YouTube RPM vs Shorts RPM

Many creators notice that Shorts generate far more views than long-form videos.

But the revenue often feels surprisingly low.

That’s because Shorts RPM works very differently from traditional YouTube monetization.

---

Long-Form Videos Usually Earn More

Traditional YouTube videos can display:

• Pre-roll ads
• Mid-roll ads
• Display ads

This creates more monetization opportunities per viewer.

Long-form educational content often produces the highest RPM.

---

Shorts Use A Shared Revenue Pool

Shorts monetization works through a creator revenue-sharing system.

Ads appear between Shorts in the feed.

Revenue is then distributed across creators based on overall Shorts engagement.

This usually results in lower RPM.

---

Typical RPM Differences

Many creators report numbers like:

| Content Type | Typical RPM | |---|---| | Long-form videos | $3-$20+ | | Shorts | $0.01-$0.20 |

The difference can be massive.

---

Why Creators Still Use Shorts

Despite lower RPM, Shorts are extremely powerful for growth.

They can help creators:

• Reach new audiences
• Gain subscribers quickly
• Increase channel visibility
• Drive traffic to long-form videos

Many successful creators use Shorts as a growth tool rather than a direct income source.

---

Audience Quality Still Matters

Shorts targeting high-income countries may still earn more.

Advertiser demand continues to affect monetization performance.

---

Long-Term Strategy Matters

Many creators combine:

• Shorts for growth
• Long-form videos for revenue

This hybrid approach is becoming increasingly common.

---

Final Thoughts

Shorts RPM is usually far lower than traditional YouTube RPM.

However, Shorts can still play a major role in audience growth and long-term monetization strategy.

---

Useful tools:

RPM Calculator

How YouTube Shorts Make Money