Monetizing YouTube Shorts — how the revenue split works
Shorts revenue is calculated differently from long-form. Here's exactly how the share is calculated and what RPMs to expect.
Last updated: Tue May 12 2026 00:00:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)
Shorts monetization was overhauled in 2023 and is now part of standard YPP. Understanding the revenue split is essential for setting realistic expectations.
The Shorts revenue pool
YouTube collects ad revenue from ads shown between Shorts in the Shorts feed (not in-stream like long-form). This pool is then split:
- Music licensing portion — a slice goes to music rights holders proportional to the music used in Shorts
- Creator pool — what's left after music
- Eligible creator share — divided among creators based on their share of total Shorts views
After this distribution, each eligible creator receives 45% of their share as their actual payout.
Why your RPM looks low
Shorts RPM is typically much lower than long-form:
- Long-form RPM (2026 averages): $2–$10 depending on niche and audience geo
- Shorts RPM: $0.05–$0.30 typical, up to $1 for high-engagement creators in good niches
The 45% share is a smaller portion of a smaller per-view ad rate.
Who's eligible
To earn from Shorts ad revenue, you need:
- YPP tier 2 (full monetization)
- Adherence to YouTube monetization policies
- Original content (re-uploads of viral Shorts often don't qualify)
You can earn through Shorts even if your long-form content is what got you into YPP.
What counts as "your views"
Only views from the Shorts feed itself count for the revenue calculation. Views from:
- Channel page playback
- Direct link clicks outside YouTube
- Embedded plays
...do not contribute to the Shorts revenue share calculation.
What affects your RPM most
- Audience geography — U.S., UK, Canada, Australia viewers have higher RPMs
- Niche advertiser interest — finance, tech, business niches have higher per-view rates; gaming and entertainment are lower
- Music use — Shorts using popular licensed music split more of the pool with rights holders
- Total Shorts views on your channel — your share of the creator pool
Practical implication
For most creators, Shorts are not a primary income source. They're a top-of-funnel for:
- Building long-form audience
- Channel sub growth
- Cross-promotion to long-form content
If your business model relies on per-view earnings, long-form is where the income is.
Other monetization on Shorts
- Super Thanks — viewers tip on Shorts (small but real)
- Channel Memberships — subscribers from Shorts can become paying members
- Affiliate links — work in description even on Shorts
- Brand deals — Shorts can be sold to brands, often at $50–$500 per Short depending on audience size
The combined non-ad-revenue from Shorts often exceeds the ad revenue for mid-sized channels.