YouTube Shorts Monetization: How Much You Can Make (2026)

According to Wyzowl’s 2025 video marketing data, when consumers were asked how they want to learn about a product or service, 78% said they'll watch a short video.

Short-form content is everywhere, popularized by TikTok, and YouTube Shorts monetization has become one of the biggest questions creators and brands ask. In 2025, Shorts pay out via an ad-revenue-sharing model, plus fan-funding tools and brand deals.

This guide explains exactly how it works, who qualifies, and whether YouTube monetization is actually worth it.

Can you monetize Shorts on YouTube?

Yes, creators can monetize YouTube Shorts. At first, Shorts were not included in the YouTube Partner Program (YPP), but now all video content can be monetized.

How does YouTube Shorts monetization work?

YouTube rewards Shorts creators with a revenue-sharing system generated from the Shorts ads they display between videos on the feed. 

The platform pools all Shorts ad revenue, then allocates a percentage to music partners and a percentage to YouTube Shorts creators. Creators are paid based on their individual videos’ performance.

1. Pool Shorts Feed ad revenue

Each month, revenue from ads running between videos in the Shorts Feed is added together. This happens separately for each country to ensure local pricing standards apply.

2. Calculate the Creator Pool

From that total ad revenue, YouTube subtracts the costs for music usage. The remaining money goes into the Creator Pool.

• If a creator uploads a video with no music, all revenue associated with its views goes into the Creator Pool.
• If a video uses one music track, half of the revenue goes to music costs and half to the Creator Pool.
• If a video uses two tracks, two-thirds go to music costs and one-third to the Creator Pool.

3. Allocate the Creator Pool

YouTube distributes funds from the Creator Pool to monetizing creators based on their share of total engaged views in each country.

For example, if your Shorts received 5% of all eligible views in the US, you are allocated 5% of the US Creator Pool, regardless of whether you used licensed music or not.

4. Apply revenue share

Once your allocation is determined, YouTube takes its cut. Creators keep 45% of their allocated revenue, while YouTube retains the remaining 55%.

Defining 'Engaged Views'

For your number of views to count toward the revenue calculation, they must be considered 'engaged views.' What is this magic metric anyway? Here's what to know:

• Engaged/Eligible Views: These are legitimate views from real users that meet YouTube’s viewing criteria. Only these views count toward your share of the Creator Pool.
• Ineligible Views: These are excluded entirely. They include unedited clips from movies, fake views from bots, or content that violates advertiser-friendly content guidelines, like inappropriate language or derogatory content.

What’s not in the Creator Pool

Not all ad revenue or views contribute to the pool. The following are excluded:

• Revenue associated with views from channels that have not yet accepted the Shorts Monetization Module.
• Views on Shorts uploaded directly by music partners.
• Ineligible views as defined above, including policy violations and artificial traffic.
• Revenue from ads shown before a user opens the Shorts Feed or on navigation pages.

YouTube Shorts monetization eligibility requirements

To monetize YouTube Shorts, creators need to be enrolled in the YouTube Partner Program. 

There are two levels of monetization in the YouTube Partner Program, each with different thresholds and revenue opportunities.

Fan funding access

This access allows creators to sell products on YouTube. It also unlocks monetization features like paid channel memberships, Super Chat, Super Stickers, and Super Thanks. To apply to the program you must have one of the following:

• 500 subscribers, plus three public posts in the past 90 days, and three million valid public Shorts views in the past 90 days.
• 500 subscribers and three public posts in the past 90 days, plus 3,000 valid public watch hours on long-form videos in the past 12 months. This doesn’t count hours from Shorts, livestreams, ad campaigns, private videos, unlisted videos, or deleted videos. 

Ad revenue and fan funding access

In addition to fan funding, creators also earn ad revenue (including YouTube Shorts monetization) and revenue from YouTube Premium subscribers. To apply to the program you must have one of the following:

• 1,000 subscribers, plus 10 million public Shorts views in the past 90 days.
• 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 public watch hours on long videos in the last 365 days

Once you meet either of these thresholds, you can apply to YouTube’s Partner Program. YouTube will review your channel and determine your eligibility, a process that usually takes about a month. 

Additional eligibility requirements for the program include:

• The channel must follow all YouTube channel monetization policies.
• The creator must live in a country where the program is available.
• The creator can’t have any active community guidelines strikes against their channel.
• The channel must have two-step verification turned on and advanced features enabled.
• The creator must have or obtain an AdSense account.

How to start monetizing YouTube Shorts

Once you’ve been accepted into the YouTube Partner Program, you’ll need to accept the Shorts Monetization Module to start earning funds. Here’s a step-by-step guide to turn it on:

1. Sign in to YouTube Studio.
2. Select Earn from the left menu.
3. Accept the Shorts Monetization Module.

If you haven’t already accepted the Base Terms module, accept that as well.

Average earnings from YouTube Shorts

YouTube launched its Shorts ad revenue sharing model in February 2023 in an effort to simplify the music licensing process and allow creators to earn more money on the platform. 

Various YouTubers claim that YouTube Shorts have much lower revenue per mille (RPM), or revenue per 1,000 views, compared to long videos. On average, creators are earning anywhere between 1¢ and 6¢ RPM. By contrast, YouTube creators who make long-form videos typically make anywhere between $1 to $30 RPM.

Here’s an example of how YouTube Shorts monetization might work for a brand or creator: 

1. You upload a Shorts video in the United States and that Short receives a million views in a month.
2. There are 400 million total Shorts views on videos uploaded by monetizing creators in the United States that month, and YouTube earns $200,000 from ads appearing in the Shorts feed.
3. Of the monetized Shorts viewed, 30% use no music, 30% use one music track, and 40% use two music tracks.
4. YouTube allocates money to the creator fund based on views per Short. In this example, views are evenly distributed across all Shorts. YouTube would allocate:

• 100% of revenue earned by videos with no music to the creator fund
• 50% of the revenue earned by videos using one track to the creator fund
• 33% of the revenue earned by videos using two tracks to the creator fund

In this case, YouTube allocates $116,400 to the creator pool and the remainder to the music licensing fund.

• Your million views make up 0.25% of the total monetized YouTube Shorts views that month, so your share of the creator fund is $116,400 x 0.0025 = $291.
• YouTube will pay you 45% of your revenue share of the creator pool, or $130.95.

YouTube creators evaluate revenue using RPM. In this case, your RPM would be 13¢, or $131.85 / 1,000. 

Other ways to make money with YouTube Shorts

• Sell subscription memberships
• Monetize livestreams
• Sell merchandise and products
• Join an affiliate program
• Secure paid brand partnerships

Although participating in the YouTube Partner Program is the only way to earn ad revenue from Shorts, it isn’t the only way to earn money as a Shorts creator. Here’s a list of ideas to earn money.

Sell subscription memberships

Turning on YouTube’s channel memberships allows you to charge monthly payments in exchange for perks like exclusive content, live chats, badges, and emojis. To turn on channel memberships, sign in to YouTube Studio, click Earn, and visit the Memberships tab. 

Monetize livestreams

YouTube allows creators to monetize livestreams using Super Chat and Super Stickers, which allow fans to pay to send highlighted messages or animated stickers in livestream chats.

Sell merchandise and products

Creators and brands can also make money on YouTube by selling merchandise online. You can sell branded merchandise (like apparel featuring your image, logo, or favorite catchphrase) or launch a product line associated with your specific content niche. Brands can use YouTube to create product videos and promote new offerings.

Creators typically sell products through an ecommerce platform like Shopify and continue to create and publish engaging content on YouTube to build brand loyalty, attract new audiences, and promote their products.

Join an affiliate program

Affiliate marketing is a huge opportunity for Shorts creators. These programs pay you for revenue associated with clicks to links hosted on the creator’s YouTube channel or another platform.

For example, the Shopify Affiliate Program partners with educators, influencers, and content creators who educate their audience about entrepreneurship.

Secure paid brand partnerships

Brand partnerships are another method of video monetization. Instead of having YouTube sell ad space on your behalf, you interact directly with brands to negotiate sponsorship deals.

Typically, brands pay creators to record and publish product reviews, endorsements, or other types of content. If you’re interested in securing a paid partnership, you can develop a creator website, approach brands directly, or join an influencer platform to help brands find and contact you.

Is YouTube Shorts monetization worth it?

Yes, but usually not for ad revenue alone.

If you search Reddit threads on r/NewTubers or r/PartneredYoutube, the consensus is that Shorts are great for quickly gaining subscribers and views, but long-form video remains the king of revenue.

Here is a look at the trade-offs:

YouTube Shorts

• Pros: Algorithm is explosive; you can get 10k+ views on a new channel overnight. Excellent for gaining subscribers rapidly.
• Cons: Low pay. With an average RPM of $0.01–$0.06, you need millions of views to make good money. 1 million views might pay only $10-$150, depending on viewer location and niche.

Long-form video

• Pros: High pay. RPMs typically range from $2.00 to $11+. A video with 10k views could earn you more than a Short with 500k views.
• Cons: Much harder to grow initially and requires more production time and viewer retention skills.

When Shorts monetization is worth it

Shorts are a powerful tool if you view ad revenue as a "bonus" rather than your paycheck. They are worth prioritizing if:

• You can batch produce content: If you can film and edit 5-10 Shorts in a single afternoon, the volume can make up for the low pay per view.
• You sell something else: If your goal is to get eyes on a product, course, or merchandise, Shorts are the best top-of-funnel marketing tool on YouTube right now.
• You are brand-deal focused: Brands love the viral numbers Shorts generate. You can often negotiate higher fees for sponsorships than what YouTube pays you directly in ad revenue.

When to prioritize long-form content

If your primary goal is to live off AdSense revenue, long-form YouTube videos are the safer bet. Focus here if:

• Your niche is educational or technical: Viewers in finance, tech, or tutorials pay high CPMs and usually need more than 60 seconds to be satisfied.
• You want passive income: Long-form evergreen videos tend to earn money for years, whereas Shorts traffic often spikes and drops off quickly.