Quick overview (2025)
- Two YPP (YouTube Partner Program) levels: starting at 500 subscribers (early access to memberships, Super Chat/Thanks, and Shopping), and full ad revenue sharing once you reach 1,000 subscribers. Exact thresholds are listed below in the article. (Google Support)
- RPM ≠ CPM: RPM is what you earn per 1,000 views; CPM is what the advertiser pays per 1,000 ad impressions. RPM also includes YouTube Premium, memberships, and Super Chats. (Google Support)
- Shorts: Shorts revenue is shared from an ad “pool”; from the amount allocated to creators, the creator gets 45% based on their share of views by country. For Shorts, RPM is calculated per 1,000 engaged views. (YouTube, Google Support)
- Payout: AdSense pays out once you reach the €70 threshold (or the equivalent in your account currency). (Google Support)
YouTube monetization requirements (YPP) in 2025
Early entry to YPP (fan funding & Shopping):
You can apply if you’re in an eligible country (Slovakia is included) and meet one of the two options:
- 500 subscribers + 3 public uploads in the last 90 days and 3,000 public watch hours (12 months), or
- 500 subscribers + 3 public uploads in the last 90 days and 3 million valid Shorts views in the last 90 days.
This unlocks memberships, Super Chat/Thanks, and Shopping. (Google Support)
Full ad revenue sharing (long-form videos and Shorts):
- 1,000 subscribers + 4,000 public watch hours (12 months), or
- 1,000 subscribers + 10 million valid Shorts views in the last 90 days. (Google Support)
RPM vs. CPM: what they actually mean
- CPM (cost per mille): how much an advertiser pays per 1,000 ad impressions/ad-supported views (before revenue sharing with YouTube). In Analytics you’ll also see “playback-based CPM”—the cost per 1,000 playbacks where at least one ad was shown. (Google Support)
- RPM (revenue per mille): how much you earn per 1,000 views after revenue sharing. It includes revenue from ads, YouTube Premium, memberships, Super Chat/Super Stickers, and Super Thanks. For Shorts, RPM is calculated per 1,000 engaged views, the metric used for Shorts revenue sharing. (Google Support)
How earning on YouTube Shorts works
- Ads shown between Shorts are pooled into a shared fund for that month; from the portion allocated to creators, creators receive 45% (regardless of whether they use music). It’s then distributed based on share of views across individual countries. (YouTube)
- In your reports, track Shorts RPM (per 1,000 engaged views)—that’s the comparable measure of “what 1,000 views are worth” for your earnings. (Google Support)
When you’ll get paid
- YouTube sends your earnings to AdSense for YouTube; payouts are issued once you reach the €70 payment threshold and have your identity, address, and payment method verified. (Google Support)
Real calculation examples (illustrative scenarios)
Note: RPM varies by niche, countries, seasonality, and video length. Below are sample calculations so you can see how to do the math.
- 1) Long-form videos (ads + Premium only in RPM)
- 150,000 views, RPM = €3.20 → revenue ≈ 150 × €3.20 = €480.
- 2) Shorts channel
- 2,000,000 engaged views, RPM = €0.12 → revenue ≈ 2,000 × €0.12 = €240.
- 3) Mix of long-form videos + Shorts
- Long-form: 80,000 views, RPM = €2.50 → ≈ €200.
- Shorts: 1,500,000 engaged views, RPM = €0.10 → ≈ €150.
- Total ≈ €350.
(Calculated using: revenue ≈ (views ÷ 1,000) × RPM.)
How to (usually) increase RPM without “magic tricks”
- Longer videos may allow more ad breaks (if placed appropriately and they don’t hurt retention).
- Diversify revenue: memberships, Super Chat/Thanks, YouTube Premium (these components are part of RPM). (Google Support)
- Topic and audience: content with higher purchasing power (B2B, finance, software) tends to get higher advertiser bids → higher CPM, which indirectly lifts RPM as well. (Google Support)
What to watch out for when getting approved—and keeping monetization
- Follow the channel monetization policies (copyright, repetitive/unoriginal compilations, low-value clickbait, etc.). YouTube reviews the channel as a whole, and violations can lead to monetization being removed. (Google Support)
Useful videos (watchable right here)
Creator Insider: Shorts in the Partner Program—who’s eligible and how revenue is shared (EN)
YouTube Creators: YouTube Partner Program
Frequently asked questions
- Do Shorts count toward the 4,000 hours? Watch time from the Shorts feed does not count toward the 4,000-hour threshold; Shorts have their own view threshold (10 million for full ad revenue sharing, 3 million for early entry). (Google Support)
- What if I have 500 subscribers? You can apply for early entry (memberships, Super Chat/Thanks, Shopping). For ads, you need to meet the 1,000-subscriber thresholds. (Google Support)
- What’s the difference between RPM and “playback-based CPM”? RPM = your revenue per 1,000 views; playback-based CPM = what an advertiser pays per 1,000 ad-supported playbacks (it can be higher than standard CPM). (Google Support)
Sources
- Overview of the expanded YouTube Partner Program – YouTube Help: https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/13429240
- Understand ad revenue analytics (RPM/CPM) – YouTube Help: https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/9314357/understand-ad-revenue-analytics
- Earn with YouTube Shorts (revenue sharing 45 %) – YouTube Creators: https://www.youtube.com/intl/en_in/creators/shorts/
- Payment thresholds (AdSense) – Google AdSense Help: https://support.google.com/adsense/answer/1709871
Jana
I like turning curiosity into words, and writing articles is my way of capturing ideas before they slip away — and sharing them with anyone who feels like reading.
