Creator rate guide · 2026
How much should a YouTube creator charge for a sponsorship in 2026?
Short answer
YouTube sponsorships are usually priced on views, not subscribers. A common industry rule of thumb is a CPM of $10–$50 per 1,000 expected views for an integrated segment — so a video expected to hit 50,000 views might command $500–$2,500. A dedicated video costs more than a 60-second integration.
The rule of thumb
Price on expected views, not subscribers. Integrated segment ≈ $10–$50 CPM (per 1,000 views). A dedicated video is a multiple of that. Use your median recent views — not your best video — as the honest baseline.
These are widely-published industry rules of thumb — a starting point to anchor a negotiation, not a guarantee. Your real number depends on the factors below.
What creators actually got paid on kolify
We only show a live benchmark once at least 5 real, verified paid deals back it — no invented numbers. This platform doesn’t have enough yet. Log your deals on kolify and you help build the first honest, creator-owned rate benchmark.
Typical rates by deliverable
The standard mid-roll brand mention inside a normal upload.
The whole video is the sponsorship — priced well above an integration.
If the brand runs your segment as an ad or reuses it.
For declining competing sponsors for a period.
What moves your rate up or down
Engagement rate
A creator with 3–6%+ engagement can charge well above a same-size account at 1%. Rates track attention, not just follower count.
Usage & licensing
If the brand wants to run your content as a paid ad (whitelisting) or reuse it beyond an agreed window, that is a separate line item — commonly +25–100% of the base rate.
Exclusivity
Agreeing not to work with competing brands for a period is a real cost to you. Price it in — 20–50% on top is common.
Rush / turnaround
A tight deadline that reshuffles your schedule justifies a rush fee (often +25–50%).
Deliverable bundle
A post + stories + a usage licence is worth more than a single post — but bundle discounts of 10–20% keep deals moving.
Get your exact number
Plug in your followers and engagement — the free calculator does the math and gives you a defensible range to quote.
Open the free rate calculator →Common questions
How much should I charge for a YouTube sponsorship?
YouTube deals are usually priced on expected views using a CPM of roughly $10–$50 per 1,000 views for an integrated segment. A video expected to reach 50,000 views might command $500–$2,500. Use your median recent views, not your single best video, for an honest baseline.
What is the difference between an integration and a dedicated video?
An integration is a 30–60 second brand mention inside a normal upload. A dedicated video is built entirely around the sponsor and is worth far more — typically 2–4× the integration rate.
Should I price on subscribers or views?
Views. Subscriber count is a vanity anchor; brands pay for the audience that actually watches. Price on your realistic expected views for the specific video.
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