YouTube engagement rate calculator
Paste a channel to get its engagement rate, measured against views and compared with channels of the same size.
How YouTube engagement rate is calculated
Engagement rate on YouTube is the share of viewers who did something other than watch. The math is simple:
(likes + comments) ÷ views × 100
The calculator uses the averages across a channel's recent videos.
We measure against views, not subscribers, because views are what a sponsor actually pays for. A channel with 500,000 subscribers whose videos get 20,000 views is not a 500,000-subscriber opportunity. Some calculators divide by subscribers instead. That's why the same channel can show two very different numbers on two different sites.
A worked example
Say a cooking channel has 84,000 subscribers. Its recent videos average these numbers. Add the likes and comments, divide by views, then multiply by 100.
- Subscribers
- 84,000
- Average views
- 41,000
- Average likes
- 1,850
- Average comments
- 140
These numbers are an example, not a real channel.
(1,850 + 140) ÷ 41,000 × 100
At 84,000 subscribers this is a micro channel, where 3.5% is a strong rate. 4.85% is well above that, so this audience is paying attention.
Against subscribers(1,850 + 140) ÷ 84,000 × 100 = 2.37%
Divide by subscribers instead and you get 2.37%, which looks ordinary. Same channel, same videos, very different story. That's why what you divide by matters.
Check any YouTube engagement rate, then find channels worth sponsoring
This calculator checks one channel. impulze helps you find more channels worth sponsoring.
This calculator
- Checks one YouTube channel at a time
- Measures engagement against views
- Nothing to sign up for
impulze search
- Finds channels by topic and subscriber count
- Lists average views and engagement for every channel
- Tells you where each channel's viewers live
How to check a YouTube engagement rate
Three steps. Nothing to sign up for.
- 1Step 1
Paste a channel above. Its numbers load automatically.
- 2Step 2
Tap Check engagement rate. On YouTube, it's based on views, not subscribers.
- 3Step 3
Compare with channels of the same size. 2.5% is good for a big channel. A small channel should be closer to 4%.
Benefits of Using a YouTube Engagement Rate Calculator
- Uses views: The rate is based on views. A channel can't look good just because it has lots of old subscribers.
- Fair for every size: Big and small channels are each compared with channels like them.
- Better sponsor choices: Check that people still watch before you pay for a sponsorship.
What is a Good YouTube Engagement Rate?
On YouTube, engagement is compared with views. Rates are lower than on TikTok or Instagram. Watching a long video already takes more effort than tapping like.
Some topics get more engagement than others. Gaming channels often score higher than tutorials. These are the numbers the calculator above uses.
Find channels people still watch.
Check a channel here, then find more with our free search.
| Channel size | Subscribers | Strong rate | What it tells you |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nano | Under 10,000 | 4% and above | Small audience, high attention. Cheapest to work with. |
| Micro | 10,000 to 100,000 | 3.5% and above | The sweet spot for most brand budgets. |
| Mid-tier | 100,000 to 1 million | 3% and above | More reach. Rates start to dip as the audience grows. |
| Macro | 1 million to 5 million | 2.5% and above | Lower rates, but far more people than a nano channel reaches. |
| Mega | 5 million and above | 2.2% and above | Huge reach and the lowest rates. Look at views before the rate. |
A 2.5% rate on a video with 400,000 views means 10,000 likes and comments. 5% on a video with 9,000 views means 450. Use the table to judge whether a channel is healthy for its size, then judge reach on its own.
Beyond YouTube Engagement Rate
From one channel to a sponsorship shortlist.
An engagement rate is just the start. Here's what impulze adds:
Do more with your YouTube research
Engagement is just one number. impulze shows you the whole channel.
See who's watching, how views change over time, and save the channels you like.
Frequently Asked Questions
Engagement is how viewers react to a video, through likes, comments and shares. Engagement rate shows this as a percentage of views. That lets you compare big and small channels.
Add the average likes and comments per video. Divide by the average views, then multiply by 100. We use views, not subscribers, because many subscribers no longer watch.
Under 10,000 subscribers, 4% or more is good. From 10,000 to 100,000, 3.5% or more is good. Over a million subscribers, 2.5% is good. These numbers are based on views, not subscribers.
Yes. YouTube looks at how people react when it picks videos to recommend. For brands, engagement shows that viewers care. Viewers who care are more likely to notice a sponsor.
Ask viewers a question in your video. Reply to comments early. Make sure your title and thumbnail match the video. Check your YouTube stats to see which videos people watch longest, then make more like those.
Lots of subscribers doesn't mean lots of viewers. A channel with a million subscribers might only get 20,000 views a video. Engagement based on views shows whether people still care. That's what your sponsorship needs.
Average views, views over time, how often they post, where viewers live, their age and past sponsors. You can also search for more channels by topic, subscribers and engagement.
Under 10,000 subscribers, above 8% is high. From 10,000 to 100,000, above 7% is high. Over a million, above 5% is high. These channels usually have loyal viewers.
Under 10,000 subscribers, below 2% is low. Over a million, below 1.2% is low. Low engagement can mean viewers aren't interested. It can also mean comments are turned off, so check that first.
Yes, you can check both here for free. Those calculators compare engagement with followers instead of views.