YouTube Shorts Monetization Requirements 2026 (and What Changes in 2027)

Shorts can grow a channel faster than anything else on YouTube, but they only pay once you meet the Partner Program requirements. This guide covers exactly what you need in 2026, how Shorts money is shared, and the bigger requirements that start on 1 February 2027.

Shorts monetization requirements in 2026

• 1,000 subscribers.
• 10 million public Shorts views in the last 90 days, or 4,000 public watch hours on long videos in the last 12 months.
• No active Community Guidelines strikes.
• 2-Step Verification turned on and an AdSense account linked.
• Living in a country where the YouTube Partner Program is available.

The lower tier: fan funding only

A smaller tier lets you earn from fans before you qualify for ads, through channel memberships, Super Chat, Super Stickers and Super Thanks. It does not pay ad revenue.

• 500 subscribers.
• 3 public uploads in the last 90 days.
• 3 million public Shorts views in the last 90 days, or 3,000 public watch hours in the last 12 months.

How Shorts revenue is shared

1. YouTube pools the money from ads shown between Shorts.
2. Part of the pool pays for music used in Shorts.
3. The rest is split between monetized creators by their share of Shorts views.
4. You keep 45% of your share.

In practice most creators earn about $0.03 to $0.10 per 1,000 Shorts views, far less than long videos. That is why many channels use Shorts to grow and long videos to earn.

What changes on 1 February 2027

YouTube announced in August 2026 that the Partner Program requirements double for new applicants from 1 February 2027.

• Shorts route: 20 million public Shorts views in the last 90 days, up from 10 million.
• Long-video route: 8,000 public watch hours in the last 12 months, up from 4,000.
• 1,000 subscribers stays the same.
• Channels already in the Partner Program keep their monetization. Reports on the update say partners will need to keep up a minimum level of Shorts views to keep earning Shorts revenue.
• Current partners need to accept YouTube's updated terms in YouTube Studio before the new rules start.

How to reach 10 million Shorts views faster

• Post every day in one clear niche so the Shorts feed knows who to show you to.
• Hook viewers in the first second and keep Shorts tight, usually 15 to 40 seconds.
• Make Shorts people watch twice: loops, reveals and payoffs at the end.
• Turn your best performers into series and repeat formats that work.
• Use original content. Reposted clips are pushed down by YouTube's originality checks.

FAQ

• Do Shorts views count towards the 4,000 watch hours? No. Shorts views only count towards the 10 million Shorts route.
• Do views from Shorts count if they are not public? Only public views count towards the requirement.
• Can I mix both routes? No. You need either the full Shorts views or the full watch hours, plus 1,000 subscribers.
• How much do 10 million Shorts views pay? Roughly $300 to $1,000 once monetized, depending on audience and niche.