Ever watched someone rack up millions of views on a 15-second video and wondered if they're actually making bank? 

Here's the reality check: YouTube Shorts can make you money, but probably not in the way you think.

Let me cut straight to the chase – yes, you can monetize YouTube Shorts through ad revenue sharing, brand deals, affiliate marketing, and several other methods I'm about to break down. 

Since February 2023, YouTube's been sharing ad revenue with Shorts creators, meaning those viral clips can actually pay your bills (if you play it smart).

The Quick Answer: How YouTube Shorts Monetization Actually Works

YouTube Shorts monetization works through a shared ad revenue pool system. When viewers scroll through the Shorts feed, ads appear between videos. 

All that ad money gets pooled together, then distributed to creators based on their share of views. 

You get 45% of your allocated portion, YouTube keeps 55%.

To start earning, you need to join the YouTube Partner Program with either:

• 1,000 subscribers + 10 million Shorts views in 90 days, OR

• 1,000 subscribers + 4,000 watch hours from regular videos

Once you're in, expect to earn roughly $0.01-$0.06 per 1,000 views – that's about $10-$60 per million views. 

Not exactly retirement money, but stick with me because the ad revenue is just the appetizer.

Monetization 101: How YouTube Shorts Make Money

Can You Really Make Money from YouTube Shorts?

Absolutely. 

Since early 2023, YouTube offers ad revenue sharing for Shorts as part of the YouTube Partner Program (YPP). 

Before this, creators relied on the now-defunct Shorts Fund (discontinued February 2023), which was basically YouTube throwing bonus money at creators to compete with TikTok.

Here's what changed the game: YouTube is the only short-form platform offering real ad revenue sharing. 

TikTok's Creator Fund? Notorious for paying peanuts.

Instagram Reels? Their bonus program is basically dead. YouTube Shorts? Actually shares the wealth (even if that wealth is measured in pennies per view).

How Shorts Ad Revenue Sharing Works (Simplified)

The system's different from regular YouTube videos, and understanding this difference is crucial:

When viewers swipe through the Shorts feed, ads pop up between videos – not on your specific Short. All the ad revenue from these between-video ads gets dumped into what YouTube calls the "Shorts Creator Pool."

YouTube then does some math:

1. Takes the total pool for the month

2. Allocates portions based on each creator's share of total eligible views

3. If you used music, some goes to licensing (but you still get your 45%)

4. You receive 45% of your allocated amount

The kicker? If you use popular music in your Short, YouTube handles the licensing payments from the pool automatically. You still get your cut – no copyright strikes, no drama.

Getting Paid Through AdSense

Your Shorts earnings flow through Google AdSense, just like regular YouTube earnings. The payment schedule's straightforward:

• Minimum threshold: $100

• Payment date: Around the 21st of each month for the previous month's earnings

• U.S. creators need to submit tax info (W-9) and receive a 1099 if earnings exceed $600

So if you earn $200 from Shorts in January, you'll see it hit your bank account by late February (assuming you've cleared the threshold and completed all the paperwork).

Shorts vs Regular YouTube Videos (What's Different?)

Let me be brutally honest here – the per-view earnings aren't even in the same universe:

Regular Videos:

• You get 55% of ad revenue

• Ads play directly on your video

• Multiple ad slots possible (pre-roll, mid-roll)

• RPM typically $1-$5 per 1,000 views

Shorts:

• You get 45% of your pool allocation

• Ads appear between videos in the feed

• No control over ad placement

• RPM typically $0.01-$0.06 per 1,000 views

Translation: You might need 50-100x more Shorts views to match the revenue from a single long-form video. But here's the thing – getting a million views on a Short is infinitely easier than on a 10-minute video.

How You Actually Enable Shorts Monetization

Once you're accepted into YPP, you need to accept the "Shorts Monetization Module" terms in YouTube Studio. This isn't automatic – I've seen creators leave money on the table because they forgot this step.

Head to YouTube Studio > Earn tab, review and enable Shorts ads. If you joined YPP before 2023, you definitely need to manually opt-in. Don't be that person wondering why their viral Shorts earned zilch.

Requirements & Policies for Shorts Monetization

YouTube Partner Program Eligibility (Choose Your Fighter)

You've got two paths to YPP, and both lead to the same destination:

Standard Path:

• 1,000 subscribers

• 4,000 valid public watch hours in the last 12 months

Shorts Path:

• 1,000 subscribers

• 10 million valid public Shorts views in the last 90 days

Yeah, you read that right – 10 million views in 90 days. That's roughly 3.33 million views per month. Sounds insane? I've seen creators hit it with a single viral Short.

The "Starter" Tier Nobody Talks About

Here's something most guides miss: YouTube introduced a lower tier in mid-2023:

• 500 subscribers

• 3 public uploads in 90 days

• Either 3,000 watch hours OR 3 million Shorts views (90 days)

This gets you fan-funding features (Super Thanks, memberships) but NOT ad revenue. It's like YouTube's way of saying "here's a taste, now work harder."

Content Eligibility: The Rules That Actually Matter

YouTube's strict about what flies for monetization:

No "Reused" Content You can't just rip TikToks (especially with watermarks) and expect to get paid. If you're doing reaction content, add substantial commentary. One-word reactions while someone else's content plays? That's a fast track to rejection.

No Artificial Views Using bots or click farms? YouTube's algorithms will catch you, and those views won't count for monetization. Plus, you risk channel termination. Not worth it.

Advertiser-Friendly Content Keep it clean(ish). Excessive profanity, violence, or adult content means limited or no ads. Since Shorts are so brief, even a few seconds of inappropriate content can kill monetization.

Copyrighted Music and Shorts Here's the beautiful thing – you CAN use popular music and still monetize. If you use tracks from YouTube's licensed library, the system automatically handles revenue sharing with rights holders. You still get your 45%.

But watch out: Shorts over 60 seconds with copyrighted music get blocked from monetization entirely. Stick to 60 seconds or less when using music.

"Made for Kids" Content Mark your content for kids, and your revenue drops to almost nothing. Kids content gets no personalized ads, leading to CPMs that'll make you cry. Some creators report earning literally one-tenth of normal rates.

Do Shorts Views Count Toward Watch Hours?

No. Shorts views don't count toward the 4,000 watch-hour requirement. They're completely separate metrics. If you're going all-in on Shorts, focus on hitting that 10 million view threshold instead.

Earnings, Rates & Benchmarks: The Numbers You Actually Care About

Shorts RPM vs CPM – Understanding the Metrics

Forget CPM for Shorts – it's meaningless since ads aren't tied to individual videos. Focus on RPM (Revenue Per Mille): what YOU earn per 1,000 views.

Most creators see Shorts RPMs between $0.02-$0.05. If you're hitting $0.10 or higher, you're doing something right (probably targeting high-value audiences in the U.S. or covering finance topics).

How Much Do YouTube Shorts Pay per 1,000 Views?

Let me give you the real numbers from actual creators:

• Average range: $0.01-$0.06 per 1,000 views

• Per million views: $10-$60

• U.S. audience average: $0.33 per 1,000 views

• Global average: $0.02-$0.05 per 1,000 views

One creator I researched made $500 from 11 million views – that's about $0.045 per 1,000 views. Another in finance niches reported up to $0.20 per 1,000 views.

What Impacts Your Shorts RPM?

Geography matters – massively:

• U.S. views: ~$0.33 per 1,000

• India views: ~$0.008 per 1,000

If your Short goes viral in developing markets, expect pennies. If it catches fire in the U.S., UK, or Canada, you might actually see decent returns.

Seasonality swings:

• Q4 (October-December): Highest rates due to holiday advertising

• Q1 (January-March): Lowest rates as advertisers recover from holiday spending

• Expect 20-40% swings throughout the year

Niche makes a difference:

• Finance/Business: Up to $0.20+ RPM

• Entertainment/Gaming: $0.02-$0.05 RPM

• Education/Tech: $0.05-$0.10 RPM

How Many Views Do You Need to Make Real Money?

Let's do the math with realistic scenarios:

To earn $100:

• At $0.01 RPM: 10 million views needed

• At $0.03 RPM: 3.3 million views needed

• At $0.10 RPM: 1 million views needed

To earn $1,000:

• At $0.03 RPM: 33 million views needed

• At $0.05 RPM: 20 million views needed

The takeaway? You need viral-level views to make significant money from ads alone. That's why smart creators don't stop at ad revenue.

Growth Strategies to Drive Shorts Revenue

Hook Viewers in the First Seconds

The YouTube algorithm heavily rewards Shorts with high retention. Your first 1-3 seconds determine whether viewers swipe away or stick around.

Start with:

• A visually shocking moment

• A burning question

• Bold text highlighting the payoff

If your retention graph nosedives in the first few seconds, your Short is dead in the water. The algorithm won't push content that people immediately skip.

Engagement Tactics That Actually Work

Looping Content: Make your Short seamlessly loop so viewers watch twice without realizing. End where you began, and watch that average view duration exceed 100%.

Interactive Elements: Use YouTube's Q&A or Poll stickers to boost engagement. These features make your Short stand out in the feed and encourage interaction.

Captions Are Non-Negotiable: Many viewers watch with sound off. Bold, readable captions keep them engaged and boost retention.

Best Time to Post YouTube Shorts

For U.S. audiences:

• Peak times: 12 PM-2 PM (lunch scrolling)

• Secondary peak: 6-9 PM (evening wind-down)

• Best days: Tuesday through Thursday

But here's the thing – Shorts can blow up hours or days after posting. The algorithm is less time-sensitive than Instagram or TikTok. Consistency matters more than perfect timing.

Trends vs Evergreen Content

Trend-Riding: Using trending sounds or topics can give you a 21% algorithmic boost in the first 48 hours. But these views die quickly once the trend passes.

Evergreen Content: "How-to" Shorts, tips, and educational content continue pulling views months later. They won't explode immediately but provide steady, long-term value.

My advice? Do both. Use trends for quick growth spurts, evergreen for sustainable channel building.

Using Shorts to Boost Long-Form Performance

This is where the magic happens. Create Shorts as teasers for longer videos. A Short that gets 1 million views might drive 10,000 viewers to your long-form content – and those long-form views are worth 50-100x more in revenue.

Pin a comment on viral Shorts linking to related long videos. Even a 1% click-through rate from millions of views means serious traffic to your money-making content.

Beyond Ads: Diversifying Your YouTube Shorts Income

Affiliate Marketing in Shorts

Since you can't put clickable links in the video, use:

• Pinned comments with your affiliate link

• Video description (though fewer people check this)

• Clear call-to-action in the Short itself

I've seen creators make more from a single affiliate link in a viral Short than from all the ad revenue combined. A Short reviewing a $50 product that converts at 2% on a million views? That's potentially $1,000 in commissions versus $30 in ad revenue.

Brand Deals and Sponsored Shorts

Brands are throwing money at Shorts creators. Here's what they're paying:

• Small creators (10K-100K average views): $100-$500 per Short

• Mid-tier (100K-1M average views): $1,000-$5,000 per Short

• Top creators (1M+ average views): $10,000+ per Short

Many creators make 10-20x more from sponsorships than ad revenue. The key? Maintaining authenticity while integrating the brand message.

Always disclose sponsorships with #Ad or using YouTube's "Paid Promotion" toggle. The FTC doesn't play around with this stuff.

Super Thanks on Shorts

Enable Super Thanks (YouTube's tip jar feature) and viewers can send you $2-$50 directly. While not everyone tips, even 0.1% of viewers dropping $2 on a million-view Short means $2,000.

To enable: YouTube Studio > Earn > Supers > Toggle on Super Thanks

YouTube Shopping Integration

As of mid-2025, YouTube rolled out Shopping product stickers globally for Shorts. Tag products in your Short, and viewers see clickable stickers to purchase. Testing showed these stickers increased clicks by 40%.

This is huge for:

• Selling your own merch

• Affiliate marketing

• Driving traffic to your products

Converting Shorts Traffic Off-Platform

Use Shorts to build your email list or drive traffic to your website. Mention a free resource in your profile link, capture emails, and market to that list forever.

Many entrepreneurs use Shorts as a funnel top:

• Short provides value

• Profile link offers lead magnet

• Email sequence sells course/service

The Shorts might earn pennies, but the backend sales can be worth thousands.

Practical How-To Guide & Troubleshooting

Step-by-Step: Enabling Monetization for Shorts

1. Join YPP: YouTube Studio > Earn tab > Apply to YouTube Partner Program

2. Review Terms: Accept the base monetization agreement

3. Set up AdSense: Create new or link existing account (use your legal name)

4. Wait for Review: Usually takes 1-4 weeks

5. Accept Shorts Module: Once approved, go to Earn > Accept Shorts Monetization Module

6. Complete AdSense Setup: Add tax info, bank details, verify address with PIN

What to Do if Shorts Have Views but $0 Earnings

Common issues and fixes:

Not in YPP Yet? Views before monetization don't count. They won't pay retroactively.

Check Monetization Status: Look for green $ icon. Yellow or gray means limited/no ads.

Geographic Factor: If 90% of views came from low-CPM countries, earnings might round to $0.

Music or Reused Content: Copyrighted content claims or reused content flags kill monetization.

Recent Views? Revenue reporting can lag 24-48 hours. Check again tomorrow.

Troubleshooting Rejected Applications

Rejected for "reused content"? You need more original value:

• Add substantial commentary to any clips

• Remove all watermarks from other platforms

• Create original footage when possible

• Wait 30 days and reapply with improved content

Shorts vs Other Platforms & Overall Strategy

YouTube Shorts vs TikTok vs Instagram Reels

Who Pays More?

• YouTube Shorts: $0.01-$0.06 per 1,000 views (reliable)

• TikTok Creator Fund: <$0.03 per 1,000 views (inconsistent)

• Instagram Reels: Bonus program mostly dead, no reliable monetization

YouTube wins for platform monetization, but TikTok has better brand deal opportunities due to its creator marketplace.

Long-Form vs Shorts Strategy

If you want maximum revenue per view, long-form wins every time. But Shorts offer:

• Faster growth

• Easier production

• Gateway to long-form viewers

• Multiple monetization angles

The smart play? Use both. Shorts bring them in, long-form content pays the bills.

Integrating Shorts in Your Channel Strategy

Don't create a separate Shorts channel. YouTube rewards multi-format creators. Use Shorts to:

• Test content ideas quickly

• Build subscriber base

• Create teasers for long videos

• Maintain posting consistency

Your channel architecture should include dedicated Shorts playlists alongside regular content. Make it easy for Shorts viewers to discover your money-making long-form videos.

FAQs About Making Money from YouTube Shorts

Can you make money from YouTube Shorts?

Yes, through ad revenue sharing (if in YPP), sponsorships, affiliate marketing, and viewer funding features.

How many views do you need to get paid?

You need 1,000 subscribers + 10 million Shorts views in 90 days to qualify for monetization. Once monetized, you earn on every eligible view.

Do Shorts count toward 4,000 watch hours?

No, Shorts views don't count toward watch hours. They have their own 10 million view threshold.

How much do Shorts pay per 1,000 views?

Typically $0.01-$0.06, though U.S.-focused creators might see up to $0.33 per 1,000 views.

Can you use copyrighted music and still earn?

Yes, if you use YouTube's licensed library. Revenue is automatically shared with rights holders, but you still get your 45%. You should also read our guide on learning how you can monetize YouTube videos with copyright music.

Are brand deals common for Shorts?

Absolutely. Many creators earn $500-$5,000 per sponsored Short, depending on their reach.

Is Super Thanks available on Shorts?

Yes, viewers can tip $2-$50 on your Shorts if you've enabled the feature in YouTube Studio.

Take Action Now

Look, I'm not going to sugarcoat it – you won't get rich from Shorts ad revenue alone. But combine ads with sponsorships, affiliate marketing, and strategic channel growth? That's where real money lives.

The creators crushing it on Shorts aren't waiting for ad pennies. They're using Shorts as a growth engine for their entire business. A million views might only pay $50 in ads, but it could also mean:

• $500 in affiliate commissions

• 10,000 new email subscribers

• A $2,000 brand deal

• Thousands of views on higher-paying long-form content

Start creating Shorts today. Test different formats. Find what resonates. The algorithm rewards consistency and experimentation.

Most importantly, think beyond the platform. Every Short is an opportunity to build your brand, grow your audience, and create multiple income streams. The YouTube Shorts gold rush is happening right now – you just need to know where to dig.

Want to dive deeper into YouTube monetization strategies? Check out our guide on YouTube Niches with High CPMs to maximize your earnings potential. For those interested in automation and faceless channels, our YouTube Automation Niches guide covers 15+ profitable ideas.

Ready to accelerate your YouTube growth? Digital Media Lab specializes in YouTube strategy and monetization optimization. Let's talk about taking your channel to the next level.