Average brand deal rates — integration format, tech/software niche baseline
Tier
Subscribers
Integration
Dedicated Video
YouTube Shorts
Monthly (4 vids)
Nano
1K – 10K
$50 – $300
$100 – $600
$25 – $100
$200 – $1,200
Micro
10K – 100K
$300 – $3,000
$600 – $6,000
$100 – $500
$1,200 – $12,000
Mid-Tier
100K – 500K
$3,000 – $15,000
$6,000 – $30,000
$500 – $2,500
$12,000 – $60,000
Macro
500K – 2M
$15,000 – $50,000
$30,000 – $100,000
$2,500 – $8,000
$60,000 – $200,000
Mega
2M+
$50,000 – $200,000+
$100,000 – $500,000+
$8,000 – $30,000
$200,000+
What Factors Affect YouTube Brand Deal Rates?
View Count vs. Subscriber Count
Brands pay for views delivered, not subscriber count. A channel with 200K subscribers averaging 80K views per video earns more than a 500K-sub channel averaging 20K views. Always lead with your average views in rate negotiations.
Niche CPM Premium
Finance channels can charge 3–5× more per view than gaming channels because their audience has higher purchase intent and disposable income. Tech/software and B2B niches similarly command 40–80% premiums over lifestyle content.
Integration vs. Dedicated
A 60–90 second integration mid-roll in a regular video charges 40–60% of a full dedicated video. Dedicated videos cost more but convert better for direct-response offers. Most brands prefer integrations for awareness; dedicated for launches.
Audience Demographics
US/UK/AU/CA audiences are worth 3–5× more per view than global averages. If 70%+ of your audience is from Tier 1 English-speaking countries, factor that into your rate. Show brands your YouTube Analytics demographics screenshot during negotiations.
YouTube AdSense RPM by Niche
Average RPM (Revenue Per 1,000 views) — varies by season, audience geography, and content
Niche
Average RPM
Peak (Q4)
Off-Season Low
Finance / Investing
$10 – $25
$20 – $40
$6 – $12
Business / B2B / SaaS
$8 – $18
$15 – $30
$5 – $10
Tech / Software
$5 – $12
$10 – $20
$3 – $7
Education / Tutorials
$4 – $10
$8 – $16
$2 – $6
Fitness / Health
$3 – $8
$6 – $14
$2 – $5
Lifestyle / Vlog
$2 – $5
$4 – $9
$1 – $3
Gaming / Entertainment
$1 – $4
$3 – $7
$0.80 – $2
Cooking / Food
$2 – $6
$5 – $10
$1 – $3
How to Calculate Your YouTube Rate
The most reliable formula for setting your YouTube brand deal rate combines view-based pricing with a niche multiplier:
Base rate: Take your average views per video × $0.02–$0.05 (CPV range)
Format multiplier: Integration = 1×, dedicated video = 2×, Shorts = 0.3×
Geography bonus: If 70%+ Tier 1 audience, add 20–30%
Usage rights: If brand wants paid ad rights, add 50–100%
Example: A tech channel with 50K average views × $0.03 CPV = $1,500 base × 1.2 niche = $1,800 for an integration. That's your floor — negotiate up from there.
Frequently Asked Questions
YouTube AdSense pays creators $1–$6 RPM (revenue per 1,000 views) on average, but this varies enormously by niche. Finance and investing channels earn $10–$25 RPM; tech and software $6–$12 RPM; lifestyle and entertainment $1–$3 RPM. Brand deal income is separate and typically 3–10× more than AdSense for the same video.
YouTube sponsorship rates: nano channels (1K–10K subs) charge $50–$500 per dedicated video, micro (10K–100K) $500–$5,000, mid-tier (100K–500K) $5,000–$25,000, macro (500K–2M) $25,000–$100,000, mega (2M+) $100,000–$500,000+. Integrations typically cost 40–60% of a full dedicated video rate.
A dedicated video is entirely about the sponsor's product — the whole video is the ad. An integration is a sponsored segment (typically 60–90 seconds) within a video about another topic. Integrations cost 40–60% of dedicated video rates. Most brands prefer integrations for awareness campaigns; dedicated videos for product launches and conversions.
YouTube requires 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 watch hours in the past 12 months to join the YouTube Partner Program (YPP) and earn AdSense revenue. For brand deals, there is no minimum — brands regularly work with channels as small as 5,000–10,000 subscribers in high-CPM niches like finance, B2B software, or specialized hobby content.
Yes. YouTube Shorts earn significantly less from AdSense — typically $0.03–$0.08 RPM, versus $2–$25 RPM for long-form content. Brand deals for Shorts also pay less: typically 20–30% of an integration rate. However, Shorts have much higher view volumes and can drive subscribers quickly, making them valuable for audience growth rather than direct monetization.
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