How many subscribers to monetize on YouTube?

YouTube currently prints 1,000 subscribers and either 4,000 qualified watch hours in the last 12 months or 10 million qualified Shorts views in the last 90 days. 1,000 with 4,000 hours meets that published number. 999 subscribers does not. Meeting the numbers is not acceptance. YouTube reviews the channel. This page compares the counts you type. It does not open a channel, and the numbers do not predict revenue.

Check the published numbers

YouTube's published requirements

The ads and Premium numbers are from YouTube Help, YouTube Partner Program overview & eligibility, as read on 3 November 2026. A channel can become eligible with 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 qualified watch hours in the last 12 months, or 1,000 subscribers and 10 million qualified Shorts views in the last 90 days. Qualified watch hours come from public long-form videos. They do not include private videos, unlisted videos, deleted videos, ad campaigns, YouTube Shorts, or livestreams that are unlisted, deleted, or not converted to video on demand. Qualified Shorts views come from public Shorts in the Shorts Feed. They do not include private, unlisted, or deleted Shorts, ad campaigns, or image posts in the Shorts Feed.

Changes to the YouTube Partner Program, read the same day, says that from 1 February 2027 new applicants need 1,000 subscribers and either 8,000 qualified watch hours in the last 365 days or 20 million qualified Shorts views in the last 90 days. A channel already in the program is not affected by that entry change. The expanded program still prints 500 subscribers, 3 valid public uploads in the last 90 days, and either 3,000 qualified watch hours or 3 million qualified Shorts views. YouTube limits that program to the countries listed on that page. It is earlier access to fan funding and Shopping, not the ads threshold.

Counts	What YouTube prints
1,000 subscribers and 4,000 hours	Current ads and Premium numbers.
1,000 subscribers and 10 million Shorts views	The other current path. Watch hours are not required on this path.
999 subscribers and 4,000 hours	Short by 1 subscriber for the ads numbers.
500 subscribers, 3 uploads, and 3,000 hours	Expanded-program numbers. Not the ads numbers.
1,000 subscribers and 8,000 hours	The 1 February 2027 watch-hour number for new applicants.

YouTube also says an application needs the monetization policies, an available country, no active Community Guidelines strikes, 2-Step Verification, advanced features, and an active AdSense for YouTube account. Every channel that meets the threshold goes through review. A decision is typically about a month, and delays are possible. Turn watch time from views and average duration into hours with the watch time calculator. This page does not estimate earnings.

Questions about YouTube monetization requirements

How many subscribers do you need to monetize on YouTube?

1,000, plus either 4,000 qualified watch hours in the last 12 months or 10 million qualified Shorts views in the last 90 days. Those are the ads and Premium numbers on YouTube Help as read on 3 November 2026. Meeting them is not acceptance.

Do Shorts watch hours count toward 4,000?

No. YouTube says qualified watch hours from Shorts views in the Shorts Feed do not count toward the 4,000. Shorts have a separate path: 10 million qualified Shorts views in 90 days, with 1,000 subscribers.

What changes on 1 February 2027?

For new applicants, the entry numbers become 1,000 subscribers and either 8,000 qualified watch hours in the last 365 days or 20 million qualified Shorts views in the last 90 days. YouTube says a channel already in the Partner Program is not affected by that entry change.

Is 500 subscribers enough?

For the expanded program, YouTube prints 500 subscribers, 3 valid public uploads in the last 90 days, and either 3,000 qualified watch hours or 3 million qualified Shorts views. That is earlier access to fan funding and Shopping in listed countries. It is not the ads threshold.

Does meeting the number mean YouTube will accept the channel?

No. YouTube reviews the channel. A decision is typically about a month, and delays are possible. This page is free in the browser and does not apply for you. The numbers do not predict revenue.

Vlozy makes the video and can publish it to the YouTube account you connect. This page only compares the counts you type with the published numbers. See what Vlozy does.