---
title: 'YouTube RPM v CPM What Do They Mean'
source: 'https://youtube.com/watch?v=uDfi6I0-Qs4'
video_id: 'uDfi6I0-Qs4'
date: 2026-06-17
duration_sec: 0
---

# YouTube RPM v CPM What Do They Mean

> Source: [YouTube RPM v CPM What Do They Mean](https://youtube.com/watch?v=uDfi6I0-Qs4)

## Summary

The video explains the key metrics RPM (Revenue per 1000 impressions) and CPM (Cost per 1000 impressions) for YouTube creators. It uses a real example from the creator's own channel to illustrate the difference and clarify what each term means. The core message is that CPM is what advertisers pay, while RPM is the creator's earnings after YouTube's cut.

### Key Points

- **Monetization requirements** [[0:52]] — Once a channel has 4,000 watch hours and 1,000 subscribers, YouTube runs ads and RPM/CPM become relevant.
- **Definition of CPM** [[1:36]] — CPM is the cost per 1000 ad impressions before YouTube takes its share.
- **Definition of RPM** [[2:55]] — RPM is the revenue per 1000 impressions that the creator receives after YouTube's share.
- **Real example from the channel** [[3:12]] — The creator's CPM was $24.08 and RPM was $11.46 for September, earning $706 US in ad revenue.

## Transcript

when our youtube channels reach a
certain level
we get monetized which means
youtube then starts running ads in our
videos and we start earning money from
it
so that's when we might start hearing
the terms rpm and
cpm but what do they actually mean well
in this video i'm going to give you a
very simple answer to that and it's
coming up right now
so here we are on my youtube channel
mark warner social media selling one two
three and this video is all about
explaining the difference between rpm
versus cpm and these become important
terms or metrics for us all to
understand once our youtube channel gets
monetized that's right once you have
over four thousand watch hours on your
youtube channel and a thousand
subscribers youtube
start putting ads in front of your
videos or ads within the videos and
that's when the term rpm and cpm come
into play so i'm recording this video on
the first of october the start of a new
month here in sydney um and my cpm for
the month was 24. and my rpm was
11.46 so for the month of um september
i've earned um 706
u.s
dollars which will convert to about 900
australian dollars in advertising
revenue so cpm and then rpm is how this
final figure is decided
so cpm is the cost per 1000 ad
impressions
before youtube share with me some of the
revenue so what does that mean so
basically what that means is advertisers
are paying from last month what was the
figure it was twenty four dollars and
eight cents so last month on my channel
advertisers were paying twenty four
dollars and eight cents per 1000
impressions of their ad
placed in my video that's right so when
the advertisers have to bid and place
their um they're at in my video it is
worth to them
um or the bidding for them is 24.08
now from what i understand my channel is
pretty high you know the average channel
could be you know i'm i'm feeling um
people tell me you know around 10 that
type of thing so the advertisers are
determining my content and the people
who are watching my content a little bit
more valuable hence why it's a twenty
four dollars in eight cents um cpm now
that means the rpm is always going to be
lower than the cpm because the rpm
is what is paid to me the revenue share
or the revenue split for the month of
september and i'm using this as an
example is
11.46 and it includes all the views that
were monetized on my channel so it's
pretty straightforward so again
the cpm is what the advertisers pay the
rpm is what i get paid in
at the end of each month and and this is
a really live example because we've just
ticked over the end of september for the
month of september the rpm on my channel
was 24.8 cents which means the um sorry
the cpm was 2408 the rpm 1146 earning me
706 um dollars in ad revenue us dollars
which converts to about 900 odd
australian dollars probably 930 which is
pretty good for me so simple explanation
what i want you to do i'd love you to go
to um the comment section below um and
let me know what your cpm is and your
rpm because it will be different on each
particular um channel and there is no
right or wrong um you know answer to
that you know some people are no doubt
are going to be way more than mine and
i've seen that already
other people i know will be
significantly less as well so go to the
comments let me know your thoughts on
that and while you're there don't forget
to hit that subscribe button as well