YouTube Shorts Earnings Calculator

YouTube Shorts earnings are significantly lower than long-form video revenue. In 2025, average earnings range from $0.01 to $0.07 per 1,000 views. RPMs for Shorts typically fall between $0.15 and $0.30, and creators keep 45% of their allocated revenue from the creator pool (after music licensing deductions). For example, 1 million Shorts views might earn $12–15, while a long-form video with the same views could generate $950–1,000.

Typical RPMs for YouTube Shorts in 2025 range between $0.15 and $0.30. This is much lower than long-form videos, which often see $3–$6 RPM. RPM varies by niche, audience, seasonality, and advertiser demand. For example, a creator in the gaming niche reported $0.18 RPM for Shorts and $5.50 for long-form.

Shorts earnings aren’t a simple formula. YouTube pools all ad revenue from Shorts ads, then allocates a portion to music licensing and the rest to the Creator Pool. Your share depends on your percentage of total Shorts views. Creators receive 45% of their allocation. For example: If you have 1% of eligible Shorts views and the Creator Pool is $90,000, you’d be allocated $900, and earn $405 after the 45% share.

Yes, you can monetize Shorts with ad revenue sharing, YouTube Premium revenue, Super Thanks, brand sponsorships, merchandise, and channel memberships. While ad revenue is lower than long-form, Shorts help grow your audience for more substantial income from other sources.

To join the YouTube Partner Program (YPP) for full monetization, you need 1,000 subscribers and either 10 million Shorts views in 90 days or 4,000 long-form watch hours in 12 months. There’s also a lower-tier YPP: 500 subscribers, 3 uploads in 90 days, and either 3 million Shorts views in 90 days or 3,000 watch hours in a year.

Key factors include: music usage (affects revenue allocation), content originality, viewer location, seasonality, content niche, audience demographics, video length, and advertiser-friendliness. Non-original or guideline-violating content is ineligible for monetization.

Ads are shown between Shorts in the Shorts Feed. All ad revenue goes into a monthly pool. YouTube deducts music licensing costs, then distributes the Creator Pool to eligible creators based on their share of total Shorts views. Creators receive 45% of their allocation. This is different from long-form videos, where creators get 55% of direct ad revenue.

Yes, Shorts earnings are dramatically lower. Shorts RPMs are $0.15–$0.30, while long-form videos average $3–$6 RPM. For 1 million views, a Short might earn $12–15, while a long-form video could earn $950–1,000. Reasons include fewer ad opportunities, pooled revenue, and a higher YouTube share of Shorts revenue.

Maximize Shorts earnings by creating original, high-quality content, focusing on educational or tutorial topics, targeting high-value regions (US, UK, Canada), balancing Shorts with long-form content, optimizing upload times, avoiding multiple music tracks, and growing your subscriber base.

Diversify revenue streams (ads, Super Thanks, merch, sponsorships, memberships), use Shorts for audience growth, balance Shorts and long-form content, target high-value demographics, analyze performance, post consistently, and create shareable, engaging content.