The YouTube monetization requirements are these: according to YouTube, a channel can apply for full ad revenue sharing in the YouTube Partner Program with 1,000 subscribers and either 4,000 qualified public watch hours in the last 12 months or 10 million qualified public Shorts views in the last 90 days. Meeting the numbers starts a review; approval is not automatic.
What does YouTube publish about the thresholds?
The figures below come from YouTube's Partner Program help page when this article was last reviewed (October 2026). YouTube can change them, so check the page before you plan around them.
| Route | Subscribers | Other condition (according to YouTube) |
|---|---|---|
| Long-form videos | 1,000 | 4,000 qualified public watch hours in the last 12 months |
| Shorts | 1,000 | 10 million qualified public Shorts views in the last 90 days |
YouTube also describes an earlier tier with lower thresholds that unlocks some features, such as fan funding, before full ad revenue. The numbers for that tier are on YouTube's page, and we do not repeat them here so that you read them at the source.
What counts as a qualified watch hour or view?
YouTube states that only certain activity counts. Watch hours must come from public long-form videos. According to YouTube, hours from private or unlisted videos, deleted videos, ad campaigns and Shorts do not count towards the 4,000 hours, and Shorts views count only on the Shorts route. Views from the Shorts feed are counted for the Shorts threshold only. Read the full definition on the help page, since details such as livestreams have their own rules.
How do you check where your channel stands?
- Sign in to YouTube Studio and open the Earn tab.
- Look at the progress bars for subscribers, watch hours and Shorts views.
- Check that two-step verification is on, since YouTube asks for it to apply.
- Make sure you have no active Community Guidelines strikes.
- When the thresholds are met, apply and accept the Partner Program terms.
What happens after you apply?
YouTube reviews every channel that applies against its monetisation policies, including reused content and the Community Guidelines. The help page says the review usually takes about a month, though it can take longer. A channel can be turned down and may reapply after a waiting period stated by YouTube. Passing the numbers is therefore necessary, not sufficient.
What can block approval even with the numbers?
- Reused content. Videos made mostly of other people's material with little change.
- Repetitive or mass-produced videos. Content that looks automatic.
- Policy strikes. An active Community Guidelines strike can stop an application.
- Artificial engagement. YouTube's policies prohibit fake engagement, such as bought views, subscribers or likes. The platform may remove them and, in some cases, act on the channel. Views and watch hours obtained that way are not genuine viewing.
That last point deserves emphasis: monetisation depends on YouTube trusting the numbers. Our plain answer on the rules is in this guide.
Which route suits your channel: long videos or Shorts?
The two routes reward different habits. The watch-hours route suits channels that make tutorials, reviews, documentaries, podcasts or gaming videos, where people stay for several minutes. The Shorts route suits channels whose content is quick and easy to repeat, such as tips, comedy or clips. Because the Shorts threshold is stated over 90 days and the watch-hour threshold over 12 months, a channel with a sudden hit may reach one number quickly, while a steady channel builds the other slowly.
Keep in mind that the two counters do not mix. Hours from Shorts do not add to the 4,000, and long-form views do not add to the Shorts figure. If you publish both, check the progress bars separately in Studio.
What should you prepare before you apply?
- A channel description and about page that say what you publish.
- Videos you made yourself, or that clearly add your own commentary, editing or analysis.
- Licences or permission for music, clips and images.
- A payment profile, which YouTube asks you to set up through AdSense after approval.
What happens after you are accepted?
Acceptance opens revenue sharing from ads and may add other features, such as channel memberships or Shorts revenue, depending on your region. You still have to follow the monetisation policies, and YouTube can review a channel again. Revenue varies with audience location, topic, the time of year and advertiser demand, so nobody can quote a fixed amount per view. Track your own figures in Studio and plan other income alongside, such as sponsorships or products.
How can you reach the thresholds honestly?
Work on retention and consistency. Make videos people watch to the end, use titles and thumbnails that match the content, and keep a series structure, so a viewer who likes one video has another to watch. Shorts can bring subscribers, while longer videos build watch hours, and most channels benefit from both. Read how to grow a YouTube channel and our Shorts tips for a practical plan.
If you still wonder about adding views to a video, the YouTube views page asks only for a video link. Know that for a Partner Program application, added views do not replace real watch time, and the risk to the channel is yours.