YouTube AdSense Earnings Calculator

What is YouTube AdSense?

YouTube AdSense (YouTube Partner Program) allows creators to monetize their videos by displaying ads. Advertisers pay YouTube to show their ads; YouTube shares part of that revenue with the channel owner. Revenue depends on how many monetized views you get and how much advertisers pay per 1,000 views (CPM).

How YouTube Ad Revenue Works

When a viewer sees or clicks an ad on your video, that impression is counted. Advertisers bid for ad space; the CPM you see in YouTube Studio is the average amount earned per 1,000 monetized playbacks. Not every view is monetized: skipped ads, ad blockers, and non-qualifying views do not count. YouTube typically keeps around 45% of ad revenue; creators receive the remaining 55% (approximate; terms may vary).

• Monetized views: Views where an ad was actually shown and counted.
• CPM (Cost Per Mille): Revenue per 1,000 monetized views, in your currency (e.g. USD).
• RPM (Revenue Per Mille): Sometimes used in YouTube Studio; similar to CPM for creator earnings.

Monetized vs. Total Views

Not every view generates ad revenue. Monetized playbacks are views where an ad was actually shown (pre-roll, mid-roll, post-roll, or overlay) and met YouTube's policies. Views from users with ad blockers, repeated or invalid traffic, or views that were skipped before the minimum watch time do not count. YouTube Studio shows both total and monetized playbacks; use monetized views and the reported CPM for accurate estimates.

Benefits of Estimating Your Earnings

• Plan your content strategy and time investment based on potential revenue.
• Set realistic goals for growth (views and CPM by niche).
• Compare different niches or channels before committing.
• Understand how CPM changes with audience geography and season.

CPM varies widely by niche, audience location, time of year, and ad type. Use the table below as a rough reference; your actual CPM may be higher or lower.

Viewers in North America and Western Europe usually generate higher CPMs than in other regions. CPMs can also rise during ad-heavy periods (e.g. end of year).

YouTube Partner Program (YPP) Eligibility

To monetize with ads you must join the YouTube Partner Program. Requirements typically include: 1,000 subscribers, 4,000 valid public watch hours in the last 12 months (or 10 million Shorts views in 90 days in some regions), an approved AdSense account linked to your channel, and compliance with all YouTube policies (Community Guidelines, copyright, no reused content, etc.). Eligibility is reviewed by YouTube and can change; always check the official YPP page for your country.

Types of Ads on YouTube

Different ad formats have different payouts and viewer tolerance. Skippable in-stream ads (pre-roll, mid-roll) pay when the viewer watches 30 seconds or the full ad if shorter, or clicks the ad; skips before that often do not count. Non-skippable ads pay per view but can hurt retention. Bumper ads are short (6 seconds) and non-skippable. Overlay and display ads appear beside the video. YouTube decides which ads to show; you can enable or disable certain formats in Studio. Mid-roll ads (only for videos 8+ minutes) can increase revenue but may increase skip rate.

• Skippable in-stream: Pre-roll or mid-roll; pay after 30 sec watch or engagement.
• Non-skippable in-stream: Must watch full ad; often higher CPM, can reduce retention.
• Bumper: 6-second non-skippable; good for reach, lower CPM per view.
• Display / overlay: Banner and overlay ads; usually lower revenue per view.

Where your viewers are has a huge impact on CPM. Advertisers pay more for audiences in high-purchasing countries. The same video can earn several times more with a US-heavy audience than with traffic from lower-ad-spend regions. Seasonality also matters: the last quarter of the year (Q4) often sees higher CPMs due to holiday advertising; January and summer can be softer. Use YouTube Studio's geography report to see where your traffic comes from and adjust expectations or content strategy accordingly.

• Improve watch time: Longer watch time means more mid-roll ad slots and better retention; YouTube favors videos that keep viewers on the platform.
• Place mid-rolls wisely: Enable mid-rolls for long videos but avoid too many or too early; natural break points reduce skip rate.
• Thumbnails and titles: Honest, engaging thumbnails and titles improve click-through rate and views without hurting retention.
• Audience quality: Content that attracts viewers from high-CPM regions (e.g. tutorials for professionals) often earns more per view.
• Consistency and upload schedule: Regular uploads help the algorithm recommend your channel and stabilize monthly revenue.
• Check YouTube Studio: Use the Revenue and CPM reports to see which videos and regions perform best, then double down on what works.

Ad revenue is only one part of many creators' income. YouTube offers Channel Memberships (monthly fee for badges and perks), Super Chat and Super Thanks (one-time payments during live or on videos), and YouTube Premium revenue share (when Premium subscribers watch your content). Off-platform, creators often earn through sponsorships, affiliate links, merchandise, Patreon, and other platforms. This calculator focuses on ad revenue; for a full picture, add these other streams to your estimate.

• Channel Memberships: Recurring revenue; you set price tiers; YouTube takes a share.
• Super Chat / Super Thanks: One-time payments; visible in live chat or under videos.
• YouTube Premium revenue: Share of subscription revenue when Premium members watch your content.
• Sponsorships & affiliates: Brand deals and affiliate links; not tracked in YouTube Studio.

The formula for estimating YouTube AdSense revenue is: