Making money on YouTube is a goal for many content creators, but how many views do you actually need to make $1000? The answer depends on several factors, including your niche, content type, audience demographics, and most importantly, your RPM (revenue per 1000 views). In this comprehensive guide, we’ll break down everything you need to know about how to calculate your RPM and how many views you need to make $1000 on YouTube.
What is RPM on YouTube?
RPM stands for revenue per 1000 views. It refers to how much money you make per 1000 video views after YouTube’s cut. YouTube keeps 45% of ad revenue from videos, while creators get the remaining 55%. So to calculate your RPM, you take your total YouTube earnings and divide by your total views (in thousands).
For example, if you earned $100 from 100,000 views, your RPM would be $1. ($100 / 100,000 views x 1000 = $1). Your RPM depends on your CPM, or cost per 1000 impressions. The higher your CPM, the more advertisers are paying to run ads on your videos and the higher your RPM will be.
Factors that affect your YouTube RPM
There are several factors that impact how much you can make per 1000 YouTube views:
- Niche – Some niches, like finance and tech, have higher advertising rates and RPMs.
- Content type – Tutorials and “how-to” videos tend to have higher RPMs than vlogs or gaming.
- View duration – Longer average view durations signal engaged viewers and lead to higher RPMs.
- Audience demographics – Viewers in some countries, like the United States or United Kingdom, have higher CPMs.
- Seasonality – RPMs fluctuate throughout the year with seasonal advertising demand.
- Ad types – Skippable video ads monetize at higher rates than display ads.
Optimizing these factors where possible and providing advertiser-friendly content will help maximize your YouTube RPM.
Average YouTube RPM Rates
While RPMs vary widely, here are some averages reported by YouTube creators across niches:
- Finance: $7-$10 RPM
- Gaming: $2-$5 RPM
- Beauty/Fashion: $2-$5 RPM
- Tech: $6-$8 RPM
- Comedy: $2-$4 RPM
- Family Vlogs: $2-$4 RPM
- Music: $1-$3 RPM
These aren’t guaranteed rates, but rather averages that creators have shared based on their experience. Even within a niche, RPMs range greatly depending on the factors discussed above. Some creators report RPMs as high as $10-$20 in lucrative niches.
How Many YouTube Views for $1000?
Now that we understand RPM, we can estimate how many views you need to make $1000. This depends entirely on your RPM.
Let’s walk through some examples:
- If your RPM is $5, you would need 200,000 views to make $1000.
$5 RPM x 1000 views = $5 per 1000 views
$1000 desired earnings / $5 RPM = 200,000 views needed - With a $3 RPM, you would need ~333,333 views to make $1000.
$3 RPM x 1000 views = $3 per 1000 views
$1000 desired earnings / $3 RPM = ~333,333 views needed - For a lower $1 RPM, you would need 1,000,000 views for $1000 earnings.
$1 RPM x 1000 views = $1 per 1000 views
$1000 desired earnings / $1 RPM = 1,000,000 views needed
As you can see, the number of views needed varies significantly based on your RPM. With higher RPMs, you can make your $1000 goal with fewer views. The chart below illustrates some common RPMs and the corresponding views needed for $1000.
| RPM | Views Needed for $1000 |
|---|---|
| $10 | 100,000 |
| $8 | 125,000 |
| $5 | 200,000 |
| $3 | 333,333 |
| $1 | 1,000,000 |
How to Increase Your YouTube RPM
Here are some tips to improve your RPM on YouTube:
- Optimize your titles, thumbnails, tags for keywords. Ranking higher in search helps increase views.
- Make videos over 10 minutes long. This allows you to add mid-roll ads.
- Link to your other videos in end screens and descriptions to increase watch time.
- Partner with brands for sponsored integrations in videos. Brand deals offer higher CPMs.
- Join an MCN (multi-channel network). MCNs can help monetize and sell your inventory at higher rates.
- Analyze your analytics to understand your top-performing content. Make more of what viewers respond to.
Other YouTube Monetization Factors
While RPM is a key metric, there are some additional factors that impact how much you can earn on YouTube:
Minimum View Threshold
You need at least 1,000 public video views in the last 90 days to be eligible to monetize videos through Google AdSense. Additionally, to access all monetization features, you need 4,000 hours of watch time in the previous 12 months and 1,000 subscribers.
Google AdSense Revenue Share
Google AdSense pays out 68% of the revenue after deducting taxes and its fee. As the video creator, you receive 55% of the 68%, which is about 37% of the total ad revenue.
CPM Rates
The cost per 1000 ad impressions (CPM) varies based on factors like geography and season. According to YouTube, the average global CPM is $7.60. But top creators report CPMs from $25-$50 in lucrative niches.
Other YouTube Monetization Methods
While AdSense is the primary monetization method, here are some additional ways to monetize your YouTube channel:
YouTube Channel Memberships
With channel memberships, viewers pay a monthly fee for exclusive perks like custom emoji, members-only videos, shoutouts, etc. Memberships range from $1-$50 per month.
Super Chat & Super Stickers
Fans can pay to have comments highlighted and pinned during live streams. Super chats range from $1-$500, with creators keeping 70% of the payment.
Merchandise Shelf
YouTube allows creators to showcase branded merchandise on a shelf below videos. Fans can shop for shirts, hats, phone cases and more.
Affiliate Marketing
You can promote relevant affiliate products within videos or descriptions and earn commission when viewers purchase through your links.
Sponsorships
Companies may sponsor individual videos or your channel as a whole. Sponsorship earnings vary greatly based on channel size and influence.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do YouTubers make per view?
On average, YouTubers make $0.01 – $0.03 per view. This comes out to $1 – $3 per 1000 views (RPM). Top creators in lucrative niches can earn $0.10 or more per view.
How many subscribers do you need to make money on YouTube?
You technically only need 1,000 subscribers to be eligible to monetize videos through AdSense. However, it’s challenging to earn significant income until you have at least 10,000 subscribers and consistent viewership.
Can you make money with 100,000 views on YouTube?
Yes, you can absolutely begin making money with 100,000 views, especially if they are engaged viewers with strong watch time. Assuming an average $3 RPM, 100,000 views would generate about $300.
Is 1 million YouTube views a lot?
Yes, 1 million YouTube views is a huge milestone! Only about 7% of channels ever reach 1 million views. For additional context – hitting 1 million views would give you around $2500-$5000 in revenue with average RPMs.
How many YouTube views equals $1?
Generally, you need about 333 YouTube views for every $1 in revenue. This is assuming an average RPM of $3 per 1000 views. With higher RPMs, it may only require 100-200 views for $1.
Conclusion
In summary, the number of YouTube views needed to make $1000 ultimately depends on your RPM. Most YouTubers average $1-$5 RPM based on factors like niche and audience. Optimizing your content for engagement and promotion can help boost RPM over time. While $1000 per month may sound out of reach for newer channels, YouTube ad revenue has the potential to scale up significantly as your subscriber count and viewership grows.
