YouTube Earnings Calculator

Estimate how much a YouTube channel earns from AdSense based on views and niche. 2026 RPMs vary 10× between niches — a finance channel makes $18 per 1,000 views while a gaming channel makes closer to $3.50. Plug in your numbers to see realistic earnings.

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How YouTube earnings actually work

TL;DR

RPM (your actual earnings per 1000 views) = CPM × 0.55. YouTube takes 45% off the top. Niche drives CPM. Views alone mean nothing.

The single biggest lever isn't views — it's CPM. A finance channel with 50K views/month earns more than a gaming channel with 500K. If you're optimizing for earnings, topic selection matters 10× more than production value.

# YouTube earnings formula (long-form)
RPM = CPM × 0.55          # YouTube keeps 45%
Earnings = (views / 1000) × RPM

# Example: 250K monthly views in tech niche
→ CPM $10 → RPM $5.50 → Earnings $1,375/mo

2026 RPM by niche

TL;DR

Finance: $10+. Business: $7.70. Tech: $5.50. Gaming: $1.90. Entertainment: $1.54.

These are rolling 2026 averages from 50,000 channels. Your actual RPM depends on geography (US/UK/AU/CA views pay 3–5× Tier-3 regions), video length (mid-rolls need 8+ min), and seasonality (Q4 pays 40–60% higher than Q1).

Earnings that aren't AdSense

TL;DR

AdSense is usually 30–40% of a full-time YouTuber's income. Sponsorships, affiliate, merch, and channel memberships make up the rest.

This calculator only estimates AdSense. At 100K+ monthly views, most creators earn more from a single dedicated sponsorship slot than from a full month of AdSense. Use this number as a floor, not a ceiling.

Frequently asked questions

How much does YouTube pay per 1,000 views?+

The 2026 all-niche average is around $3.60 RPM after YouTube's 45% cut. Range: $1.50 (entertainment) to $10+ (finance).

What's the difference between CPM and RPM?+

CPM is what advertisers pay per 1,000 impressions. RPM is what you keep after YouTube takes 45%. RPM ≈ CPM × 0.55.

Is this calculator accurate for Shorts?+

No — Shorts use a separate monetization pool with much lower RPM ($0.05–$0.10). Use the YouTube Shorts Earnings Calculator instead.

Why does my actual RPM vary so much month to month?+

Seasonality. Q4 (holiday advertising) can be 40–60% higher than Q1. Your audience mix also matters — US viewers pay 3–5× more than global averages.

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