CPM Calculator
Solve for CPM, total campaign cost, or impressions: enter any two values and get the third instantly. Free, no sign-up, runs entirely in your browser.
CPM = (cost ÷ impressions) × 1,000. Benchmarks below are directional. Actual rates vary by platform, placement, geography and season.
How to calculate CPM
CPM means cost per mille: the cost of one thousand impressions. It is the standard pricing unit for display, video and social advertising. The formula is CPM = (total cost ÷ impressions) × 1,000. If a campaign spends $5,000 and serves 250,000 impressions, the CPM is $20. The same three variables rearrange to solve for budget (cost = impressions ÷ 1,000 × CPM) or reach (impressions = budget ÷ CPM × 1,000), which is why media plans are usually negotiated around whichever two numbers you know.
Typical CPM benchmarks by channel
| Channel | Typical CPM range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Display / programmatic | $1 – $5 | Broad reach, viewability varies widely |
| Facebook / Instagram | $5 – $15 | Rises sharply in Q4 and for narrow audiences |
| TikTok | $5 – $10 | Strong for broad consumer reach |
| YouTube | $10 – $30 | Skippable vs non-skippable matters |
| $30 – $60+ | B2B targeting premium | |
| Podcast / newsletter sponsorships | $15 – $50 | Usually flat-rate, quoted as CPM equivalents |
Benchmarks are directional US figures; always compare against your own account history first.
Worked examples: solving for each variable
The CPM formula has three moving parts, and in practice you know two of them and need the third. Enter any two in the calculator above and it fills in the rest.
| You know | You want | Formula | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost and impressions | CPM | (Cost ÷ Impressions) × 1,000 | ,200 for 150,000 impressions = $8.00 CPM |
| CPM and impressions | Cost | (Impressions ÷ 1,000) × CPM | 800,000 impressions at $6.50 = $5,200 |
| Budget and CPM | Impressions | (Budget ÷ CPM) × 1,000 | 0,000 at $25 CPM = 400,000 impressions |
CPM, eCPM and vCPM: which one are you looking at?
Ad platforms report several CPM-style numbers, and mixing them up is the most common reason two teams disagree about what a campaign cost. CPM is the price you pay per thousand impressions served. eCPM (effective CPM) restates spend or revenue from any pricing model, including CPC and CPA deals, as a cost per thousand, so you can compare channels on one scale. vCPM counts only viewable impressions, which for display means at least half the ad was on screen for one second, so a vCPM is always higher than the plain CPM on the same buy.
A few habits keep the number honest: compare CPMs only within the same channel and format, check whether the figure is gross or net of agency fees, and always read CPM alongside frequency. A low CPM that reaches the same 10,000 people twenty times is rarely a bargain.
Frequently asked questions
How do you calculate CPM?
CPM = (Total ad cost ÷ Impressions) × 1,000. A $500 campaign that served 200,000 impressions has a CPM of ($500 ÷ 200,000) × 1,000 = $2.50.
What is a good CPM?
It depends on channel and audience. Broad benchmarks: display ads $1–$5, Facebook/Instagram $5–$15, YouTube $10–$30, LinkedIn $30–$60+, premium programmatic $20+. Niche B2B audiences cost more per mille than broad consumer reach.
How do I calculate ad cost from CPM?
Total cost = (Impressions ÷ 1,000) × CPM. For 500,000 impressions at a $12 CPM: (500,000 ÷ 1,000) × $12 = $6,000.
How do I calculate impressions from a budget and CPM?
Impressions = (Budget ÷ CPM) × 1,000. A $3,000 budget at a $7.50 CPM buys (3,000 ÷ 7.50) × 1,000 = 400,000 impressions.
What is the difference between CPM, CPC and CPA?
CPM charges per 1,000 impressions (awareness), CPC per click (traffic), and CPA per conversion/action (results). CPM suits reach and branding; CPC and CPA suit performance goals.
Is this CPM calculator free?
Yes. Free, no sign-up, and all math runs locally in your browser. Nothing you enter is uploaded.