YouTube Shorts monetization: how the Creator Pool works
Shorts do not earn the way long videos do. Ad revenue from the Shorts feed goes into a monthly pool and is shared by engaged views. This guide follows YouTube's own explanation, including the worked example it gives and the rule that changes on 1 February 2027. It is part of our creator monetization section; check a channel against the thresholds with the YouTube monetization checker.
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How the money flows
- Each month, YouTube pools the ad revenue from ads between videos in the Shorts feed. Ads on the Shorts masthead, navigational pages within the player and image posts are excluded.
- Part of the pool covers music licensing. With no music, all revenue tied to a Short's engaged views goes to the Creator Pool; with music, the split depends on the number of tracks.
- The Creator Pool is divided between monetizing creators by their share of total engaged views from monetizing creators in each country.
- Creators keep 45 percent of their allocated revenue.
YouTube's worked example
In YouTube's example, a country has 100 million engaged Shorts views and $100,000 in Shorts feed ad revenue, and 20 percent of Shorts use one music track. The Creator Pool is $90,000 and $10,000 covers music licensing. A Short with 1 million engaged views gets 1 percent of the pool, which is $900, and the creator keeps 45 percent, which is $405.
| Step in YouTube's example | Amount |
|---|---|
| Shorts feed ad revenue in the country | $100,000 |
| Engaged Shorts views in the country | 100,000,000 |
| Share of Shorts using one music track | 20% |
| Creator Pool / music licensing | $90,000 / $10,000 |
| A Short with 1,000,000 engaged views (1% of views) | $900 allocated |
| Creator keeps 45% | $405 |
Those are YouTube's illustrative numbers, not an estimate of what any channel earns. For your own channel, work from the revenue figures in YouTube Studio and the RPM formula.
What you must do to be paid
- Be a monetizing partner (see the Partner Program guide).
- Accept the Shorts Monetization Module in YouTube Studio. It counts only views from the date you accept.
- Shorts over one minute that contain claimed content are blocked from monetization.
Which views count
Payments use engaged views. YouTube excludes non-original Shorts (unedited clips or compilations with nothing original added), artificial views such as bots, and views of Shorts that conflict with advertiser-friendly guidelines.
Other Shorts income
YouTube pays creators 45 percent of the net YouTube Premium revenue allocated to them for Shorts views. From 1 February 2027, targeted Shorts ads aimed at five or fewer channels pay creators 45 percent of that ad's net revenue, as described on the 2027 transition page.
Frequently asked questions
How do YouTube Shorts earn money?
Each month, YouTube pools the ad revenue from ads shown between videos in the Shorts feed. Part of the pool covers music licensing costs and the rest forms the Creator Pool, which is shared between monetizing creators by their share of engaged views in each country. Creators keep 45 percent of their allocation.
Do I need to accept anything to earn from Shorts?
Yes. Only monetizing partners who have accepted the Shorts Monetization Module can earn Shorts ad revenue, and it applies only to views from the acceptance date onwards. Views before acceptance are not eligible.
What changes for Shorts on 1 February 2027?
To earn from the Shorts Creator Pool for a month, a channel needs at least 10 million qualified Shorts views in the last 90 days. YouTube says missing the threshold does not remove you from the Partner Program or affect other earnings such as long-form.
Does using music reduce my Shorts earnings?
No. YouTube says music use does not reduce a creator's allocation: each creator is credited with 100 percent of their engaged views, and licensing costs come out of the pool before it is shared.
Which views are not counted?
YouTube excludes non-original Shorts such as unedited clips or compilations with no original content added, artificial views such as bot traffic, and views of Shorts that conflict with advertiser-friendly guidelines.
Sources
- YouTube Help: Shorts monetization policies and how revenue is shared
- YouTube Help: Revenue share
- YouTube Help: Upcoming YPP changes (February 2027)
Primary sources opened on November 13, 2026. Prices come from our verified price table (see the methodology).