Can you actually make money from YouTube Shorts ? That's probably why you're here.
The short answer: Yes.But there's a catch—Shorts pay way less per view than long-form videos. So while it's possible to earn money, you need serious volume to make it worthwhile.
Important
Shorts Monetization Quick Facts(2026):
- RPM: $0.03 - $0.10 per 1,000 views(average)
- Creator Share: 45 % of ad revenue(YouTube keeps 55 %)
- Eligibility: 1,000 subscribers + 10 million Shorts views in 90 days
- Music Penalty: Using copyrighted music reduces your earnings further
- Payment Threshold: $100 minimum to cash out
In this guide, I'll break down exactly how YouTube Shorts monetization works in 2026, how much you can expect to earn, and the strategies to maximize your revenue.
How YouTube Shorts Monetization Actually Works
Unlike long - form YouTube videos where ads run before, during, or after your content, Shorts monetization works differently.
The Ad Revenue Pool System
Here's how it works:
- Ads run between Shorts in the Shorts feed(not on your individual Short)
- All ad revenue is pooled together from Shorts globally
- Revenue is distributed based on your share of total Shorts views
- You get 45 % of what you earned(YouTube takes 55 %)
Think of it like this: If Shorts generated $100 million in ad revenue globally, and your videos accounted for 0.001 % of all Shorts views, you'd get 0.001% of that pool—then take 45% of that amount.
Example calculation:
- Total Shorts ad revenue: $100,000,000
- Your share of views: 0.001 % = $1,000
- Your 45 % cut: $450
This system is why Shorts pay less—you're competing for a share of a pool, not getting direct ad placements on your videos.
Why 45 % Instead of 55 %?
For long - form content, creators get 55 % of ad revenue.For Shorts, it's only 45%.
YouTube's reasoning: Shorts are cheaper to produce, easier to grow with, and the platform invests heavily in the Shorts algorithm. The 10% difference compensates for that.
Fair ? Debatable.But it's what we've got.
---
YouTube Shorts Eligibility Requirements(2026)
To start earning from Shorts, you need to join the YouTube Partner Program(YPP) .
There are two paths to qualify:
Path 1: Traditional Watch Hours Route
- 1,000 subscribers
- 4,000 watch hours in the past 12 months(from long - form videos)
Path 2: Shorts - Only Route(Easier!)
- 1,000 subscribers
- 10 million Shorts views in the past 90 days
Most Short creators go with Path 2 because it's faster. Getting 10M views on Shorts is way easier than 4K watch hours on long-form.
Pro tip: You can mix both.If you post both Shorts and long - form, your watch hours + Shorts views both count toward YPP eligibility.
Once accepted, you'll start earning from ALL your content—Shorts, long-form, memberships, Super Thanks, and more.
---
How Much Money Do YouTube Shorts Actually Make ?
Let's talk real numbers. Here's what most creators earn:
Average Shorts RPM(Revenue Per Mille)
RPM = how much you earn per 1,000 views after YouTube takes its cut.
| Niche | Low RPM | Average RPM | High RPM |
|---|---|---|---|
| Finance / Business | $0.08 | $0.12 | $0.20 + |
| Tech / Software | $0.06 | $0.10 | $0.15 |
| Education | $0.05 | $0.08 | $0.12 |
| Beauty / Fashion | $0.04 | $0.07 | $0.12 |
| Fitness / Health | $0.03 | $0.06 | $0.10 |
| Gaming | $0.02 | $0.04 | $0.08 |
| Entertainment / Comedy | $0.02 | $0.03 | $0.06 |
| Music | $0.01 | $0.02 | $0.04 |
Key takeaway: Finance and business Shorts can earn 5 - 10x more than gaming or entertainment.
Real Earnings Examples
100,000 Shorts views:
- Low RPM($0.03): $3
- Average RPM($0.06): $6
- High RPM($0.12): $12
1 million Shorts views:
- Low RPM: $30
- Average RPM: $60
- High RPM: $120
10 million Shorts views:
- Low RPM: $300
- Average RPM: $600
- High RPM: $1, 200
100 million Shorts views:
- Low RPM: $3,000
- Average RPM: $6,000
- High RPM: $12,000
To make $1,000 / month from Shorts alone, you need roughly 15 - 30 million views per month depending on your niche.
The Music Licensing Problem
Using copyrighted music in your Shorts significantly reduces your earnings.
When you use a licensed song, revenue is split between:
- You(the creator)
- YouTube
- The music rights holders
This can cut your earnings by 30 - 70 % depending on the song.
Solution: Use royalty - free music or YouTube's Audio Library. Your RPM will be much higher.
---
How to Maximize YouTube Shorts Revenue
Alright, so the pay isn't great per view. But there are strategies to increase your earnings:
1. Target High - CPM Niches
Advertisers pay more to reach certain audiences.
Highest - paying niches for Shorts:
- Personal finance & investing
- Business & entrepreneurship
- Technology & software
- Real estate
- Credit & debt management
Tip: Even if you're in a different niche, you can occasionally create finance-adjacent content. For example, a fitness creator could make "How I'm saving for a home gym."
2. Focus on Tier 1 Countries
Not all views pay equally.Traffic from wealthy countries earns way more.
RPM by country(Shorts):
- USA: $0.08 - $0.15
- UK: $0.06 - $0.12
- Canada: $0.05 - $0.10
- Australia: $0.05 - $0.10
- India: $0.01 - $0.02
- Philippines: $0.01 - $0.01
To attract tier 1 viewers:
- Use American English (not British English)
- Reference US culture (dollars, locations, brands)
- Post during US peak hours (6 - 9 PM EST)
- Use trending sounds popular in the US
3. Avoid Copyrighted Music
As mentioned, music licensing kills your earnings.Stick to:
- YouTube Audio Library(free music)
- Epidemic Sound / Artlist(licensed for creators)
- Original audio you create yourself
- No music at all(surprisingly often works)
4. Post Consistently(Volume Matters)
Since RPM is low, you need volume.Top Shorts creators post 1 - 3 Shorts daily .
More Shorts = More views = More revenue.
Even if individual Shorts flop, the cumulative effect of daily posting compounds your earnings.
5. Drive Traffic to Long - Form Content
Shorts are a lead generation tool.Use them to funnel viewers to your long - form videos where RPM is $2 - $10(way higher).
Strategy:
- Create Shorts as "trailers" for your long - form videos
- End Shorts with: "Full video on my channel"
- Pin a comment linking to the full video
This way, Shorts grow your channel, and long - form makes you money.
---
Is YouTube Shorts Monetization Worth It ?
Honest answer: It depends on your strategy.
Shorts Alone ? Not Great.
If you're only posting Shorts and hoping to make a living, you'll need millions of views per month.Most creators can't sustain that.
Shorts as Part of a Strategy ? Absolutely.
Use Shorts to:
- Grow subscribers (Shorts grow channels 3x faster)
- Test content ideas (see what resonates before investing in long - form)
- Drive traffic to long - form, memberships, or your products
Successful creators treat Shorts as a growth tool, not a primary income source.
---
Shorts vs.Long - Form: Revenue Comparison
Let's compare 100K views on Shorts vs. long-form.
| Metric | Shorts(100K views) | Long - Form(100K views) |
|---|---|---|
| RPM | $0.05(avg) | $3.00(avg) |
| Earnings | $5 | $300 |
| Effort | Low(15 mins to create) | High(hours of editing) |
| Growth | Very high(easy virality) | Moderate |
The smart play: Use Shorts for growth, long - form for revenue.
---
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does YouTube Shorts pay per 1,000 views ?
YouTube Shorts pay $0.03 - $0.10 per 1,000 views on average(RPM).However, this varies significantly by niche: Finance and business Shorts earn $0.08 - $0.20 per 1K views, while gaming and entertainment earn $0.02 - $0.06.Your location matters too—US traffic pays 5 - 10x more than developing countries.
Is the YouTube Shorts Fund still available in 2026 ?
No.The original YouTube Shorts Fund ended in February 2023. It's been completely replaced by the ad revenue sharing model where creators receive 45% of Shorts ad revenue. The new system is more sustainable and rewards consistent creators rather than one-time viral hits.
Can you make a living from YouTube Shorts alone ?
Making a full - time living solely from Shorts is difficult.To earn $3,000 / month(roughly minimum wage in the US), you'd need 50-100 million Shorts views monthly depending on your niche. However, Shorts can be part of a diversified income strategy including long-form videos, sponsorships, memberships, and affiliate marketing.
Why are my YouTube Shorts earnings so low ?
Shorts earnings are low for several reasons: (1) You only get 45 % of ad revenue vs. 55 % for long - form. (2) Ad revenue is pooled and distributed by view share, not direct ad placements. (3) Using copyrighted music reduces your cut by 30 - 70 %. (4) Lower - tier countries(India, Brazil, etc.) generate much less revenue than US / UK traffic.
How do I increase my YouTube Shorts revenue ?
To maximize Shorts revenue: (1) Target high - CPM niches like finance, tech, or business. (2) Avoid copyrighted music—use YouTube's Audio Library instead. (3) Optimize for tier 1 countries (US, UK, Canada, Australia) by using American English and posting at peak US hours. (4) Post 1-3 Shorts daily for consistent volume. (5) Funnel Shorts viewers to higher-paying long-form content.
When do you get paid from YouTube Shorts ?
You're paid monthly via Google AdSense, but only after reaching the $100 payment threshold. Payments are issued between the 21st-26th of each month for the previous month's earnings.Example: January earnings are paid out in late February.New creators should link their AdSense account immediately after YPP approval.
Can I monetize Shorts without showing my face ?
Yes! Faceless Shorts are fully monetizable.Many successful channels use stock footage, screen recordings, animations, AI voices, and text - on - screen content.In fact, faceless channels often scale faster because you can outsource production.Popular faceless formats include finance explainers, tech tips, history facts, and top 10 lists.
---
Ready to grow your earnings ? Use our free tools:
-YouTube Earnings Calculator – Estimate your Shorts revenue
- YouTube Title Generator – Create viral Shorts titles
- YouTube Tag Generator – Rank higher in search
Remember: Shorts are a growth tool.Use them strategically, and the revenue will follow.
Topics
❓Frequently Asked Questions
How much does YouTube Shorts pay per 1,000 views?
YouTube Shorts pay $0.03-$0.10 per 1,000 views on average (RPM). However, this varies significantly by niche: Finance and business Shorts earn $0.08-$0.20 per 1K views, while gaming and entertainment earn $0.02-$0.06. Your location matters too—US traffic pays 5-10x more than developing countries.
Is the YouTube Shorts Fund still available in 2026?
No. The original YouTube Shorts Fund ended in February 2023. It's been completely replaced by the ad revenue sharing model where creators receive 45% of Shorts ad revenue. The new system is more sustainable and rewards consistent creators rather than one-time viral hits.
Can you make a living from YouTube Shorts alone?
Making a full-time living solely from Shorts is difficult. To earn $3,000/month (roughly minimum wage in the US), you'd need 50-100 million Shorts views monthly depending on your niche. However, Shorts can be part of a diversified income strategy including long-form videos, sponsorships, memberships, and affiliate marketing.
Why are my YouTube Shorts earnings so low?
Shorts earnings are low for several reasons: (1) You only get 45% of ad revenue vs. 55% for long-form. (2) Ad revenue is pooled and distributed by view share, not direct ad placements. (3) Using copyrighted music reduces your cut by 30-70%. (4) Lower-tier countries (India, Brazil, etc.) generate much less revenue than US/UK traffic.
How do I increase my YouTube Shorts revenue?
To maximize Shorts revenue: (1) Target high-CPM niches like finance, tech, or business. (2) Avoid copyrighted music—use YouTube's Audio Library instead. (3) Optimize for tier 1 countries (US, UK, Canada, Australia) by using American English and posting at peak US hours. (4) Post 1-3 Shorts daily for consistent volume. (5) Funnel Shorts viewers to higher-paying long-form content.
When do you get paid from YouTube Shorts?
You're paid monthly via Google AdSense, but only after reaching the $100 payment threshold. Payments are issued between the 21st-26th of each month for the previous month's earnings. Example: January earnings are paid out in late February. New creators should link their AdSense account immediately after YPP approval.
Can I monetize Shorts without showing my face?
Yes! Faceless Shorts are fully monetizable. Many successful channels use stock footage, screen recordings, animations, AI voices, and text-on-screen content. In fact, faceless channels often scale faster because you can outsource production. Popular faceless formats include finance explainers, tech tips, history facts, and top 10 lists.