YouTube CPM Rates by Niche: Complete 2026 Guide

Understanding YouTube CPM Rates

CPM (Cost Per Mille) is how much advertisers pay per 1,000 ad impressions. But what you actually earn is RPM (Revenue Per Mille) - your take after YouTube's 45% cut.

CPM Rates by Niche (2026)

NicheCPM RangeRPM (Your Earnings)

Insurance$30 - $50$16.50 - $27.50

Legal/Law$25 - $45$13.75 - $24.75

Finance/Investing$20 - $40$11 - $22

Real Estate$18 - $35$9.90 - $19.25

Business/Marketing$15 - $30$8.25 - $16.50

Technology$12 - $25$6.60 - $13.75

Health/Fitness$10 - $22$5.50 - $12.10

Education$8 - $18$4.40 - $9.90

Travel$6 - $15$3.30 - $8.25

Food/Cooking$5 - $12$2.75 - $6.60

Gaming$3 - $8$1.65 - $4.40

Entertainment$2 - $6$1.10 - $3.30

Music$1 - $4$0.55 - $2.20

Why Some Niches Pay More

High-value niches attract advertisers selling expensive products:

Insurance companies pay $500+ per customer acquisition

Law firms pay $100-500 per lead

Financial services pay $50-200 per signup

Low-value niches attract cheaper ads:

Mobile games pay $0.50-2 per install

Generic brand awareness ads pay less

How to Maximize Your CPM

1. **Target US/UK/Canada audiences** - CPMs are 2-5x higher

2. **Create longer videos** - More ad slots = more revenue

3. **Use mid-roll ads** - Place them strategically every 3-4 minutes

4. **Avoid controversial topics** - Advertisers avoid "risky" content

5. **Stay in advertiser-friendly niches** - Some topics get limited ads

Seasonal CPM Variations

CPMs peak during:

**Q4 (Oct-Dec)**: Holiday shopping = highest CPMs

**Q1 (Jan-Mar)**: Tax season = finance CPMs spike

CPMs drop during:

**January**: Post-holiday ad budget reset

**Summer**: Lower advertiser spending

Use our [Calculator](/calculator) to estimate earnings for your niche!