YouTube earnings calculator
YouTube pays creators a share of the ad revenue their videos generate, and the number that captures it is RPM — revenue per 1,000 views, after YouTube's cut. In 2026, most channels land between $1.00 and $5.00 RPM, with $3.00 a sensible middle estimate. Enter your view count below, drag the RPM to match your niche, and you'll get a realistic ad-revenue figure — not the inflated "up to" numbers you see elsewhere.
YouTube earnings calculator
Two things move RPM more than anything else: what your videos are about (finance and software channels can clear $15 RPM while gaming sits near $1–$2, because advertisers bid very differently for those audiences) and where your viewers live (US/UK/AU views pay several times the global average). If you don't know your RPM yet, start with the Typical preset and adjust once YouTube Studio shows you the real number.
Ad revenue is only the floor: channel memberships, Super Thanks, and sponsorships (often $10–$50 per 1,000 views for a dedicated audience) can multiply what a video earns.
Popular YouTube earnings breakdowns
- 1,000 views ≈ $1.00 – $5.00
- 10,000 views ≈ $10.00 – $50.00
- 100,000 views ≈ $100 – $500
- 500,000 views ≈ $500 – $2,500
- 1 million views ≈ $1,000 – $5,000
- 10 million views ≈ $10,000 – $50,000
Frequently asked questions
How much does YouTube pay per 1,000 views?
Typically $1.00–$5.00 for the creator (that's RPM, your actual take), with $3.00 a reasonable average. High-CPM niches like personal finance, business, and tech can pay $10–$20 per 1,000 views; music and gaming often pay $1–$2.
What is the difference between RPM and CPM?
CPM is what advertisers pay per 1,000 ad impressions, before YouTube's ~45% cut. RPM is what you earn per 1,000 total views, after the cut, averaged over every view — monetized or not. RPM is the number that predicts your paycheck.
How many views do you need to make $1,000 on YouTube?
At a $3.00 RPM, about 333,000 views. At a $1.00 RPM you'd need a million; at a $10.00 RPM, just 100,000. This is why niche matters more than raw view count.
Does this calculator include sponsorships and memberships?
No — it estimates AdSense revenue only. Sponsorships (often $10–$50 per 1,000 views for engaged niche audiences), channel memberships, Super Thanks, and affiliate income stack on top and frequently exceed ad revenue.