{
  "slug": "podcast-production-cost",
  "title": "Podcast Production Cost Calculator",
  "heading": "Podcast Production Cost Calculator",
  "category": "financial",
  "url": "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/podcast-production-cost",
  "summary": "Cost per episode, per download, and the CPM you need to break even.",
  "description": "Podcasting economics come down to cost per episode against downloads per episode. Once you know your true cost per download, you can tell instantly whether sponsorship at typical CPMs will ever cover it.",
  "formula": "Cost per download = episode cost ÷ downloads; break-even CPM = cost ÷ (downloads ÷ 1000).",
  "dateModified": "2026-09-30",
  "run_url": "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/api/public/calc?tool=podcast-production-cost",
  "inputs": [
    {
      "id": "editCost",
      "label": "Editing & mixing per episode",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 180,
      "unit": "$",
      "min": 0,
      "max": null
    },
    {
      "id": "hostTime",
      "label": "Your hours per episode",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 6,
      "unit": null,
      "min": 0,
      "max": null
    },
    {
      "id": "hourly",
      "label": "Value of your hour",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 60,
      "unit": "$",
      "min": 0,
      "max": null
    },
    {
      "id": "tools",
      "label": "Hosting & tools per month",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 55,
      "unit": "$",
      "min": 0,
      "max": null
    },
    {
      "id": "episodes",
      "label": "Episodes per month",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 4,
      "unit": null,
      "min": 0.5,
      "max": null
    },
    {
      "id": "downloads",
      "label": "Downloads per episode (30 days)",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 2500,
      "unit": null,
      "min": 1,
      "max": null
    },
    {
      "id": "adsPerEp",
      "label": "Ad slots per episode",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 2,
      "unit": null,
      "min": 0,
      "max": null
    },
    {
      "id": "cpm",
      "label": "Sponsor CPM",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 22,
      "unit": "$",
      "min": 0,
      "max": null
    }
  ],
  "outputs": [
    {
      "id": "perEp",
      "label": "Cost per episode",
      "format": "currency",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": true
    },
    {
      "id": "perDownload",
      "label": "Cost per download",
      "format": "currency",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    },
    {
      "id": "breakevenCpm",
      "label": "Break-even CPM per slot",
      "format": "currency",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    },
    {
      "id": "revenue",
      "label": "Ad revenue per episode",
      "format": "currency",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    },
    {
      "id": "profitEp",
      "label": "Profit per episode",
      "format": "currency",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    },
    {
      "id": "monthly",
      "label": "Monthly profit",
      "format": "currency",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    }
  ],
  "worked_example": {
    "inputs": [
      "Editing & mixing per episode: 180 $",
      "Your hours per episode: 6",
      "Value of your hour: 60 $",
      "Hosting & tools per month: 55 $",
      "Episodes per month: 4",
      "Downloads per episode (30 days): 2500",
      "Ad slots per episode: 2",
      "Sponsor CPM: 22 $"
    ],
    "outputs": [
      "Cost per episode: $553.75",
      "Cost per download: $0.2215",
      "Break-even CPM per slot: $110.75",
      "Ad revenue per episode: $110.00",
      "Profit per episode: -$443.75",
      "Monthly profit: -$1,775"
    ]
  },
  "how_to": {
    "title": "How to use this",
    "steps": [
      "Enter editing & mixing per episode ($).",
      "Enter your hours per episode.",
      "Enter value of your hour ($).",
      "Enter hosting & tools per month ($).",
      "Enter episodes per month.",
      "Enter downloads per episode (30 days).",
      "Enter ad slots per episode.",
      "Enter sponsor cpm ($).",
      "Read your cost per episode on the right — it updates as you type.",
      "Hit Share to keep the scenario or send it to someone."
    ]
  },
  "scenarios": [
    {
      "name": "Conservative",
      "description": "Lower-end numbers — what if things land soft?",
      "values": {
        "editCost": 110,
        "hostTime": 3.5999999999999996,
        "hourly": 35,
        "tools": 35,
        "episodes": 2.4,
        "downloads": 1500,
        "adsPerEp": 1,
        "cpm": 13
      }
    },
    {
      "name": "Typical",
      "description": "Defaults — the most common real-world setup.",
      "values": {
        "editCost": 180,
        "hostTime": 6,
        "hourly": 60,
        "tools": 55,
        "episodes": 4,
        "downloads": 2500,
        "adsPerEp": 2,
        "cpm": 22
      }
    },
    {
      "name": "Ambitious",
      "description": "Higher-end numbers — what if things really pop?",
      "values": {
        "editCost": 290,
        "hostTime": 9.600000000000001,
        "hourly": 95,
        "tools": 90,
        "episodes": 6.4,
        "downloads": 4000,
        "adsPerEp": 3,
        "cpm": 35
      }
    }
  ],
  "limitations": [
    "Results are estimates before tax, fees, and inflation unless an input explicitly covers them.",
    "Rates are treated as fixed for the whole period — variable-rate products will drift from this projection.",
    "This is educational maths, not financial advice. Check anything contractual with the lender or your accountant."
  ],
  "faq": [
    {
      "q": "What CPM can a small show get?",
      "a": "Programmatic fills land around $8–$18 for a mid-roll. Direct-sold sponsorships on a tight niche audience regularly reach $25–$50 because the advertiser is buying relevance, not reach."
    },
    {
      "q": "How many downloads before sponsors care?",
      "a": "Networks generally start at 5,000 per episode, but niche direct deals happen far below that. A 900-download show about warehouse automation can outperform a 20,000-download comedy show for the right sponsor."
    }
  ],
  "related": [
    "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/video-production-quote",
    "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/photography-day-rate"
  ],
  "license": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "citation": "RevenueLab — Podcast Production Cost Calculator (https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/podcast-production-cost)"
}