YouTube Money Calculator: Free and Easy to Use
Calculate your YouTube income for free with our user-friendly tool. Explore monetization strategies and maximize your earnings as a content creator.
YouTube pays you based on ad impressions, using a metric called CPM (cost per mille), where advertisers pay YouTube a sum per 1,000 impressions.
YouTube then pays you 55% of the total ad revenue. This translates to earnings of $3 to $5 per 1,000 video views. Of course, several factors influence your actual earnings. But to help you approximate potential earnings, we have developed the YouTube Money Calculator.
The calculator will estimate your earnings based on your video views and engagement statistics.
YouTube Earnings Calculator
What Is A YouTube Calculator?
A YouTube money calculator helps you estimate your potential earnings from your YouTube videos.
It considers metrics and factors influencing your revenue, such as the number of views, ad impressions, engagement rate, and ad settings. It gives you a personalized estimate of how much money you could make from your YouTube channel.
Understanding your potential earnings helps you set realistic expectations and plan your content strategy more effectively.
And if you're just starting a YouTube channel, you can also use the calculator to estimate your future earnings based on your projected growth and monetization strategies.
Here’s how the calculator works:
Let's say your average video gets 10,000 views, your CPM is $4, and you typically have two ad placements per video.
- Ad impressions: 20,000 (10,000 views x 2 ads)
- Gross Ad Revenue: $80 (20,000 impressions / 1000 x $4)
Estimated Earnings will be $44 (assuming YouTube takes their standard 45% cut).
Note: These are estimations. Your real earnings will vary.
How To Monetize Your Channel On YouTube?
The most direct way to start earning money on YouTube is through ads via the YouTube Partner Program.
Once you qualify by reaching 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 watch hours, you can apply for monetization on your videos, allowing ads to be shown to your viewers.
Our YouTube Money Calculator helps you estimate how much you could earn from this ad revenue based on your average video views and engagement rates.
Other monetization ways include:
- Brand sponsorships
- Selling merchandise
- Selling digital products
{{monetize-social}}
6 Tips For Monetizing Your YouTube Channel And Earn Money
Our YouTube Money Calculator primarily estimates your ad revenue through the YouTube Partner Program.
However, YouTube offers various monetization methods that you can use to increase your income from your videos.
Here are some ways to monetize your YouTube channel:
1. Ad Revenue Through The YouTube Partner Program
To earn money from YouTube, you need to apply for the YouTube Partner Program (YPP).
The YPP is the most common way creators make money from their videos. Once you qualify, ads are placed on your videos, and you get a share of the revenue.
To be eligible for the YPP, you need:
- 1,000 subscribers.
- 4,000 hours of public watch time in the past 12 months.
- An AdSense account linked to your channel.
- Compliance with YouTube's monetization policies.
- If you primarily produce short content, you can qualify by gaining 1,000 subscribers and reaching 10 million valid public Shorts views in the last 90 days.
YouTube then displays various ads, including skippable in-stream, non-skippable, overlay, and display ads in your videos.
Once you meet all the criteria:
- Log into your YouTube account and go to YouTube Studio.
- On the left menu, click on "Monetization." If you don’t see the tab, you might not yet meet the eligibility requirements.
- You’ll be prompted to agree to YouTube’s monetization agreement. Make sure to read it carefully.
- Here, you will link your channel to an AdSense account. Follow the prompts to connect an existing AdSense account or set up a new one.
YouTube has also introduced an expanded version of the YPP to accommodate a broader range of creators.
The expanded YPP provides earlier access to certain monetization features, even if you haven't reached the standard eligibility requirements (1,000 subscribers, 4,000 watch hours).
To be eligible, you need to:
- Achieve 500 subscribers, 3 valid public uploads, and 3,000 valid public watch hours in the last 12 months.
- Attain 500 subscribers, 3 valid public uploads, and 3 million valid public Shorts views in the last 90 days.
Being part of YPP also gives you access to YouTube Premium revenue.
When YouTube Premium subscribers watch your content, you get a share of their subscription fee.
2. Seek Out Brand Sponsorships And Collaborations
Brand sponsorships and collaborations are lucrative methods to monetize your YouTube channel.
You create content incorporating a brand’s products or services in exchange for payment.
Sponsorships often pay more consistently and are more lucrative than traditional ad revenue.
How Lucrative Are Brand Sponsorships?
According to Statista data, the average earnings from sponsorships vary significantly depending on the viewer count a video attracts.
For example, in 2022, the average minimum sponsorship rate for a sponsored YouTube video with over one million views was $2,500.
Meanwhile, videos attracting between 500,000 and one million views had an average minimum price of $1,105, but depending on the deal's specifics and the brand's budget, it could reach as high as $16,234.
To find sponsors:
- Reach out to brands that align with your audience and content niche.
- Use platforms like Famebit that connect brands with creators.
- Network with other YouTubers, as they might know of potential collaborations or pass opportunities your way.
- Create a YouTube Media Kit. Include your channel's audience demographics, engagement statistics, past sponsorship success, testimonials, and contact information.
Note: Although lucrative, brands are likelier to sponsor channels with a dedicated and engaged audience.
So, focus on growing your subscribers and maintaining high engagement rates through comments, likes, and shares.
When brands consider collaborating with YouTube creators, they evaluate various metrics to ensure the partnership will effectively reach their target audience and achieve their marketing goals.
Some of the main metrics that brands focus on include:
- Subscriber count: This is often the first metric brand's notice on the channel as it indicates the overall size of the creator's audience.
- Average views per video: Brands look at this because it provides a more accurate measure of how many people actively watch your content. High average views relative to the subscriber count suggest you have a loyal and engaged audience.
- Engagement rate: It includes likes, comments, shares, and the duration viewers watch a video. A high engagement rate indicates the audience's interest and interaction with your content. It’s highly valuable for brands looking for active interaction with their promotions.
- Audience demographics: Brands also look at your audience demographics (age, gender, geographic location, interests) to see if they align with their target market.
- Content quality and consistency: How many times do you post monthly? Do you have a consistent posting schedule? This is one metric that brands look at.
- Conversion rates: This comes after you have already partnered. Brands will track your record of converting views and engagement into actual sales or desired actions (like app downloads or website visits).
- Audience growth trends: Trends in audience growth can indicate the potential for future expansion and longevity of engagement. Brands often prefer investing in creators on an upward trajectory, suggesting that their influence will continue to grow.
When seeking out brand sponsorships and collaborations, you should clearly understand your channel's value and how much you should charge for your services.
Use our YouTube Money Calculator to approximate how much to charge brands for sponsorships and collaborations.
3. Sell Digital Products Like Online Courses To Your Audience
If you have valuable knowledge or skills to share, turn them into digital products by creating and selling digital products, such as online courses, to your audience.
This is a great way to directly monetize your expertise with your loyal audience.
For example, if you have a YouTube channel focused on personal finance and investing, create an online course titled "Mastering Personal Finance: A Step-by-Step Guide to Building Wealth" using Kajabi.
The course could include modules on budgeting, saving, investing, and retirement planning, with video lessons, worksheets, and quizzes to enhance the learning experience.
You can create other digital products like eBooks, templates, or printables.
4. Affiliate Marketing
As an affiliate marketer, you promote products or services in your videos and include unique affiliate links in your video descriptions or comments.
When a viewer clicks on your link and makes a purchase, you earn a commission from the sale.
To maximize your affiliate earnings, consider creating dedicated product reviews or comparison videos that provide in-depth information and showcase the benefits of the products you're promoting.
For example, review a new smartphone and include an affiliate link to purchase it.
5. Engage With Your Audience Through Comments And Communities
Monetization goes beyond earning money directly from your videos.
Building a loyal and engaged audience leads to more views, stronger brand partnerships, and increased revenue potential.
What are some strategies for increasing viewer interaction and building a strong community?
Leverage The Comments Section
Make it a habit to respond to comments on your videos.
This will show your viewers that you value their opinions. It will also encourage more viewers to comment, knowing they might receive a direct response from you.
Another tip is to pin top comments. You can pin interesting or popular comments at the top of your comments section. This highlights positive community interactions and encourages more viewers to join the conversation.
Also, ask your viewers questions about the content at the end of your videos.
This stimulates discussion and gives you valuable feedback on your videos.
Utilize The YouTube Community Tab
The Community Tab is a dedicated space on your YouTube channel where you can interact with your audience outside of regular video uploads.
YouTube Community is like a mini social media feed directly within YouTube.
The Community Tab becomes available to creators who have over 500 subscribers.
Use the Community tab to post regular updates, behind-the-scenes content, polls, or questions.
These posts keep your audience engaged between video uploads.
Pro Tip: If viewers create content related to your channel (such as fan art, memes, or remixes), share these in the Community tab. It’s a great way to acknowledge and appreciate your community's creativity.
Extend Engagement To Social Media
Use Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook to promote your YouTube content, share additional posts, or go live.
Social media platforms help you reach a wider audience and direct traffic to your YouTube channel.
6. Turn On Shorts Feed Ads
YouTube Shorts is a feature released in September 2020 that creators can use to share short-form vertical videos on YouTube, similar to TikTok or Instagram Reels.
So, shorts Feed Ads are non-skippable ads between these Shorts. These ads can be up to 6 seconds long.
The revenue from these ads is then shared with the creators, similar to regular YouTube video ads, though the specifics of revenue sharing for Shorts are tailored to the unique nature of short-form content.
Why should you bother with this short-form content?
Statistics show that 73% of consumers prefer short-form videos to search for products or services.
Also, 60% of short-form videos are watched for 41% to 80% of their length, indicating high engagement rates.
Turning on Shorts Feed Ads is a valuable monetization strategy.
Although these ads are brief, their non-skippable format guarantees they capture the viewer's attention, providing a direct path to revenue generation.
The earnings model for Shorts rewards creators is based on viewer engagement, making every second of your content count.
Incorporating Shorts into your content strategy can also complement your longer videos.
For instance, you can use Shorts to offer previews, summaries, or highlights of your longer content, driving traffic to your main channel.
This strategy creates a dynamic content ecosystem where each element supports and enhances the others.
With short-form content, you have seconds to capture your viewers' interest.
So, to make the most out of YouTube Shorts and Shorts Feed Ads:
- Start with a strong hook or dive straight into the main message.
- Ensure your Shorts deliver a clear, focused message or narrative within the limited timeframe.
- Participate in popular trends and hashtag challenges, or create your own to boost visibility and engagement.
- Include calls-to-action, ask questions, or prompt viewers to engage with your content through likes, comments, and shares.
- Use relevant keywords, hashtags, and descriptions to help your Shorts appear in search results and suggested videos.
To make YouTube Shorts from your long-form content, you can use Kajabi Creator Studio.
Our powerful AI-driven tool lets you repurpose your existing videos, such as YouTube videos, course content, coaching sessions, webinars, podcasts, and live streams, into bite-sized, engaging Shorts.
You can also add music, filters, and effects to enhance the visual appeal and storytelling of your Shorts.
Final Thoughts
Monetizing your YouTube channel takes effort but offers incredible potential.
Success hinges on these key points:
- YouTube Partner Program. Our calculator helps you visualize the potential here.
- Exploring sponsorships, merchandise, and other methods to build multiple income streams.
- Continuously reassessing which strategies work best for your specific audience.
Use the calculator to try different viewership numbers, CPMs, and engagement levels to see how they impact your earning potential.
Remember to experiment with these monetization strategies to find the perfect mix.
Plus, with Kajabi Creator Studio, you can easily repurpose your existing YouTube content into engaging short-form videos, blog posts, social media updates, and more, saving you time and effort while expanding your reach.
Start your 14-day free trial and see how Kajabi can complement your YouTube efforts.
[fs-toc-omit] YouTube Money Calculator: Frequently Asked Questions
How Much Can You Earn from Your YouTube Channel?
On average, YouTubers can expect to earn between $3 and $5 per 1,000 video views through AdSense. However, the amount varies depending on factors such as niche, audience size, engagement rate, and monetization strategies.
Top creators in popular niches can earn significantly more, sometimes reaching six or seven figures annually.
How Much Should You Charge For Sponsored Content On YouTube?
As a general rule of thumb, you can charge approximately $20 to $50 per 1,000 subscribers for a dedicated sponsored video. However, this rate can vary significantly based on your channel's performance and the value you provide to the sponsor.
Industry benchmarks suggest average sponsorship rates of $60 to $850 per 1,000 to 10,0000 video views.
In 2022, the average price of a sponsored YouTube video with over 1 million views was $2,500.
How Does The YouTube Money Calculator Estimate Your Earnings?
To calculate your estimated ad revenue, the calculator considers your video views, average view duration, and the typical CPM (cost per thousand impressions) for your content niche. It also factors in YouTube's AdSense revenue sharing policies, which allocate 55% of the ad revenue to the creator.
How To Become A Successful YouTuber?
Becoming a successful YouTuber requires creativity, strategic planning, and dedication. Here are some overarching strategies to help you:
- Maintain a consistent upload schedule to keep your audience engaged and anticipating your next video.
- Invest in decent equipment, develop your skills, and continually improve your video production and editing techniques.
- Take time to understand your target audience, their interests, pain points, and preferences.
- Optimize your video titles, descriptions, and tags for search engines. Conduct keyword research to identify popular search terms and incorporate them naturally into your metadata.
- Cross-promote your videos on other social media platforms and engage with your audience across multiple channels.
- Develop a diversified monetization strategy that includes a mix of ad revenue, sponsorships, merchandise sales, and digital products.
Get free expert insights and tips to grow your knowledge business sent right to your inbox.
Get Inspired With Creator Stories
Learn the playbooks from successful creators so you can implement their strategies and scale your impact.
Kajabi Live Q&A
Wondering if Kajabi is right for you? Have questions about the platform or marketing strategies on launching your online business?
Connect with a Kajabi Training Specialist and learn how you can make the most of Kajabi’s features. Join us for a live Q&A workshop where an expert will walk you through the basics, discover tips, and explore best practices — tailored for you.