How Many Views to Get Paid on YouTube?

Understanding YouTube's view and watch time requirements for monetization—and the surprising truth about why view count alone doesn't determine when you get paid.

The Quick Answer

There's no fixed number of views that triggers payment. Instead, YouTube requires you to accumulate 4,000 watch hours (or 10 million Shorts views) in the last 12 months, plus 1,000 subscribers. The number of views this represents depends entirely on how long people actually watch your videos.

Two Paths to Monetization

Path 1: Long-Form Content

4,000 watch hours = 240,000 minutes of total watch time

Plus 1,000 subscribers

Path 2: YouTube Shorts

10 million valid public Shorts views in last 90 days

Plus 1,000 subscribers

How Many Views Do You Actually Need?

This depends on your Average View Duration (AVD)—the average time viewers spend watching your videos. A channel with 10-minute AVD needs far fewer total views than a channel with 2-minute AVD to hit 4,000 watch hours. YouTube Studio shows you this metric under Analytics.

Average View DurationViews Needed for 4,000 Hours
2 minutes~120,000 views
4 minutes~60,000 views
6 minutes~40,000 views
10 minutes~24,000 views

Example: If your videos average 5 minutes of watch time per view, you need approximately 48,000 total views across all your videos to hit 4,000 watch hours. That's spread across however many videos you publish in a 12-month window.

What Actually Counts Toward Watch Hours?

Not all views are created equal in YouTube's eyes. The platform has specific rules about what watch time counts toward your 4,000-hour requirement. Understanding these rules prevents frustration when your watch hours don't match your expectations.

✓ What Counts

  • Public videos only
  • Only the last 12 months (rolling window)
  • Only valid, organic views (no spam/bots)
  • Watch time from all traffic sources
  • Live streams while they're public

✗ What Doesn't Count

  • Private or unlisted videos - Must be public
  • Deleted videos - Watch hours disappear when video is removed
  • YouTube Shorts watch time - Tracked separately (need 10M views instead)
  • Views from ads promoting your video - Only organic counts

Do Views Equal Money?

Here's the critical distinction many creators miss: views before monetization earn you $0. Views after monetization earn you money. The same 100,000-view video that earned nothing last month starts earning $300-500 the moment you're accepted into YPP.

Once monetized, your earnings depend on your RPM (Revenue Per Mille - per 1,000 views). A finance channel might earn $12 per 1,000 views, while a gaming channel earns $2 per 1,000 views. The views are the same; the revenue isn't.

Views & Earnings After Monetization

  • Gaming channel (RPM: $2): 100,000 views = $200
  • Lifestyle channel (RPM: $4): 100,000 views = $400
  • Finance channel (RPM: $12): 100,000 views = $1,200
Calculate your potential earnings →

How to Reach 4,000 Watch Hours Faster

Most creators take 6-12 months to accumulate 4,000 watch hours, but you can accelerate this by optimizing for watch time instead of just chasing views. Here's the proven playbook:

Content Optimization

  • Make longer videos: 8-15 minutes with strong hooks accumulate hours faster
  • Create series/playlists: Autoplay keeps viewers watching multiple videos
  • Focus on audience retention: First 30 seconds determines if they stay

Publishing Strategy

  • Post consistently: 2-3 videos per week minimum
  • Optimize titles and thumbnails: Better CTR = more views = more watch time
  • Double down on what works: Make more of your best-performing content

Realistic Timeline Expectations

  • Fast growth (daily uploads, high retention): 3-6 months
  • Average pace (2-3x per week): 6-12 months
  • Slow and steady (weekly uploads): 12-24 months

Most creators who successfully monetize have published 50-100+ videos by the time they hit requirements. Consistency matters more than perfection.

Related Resources

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