How we estimate a channel's earnings
When you paste a channel, we read its public numbers from YouTube: subscribers, total views and its latest videos.
- We add up the views of the videos it published in the last 90 days and divide by 3 to get its monthly views. Videos of 3 minutes or less are counted as Shorts.
- We multiply long-video views by the typical RPM of the channel's topic, and Shorts views by the Shorts RPM (see the table below).
- If the channel published nothing in the last 90 days, we use its average monthly views since it was created.
YouTube does not publish what a channel earns, so every tool like this one gives an estimate. Older videos keep earning, sponsorships are not included, and the audience's country changes a lot: treat the result as an order of magnitude.
Also posting on TikTok? Estimate it with the TikTok money calculator.
How the YouTube estimate works
YouTube pays creators a share of the ads shown on their videos. The number that matters is the RPM: what you actually earn per 1,000 views, after YouTube's share.
Formula: views ÷ 1,000 × RPM. Per month we count 30 days, per year 365.
- Long videos: creators keep 55% of the ad revenue. A typical channel earns about $1.00 to $6.00 per 1,000 views, much more in topics advertisers pay for (finance, tech).
- Shorts: ad revenue goes into a shared pool and creators get 45% of it, split by their share of views. In practice Shorts pay about $0.01 to $0.07 per 1,000 views.
Already in the YouTube Partner Program? Your real RPM is in YouTube Studio → Analytics → Revenue. Type it in the calculator for a precise result.
Typical RPM by channel topic
| Topic | RPM (per 1,000 views) |
|---|---|
| Average channel | $1.00 – $6.00 |
| Finance & investing | $8.25 – $22 |
| Tech & reviews | $5.50 – $9.90 |
| Beauty & makeup | $2.20 – $4.95 |
| Gaming | $1.65 – $3.30 |
| Shorts (all topics) | $0.01 – $0.07 |
Topic ranges are derived from published advertiser prices (CPM) × 55%; they are upper estimates and real RPM is often lower. Audience country matters a lot: US viewers pay much more than most other countries.
When can you start earning on YouTube?
To earn from ads, you need to join the YouTube Partner Program with at least 1,000 subscribers and either 4,000 watch hours in the last 12 months or 10 million Shorts views in the last 90 days.
Ads are not the only income: many creators earn more from sponsorships, memberships and affiliate links.
Sources
- vidIQ – How much does YouTube pay per view
- OutlierKit – YouTube RPM benchmarks by niche
- vidIQ – YouTube Partner Program requirements
- YouTube Help – Partner earnings overview
Figures checked on 2026-10-18.
Frequently asked questions
How can I see how much a YouTube channel earns?
Paste the channel link, its @handle or the link of one of its videos in the calculator above. We estimate its monthly views from its recent videos and turn them into a monthly and yearly earnings range.
How much does YouTube pay per 1,000 views?
Most channels earn about $1.00 to $6.00 per 1,000 views on long videos (this is called RPM). Finance and tech channels can earn much more. Shorts pay far less: about $0.01 to $0.07 per 1,000 views.
How much does YouTube pay for 1 million views?
On long videos, roughly $1,000 to $6,000 for a typical channel. On Shorts, roughly $10 to $70.
What is the difference between RPM and CPM?
CPM is what advertisers pay per 1,000 ad views. RPM is what you earn per 1,000 video views, after YouTube's share and counting views without ads. RPM is always lower, and it is the number to use for your earnings.
Do views from every country pay the same?
No. Advertisers pay much more to reach viewers in the US, Canada, the UK and Australia than in most other countries, so the same number of views can earn very different amounts.
Last updated: October 20, 2026