CPM Calculator
Work out the cost per thousand impressions (CPM) from your spend and impressions.
How to use the CPM Calculator
- Enter the total campaign cost.
- Enter the number of impressions delivered.
- Read the CPM and the cost per single impression.
CPM = cost ÷ impressions × 1,000
About the CPM Calculator
CPM stands for cost per mille, meaning the cost per one thousand impressions. This calculator finds it with CPM = cost / impressions x 1,000, so if a campaign costs $50 to deliver 20,000 impressions, the CPM is $2.50. It also breaks out the cost of a single impression, which is simply the total cost divided by the number of impressions.
CPM is the standard yardstick for buying and comparing display, video, and social ad inventory, because it puts campaigns of different sizes on the same footing. An impression is one view of your ad, so CPM tells you what a thousand of those views costs. A lower CPM means cheaper reach, though it says nothing about how well those impressions convert into clicks or sales.
Enter your total spend and the impressions delivered to read both figures instantly. The result reflects only the two numbers you provide, so make sure they cover the same campaign and time period for a meaningful comparison. To look at the earning side of ad inventory, try the AdSense Revenue Calculator, or measure campaign returns with the ROI Calculator.
Frequently asked questions
What does CPM mean?
CPM is cost per mille, or cost per one thousand impressions. It is a standard advertising metric that shows what it costs to have your ad shown a thousand times, making it easy to compare the price of reach across campaigns.
How is CPM calculated?
Divide the total cost by the number of impressions, then multiply by one thousand. For example, $50 spent for 20,000 impressions equals 50 / 20,000 x 1,000, which is a $2.50 CPM.
What is the cost per single impression?
It is the total cost divided by the number of impressions, without the multiply-by-1,000 step. The calculator shows it alongside the CPM so you can see the price of one view as well as one thousand.
When should I use CPM instead of cost per click?
CPM suits campaigns focused on reach and visibility, where you pay for views rather than clicks. Cost per click suits performance campaigns aimed at traffic or conversions. CPM tells you the price of exposure, not the response it drives.
Does a low CPM mean a campaign is good?
Not on its own. A low CPM means cheap reach, but it says nothing about whether those impressions lead to clicks, leads or sales. Pair CPM with click-through and conversion metrics to judge real performance.