YouTube RPM Calculator: see what your niche actually pays
Select your niche, your audience country, and enter your view count — get a realistic earnings range in seconds, built from 2026 creator-reported RPM data across 40+ niches, A to Z.
YouTube RPM by niche — full 2026 comparison table
RPM (Revenue Per Mille) is what you actually take home per 1,000 views, after YouTube’s ~45% cut — not the CPM advertisers pay. Ranges below are for a US/Tier-1-majority audience on long-form video; select your niche above for country-adjusted numbers.
| Niche | Low RPM | High RPM | Per 1M views (mid) |
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How this calculator works
Each niche has a published RPM range aggregated from creator-reported YouTube Studio revenue data and advertising-industry benchmarks for 2026. When you pick a niche and audience type, the calculator applies:
Country factors reflect the well-documented gap between Tier-1 ad rates and lower-CPM markets like India, based on 2026 country-level RPM reports. Your actual number will still depend on video length (mid-roll ads need 8+ minutes), ad-fill rate, seasonality (Q4 pays more), and how “advertiser-friendly” your content is rated.
Frequently asked questions
What is a good YouTube RPM in 2026?
It depends entirely on niche. $1–$3 is normal for gaming or general entertainment. $3–$6 is solid for most mid-tier niches like education or travel. $8+ is strong, and finance, insurance, and B2B/SaaS channels can see $10–$30+ on a US-majority audience.
What’s the difference between RPM and CPM?
CPM is what an advertiser pays YouTube per 1,000 ad impressions. RPM is what you, the creator, actually earn per 1,000 total views — after YouTube’s revenue cut and across every view, not just the ones that showed an ad. RPM is always the lower, more realistic number.
Why is my real YouTube Studio RPM different from this estimate?
This tool gives a directional range based on published niche and country benchmarks. Your actual RPM also depends on your specific audience mix, video length, ad-fill rate, the season you uploaded in, and whether your content is fully advertiser-friendly. Always compare against your own YouTube Studio → Analytics → Revenue tab for exact numbers.
Does YouTube Shorts pay the same RPM as long-form video?
No — Shorts use a separate, pooled monetization system and typically earn roughly 90–95% less per 1,000 views than long-form video in the same niche. This calculator’s numbers are for long-form video.
Which YouTube niche has the highest RPM?
Personal finance and investing content consistently tops 2026 RPM benchmarks, often followed closely by insurance, legal, real estate, and B2B/SaaS content — all categories where a single converted viewer is worth a lot to the advertiser.