CPM Calculator
What did one thousand recorded ad impressions cost? Check the formula, a worked example and the stated measurement limits.
Result for the values shown.
Calculations run in your browser.
What to enter
| Input | Meaning and units |
|---|---|
| Ad spend (currency) | Enter ad spend in currency. Use the measurement basis described below. |
| Recorded impressions (impressions) | Enter a whole count in impressions; keep the reporting population consistent. |
Understanding your result
Compare delivery costs per thousand displays; examine viewability, audience fit and conversion value alongside CPM.
Common mistakes
- Mixing served CPM with viewable CPM changes the denominator.
- CPM is not cost per thousand people reached.
Check your calculation
- Use the worked example as a known reference case, then change one input at a time and check the direction and units of the response.
Choose a consistent measurement basis
Choose served impressions or viewable impressions explicitly and use that definition in both comparison campaigns. Match dates, currency and cost exclusions.
A second independently worked case
Zero spend for 1,000 counted impressions gives CPM zero. Inputs: Ad spend: 0 currency; Recorded impressions: 1000 impressions. Results: Cost per thousand impressions: 0 currency/1000 impressions.
Precision and output units
Displayed results: Cost per thousand impressions in currency/1000 impressions, rounded to 2 decimal places. Display rounding does not establish the precision of the original measurements or estimates.
Calculation checks, sources and review limits
What did one thousand recorded ad impressions cost?
What did one thousand recorded ad impressions cost? Check the formula, a worked example and the stated measurement limits.
Common uses
- What did one thousand recorded ad impressions cost
- Compare CPM across scenarios under matching definitions.
How it works
Divide recorded spend by impression count and multiply by 1,000. CPM is a cost normalization; the thousand-impression scale does not change how impressions are counted.
Worked example
250 ÷ 50,000 × 1,000 = 5. Enter ad spend 250 currency, recorded impressions 50000 impressions. The independently worked result is cost per thousand impressions 5 currency/1000 impressions. Compare this example with your reporting definitions before substituting your own figures.
FAQ
Is CPM the same as vCPM?
The normalizations use different impression definitions: served impressions versus impressions measured as viewable. Use the definition from the reporting platform and avoid comparing them as if the denominators were identical.
Does one thousand impressions mean one thousand people?
No. Several impressions can belong to the same person. CPM does not establish unique reach or the distribution of display frequency.