YouTube CPV calculator
In-stream cost per view against the Q1 2026 band. The verdict compares your number to the $0.024 skippable average and the $0.018 to $0.058 industry spread Store Growers, Google Ads Benchmarks, Q1 2026
What counts as a YouTube view
30 seconds watched, the full ad if it runs shorter than 30 seconds, or an interaction with the ad, whichever comes first Google Ads Help, video ad views, 2026. Skips before 30 seconds cost nothing on CPV buys. That is the TrueView deal: you pay for people who chose to keep watching. Full definitions per platform: what counts as a view.
TrueView charging vs impression buying
CPV bidding charges per counted view; CPM campaigns charge per thousand impressions whether anyone watches or not. Google prices both by auction and publishes no rate card Google, Ad tools bidding page, 2026. If you are quoted a CPM for the same inventory, run the CPM to CPV breakeven before choosing.
What CPV to expect by format
The $0.024 average is skippable in-stream, blended across industries Store Growers, Google Ads Benchmarks, Q1 2026. Verticals spread from $0.018 (CPG) to $0.058 (legal) Store Growers, Google Ads Benchmarks, Q1 2026. Shorts inventory runs materially cheaper per started view: see the Shorts band and the Shorts solver. In-feed views are counted on different user actions, so do not judge them against the in-stream band.
Next: YouTube benchmarks in full, the $10k DTC launch worked example, or how max CPV bidding clears.