Rex says
Money math without the spreadsheet headache. Plug in your numbers and I'll show you exactly where the dollars land.
Try a scenario
Click to load — tweak from there.Inputs
Result
Revenue per episode
$544
Pre-roll revenue
$144
Mid-roll revenue
$400
Revenue per month
$2,176
Projected annual revenue
$26,112
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How to use this
- 1Enter average downloads per episode.
- 2Enter pre-roll cpm ($).
- 3Enter mid-roll cpm ($).
- 4Enter mid-roll slots per episode.
- 5Enter episodes per month.
- 6Read your revenue per episode on the right — it updates as you type.
- 7Hit Share to keep the scenario or send it to someone.
About this calculator
Podcast ads are sold on CPM — cost per thousand downloads/listens — and typical rates run $15–$25 for a 30-second pre-roll, $20–$35 for mid-roll (the most valuable spot since listeners are already engaged), and $10–$20 for post-roll. This calculator multiplies your average downloads within the standard measurement window (usually 7 or 30 days) by CPM rate and ad slot count to project revenue per episode and per month.
Worked example
Using the values the calculator loads with:
Inputs
- Average downloads per episode: 8000
- Pre-roll CPM: 18 $
- Mid-roll CPM: 25 $
- Mid-roll slots per episode: 2
- Episodes per month: 4
Results
- Revenue per episode: $544
- Pre-roll revenue: $144
- Mid-roll revenue: $400
- Revenue per month: $2,176
- Projected annual revenue: $26,112
What each field means
Inputs
- Average downloads per episode
- The average downloads per episode used in the calculation. Starts at 8000 so you have a working example on load.
- Pre-roll CPM ($)
- The pre-roll cpm used in the calculation, measured in $. Starts at 18 $ so you have a working example on load.
- Mid-roll CPM ($)
- The mid-roll cpm used in the calculation, measured in $. Starts at 25 $ so you have a working example on load.
- Mid-roll slots per episode
- The mid-roll slots per episode used in the calculation. Starts at 2 so you have a working example on load.
- Episodes per month
- The episodes per month used in the calculation. Starts at 4 so you have a working example on load.
Results
- Revenue per episode
- Returned as a money amount in US dollars and shown as the headline result. It recalculates instantly whenever you change an input, so you can compare scenarios without reloading.
- Pre-roll revenue
- Returned as a money amount in US dollars. It recalculates instantly whenever you change an input, so you can compare scenarios without reloading.
- Mid-roll revenue
- Returned as a money amount in US dollars. It recalculates instantly whenever you change an input, so you can compare scenarios without reloading.
- Revenue per month
- Returned as a money amount in US dollars. It recalculates instantly whenever you change an input, so you can compare scenarios without reloading.
- Projected annual revenue
- Returned as a money amount in US dollars. It recalculates instantly whenever you change an input, so you can compare scenarios without reloading.
FAQ
How many downloads do I need to attract advertisers?
Most ad networks and marketplaces set a minimum around 5,000 downloads per episode within the measurement window, though niche, high-value audiences (B2B, finance, tech) can get sponsors at lower counts. Below that, direct sponsorships and affiliate deals usually work better than network-placed CPM ads.
Why is mid-roll worth more than pre-roll?
Listeners who skip pre-roll ads before content starts are self-selecting out, while mid-roll hits an audience already invested in the episode, so completion and attention rates are higher. That's why mid-roll CPMs typically run 30–50% above pre-roll for the same show.
Is download count the same as listens?
No — a download counts as a file request, which usually correlates with listening but overcounts partial listens and undercounts streaming-only platforms depending on how your host reports the IAB-certified metric. Ad buyers rely on standardized download definitions (IAB), so use your host's certified numbers, not raw app opens.
Accuracy and 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.
Related tools
Cite this calculator
Writing about this topic? Grab a citation — every link helps keep these tools free.
RevenueLab. (2026). Podcast CPM Ad Revenue Calculator. Retrieved from https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/podcast-cpm-revenue
<p>Source: <a href="https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/podcast-cpm-revenue" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Podcast CPM Ad Revenue Calculator — RevenueLab</a> (2026).</p>
Source: [Podcast CPM Ad Revenue Calculator — RevenueLab](https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/podcast-cpm-revenue) (2026).