YouTube Revenue Calculator
Estimate monthly ad revenue from your YouTube channel using RPM and niche benchmarks.
RPM = revenue per 1,000 views (from your YouTube Analytics)
Not all views are monetized — ad blockers, region, viewer age, and content type affect this
How YouTube Ad Revenue Works
YouTube pays creators through its Partner Program via a revenue share: you keep approximately 55% of ad revenue generated on your videos, and YouTube retains 45%. The metric you see in YouTube Analytics is RPM (Revenue Per Mille) — your actual earnings per 1,000 views after YouTube's cut. This differs from CPM (Cost Per Mille), which is what advertisers pay before the split.
Not every view generates an ad impression. Ad blockers, content type (music, kids content), viewer geography, and advertiser fill rates mean only 40–60% of views typically result in a monetized impression. Finance and business channels command premium RPMs ($8–35) because advertisers in those categories pay more to reach that audience. Gaming and entertainment channels sit at the lower end ($1–7) due to lower advertiser CPMs and higher ad blocker usage.
The RPM Formula
The relationship is straightforward:
Revenue = (Views ÷ 1,000) × RPM × Monetized View %
For example, a channel with 200,000 monthly views in the Finance niche (RPM ~$12) with 50% monetized views: (200,000 ÷ 1,000) × $12 × 0.50 = $1,200/month. The same view count in Gaming (RPM ~$3) earns ~$300 — the niche difference is 4×.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a good RPM on YouTube?
A "good" RPM depends heavily on niche. Finance and business channels average $8–20. Tech channels typically see $5–15. Gaming and entertainment channels often land between $1–5. If your RPM is well below your niche average, check that your content is correctly categorized and that ads are enabled on all videos.
Why does my RPM fluctuate month to month?
Advertiser spending peaks in Q4 (October–December) when brands run holiday campaigns, which can double RPMs. January is typically the lowest month. Major global events, your content mix, and video length also shift RPM. Most creators see 30–80% higher RPM in Q4 compared to Q1.
Does video length affect revenue?
Yes — videos over 8 minutes can include mid-roll ads, which significantly increase the number of ad impressions per view. A 12-minute video might show 2–3 ads compared to one pre-roll on a 5-minute video. More ad slots generally translate to higher RPM for longer videos, all else equal.
How do I find my actual RPM?
Go to YouTube Studio → Analytics → Revenue. Select a custom date range (last 28 days or last 90 days for stability) and look for the "RPM" metric. This is the most accurate input for this calculator — it reflects your channel's actual monetization rate after YouTube's cut.
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