CPM Calculator
Calculate CPM (cost per thousand impressions) or find total cost and impressions from any two inputs.
How to use this tool
- Enter total ad cost and total impressions in the fields above.
- Results update instantly as you type — or click Calculate.
- Read your cpm (cost per 1,000 impressions) and the full breakdown beneath it.
CPM (Cost Per Mille) is the standard pricing model for display advertising. A lower CPM means you're reaching 1,000 people for less money — useful for comparing the cost efficiency of different ad channels.
Formula
CPM = (Total Cost ÷ Impressions) × 1,000
Cost per Impression = Total Cost ÷ Impressions
How it works
This calculator divides total ad cost by total impressions and multiplies by 1,000 to give the standard CPM (cost per mille, or cost per thousand impressions), alongside the raw cost per individual impression.
CPM is the dominant pricing unit for display and video advertising where reach is the primary goal. It does not account for viewability or engagement; a low CPM from a poorly targeted placement can still produce poor results compared with a higher-CPM, better-targeted buy.
Worked example
Worked example
- Total ad cost = $500; total impressions = 100,000.
- CPM = ($500 ÷ 100,000) × 1,000 = $5.00.
- Cost per impression = $500 ÷ 100,000 = $0.005.
CPM = $5.00; cost per impression = $0.005.
Key terms
- CPM (Cost Per Mille)
- The cost of one thousand ad impressions; the standard unit for buying and comparing display and video advertising.
- Impression
- A single instance of an ad being served to a user's screen, regardless of whether the user interacts with it.
- Viewability
- The percentage of impressions where the ad was actually visible on screen (e.g., at least 50% of the ad in view for at least one second); affects the true value of a CPM buy.
- Reach
- The number of unique users exposed to an ad; CPM-based buying is commonly used when maximising reach is the campaign objective.
Frequently asked questions
- What does CPM stand for?
- CPM stands for Cost Per Mille — 'mille' is Latin for thousand. CPM is the price an advertiser pays for 1,000 ad impressions. It is the standard pricing model for display, video, and programmatic advertising.
- What is a good CPM?
- CPM benchmarks vary widely by channel: social media display averages $5–$15 CPM; video ads $10–$30 CPM; premium publishers $20–$50+ CPM. Lower is not always better — a higher CPM on a targeted audience may deliver better ROI than a cheap, untargeted audience.