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CPM Calculator

Cost per thousand impressions (CPM) is the standard pricing model for display, social and video advertising. Calculate CPM from cost and impressions, or work backwards to find cost or impressions.

Last reviewed: 2026-07-29

CPM Calculator inputs

Fill in the fields below, then select Calculate. Nothing is submitted automatically.

Total amount spent on the campaign.

Total ad impressions delivered.

Changing the currency changes formatting only. It does not convert values between currencies.

Calculations run locally in your browser. Your figures are not sent to a server or stored by us.

Results

Enter your figures above and select Calculate. Results appear here with clear labels — never colour alone.

What does CPM mean?

CPM stands for cost per mille (Latin for thousand). It is the price an advertiser pays for one thousand ad impressions — instances of the ad being displayed. CPM is the dominant pricing model for display, social media and video advertising because it simplifies budgeting across large audiences.

A lower CPM means you reach more people for the same budget, but CPM alone does not measure effectiveness. A $2 CPM on an irrelevant audience wastes money; a $30 CPM on a highly qualified audience may deliver better results.

CPM formula

  • CPM = (Advertising Cost ÷ Impressions) × 1000
  • Cost = CPM × Impressions ÷ 1000
  • Impressions = (Budget ÷ CPM) × 1000

Worked example

A campaign spends $500 and delivers 100,000 impressions.

  • CPM = ($500 ÷ 100,000) × 1000 = $5
  • Cost per 10,000 impressions = $5 × 10 = $50

See also the CPC calculator and the ROAS calculator.

How to use this calculator

Choose a mode: calculate CPM from cost and impressions, calculate total cost from CPM and impressions, or calculate impressions from budget and CPM. Each mode solves for a different variable using the same underlying formula.

Interpreting the results

CPM is a cost efficiency metric, not a performance metric. A low CPM with poor targeting or irrelevant creative can cost more per actual customer than a higher CPM with precise targeting. Always pair CPM with outcome metrics like conversion rate or ROAS.

Common mistakes

  • Optimising for CPM alone. A low CPM on the wrong audience wastes budget.
  • Comparing across platforms. A display CPM and a video CPM are not comparable without context.
  • Forgetting viewability. An impression that is never seen has no value. Check viewability rates alongside CPM.
  • Ignoring frequency caps. Showing the same user 50 impressions inflates reach metrics.

Frequently asked questions

Related calculators

  • CPC Calculator

    Calculate cost per click, advertising cost or estimated clicks from campaign data.

  • ROAS Calculator

    Measure revenue generated for each unit of advertising spend.

  • Conversion Rate Calculator

    Calculate conversion rate, expected conversions or required traffic for any campaign.

Disclaimer

Results from this calculator are estimates for general information only and are not financial, accounting, tax, investment or legal advice. Verify important figures with a qualified professional. Read our full disclaimer.