What Should Be Your Average CPM?

Ever catch yourself checking your YouTube analytics and wondering if your CPM is normal? Fear not, you’re not alone. CPM (Cost Per Mille) is the magic number that tells you how much advertisers pay for 1,000 ad views on your videos. On average, YouTube’s global CPM in 2025 hovers around $3.50lenostube.com – but that’s just a ballpark figure. In reality, “normal” CPM can swing wildly based on what you’re filming, who’s watching, and where they live. In other words, your CPM is about as predictable as a cat on caffeine.

Before you panic: no single CPM fits all. A cooking vlogger in Spain won’t earn the same per thousand views as a finance guru in New York. Let’s break down how CPMs differ across industries and regions – with a dry, humorous twist – so you can gauge what your average CPM should be (and perhaps crack a smile along the way).

Understanding CPM and Why It Varies

CPM stands for cost per mille (mille = thousand). It’s basically the ad revenue per 1,000 views of ads on your channel. If an advertiser pays $10 CPM, that’s $10 per thousand ad impressions on your videos. Keep in mind YouTube shares only 55% of ad revenue with creatorsuscreen.tv, so your RPM (revenue per mille) – what actually lands in your pocket – will be about 45% lower than CPM. For instance, a $10 CPM yields around a $5.50 RPM after YouTube’s cut. The kicker: CPM isn’t a fixed value – it fluctuates based on a few key factors:

• Content Niche: Advertisers pay up for certain topics. A video on investing tips will attract pricier ads than a montage of funny cat videos. We’ll see examples shortly.

• Viewer Location: Advertisers in wealthier markets spend more. A thousand views from Norway or Australia can earn you far more than a thousand views from, say, the Philippineslenostube.comlenostube.com.

• Ad Demand & Seasonality: Around holiday seasons or big events, ad competition can spike CPMs. In January (after the holiday ad budgets dry up), CPMs often dip.

• Ad Format & Viewer Demographics: Long-form videos that allow multiple ads, and viewers in the coveted 25–54 age range, can boost CPM. Meanwhile, YouTube Shorts ads pay peanuts (literally just pennies per thousand views)lenostube.com.

In short, CPM is a shape-shifter. Now, let’s dive into specific niches and see what kind of CPM you can expect in each – with some numbers, examples, and a dash of dry humor.

Finance & Business: The High Rollers of CPM

If CPM niches were a royal court, finance and business topics wear the crown. Advertisers in this space are basically throwing money like it’s confetti. Why? Because viewers of personal finance, investing, or “make money online” content are potential customers for banks, credit cards, stock brokerages – i.e. high-value conversions. The result: sky-high CPMs. We’re talking average CPMs in the $15–$50 range for finance contentlenostube.com, far above YouTube’s overall average. Some of the most profitable niches include “how to make money online” ($13.5 CPM) and finance/investing ($12+ CPM)uscreen.tv. In fact, many finance YouTubers basically get paid more per view than others get per ten views.

For example, real-estate and finance guru Graham Stephan has shared CPM figures around $15–$20 on his channel – which makes sense given his content appeals to advertisers like luxury card companies and investment apps. One analysis of Graham’s channel found an effective CPM of about $16.59jackcao.com. To put that in perspective, 1,000 views on a finance video could earn around $12 in ad revenueuscreen.tv, whereas 1,000 views on a typical entertainment vlog might barely earn $3 (we’ll get to that). No wonder finance YouTubers look so relaxed discussing retirement plans – their ad dollars are working hard now.

Dry humor aside, if you run a finance or business channel, you can reasonably expect a well-above-average CPM. It’s not unusual to see double-digit CPMs here. Think of it as the Wall Street of YouTube – lucrative, competitive, and everyone’s wearing a suit (okay maybe not the last part). So if your content involves stock tips, budgeting, crypto, or anything with $$$ signs, don’t be shocked when your CPM is high enough to cover a fancy latte per thousand views. Enjoy it – you’re the high roller at the CPM casino.

Education: Learning Literally Pays Off

They say education is its own reward, but on YouTube, it can reward your wallet too. Educational channels (tutorials, academic lessons, how-to’s) often see CPMs on the higher side of the spectrum. Why? Viewers looking to learn are a prime target for advertisers selling online courses, software, or tech products. The CPM for the education niche averages roughly $9–$10 (and can climb into the $20s)uscreen.tvlenostube.com. In fact, educational content’s CPM is much higher than the goofy entertainment stuff – one report shows education videos pulling $10–$25 CPM vs. only ~$2–$8 in the pure entertainment nichelenostube.com. Who knew teaching math or history could be more lucrative than prank videos?

For instance, channels like Khan Academy or TED-Ed (with their millions of knowledge-hungry subscribers) enjoy solid CPMs. Data from top channels suggests an educational channel like Khan Academy might have an RPM in the $5–$8 rangelenostube.com. That implies CPMs easily around $10+ given YouTube’s cut – not bad for talking about calculus or world geography! Even smaller how-to channels (think coding tutorials, language lessons, DIY crafts) often report CPMs that beat the platform average. Educational content tends to attract advertisers like coding bootcamps, textbook companies, and e-learning platforms – sponsors with deeper pockets than the ones on, say, a prank compilation video.

Humorously speaking, being an edutainer on YouTube means you can finally tell your parents that liberal arts degree is paying off. 😅 Your teaching might actually earn more per viewer than a typical classroom teacher earns per student (okay, low bar). If you’re sharing knowledge and your CPM seems a bit higher than your vlogger friends’, that’s normal – learning pays, literally. So keep those informative videos coming; your viewers get smarter and you get a nice CPM to boot.

Technology & Gadgets: Advertiser Candy

Have you noticed how every tech YouTuber is surrounded by the latest phones, laptops, and enough RGB lights to land a plane? Part of the reason: tech content monetizes well. Tech and gadget review channels often see healthy CPMs – not as stratospheric as finance, but definitely above average. The average CPM in the tech niche can range roughly $5 up to $30lenostube.com, depending on the product category and audience. Advertisers for new gadgets, software, and electronics are eager to spend on tech-savvy viewers. After all, if you’re watching a review of the newest smartphone, there’s a fair chance you’re a prime target to buy one (or to sign up for that mobile carrier plan being advertised).

Big tech channels illustrate this well. Marques Brownlee (MKBHD), the famous gadget reviewer, has an estimated RPM around $7–$11lenostube.com. That suggests CPMs possibly in the mid-to-high teens when you factor in YouTube’s share. Similarly, channels like Unbox Therapy (unboxing gadgets) see RPM in the ~$6–$10 rangelenostube.com. In plain terms, a tech video might earn around $10 or more per thousand views – a nice bump above the ~$3-4 global average. Tech audiences are often in higher income brackets and predominantly in countries with strong ad markets (think US, UK, Canada), which further boosts those CPMs.

Dry humour time: tech YouTubers can justify buying the latest iPhone every year because, well, reviewing it might literally pay for it. The advertisers are basically saying, “Here’s some cash, please tell people about our $2,000 foldable phone.” As a tech creator, your CPM should comfortably beat general entertainment channels. If it doesn’t, try tossing in a few more buzzwords like “AI”, “blockchain phone”, or “5G” – I’m kidding (mostly). The bottom line: technology is advertiser candy, and your CPM in this niche should reflect that sweet appeal.

Sports: Cheering for a Mid-Range CPM

Sports content on YouTube is like a solid mid-tier athlete – not breaking world records, but holding its own. If your channel revolves around sports – whether it’s game highlights, sports commentary, or athletic tutorials – expect CPMs in the moderate range. Various estimates put the average CPM for the sports niche around $2.5 to $7.5yoola.com. In other words, sports CPMs are usually near the overall YouTube average (a few bucks per thousand views), maybe a bit higher if you’re in a lucrative sub-niche like sports betting or fantasy leagues.

Why aren’t sports CPMs higher? One reason is that sports content often appeals to a broad audience, and broad audiences attract more general advertisers (who pay less per ad). Also, many sports viewers are younger and outside top-paying regions, which can pull CPM down. That said, not all sports content is equal: a channel doing in-depth analysis of, say, golf equipment or sports medicine might snag more specialized (higher-paying) ads than a channel posting funny football bloopers. Sports news and highlight channels tend to hover in that ~$2–$7 CPM rangeyoola.com, while niche sports tutorials (e.g., “how to improve your tennis swing”) could lean toward the upper end if they attract premium advertisers (sports gear, training programs, etc.).

Imagine a sports YouTuber like one covering the NFL or English Premier League highlights – the CPM from ads might be enough to buy some nachos and a beer for the next game watch party, but it’s probably not buying season tickets. And that’s okay! Sports channels often rack up huge view counts (sports fans are dedicated), so even a mid-range CPM can translate to solid earnings. Consider that the top 10 sports YouTube channels collectively have over 100 million subscribersyoola.com – with that kind of scale, even a few dollars per thousand views adds up. So if you’re in the sports niche, don’t fret if your CPM isn’t MVP-level. Mid-range is par for the course here – steady and respectable, much like a reliable starting player who doesn’t hog the spotlight but still gets the job done.

Music: Hitting Low Notes in CPM

Here comes the reality check for all you aspiring rockstars on YouTube: music-related content tends to have a low CPM. Yup, the niche that gives us viral hits and chart-topping artists is ironically a bit of a dud when it comes to ad rates. The average CPM for music channels is only around $1–$2 (roughly $1.36 on average by one estimate)uscreen.tv. That’s right, per 1,000 views you might earn just enough to buy a single song on iTunes – if that. In fact, among major content categories, Music sits at or near the bottom for CPMuscreen.tv.

Why so low? A few reasons: First, music videos often have broad, global appeal, including many viewers in lower-CPM countries (which drags the average down). Second, if you’re actually using popular music in your videos, chances are you’re getting demonetized or the revenue is going to the music copyright holders, not you. And third, advertisers may not pay top dollar to stick their ad in front of, say, a lyric video or a guitar cover, since the viewer’s mindset is “I came to jam out,” not necessarily “I want to buy something.” The result: CPMs that hit the low notes.

For example, consider big music-centric YouTubers: an independent musician’s channel or a music reaction channel likely sees those ~$1–$2 CPMs. Even massive official music videos (with millions of views) don’t generate as much ad revenue per view – the real money for artists comes from record sales or streaming, not YouTube ads. One report shows entertainment and music CPMs down around $2–$3 at bestuscreen.tv, which aligns with what music content creators lament.

So if you run a music channel and your CPM looks tragically low, don’t worry – it’s normal. You might joke that your ad revenue is enough to afford a cup of coffee… a small coffee, that is. This is why many music YouTubers diversify with sponsorships, Patreon, or selling merch. Dry humor takeaway: In the grand orchestra of YouTube niches, music CPMs are like the triangle – a tiny ding in the background. You’ll need a lot of views to make a living, but hey, at least you’re doing it for the love of the music, right? 🎵

Entertainment & Vlogs: Fun Content, Frugal CPM

Not every YouTuber can talk stocks or code; many of you are in the entertainment, lifestyle, or vlogging space – basically making the masses laugh, cry, or say “aww.” The good news: you’ll reach broad audiences. The not-so-good news: broad audiences don’t bring high CPMs. General entertainment content (pranks, daily vlogs, comedy skits, storytimes, etc.) tends to have CPMs on the lower end, often in the $2–$4 range. One source pegs people & blogs or lifestyle niches around ~$3–$6 CPMisthischannelmonetized.com, and generic entertainment even lower, roughly $2–$3uscreen.tv. In other words, if you’re just having fun on camera, advertisers aren’t paying a premium to reach your viewers compared to more “serious” niches.

Let’s drop some big names to illustrate. Ever heard of MrBeast? (If not, welcome back from that rock you were living under!). He’s one of YouTube’s largest entertainment creators, giving away money and staging outrageous stunts. Yet, despite billions of views, MrBeast’s RPM is reported to be only on the order of a few dollarslenostube.com – meaning his CPM might be around $5 or so. Why so low when he’s so huge? Because MrBeast’s audience is global and mainstream – the ads shown are often for broad consumer products and games, not high-end financial services. Similarly, PewDiePie, once the king of YouTube gaming/entertainment, had an RPM in the ~$2–$4 rangelenostube.com. These megastars compensate with sheer volume of views (and yes, tons of sponsorships and merch sales). But it shows that millions of views in entertainment can earn less ad revenue than thousands of views in finance.

Even lifestyle vloggers and family channels fall into this “fun but frugal” CPM bracket. A travel vlog or daily life vlog might get you, say, $3 per thousand views – enough to maybe cover the ice cream you bought in that vlog. Channels like Shelby Church (lifestyle) and RCLBeauty101 (beauty/skits) have estimated RPMs around $3–$5lenostube.com, typical for the genre. Beauty and fashion content CPMs are a bit better than pure comedy, averaging somewhere in the mid-single digits ($5–$18 as a broad range)lenostube.com – makeup brands do pay to advertise – but they’re not touching those finance-level numbers.

So, if you’re an entertainment-focused creator, what should your average CPM be? Honestly, probably a few bucks, maybe $2–$5 on average. That’s perfectly normal. You might not be raking in cash per view, but you’re raking in views, period – and those add up. Keep an eye on audience geography (more on that next) because if you happen to captivate a lot of viewers in higher CPM countries, you might see a boost. Otherwise, embrace that you’re the life of the (YouTube) party, even if the ad revenue is more “BYOB” than open bar. At the end of the day, making people smile or entertaining them can still turn into a full-time living – it just relies on scale and diversification when CPM is low.

Gaming: Big Views, Okay CPM

Let’s give a special nod to the gaming niche, since it’s one of YouTube’s largest sectors. Gaming content is a bit of a paradox: it commands massive viewership (some of YouTube’s most-subscribed channels are gaming-related), yet CPMs in gaming are just middling. If you’re a gaming YouTuber, you can expect something like $4 to $15 CPM in many caseslenostube.com. That’s a wide range, but typically, let’s say mid-single digits is common. Gaming is similar to general entertainment in that it’s mainstream (lots of teens/kids, global audience) which keeps ad rates moderate.

Many gaming videos are supported by ads for other video games, mobile apps, or consumer tech – these advertisers pay decently, but not top dollar like B2B software or insurance companies would. Also, certain gaming subgenres do better than others: a tutorial or educational gaming channel (teaching game development or complex game strategies) might edge towards the higher end of CPM, whereas a Let’s Play channel screaming over Minecraft probably sits near the lower end.

For context, take PewDiePie again – primarily known for gaming in his early days – with that RPM of ~$2–$4lenostube.com. His broad appeal and international audience kept ad rates modest. On the other hand, a more niche tech-gaming crossover channel (say one that reviews high-end PC gaming gear) could see higher CPM because it attracts hardware advertisers. Overall, the data shows gaming CPM is lower than education or tech, but a tad higher than general entertainmentisthischannelmonetized.comlenostube.com. One report put the average gaming CPM around $4.55isthischannelmonetized.com, which sounds about right.

In plain English: if you’re streaming or making gaming videos, your CPM probably won’t buy you a Lamborghini, but it might cover a new game or two after a decent video performance. The true power of gaming channels is in their scale – gaming audiences binge content, and successful channels rack up views in the tens of millions. So a moderate CPM multiplied by a huge number of views can still equal big earnings. Just remember to rest your eyes and stretch those wrists – you might not see the highest CPM in gaming, but you can certainly play the volume game to win.

Location, Location, Location: The Geography of CPM

Average YouTube CPM by country, ranked from highest to lowest (in USD, 2025). Wealthy English-speaking countries dominate the top, but some smaller nations pack a surprising punch. 

It’s not just what you make – it’s who watches and where they watch from. Viewer location is a massive factor in CPM. Advertisers set different bids per country based on the local economy and ad market. The conventional wisdom is that the USA is king for CPM rates, but guess what? The king has some serious competition in other realms. In fact, the highest average CPM in 2025 wasn’t the U.S. at all – it was Australia, with about $36.21 CPM (U.S. came in second around $32.75)lenostube.comlenostube.com. The U.K., Canada, and New Zealand also all boast CPMs in the high-$20s and $30+ rangelenostube.com. Basically, if your viewers are in English-speaking, high-GDP countries, your ad rates are chef’s kiss excellent.

But English markets aren’t the only game in town. Many Northern European countries have superb CPMs. Advertisers in countries like Switzerland, Norway, Denmark, and Germany pay handsomely to reach online audiences. For instance, average CPMs are about $23 in Switzerland, $20 in Norway, $18–$19 in Germanylenostube.com. Some reports even show Norway’s CPM hitting as high as $40+ (outpacing the U.S.)lenostube.comuscreen.tv. Think about that: a Norwegian view could earn you more than an American view! Scandinavia in general – Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Finland – while smaller in population, has strong ad spending per capita. So if you happen to speak Norwegian or Swedish (or can subtitle/dub your content), you might tap into a surprisingly lucrative audience.

Other regions are more mixed. Western Europe (France, Netherlands, Austria, etc.) typically has solid CPMs in the low-to-mid teens USDlenostube.com. Asian tigers like Singapore, Hong Kong, South Korea, Japan also have CPMs often above $10lenostube.com. On the flip side, many developing countries in Asia, Africa, and Latin America have very low CPMs – often under $1 or $2lenostube.comlenostube.com. (We won’t dwell on those “super broke” ones – the idea here is to focus on opportunity!). The key point is that having a global audience yields a blended CPM that’s a mix of high and low rates. For example, a channel with half its viewers in the US and half in India will see an average CPM somewhere in between the high US rate and rock-bottom Indian rate.

So, what does this mean for your channel? If you’re mainly targeting the U.S. audience, you’ll likely see one of the higher CPMs by default (perhaps in the $8–$15+ range, depending on niche)isthischannelmonetized.comisthischannelmonetized.com. But don’t underestimate other countries: multilingual or international channels can be very rewarding. A tech reviewer in English might also run a German channel or add German subtitles – capturing both those $10 English CPMs and $5+ German CPMslenostube.com. A travel vlogger might do videos in English but also attract viewers in Scandinavia or Singapore, boosting their averages. In short, diversifying your audience geographically can lift your average CPM. The U.S. is a great ad market, yes, but it’s not alone at the top of the CPM food chain. There are rich markets across Europe and Asia-Pacific too.

And one more geographical quirk: sometimes smaller countries with less YouTube content have surprisingly high CPMs because advertisers have limited inventory to bid on. (For example, at one point Moldova and Algeria showed up high on a CPM listuscreen.tv – likely due to unique market conditions, though they’re not typically top of mind for creators!). While you probably shouldn’t start learning Moldovan Romanian just for YouTube, it’s nice to know the ad market has its odd hot spots.

So, What Should Your Average CPM Be?

After touring the CPM landscape across niches and nations, you might be wondering: alright, just tell me a number – what’s a “good” average CPM for me? The honest (if slightly unsatisfying) answer is: it depends on your content and audience. A “good” CPM for a toy unboxing channel (maybe $2–$3) will be very different from a “good” CPM for a B2B marketing channel (maybe $20). But here are some parting benchmarks and thoughts:

• Overall YouTube Average: Roughly $3–$5 CPM is pretty normal on YouTube these dayslenostube.comlenostube.com. If you’re around this range, you’re in line with a typical creator experience. Don’t let social media flexes fool you – not everyone is making $50 CPM, far from it.

• High Niches: If you create content in finance, business, tech, or education and target top-tier countries, you could see CPMs in the double digits. Seeing $10, $15, even $20+ CPM isn’t unusual for these nicheslenostube.comlenostube.com. That’s a great CPM – just make sure you’re also getting decent view counts, since a high CPM on its own doesn’t pay the bills if views are low.

• Mid Niches: For content like gaming, DIY, travel, sports, fashion, etc., expect mid-range CPMs. Something like $4–$8 is a reasonable ballpark for many of these. If you’re a travel vlogger with mostly US/EU audience, maybe the upper end; if you’re a gamer with global viewers, maybe the lower end. As long as you’re near or above the platform average, you’re doing fine.

• Lower Niches: If you’re in music or general entertainment/vlogging, don’t be shocked by a low CPM. $1–$3 might be your realityuscreen.tv, and that’s okay. Many such creators make up for it with volume (viral videos, daily vlogs) or alternative monetization (sponsorships, Patreon). The key is that you’re engaging a broad audience – and broad usually means less ad $$$ per view.

In all cases, remember that CPM fluctuates. You might have a $10 CPM one month and $6 the next, even with the same content, due to seasonality or changes in who’s watching. And don’t forget: not every view on your channel will even have an ad (thanks to ad blockers, YouTube’s policies, or viewers skipping). So focus on what you can control: make content people want to watch, attract audiences in higher-CPM niches and countries where possibleisthischannelmonetized.comisthischannelmonetized.com, and consider translating or adding subtitles to tap into new markets. A multilingual channel that appeals to, say, both American and German viewers could enjoy a blend of high CPMs from both sides of the Atlantic – Wunderbar!

Finally, a bit of dry wisdom: CPM is like the weather – everyone talks about it, no one can fully control it. You can pick the “climate” by choosing your niche and target audience, but day-to-day, it can still rain or shine on your revenue unexpectedly. So, use these CPM benchmarks as a guide, not gospel. Whether your CPM is $2 or $20, what matters is that you’re creating content you enjoy and building an audience. If you nail that, the advertisers – and the money – will follow. And if not, well, there’s always that millionaire finance channel idea waiting for you. 😉