assumed RPM after the country adjustment: $0.00 – $0.00 RPM
How the estimate works
YouTube pays creators 55% of what advertisers pay for ads on their videos. Creators see the result as RPM - revenue per 1 000 views, already after YouTube's share. RPM depends mostly on the niche (an ad next to a mortgage video is worth twenty times an ad next to a prank) and on where the viewers live.
Not every view shows an ad: some viewers use ad blockers, some are on Premium, some leave before the ad. That is the monetised views slider - 50-60% is typical. The calculator multiplies views × monetised share × RPM range, so you get a low and a high end instead of a single fake number.
RPM by niche (USD, per 1 000 views, US audience)
| Niche | RPM range |
|---|---|
| Finance & investing | $12 – $30 |
| Business & marketing | $8 – $20 |
| Tech & software | $5 – $14 |
| Education | $4 – $10 |
| Health & fitness | $4 – $9 |
| Lifestyle & beauty | $2.5 – $6 |
| Travel & food | $2 – $5 |
| Gaming | $1.5 – $4 |
| Entertainment & vlogs | $1.2 – $3.5 |
| Music | $0.8 – $2.5 |
| Kids content | $0.5 – $1.5 |
These are ranges creators publish for US audiences in 2025-2026. Other countries pay less: the calculator applies a multiplier per country, from about 0.85 for the UK to 0.12 for India. Shorts earn far less per view - roughly $0.05-0.10 RPM - and are not covered here.
Beyond ads
Frequently asked questions
How accurate is this?
It is an estimate from published RPM ranges. Real earnings vary with season (December pays most), video length (8+ minutes allows mid-roll ads) and how advertiser-friendly the content is.
How much is 1 million views worth?
Anywhere from about $500 (music, kids, entertainment with a global audience) to $10 000+ (finance with a US audience). Pick your niche above and read the per-video range.
How many subscribers do I need to earn money?
The YouTube Partner Program needs 1 000 subscribers plus 4 000 public watch hours in a year (or 10 million Shorts views in 90 days). Earnings come from views, not from the subscriber number itself.
What is the difference between CPM and RPM?
CPM is what advertisers pay per 1 000 ad impressions. RPM is what you keep per 1 000 video views after YouTube's 45% cut and after views that showed no ad. RPM is the number that matters for a creator.
Do Shorts pay the same?
No. Shorts are paid from a shared pool and typically bring $0.05-0.10 per 1 000 views - 20-50 times less than long videos.