Getting 1 million views on a YouTube video is a major accomplishment for any content creator. With 1 million views comes the prestige of going viral and the potential to earn significant income. But how much money does 1 million YouTube views actually translate to?
Quick Answer
The amount of money a YouTube video with 1 million views makes depends on many factors, but is often estimated to be between $2,000-$40,000. However, there is no fixed CPM rate so earnings could fall outside of this range. The most important factors are a channel’s niche, content type, viewer demographics, seasonality, and YouTube’s advertising rates.
What Counts as a View on YouTube
YouTube counts a view when a viewer watches at least 30 seconds of a video (or the duration if it’s shorter than 30 seconds). Views are only counted if they come from real people, not bots or other artificial sources of traffic.
Important notes on YouTube views:
- Views come from organic search, suggested videos, external websites, YouTube ads, or the YouTube homepage.
- YouTube filters out fake views meant to inflate counts through bots or click farms.
- Private views still count even though they don’t increase the public view counter.
In order for ads to run on a video, YouTube requires at least 1,000 public views in the last 90 days. Once monetized, views begin accumulating revenue.
Factors That Influence YouTube CPM Rates
CPM stands for “cost per thousand” views. It represents how much advertisers pay to show ads on videos per 1000 views. The following factors influence a video’s CPM rate and earnings potential:
Niche
Niches with highly engaged viewers, like gaming, personal finance, and music, tend to have higher CPM rates. Advertisers pay more to reach these valuable audiences. Niches with lower engagement, like old movie clips, earn less.
Content Type
Certain types of content, like financial tips, product reviews, and tutorials command higher ad rates. This is because viewers are more likely to watch the ads closely and engage with the products. Entertainment content earns less.
Viewer Demographics
Videos with younger viewers aged 18-34 tend to earn more as this group is highly sought by advertisers. Videos with high traffic from English-speaking countries also earn more than other regions.
Seasonality
CPM rates fluctuate based on supply and demand. Rates are highest around the winter holidays when advertiser competition is high. Summer and January tend to have lower rates when brand spending dips.
YouTube Ad Rates
YouTube controls overall CPM rates based on their ad inventory and demand across the platform. Average YouTube CPM has been between $1-$5 in recent years.
Average YouTube CPM Rates
While CPM varies significantly, here are some averages for different channel types:
| Channel Type | Average CPM |
|---|---|
| Beauty/Fashion | $2 – $5 |
| Food | $2 – $5 |
| Gaming | $3 – $8 |
| Kids | $1 – $3 |
| Music | $1 – $4 |
These averages can fluctuate up or down by 50% or more depending on the factors outlined earlier. It’s possible for CPM to dip below $1 or rise above $10 for certain content.
How Much Does 1 Million YouTube Views Make?
Now that we’ve looked at average CPM rates, we can estimate the potential earnings from 1 million YouTube views:
- At a $1 CPM, 1 million views would earn around $1,000.
- At a $2 CPM, 1 million views would earn around $2,000.
- At a $3 CPM, 1 million views would earn around $3,000.
- At a $4 CPM, 1 million views would earn around $4,000.
- At a $5 CPM, 1 million views would earn around $5,000.
Based on this, a common estimate for 1 million views is $2,000-$4,000. However, for channels with higher view demographics and engagement, the earnings could be considerably higher:
- At an $8 CPM, 1 million views would earn around $8,000.
- At a $10 CPM, 1 million views would earn around $10,000.
With the right niche, content type, viewership, and YouTube ad rates, some channels can achieve $5, $8, or even $10+ CPM rates. This means 1 million views could generate as much as $10,000-$40,000 or more in ad revenue.
When Do You Get Paid on YouTube?
YouTube pays out earnings monthly after a creator crosses two thresholds:
- Earn at least $100 in ad revenue.
- Reach 10,000 valid public views in the last 90 days.
Once both are achieved, YouTube issues monthly payments around the 21st of each month. They pay for the previous month’s earnings.
For example, you’ll get paid on June 21st for ad revenue accumulated from May 1st to May 31st. Payments are issued through:
- AdSense – the primary way most creators get paid
- Wire transfer – for high earners with significant balances
Note that YouTube takes a 45% revenue share before paying creators. So from a $100 payout, creators receive $55 after YouTube’s platform fees.
Maximizing Your YouTube Earnings
While 1 million views is an impressive milestone, earning the most revenue from those views involves additional optimization. Here are some tips:
Choose High-CPM Niches
Focus on evergreen niches known for engaging viewers and advertiser interest – technology, finance, gaming, music, etc.
Produce Valuable Content
Create videos that resonate and help people in a meaningful way. This builds loyal fans who watch and share videos.
Optimize Titles & Thumbnails
Use keywords in titles that rank for searches. Craft compelling custom thumbnails that make people click.
Promote Videos Externally
Market videos on social media, your website, email, and elsewhere to drive more views.
Maximize Watch Time
Keep viewers watching with pacing, storytelling, intros/outros, and playlists for your channel.
Use YouTube Analytics
Study your audience demographics, traffic sources, viewership metrics, and revenue data.
Conclusion
At average CPM rates, 1 million YouTube views can generate around $2,000-$4,000 in revenue. With great content that attracts premium advertisers, earnings from 1 million views could reach $10,000-$40,000 or even more. While view counts are fundamental, maximizing the revenue from those views involves optimizing many additional factors.