How much do YouTube Shorts pay in 2026?
Most monetized creators earn about $0.03 to $0.07 per 1,000 Shorts views (their Shorts RPM). Reported results range from about $0.01 to $0.16. So 1 million Shorts views usually pay about $30 to $70. That is far less than long videos, which often pay $1 to $5 or more per 1,000 views, depending on the audience's country and the niche.
YouTube Shorts earnings table
| Shorts views | Low ($0.02) | Average ($0.05) | High ($0.10) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100,000 | $2 | $5 | $10 |
| 1,000,000 | $20 | $50 | $100 |
| 10,000,000 | $200 | $500 | $1,000 |
| 20,000,000 | $400 | $1,000 | $2,000 |
| 100,000,000 | $2,000 | $5,000 | $10,000 |
Our calculation using planning RPMs of $0.02, $0.05 and $0.10. Your own RPM in YouTube Studio is the number that counts.
How YouTube calculates Shorts revenue
- Ads shown between Shorts in the Shorts feed go into a monthly pool.
- Part of the pool covers music licensing for Shorts that use licensed music.
- The rest is split between channels by their share of eligible Shorts views.
- Creators keep 45% of the amount allocated to them. YouTube keeps 55%.
What makes Shorts RPM higher or lower
- Viewer country: views from the US, UK, Canada, Australia and Western Europe pay the most. See YouTube RPM by country.
- Music: Shorts with licensed music share revenue with the rights holders, so original audio keeps more for you.
- Season: ad prices rise in Q4 (October to December) and drop in January.
- Eligible views: repeated loops and some views from non-monetized regions may not count.
Shorts monetization requirements
To earn from Shorts ads you need to be in the YouTube Partner Program: 1,000 subscribers plus 10 million public Shorts views in the last 90 days (or 4,000 public watch hours on long videos). From 1 February 2027, new channels need 20 million Shorts views or 8,000 watch hours. Details: Shorts monetization requirements and the 2027 rule change.
Skip the 10 million views
Reaching 10 million Shorts views in 90 days is hard for a new channel, and the bar doubles in 2027. Our monetized YouTube channels are already in the Partner Program, so your Shorts and long videos can earn from day one. Prefer to grow your own? An aged YouTube channel gives you an older, trusted start.