CPM Calculator
Calculate CPM, ad spend or estimated impressions in any direction. Pick a mode, fill in the two known values, and the third updates live.
Inputs
Total times your ads were shown.
Cost per 1,000 impressions (CPM)
- Spend
- $500.00
- Impressions
- 100,000
How it's calculated
CPM is the price of 1,000 ad impressions. The formula is:
CPM = (Ad spend ÷ Impressions) × 1,000
Re-arranging gives you the other two:
Impressions = (Ad spend ÷ CPM) × 1,000 Ad spend = (CPM × Impressions) ÷ 1,000
CPM is the cleanest apples-to-apples cost benchmark across platforms because it strips out audience size and conversion-rate differences.
Definitions
Frequently asked questions
What is CPM?+
CPM stands for Cost per Mille — the cost of 1,000 ad impressions. It's the standard way to compare media cost across platforms and campaigns. CPM = (Total ad spend ÷ Impressions) × 1,000.
What is a good CPM?+
Typical 2026 ranges: Meta (Facebook/Instagram) $5–$15, TikTok $4–$10, YouTube $6–$15, Google Display $1–$4, LinkedIn $25–$60. Higher CPMs aren't necessarily bad — they often correlate with higher-intent audiences.
Is CPM the same as CPC?+
No. CPM is cost per 1,000 impressions (paying to be seen). CPC is cost per click (paying for an action). Most modern ad platforms bill by CPM under the hood, but optimise toward conversions or clicks.
Why is my CPM increasing?+
Common causes: ad fatigue (audience saw the creative too many times), narrow audience saturation, seasonality (Q4 spikes), creative quality drop, or platform-wide demand shifts. Refresh the creative first — it's almost always the cheapest fix.
How do I lower CPM?+
Use higher-quality, native-looking creative; broaden audiences (let the algorithm find buyers); rotate hooks before fatigue sets in; improve relevance score by matching creative to landing page; and avoid policy flags.
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