Do YouTube Shorts make money?

Do YouTube Shorts Actually Make Money?

If you're creating YouTube Shorts, you've probably wondered: Can I really make money from this? The short answer is yes—but not nearly as much as you might hope.

YouTube's Shorts monetization works differently from traditional long-form videos. Instead of ad revenue based on direct viewer clicks, Shorts earn through a share of the overall Shorts ad pool. On average, creators earn between $0.01 and $0.06 per 1,000 views. That means for every million views, you’re looking at roughly $10 to $60. Not exactly a windfall.

Compare that to regular YouTube videos, where RPM (revenue per thousand views) typically ranges from $1.25 to $2.50—and can go as high as $29.30 depending on niche, audience, and engagement. Long-form content still dominates when it comes to profitability. Ads can be placed mid-video, viewers are more likely to watch longer durations, and advertisers are willing to pay more for that engagement.

So why bother with Shorts at all? Discovery. Shorts are a powerful tool for growing your audience quickly. The algorithm favors them, pushing content to a broader audience in seconds. Many creators use Shorts as a "gateway" to funnel viewers to their higher-earning long-form content. Think of it as marketing time—short, fast, and great for visibility, even if the direct payout is low.

The bottom line? Shorts probably won’t make you rich—but they can help build the audience that eventually does. If you're in it for the long game, pair your Shorts strategy with longer, monetizable videos to maximize both reach and revenue.