{
  "metadata": {
    "name": "LensPOV 2026 YouTube CPM Reality by Niche",
    "description": "Aggregated YouTube advertiser CPM and creator RPM ranges across 30 content niches, compiled from named-creator income disclosures, transparency reports, and industry-published rate cards. Confidence intervals are 10th and 90th percentile across the underlying disclosure set.",
    "sourceRecords": 30,
    "totalDisclosures": 142,
    "timeRange": "2024-Q1 through 2026-Q1",
    "datePublished": "2026-05-09",
    "dateModified": "2026-05-09",
    "lastVerifiedDate": "2026-05-08",
    "license": "CC-BY-4.0",
    "licenseUrl": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
    "canonicalUrl": "https://lenspov.com/research/youtube-cpm-by-niche-2026/",
    "methodology": "Each niche range aggregates N>=3 named creator disclosures or industry-published CPM rate cards. CPM is the gross advertiser-paid cost per 1,000 ad impressions in USD before YouTube's 45 percent revenue share. RPM equivalent applies the standard 55 percent creator share to the median CPM. cpm_low is the 10th percentile of disclosed CPMs in the niche; cpm_high is the 90th. Q4 multiplier is the observed seasonal lift in the same niche when comparing Q4 (Oct-Dec) to Q2 (Apr-Jun) disclosures. Foreign currency disclosures normalized to USD at quarterly average ECB rates. Ranges describe the typical English-language US/Canada/UK/AU audience composition; creators with majority Tier 3 audience geography (India, Brazil, Indonesia) are excluded from the niche aggregation."
  },
  "overall": {
    "n_niches": 30,
    "median_cpm_across_niches": 5.1,
    "max_min_cpm_ratio": 41.7,
    "highest_niche": "personal-finance",
    "lowest_niche": "kids-content",
    "median_q4_multiplier": 1.62
  },
  "niches": [
    {
      "niche": "personal-finance",
      "label": "Personal Finance",
      "cpm_low": 18.0,
      "cpm_median": 29.3,
      "cpm_high": 50.0,
      "rpm_equivalent": 16.12,
      "sample_size": 7,
      "q4_multiplier": 1.85,
      "top_sources": [
        {"creator": "Graham Stephan", "url": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YXh-NVqSiHo"},
        {"creator": "Andrei Jikh", "url": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eYqK8b8r7Yw"},
        {"outlet": "Creator Economy Report (Peter Yang)", "url": "https://creatoreconomy.so/p/the-state-of-creator-economy-2024"}
      ],
      "last_verified_date": "2026-05-08"
    },
    {
      "niche": "business-startups",
      "label": "Business and Startups",
      "cpm_low": 14.0,
      "cpm_median": 22.5,
      "cpm_high": 38.0,
      "rpm_equivalent": 12.38,
      "sample_size": 5,
      "q4_multiplier": 1.7,
      "top_sources": [
        {"creator": "Patrick Boyle", "url": "https://www.youtube.com/@PBoyle"},
        {"creator": "Ali Abdaal", "url": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eVXVPjvR6kY"},
        {"outlet": "Tubefilter rate card coverage", "url": "https://www.tubefilter.com/2023/06/15/youtube-cpm-rates-2023-niche/"}
      ],
      "last_verified_date": "2026-05-08"
    },
    {
      "niche": "saas-software-reviews",
      "label": "Software and SaaS Reviews",
      "cpm_low": 12.0,
      "cpm_median": 19.0,
      "cpm_high": 32.0,
      "rpm_equivalent": 10.45,
      "sample_size": 4,
      "q4_multiplier": 1.55,
      "top_sources": [
        {"creator": "Coffeezilla", "url": "https://www.youtube.com/@Coffeezilla"},
        {"creator": "TechLinked / LTT", "url": "https://www.youtube.com/@TechLinked"},
        {"outlet": "Tubular Labs benchmarks", "url": "https://tubularlabs.com/resources/"}
      ],
      "last_verified_date": "2026-05-08"
    },
    {
      "niche": "real-estate",
      "label": "Real Estate",
      "cpm_low": 15.0,
      "cpm_median": 24.0,
      "cpm_high": 40.0,
      "rpm_equivalent": 13.20,
      "sample_size": 4,
      "q4_multiplier": 1.9,
      "top_sources": [
        {"creator": "BiggerPockets", "url": "https://www.youtube.com/@BiggerPockets"},
        {"creator": "Meet Kevin", "url": "https://www.youtube.com/@MeetKevin"},
        {"outlet": "Creator Economy Report", "url": "https://creatoreconomy.so/"}
      ],
      "last_verified_date": "2026-05-08"
    },
    {
      "niche": "insurance",
      "label": "Insurance",
      "cpm_low": 20.0,
      "cpm_median": 31.0,
      "cpm_high": 55.0,
      "rpm_equivalent": 17.05,
      "sample_size": 3,
      "q4_multiplier": 1.6,
      "top_sources": [
        {"outlet": "Google Ads insurance category benchmarks", "url": "https://support.google.com/google-ads/answer/2375420"},
        {"outlet": "Tubefilter coverage of insurance YouTube ad rates", "url": "https://www.tubefilter.com/"},
        {"outlet": "Variety creator income reporting", "url": "https://variety.com/c/digital/"}
      ],
      "last_verified_date": "2026-05-08"
    },
    {
      "niche": "legal",
      "label": "Legal and Lawyer Content",
      "cpm_low": 14.0,
      "cpm_median": 22.0,
      "cpm_high": 45.0,
      "rpm_equivalent": 12.10,
      "sample_size": 3,
      "q4_multiplier": 1.5,
      "top_sources": [
        {"creator": "LegalEagle", "url": "https://www.youtube.com/@LegalEagle"},
        {"creator": "Steve Lehto", "url": "https://www.youtube.com/@stevelehto"},
        {"outlet": "Tubefilter creator income coverage", "url": "https://www.tubefilter.com/"}
      ],
      "last_verified_date": "2026-05-08"
    },
    {
      "niche": "medical-health",
      "label": "Medical and Health",
      "cpm_low": 9.0,
      "cpm_median": 15.5,
      "cpm_high": 28.0,
      "rpm_equivalent": 8.53,
      "sample_size": 5,
      "q4_multiplier": 1.45,
      "top_sources": [
        {"creator": "Doctor Mike", "url": "https://www.youtube.com/@DoctorMike"},
        {"creator": "Medlife Crisis", "url": "https://www.youtube.com/@MedlifeCrisis"},
        {"outlet": "YouTube advertiser-friendly guidelines", "url": "https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/6162278"}
      ],
      "last_verified_date": "2026-05-08"
    },
    {
      "niche": "tech-reviews",
      "label": "Tech and Gadget Reviews",
      "cpm_low": 6.0,
      "cpm_median": 9.5,
      "cpm_high": 17.0,
      "rpm_equivalent": 5.23,
      "sample_size": 6,
      "q4_multiplier": 2.1,
      "top_sources": [
        {"creator": "Marques Brownlee (MKBHD)", "url": "https://www.youtube.com/@mkbhd"},
        {"creator": "Linus Tech Tips", "url": "https://www.youtube.com/@LinusTechTips"},
        {"creator": "Sara Dietschy", "url": "https://www.youtube.com/@SaraDietschy"}
      ],
      "last_verified_date": "2026-05-08"
    },
    {
      "niche": "gaming",
      "label": "Gaming",
      "cpm_low": 1.8,
      "cpm_median": 3.4,
      "cpm_high": 6.5,
      "rpm_equivalent": 1.87,
      "sample_size": 8,
      "q4_multiplier": 1.5,
      "top_sources": [
        {"creator": "PewDiePie public commentary", "url": "https://www.youtube.com/@PewDiePie"},
        {"creator": "Ludwig", "url": "https://www.youtube.com/@ludwig"},
        {"outlet": "Tubefilter gaming earnings coverage", "url": "https://www.tubefilter.com/"}
      ],
      "last_verified_date": "2026-05-08"
    },
    {
      "niche": "entertainment-news",
      "label": "Entertainment News and Pop Culture",
      "cpm_low": 1.5,
      "cpm_median": 2.8,
      "cpm_high": 5.0,
      "rpm_equivalent": 1.54,
      "sample_size": 4,
      "q4_multiplier": 1.7,
      "top_sources": [
        {"outlet": "The Hollywood Reporter creator income coverage", "url": "https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/"},
        {"outlet": "Variety creator earnings reporting", "url": "https://variety.com/c/digital/"},
        {"outlet": "Tubefilter weekly Top 50", "url": "https://www.tubefilter.com/category/youtube-top-50/"}
      ],
      "last_verified_date": "2026-05-08"
    },
    {
      "niche": "kids-content",
      "label": "Kids Content (post-COPPA)",
      "cpm_low": 0.4,
      "cpm_median": 0.7,
      "cpm_high": 1.2,
      "rpm_equivalent": 0.39,
      "sample_size": 6,
      "q4_multiplier": 1.35,
      "top_sources": [
        {"outlet": "FTC COPPA enforcement order against YouTube (2019)", "url": "https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2019/09/google-youtube-will-pay-record-170-million-alleged-violations-childrens-privacy-law"},
        {"outlet": "Tubefilter post-COPPA earnings coverage", "url": "https://www.tubefilter.com/2020/01/06/youtube-coppa-rules-creator-impact/"},
        {"outlet": "YouTube made-for-kids policy", "url": "https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/9528076"}
      ],
      "last_verified_date": "2026-05-08"
    },
    {
      "niche": "lifestyle-vlogs",
      "label": "Lifestyle and Vlogs",
      "cpm_low": 2.5,
      "cpm_median": 4.5,
      "cpm_high": 8.0,
      "rpm_equivalent": 2.48,
      "sample_size": 5,
      "q4_multiplier": 1.65,
      "top_sources": [
        {"creator": "Casey Neistat public statements", "url": "https://www.youtube.com/@CaseyNeistat"},
        {"creator": "Emma Chamberlain", "url": "https://www.youtube.com/@emmachamberlain"},
        {"outlet": "Passionfruit (Daily Dot) creator economy coverage", "url": "https://passionfruit.dailydot.com/"}
      ],
      "last_verified_date": "2026-05-08"
    },
    {
      "niche": "beauty",
      "label": "Beauty and Cosmetics",
      "cpm_low": 4.0,
      "cpm_median": 7.2,
      "cpm_high": 13.0,
      "rpm_equivalent": 3.96,
      "sample_size": 5,
      "q4_multiplier": 2.2,
      "top_sources": [
        {"creator": "James Welsh", "url": "https://www.youtube.com/@JamesWelsh"},
        {"creator": "Hyram Yarbro", "url": "https://www.youtube.com/@SkinCarebyHyram"},
        {"outlet": "Tubular Labs beauty benchmark", "url": "https://tubularlabs.com/"}
      ],
      "last_verified_date": "2026-05-08"
    },
    {
      "niche": "fashion",
      "label": "Fashion and Style",
      "cpm_low": 3.5,
      "cpm_median": 6.4,
      "cpm_high": 12.0,
      "rpm_equivalent": 3.52,
      "sample_size": 4,
      "q4_multiplier": 2.15,
      "top_sources": [
        {"creator": "Justine Leconte", "url": "https://www.youtube.com/@JustineLeconte"},
        {"creator": "Ashley Brooke", "url": "https://www.youtube.com/@ashleybrookenicholas"},
        {"outlet": "Variety fashion creator coverage", "url": "https://variety.com/c/digital/"}
      ],
      "last_verified_date": "2026-05-08"
    },
    {
      "niche": "fitness",
      "label": "Fitness and Strength Training",
      "cpm_low": 3.0,
      "cpm_median": 5.5,
      "cpm_high": 10.0,
      "rpm_equivalent": 3.03,
      "sample_size": 5,
      "q4_multiplier": 1.4,
      "top_sources": [
        {"creator": "Jeff Nippard", "url": "https://www.youtube.com/@JeffNippard"},
        {"creator": "Athlean-X", "url": "https://www.youtube.com/@athleanx"},
        {"outlet": "Creator Economy Report fitness coverage", "url": "https://creatoreconomy.so/"}
      ],
      "last_verified_date": "2026-05-08"
    },
    {
      "niche": "food-cooking",
      "label": "Food and Cooking",
      "cpm_low": 2.8,
      "cpm_median": 5.0,
      "cpm_high": 9.0,
      "rpm_equivalent": 2.75,
      "sample_size": 5,
      "q4_multiplier": 1.95,
      "top_sources": [
        {"creator": "Babish Culinary Universe", "url": "https://www.youtube.com/@babishculinaryuniverse"},
        {"creator": "Joshua Weissman", "url": "https://www.youtube.com/@JoshuaWeissman"},
        {"outlet": "Tubefilter food creator coverage", "url": "https://www.tubefilter.com/"}
      ],
      "last_verified_date": "2026-05-08"
    },
    {
      "niche": "travel",
      "label": "Travel",
      "cpm_low": 2.2,
      "cpm_median": 4.2,
      "cpm_high": 8.5,
      "rpm_equivalent": 2.31,
      "sample_size": 4,
      "q4_multiplier": 1.45,
      "top_sources": [
        {"creator": "Kara and Nate", "url": "https://www.youtube.com/@KaraandNate"},
        {"creator": "Drew Binsky", "url": "https://www.youtube.com/@DrewBinsky"},
        {"outlet": "Rest of World creator coverage", "url": "https://restofworld.org/"}
      ],
      "last_verified_date": "2026-05-08"
    },
    {
      "niche": "automotive",
      "label": "Automotive",
      "cpm_low": 4.5,
      "cpm_median": 8.0,
      "cpm_high": 14.0,
      "rpm_equivalent": 4.40,
      "sample_size": 4,
      "q4_multiplier": 1.8,
      "top_sources": [
        {"creator": "Doug DeMuro", "url": "https://www.youtube.com/@DougDeMuro"},
        {"creator": "Engineering Explained", "url": "https://www.youtube.com/@EngineeringExplained"},
        {"outlet": "Tubefilter automotive coverage", "url": "https://www.tubefilter.com/"}
      ],
      "last_verified_date": "2026-05-08"
    },
    {
      "niche": "photography-film",
      "label": "Photography and Film",
      "cpm_low": 5.0,
      "cpm_median": 8.5,
      "cpm_high": 15.0,
      "rpm_equivalent": 4.68,
      "sample_size": 4,
      "q4_multiplier": 1.85,
      "top_sources": [
        {"creator": "Peter McKinnon", "url": "https://www.youtube.com/@PeterMcKinnon"},
        {"creator": "Sara Dietschy", "url": "https://www.youtube.com/@SaraDietschy"},
        {"creator": "Matti Haapoja", "url": "https://www.youtube.com/@MattiHaapoja"}
      ],
      "last_verified_date": "2026-05-08"
    },
    {
      "niche": "music",
      "label": "Music",
      "cpm_low": 1.2,
      "cpm_median": 2.4,
      "cpm_high": 4.5,
      "rpm_equivalent": 1.32,
      "sample_size": 5,
      "q4_multiplier": 1.4,
      "top_sources": [
        {"outlet": "Spotify Loud and Clear (parallel framing)", "url": "https://loudandclear.byspotify.com/"},
        {"outlet": "YouTube Music creator support", "url": "https://creators.youtube.com/"},
        {"outlet": "Variety music creator coverage", "url": "https://variety.com/c/music/"}
      ],
      "last_verified_date": "2026-05-08"
    },
    {
      "niche": "comedy",
      "label": "Comedy and Sketch",
      "cpm_low": 1.5,
      "cpm_median": 2.9,
      "cpm_high": 5.5,
      "rpm_equivalent": 1.60,
      "sample_size": 4,
      "q4_multiplier": 1.7,
      "top_sources": [
        {"outlet": "MrBeast public CPM commentary (challenge content)", "url": "https://www.youtube.com/@MrBeast"},
        {"creator": "Ryan George", "url": "https://www.youtube.com/@RyanGeorge"},
        {"outlet": "Tubefilter comedy creator coverage", "url": "https://www.tubefilter.com/"}
      ],
      "last_verified_date": "2026-05-08"
    },
    {
      "niche": "education-tutorials",
      "label": "Education and Tutorials",
      "cpm_low": 5.0,
      "cpm_median": 8.5,
      "cpm_high": 14.0,
      "rpm_equivalent": 4.68,
      "sample_size": 5,
      "q4_multiplier": 1.5,
      "top_sources": [
        {"creator": "Khan Academy", "url": "https://www.youtube.com/@khanacademy"},
        {"creator": "CrashCourse", "url": "https://www.youtube.com/@crashcourse"},
        {"outlet": "Stanford HAI creator economy research", "url": "https://hai.stanford.edu/research"}
      ],
      "last_verified_date": "2026-05-08"
    },
    {
      "niche": "science",
      "label": "Science",
      "cpm_low": 4.0,
      "cpm_median": 7.0,
      "cpm_high": 12.0,
      "rpm_equivalent": 3.85,
      "sample_size": 5,
      "q4_multiplier": 1.55,
      "top_sources": [
        {"creator": "Veritasium", "url": "https://www.youtube.com/@veritasium"},
        {"creator": "Kurzgesagt", "url": "https://www.youtube.com/@kurzgesagt"},
        {"creator": "SmarterEveryDay", "url": "https://www.youtube.com/@smartereveryday"}
      ],
      "last_verified_date": "2026-05-08"
    },
    {
      "niche": "history",
      "label": "History",
      "cpm_low": 3.0,
      "cpm_median": 5.5,
      "cpm_high": 10.0,
      "rpm_equivalent": 3.03,
      "sample_size": 4,
      "q4_multiplier": 1.6,
      "top_sources": [
        {"creator": "Oversimplified", "url": "https://www.youtube.com/@OverSimplified"},
        {"creator": "Extra Credits / Extra History", "url": "https://www.youtube.com/@extrahistory"},
        {"outlet": "Creator Economy Report", "url": "https://creatoreconomy.so/"}
      ],
      "last_verified_date": "2026-05-08"
    },
    {
      "niche": "politics-news",
      "label": "Politics and News Commentary",
      "cpm_low": 1.0,
      "cpm_median": 2.2,
      "cpm_high": 4.5,
      "rpm_equivalent": 1.21,
      "sample_size": 5,
      "q4_multiplier": 1.85,
      "top_sources": [
        {"outlet": "YouTube advertiser-friendly content guidelines (politics demonetization)", "url": "https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/6162278"},
        {"outlet": "Tubefilter politics creator coverage", "url": "https://www.tubefilter.com/"},
        {"outlet": "The Hollywood Reporter politics creator income", "url": "https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/"}
      ],
      "last_verified_date": "2026-05-08"
    },
    {
      "niche": "sports",
      "label": "Sports Commentary",
      "cpm_low": 2.5,
      "cpm_median": 4.8,
      "cpm_high": 9.0,
      "rpm_equivalent": 2.64,
      "sample_size": 4,
      "q4_multiplier": 1.55,
      "top_sources": [
        {"creator": "JxmyHighroller", "url": "https://www.youtube.com/@JxmyHighroller"},
        {"creator": "Tifo Football (The Athletic)", "url": "https://www.youtube.com/@TifoFootball"},
        {"outlet": "Variety sports creator coverage", "url": "https://variety.com/c/sports/"}
      ],
      "last_verified_date": "2026-05-08"
    },
    {
      "niche": "true-crime",
      "label": "True Crime",
      "cpm_low": 2.0,
      "cpm_median": 3.8,
      "cpm_high": 7.0,
      "rpm_equivalent": 2.09,
      "sample_size": 4,
      "q4_multiplier": 1.6,
      "top_sources": [
        {"creator": "Bailey Sarian", "url": "https://www.youtube.com/@BaileySarian"},
        {"creator": "Kendall Rae", "url": "https://www.youtube.com/@KendallRae"},
        {"outlet": "Passionfruit true crime coverage", "url": "https://passionfruit.dailydot.com/"}
      ],
      "last_verified_date": "2026-05-08"
    },
    {
      "niche": "asmr",
      "label": "ASMR",
      "cpm_low": 1.0,
      "cpm_median": 2.0,
      "cpm_high": 4.0,
      "rpm_equivalent": 1.10,
      "sample_size": 3,
      "q4_multiplier": 1.5,
      "top_sources": [
        {"creator": "Gibi ASMR public statements", "url": "https://www.youtube.com/@GibiASMR"},
        {"outlet": "Tubefilter ASMR economy coverage", "url": "https://www.tubefilter.com/"},
        {"outlet": "Garbage Day (Ryan Broderick) creator coverage", "url": "https://www.garbageday.email/"}
      ],
      "last_verified_date": "2026-05-08"
    },
    {
      "niche": "podcasts-longform",
      "label": "Podcasts and Long-Form",
      "cpm_low": 6.0,
      "cpm_median": 10.5,
      "cpm_high": 18.0,
      "rpm_equivalent": 5.78,
      "sample_size": 5,
      "q4_multiplier": 1.55,
      "top_sources": [
        {"creator": "Lex Fridman public statements", "url": "https://www.youtube.com/@lexfridman"},
        {"creator": "Joe Rogan (post-Spotify return signals)", "url": "https://www.youtube.com/@joerogan"},
        {"outlet": "Creator Economy Report long-form coverage", "url": "https://creatoreconomy.so/"}
      ],
      "last_verified_date": "2026-05-08"
    },
    {
      "niche": "b2b-professional",
      "label": "B2B and Professional",
      "cpm_low": 11.0,
      "cpm_median": 18.0,
      "cpm_high": 30.0,
      "rpm_equivalent": 9.90,
      "sample_size": 4,
      "q4_multiplier": 1.6,
      "top_sources": [
        {"outlet": "Google Ads B2B category benchmarks", "url": "https://support.google.com/google-ads/answer/2375420"},
        {"outlet": "AdSense help (advertiser categories)", "url": "https://support.google.com/adsense/answer/9904619"},
        {"outlet": "Creator Economy Report (Peter Yang) B2B segment", "url": "https://creatoreconomy.so/"}
      ],
      "last_verified_date": "2026-05-08"
    }
  ],
  "keyFindings": {
    "max_min_cpm_ratio": 41.7,
    "highest_cpm_niche_median": 29.3,
    "highest_cpm_niche": "personal-finance",
    "lowest_cpm_niche_median": 0.7,
    "lowest_cpm_niche": "kids-content",
    "median_q4_multiplier": 1.62,
    "highest_q4_seasonality": {"niche": "beauty", "multiplier": 2.2},
    "youtube_revenue_share_creator": 0.55,
    "youtube_revenue_share_platform": 0.45,
    "tier1_niches_above_15_cpm": ["personal-finance", "business-startups", "saas-software-reviews", "real-estate", "insurance", "legal", "medical-health", "b2b-professional"],
    "tier3_niches_below_3_cpm": ["gaming", "entertainment-news", "kids-content", "music", "comedy", "politics-news", "true-crime", "asmr"]
  }
}