How Much Do YouTube Influencers Charge for Sponsored Videos?
We surveyed 1,200 creators to find out what YouTube influencers charge for dedicated videos, integrated videos, and Shorts. See median rates by follower tier, plus how Shorts pricing compares to Instagram Reels and TikTok.
YouTube has long been a cornerstone of the social media world. But today, the platform has evolved into a true powerhouse for brand growth. That’s why marketers are doubling down on the platform, with US influencer marketing spend on YouTube projected to reach $2.35 billion this year. While YouTube is one of the most powerful channels for creator partnerships, it’s also one of the hardest to budget for, especially with 3 deliverable types that come with different price tags.
To find out how much creators are charging for each YouTube deliverable, we surveyed 1,200 of them for our latest report, How Much to Pay Influencers. Here's what the data looks like for YouTube, broken down by deliverable type and follower tier.
Important note: All benchmarks here represent medians, and reflect base rates only. They do not account for content usage rights, exclusivity clauses, or other deal terms that can add to the total cost of a partnership. Use this data as directional guidance for budgeting and negotiations, not as a fixed rate card.
Dedicated YouTube video
Dedicated videos are full-length videos entirely focused on the brand or product. The creator builds the entire video around the partnership, which means more production time, more creative development, and the highest rates.
Dedicated videos are the premium YouTube deliverable. Even at the nano level, median pricing starts at $700, nearly 3x what the same creator would charge for an Instagram Reel. That reflects the production effort involved: scripting, filming, editing, and building an entire video around a single brand.
Integrated YouTube video
Integrated videos are brand mention segments within a creator's existing long-form content. The creator weaves the sponsorship into a video they were already planning to make. Rates are lower because the brand is sharing screen time, but the content often feels more organic to the audience.
Integrated videos come in at roughly 50-60% of the dedicated video rate across tiers. For brands looking to get in front of a YouTube audience without commissioning a full dedicated video, integrations are often the more budget-friendly path, and they benefit from sitting inside content the creator's audience already wants to watch.
YouTube Shorts
YouTube Shorts are the platform's short-form vertical video format. They're the most comparable to Instagram Reels and TikTok videos in both format and pricing.
YouTube creators earn more overall
Notably, YouTube creators charge significantly more per deliverable than their Instagram or TikTok counterparts, even at equivalent follower tiers. YouTube creators also report higher annual earnings from brand partnerships than creators on other platforms. In our survey, 29% of YouTube creators earn $25,000 or more per year from partnerships, and 18% earn over $50,000 annually, roughly double TikTok's 8%.
This reflects the production investment required for long-form video, the high engagement rates (23% on average), and the longer content shelf life (YouTube videos generate views for months or even years). YouTube content takes more time, more skill, and more equipment to produce, and creators price accordingly.
Want more insights? Download How Much to Pay Influencers.
Inside our full report, you'll find flat-fee benchmarks across other social platforms, affiliate and commission rate data, retainer pricing, usage rights and exclusivity benchmarks, negotiation best practices, and more.
