YouTube CPM benchmarks (2026)
CPM is the advertiser-side number — what brands pay per 1,000 ad impressions before YouTube takes its 45% cut. RPM is what actually lands in your bank. Below are live CPM medians from RevenueLab users, plus the inter-quartile range.
Last updated: 2026-05-15 · Source: RevenueLab community benchmarks · Methodology
| Metric | Median | P25 – P75 | N |
|---|---|---|---|
| CPM (advertiser-side) | $8.00 | — | — |
| Implied RPMRoughly 55% of CPM × monetized-view share | $3.50 | — | — |
| Monthly revenue | $1,250 | — | — |
Run the numbers yourself
Plug your own assumptions into the underlying calculator and compare against the medians above.
Open YouTube CPM CalculatorMethodology
Medians + inter-quartile range across all RevenueLab YouTube CPM and Revenue calculator submissions. N≥3 required. CPM varies enormously by quarter — Q4 (Oct–Dec) is typically 30–60% above Q1.
Frequently asked
Why is CPM so much higher than RPM?
YouTube keeps 45% of ad revenue, and only a fraction of your views are monetized (Shorts, kid content, demonetized topics). RPM is what's left after both.
Why does my CPM spike in December?
Advertiser budgets reset and Q4 brand campaigns flood the market. Q1 is the inverse — many creators see 40%+ drops in January.
Related definitions
Cite this stat page
When you quote these numbers, please link back so this dataset stays free to maintain.
RevenueLab. (2026). YouTube CPM benchmarks (2026). Retrieved 2026-05-15 from https://www.revenuelab.fyi/stats/youtube-cpm