Figure Out Your YouTube Ads Budget Before You Start — Not After
YouTube Ads pricing works differently than search or social. You're paying per view, not per click, and the conversion path is longer. This calculator helps you map out your CPV, view rate, and expected conversions so you can set a realistic budget from day one.
MeasureU is trusted by 50,000+ digital marketers
Google Sheets calculator — make a copy and model your campaign. No spam, ever.
MeasureU Has Been Featured In
Google Ads What's Inside
CPV-Based Budgeting
YouTube charges per view, not per click. This calculator uses cost-per-view math so your budget reflects how YouTube Ads actually bill.
View-to-Conversion Funnel
Map out impressions to views to clicks to conversions. See where each dollar goes and where the drop-offs happen in your video ad funnel.
Campaign Cost Projections
Enter your target number of conversions and the calculator works backwards to the total views and budget you need to get there.
Built for brands and agencies planning YouTube Ads campaigns. Works for in-stream, bumper, and discovery formats.
YouTube Ads are the least intuitive platform to budget for. You're not bidding on keywords like Search. You're not targeting interests like Facebook. You're paying for video views, and the path from "someone watched 30 seconds of your ad" to "someone bought your product" has a lot of steps in between.
This calculator breaks the funnel into measurable stages: impressions, views, view rate, clicks, click-through rate, and conversions. Enter what you know (or your best estimates), and the spreadsheet calculates the budget required to hit your target.
- ✓ Running YouTube Ads for the first time? The calculator gives you a realistic budget range based on typical CPV benchmarks. Better than guessing a number and hoping it works.
- ✓ Comparing YouTube to other ad channels? Use the calculator to get a cost-per-acquisition number you can compare directly to your Search or Meta campaigns.
- ✓ Pitching YouTube Ads to a client? The spreadsheet creates a budget proposal backed by real metrics. Show them exactly how many views and conversions their investment should produce.
- ✓ Already running campaigns but not sure if the spend makes sense? Plug in your actual CPV and conversion data. The calculator tells you whether your current budget is sized right for your goals.
Instant access. No credit card.
Built by Someone Who Actually Runs YouTube Ads
Jeff Sauer runs YouTube Ads for his own brand and has trained thousands of marketers on video advertising through MeasureU. This calculator uses the same budget planning process his team follows before launching any YouTube campaign.
Plan your YouTube Ads budget with math — not guesswork
Enter your CPV, view rate, and conversion goals. Get a realistic budget number before you spend anything.