An RPM calculator that also explains CPM vs RPM
This RPM calculator turns the numbers in your video analytics into the two rates creators argue about most: RPM (revenue per mille — what you earn per 1,000 views) and CPM (cost per mille — what advertisers pay per 1,000 ad impressions). It also works out ad RPM, playback-based CPM, ads per monetised playback and how much of your RPM comes from things other than ads.
Then it shows the link between them in one line, so you can see why a $10 CPM rarely means a $10 RPM. A comparison table lets you rank countries, video types or months by RPM. Everything runs in your browser; nothing is sent anywhere.
How to use the Creator RPM & CPM Calculator
- Choose the currency your analytics use.
- Type your estimated revenue and views for a date range.
- Under Ad numbers, enter your ad revenue and say whether it is after the platform’s share or gross, then add ad impressions and, if you have them, monetised playbacks.
- Read RPM, CPM and the rest in the table, and the line that rebuilds RPM from CPM.
- In Compare RPM by country or category, replace the example rows with your own and add rows as needed.
Creator RPM & CPM Calculator features
RPM and CPM together
RPM, ad RPM, CPM, playback-based CPM and other revenue per 1,000 views from one set of numbers.
Net or gross ad revenue
Enter the ad figure you have; the calculator converts it with your revenue share.
The CPM → RPM link
RPM = CPM × your share × ad impressions per view + other revenue per 1,000 views, worked out with your numbers.
Sanity checks
Warnings when ad revenue exceeds total revenue, playbacks exceed views or impressions fall below playbacks.
Compare by country
Editable rows with bars and the gap between the highest and lowest RPM.
RPM vs CPM — the formulas
The platform’s help page puts it simply: CPM is the cost per 1,000 ad impressions before the revenue share, and counts only monetised views; RPM is your total revenue after the share per 1,000 views, and includes ads, memberships, premium-subscriber revenue and paid chat. So RPM is almost always lower than CPM: you keep a share (55% of ad revenue on long videos), and many views show no ad at all.
| Metric | Formula | Who it describes |
|---|---|---|
| RPM | total revenue (after the share) ÷ views × 1,000 | You: all views, all revenue types |
| CPM | gross ad revenue ÷ ad impressions × 1,000 | Advertisers: before the platform’s share |
| Playback-based CPM | gross ad revenue ÷ monetised playbacks × 1,000 | Advertisers, per view that showed ads |
| Ad RPM | your ad revenue ÷ views × 1,000 | You: ads only |
Worked example from the help page
A video has 5,000 views. 1,000 views showed one ad and 500 showed two, so there were 1,500 monetised playbacks and 2,000 ad impressions, and the advertiser paid $7. CPM = $7 ÷ 2,000 × 1,000 = $3.50; playback-based CPM = $7 ÷ 1,500 × 1,000 = $4.67. With a 55% share the creator receives $3.85, so RPM = $3.85 ÷ 5,000 × 1,000 = $0.77.
Check it with the identity: $3.50 × 55% × (2,000 ÷ 5,000 = 0.4 ad impressions per view) = $0.77. Raise the impressions per view (more mid-rolls) or the share of views that show ads and RPM rises even at the same CPM. Those are the default numbers above, so you can follow every step.
RPM by country
Your analytics can split revenue and views by geography. Paste each country into the comparison table to see which audiences pay most. Reported medians differ by more than ten times between countries such as the United States and India, so a channel’s RPM moves with its audience mix as much as with its views. To turn an RPM into expected earnings for future views, use the video earnings calculator; to check whether those views come with an engaged audience, try the engagement rate calculator.
Creator RPM & CPM Calculator FAQ
How do I calculate RPM?
Divide your estimated revenue by your views and multiply by 1,000. $420 from 150,000 views is an RPM of $2.80. Enter both numbers in this RPM calculator and it does the rest.
What is the difference between CPM and RPM?
CPM is what advertisers pay per 1,000 ad impressions, before the platform’s share. RPM is what you receive per 1,000 views, after the share and across all views, including those without ads. RPM is usually much lower.
How do I calculate CPM from my revenue?
Divide gross ad revenue by ad impressions and multiply by 1,000. If you only have your share, divide it by your revenue share first (for example ÷ 0.55).
Why is my RPM so much lower than my CPM?
You keep a share of ad revenue, not all of it, and only some views show ads. A $3.50 CPM with 0.4 ad impressions per view and a 55% share gives an RPM of $0.77.
Can I compare RPM by country?
Yes. Add a row per country with revenue and views from the same date range; the table ranks them and shows how far apart they are.
Is CPM the same as eCPM?
Effective CPM expresses any revenue per 1,000 impressions. The CPM here is the platform’s gross figure per 1,000 ad impressions; the advertiser-side CPM calculator covers ad budgets.