Boneyard Tools

CPM Calculator

Work out cost per thousand impressions in seconds. Enter any two of total spend, impressions and CPM, and the calculator solves for the missing value so you can compare placements and plan a budget.

How to use the CPM calculator

  1. Choose which value you want to solve: CPM, total cost or impressions.
  2. Enter the other two numbers, such as your spend and the impressions delivered.
  3. Read the solved value and use it to compare placements or set a budget.

Examples

Finding the CPM of a campaign

Cost 500; impressions 100,000
CPM 5 (you paid $5 per thousand impressions)

Budgeting impressions for a fixed spend

Cost 1,000; CPM 8
Impressions 125,000

Frequently asked questions

What is CPM?

CPM stands for cost per mille, where mille is Latin for thousand. It is the price an advertiser pays for one thousand ad impressions, calculated as cost divided by impressions, multiplied by 1,000.

What is the difference between CPM and CPC?

CPM charges per thousand impressions, so you pay when an ad is shown. CPC, or cost per click, charges only when someone clicks. CPM suits awareness campaigns; CPC suits campaigns focused on traffic or response.

Why is CPM measured per thousand impressions?

Impressions are counted in very large numbers, so the cost of a single impression is a tiny fraction of a cent. Quoting the price per thousand keeps the figure readable and makes it easy to compare media buys.

What is a typical CPM?

It varies widely by channel, audience and season. Social and display CPMs often run from a few dollars to the low tens, while premium video or niche targeting can be much higher. Use your own data as the benchmark.

How do I lower my CPM?

Tighten targeting to reduce waste, test creative to lift relevance, avoid the most competitive placements and dayparts, and watch frequency so you are not repeatedly paying to reach the same people.

Does this calculator store my numbers?

No. Everything runs in your browser and nothing you enter is uploaded or saved, so it is safe to use with budget and campaign figures.

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