⏱️ YouTube Monetization Calculator 2026
Estimate When You'll Hit YouTube Partner Program Requirements
📊 Understanding YouTube Monetization Requirements
The YouTube Monetization Calculator helps aspiring creators estimate when they'll reach the YouTube Partner Program (YPP) requirements. In 2026, you need 1,000 subscribers and either 4,000 watch hours (last 12 months) or 10 million Shorts views (last 90 days) to start earning ad revenue.
Whether you're a new creator just starting out or have been uploading for months, this free tool projects your monetization date based on your current stats and growth rate. Plan your content strategy, set realistic goals, and track your progress toward your first YouTube paycheck!
⏱️ Time to Monetization Calculator
📊 Your Current Stats
📈 Your Growth Rate
📅 Estimated Time to Monetization
📝 How to Use the YouTube Monetization Calculator
- Enter your current subscribers — Find this in your YouTube Studio dashboard under "Channel analytics."
- Enter your current watch hours — Check YouTube Studio → Analytics → Watch time (last 365 days).
- Add your weekly growth rates — Calculate your average new subscribers and watch hours per week from the last 4-8 weeks.
- Enter your upload frequency — Input how many videos you upload per week to estimate total videos needed.
- Click Calculate — See your estimated monetization date, timeline milestones, and videos required.
📋 YouTube Partner Program Requirements 2026
To join the YouTube Partner Program (YPP) and start earning money from ads, you must meet these requirements:
| Requirement | Standard Path | Shorts Path |
|---|---|---|
| Subscribers | 1,000 | 1,000 |
| Watch Hours | 4,000 (last 12 months) | — |
| Shorts Views | — | 10 million (last 90 days) |
| 2-Step Verification | Required | Required |
| Community Guidelines | No active strikes | No active strikes |
| AdSense Account | Required | Required |
Source: YouTube Partner Program Overview (Official YouTube Support)
📐 YouTube Monetization Formula & Calculation Method
Weeks to Subscriber Goal
This calculates how many weeks until you reach 1,000 subscribers based on your current growth rate. If you have 250 subs and gain 20/week, you need (1000-250)/20 = 37.5 weeks.
Weeks to Watch Hours Goal
This calculates how many weeks until you reach 4,000 watch hours. If you have 1,000 hours and gain 100/week, you need (4000-1000)/100 = 30 weeks.
Time to Monetization
Your monetization date is determined by whichever threshold takes longer to reach. You need BOTH requirements met, so we take the maximum of the two timelines.
📊 YouTube Monetization Examples
Example 1: New Gaming Channel (Slow Growth)
Scenario: Jake started a gaming channel 2 months ago with 150 subscribers and 400 watch hours.
Growth: 15 subs/week, 80 hours/week
Calculation:
- Weeks for subs: (1,000 - 150) ÷ 15 = 57 weeks
- Weeks for hours: (4,000 - 400) ÷ 80 = 45 weeks
- Total: MAX(57, 45) = 57 weeks (~13 months)
Result: Jake will likely be monetized in about 13 months. Subscribers are his bottleneck.
Example 2: Education Channel (Average Growth)
Scenario: Maria runs an education channel with 600 subscribers and 2,500 watch hours.
Growth: 40 subs/week, 200 hours/week
Calculation:
- Weeks for subs: (1,000 - 600) ÷ 40 = 10 weeks
- Weeks for hours: (4,000 - 2,500) ÷ 200 = 7.5 weeks
- Total: MAX(10, 7.5) = 10 weeks (~2.5 months)
Result: Maria is on track to be monetized in about 2.5 months!
Example 3: Viral Tech Channel (Fast Growth)
Scenario: Alex had a video go semi-viral. He has 850 subscribers and 3,200 watch hours.
Growth: 100 subs/week, 400 hours/week
Calculation:
- Weeks for subs: (1,000 - 850) ÷ 100 = 1.5 weeks
- Weeks for hours: (4,000 - 3,200) ÷ 400 = 2 weeks
- Total: MAX(1.5, 2) = 2 weeks!
Result: Alex can apply for YPP in about 2 weeks. Time to set up AdSense!
📈 Growth Benchmarks for New Channels
| Growth Rate | Subs/Month | Hours/Month | Time to YPP |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🐢 Slow | 20-50 | 100-200 | 18-24 months |
| 🚶 Average | 50-150 | 200-500 | 8-12 months |
| 🏃 Fast | 150-500 | 500-1,500 | 3-6 months |
| 🚀 Viral | 500+ | 1,500+ | 1-3 months |
💡 Tips to Grow Faster
📅 Post Consistently
Upload at least 2-3 videos per week. Consistency signals to YouTube that your channel is active and reliable.
⏱️ Make Longer Videos
Videos 8-15+ minutes rack up more watch hours. A 10-minute video watched fully = 0.17 hours per view.
🎯 Optimize for Search
Use keyword-rich titles and descriptions. Research what people are searching for in your niche.
🔔 Call to Subscribe
Ask viewers to subscribe early in your video. People who watch >50% are likely to subscribe if asked.
📺 Create Playlists
Playlists auto-play videos, increasing watch time. Group related content for binge-watching.
🎬 Go Live Weekly
A 2-hour stream with 50 viewers = 100 watch hours. Live streams are excellent for accumulating hours quickly.
🔗 Official YouTube Resources
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
It varies widely—anywhere from 3 months to 2+ years. The average channel takes 12-18 months. Factors include niche, content quality, upload frequency, and promotion. Use this calculator to estimate based on your specific growth rate.
One watch hour equals 60 minutes of watch time. This can come from one viewer watching 60 minutes, or 60 viewers watching 1 minute each. Only public long-form videos count—Shorts and private videos don't contribute to the 4,000 hours requirement.
No, Shorts views don't count toward the 4,000 watch hours requirement. However, YouTube offers an alternative Shorts path: 10 million Shorts views in 90 days + 1,000 subscribers to qualify for YPP.
Yes and no. The 4,000 hours must be accumulated in the last 12 months at the time of application. However, once approved for YPP, you can stay monetized even if hours drop below 4,000 (unless you violate policies).
Most creators find 4,000 watch hours harder to achieve. It requires consistent viewership and longer videos. Many channels hit 1,000 subs quickly but wait months for hours to accumulate. Focus on creating longer, engaging content.
This calculator provides estimates based on linear growth. Real growth is often non-linear—you might have viral videos or slow periods. Use this as a planning tool, not a guarantee. Update your inputs monthly for better accuracy.
Absolutely not! Buying subs or views violates YouTube's Terms of Service. YouTube's systems can detect artificial engagement and will reject your monetization application or terminate your channel entirely. Always grow organically.
Once you hit both thresholds, apply for YPP in YouTube Studio. Review typically takes 1 week to 1 month. Ensure you have no active community guidelines strikes and have set up an AdSense account before applying.
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Last Updated: February 2026