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CPV Calculator

Calculate cost per video view, completed-view cost, view rate, and the budget or views needed at a target CPV.

Example: $1,000
$
Example: 25,000
Advanced assumptions Optional fees, reserves, and planning targets
Example: 100,000

Optional. Add impressions to calculate the share that became reported views.

Example: 10,000

Optional. Use the platform's 100% completion count, not all reported views.

Example: $0.04
$

Optional. Enter a planning target to estimate views and budget at that rate.

Review the result

Average CPV
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Cost per completed view
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View rate
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Completion rate
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Views at target CPV
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Budget at target CPV
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How to use this calculator

Calculate CPV from the campaign report

Enter spend and the platform's reported video views from the same campaign and date range. The calculator divides spend by views and keeps the platform's own view definition intact.

Check what a cheap view actually delivered

CPV alone cannot tell you how many people finished the video. Add impressions and completed views to compare view rate, completion rate, and cost per completed view on the same screen.

Plan from a target CPV

A target CPV turns the same formula around. It estimates how many views the entered budget could buy and what the current view volume would cost at that target. It is a planning check, not a delivery forecast.

Do not mix view definitions

Google Ads counts eligible views differently for in-stream, in-feed, and Shorts ads. Other platforms use their own thresholds. Compare campaigns only when the reporting basis matches.

Formula quick reference

  • Cost per completed view = video ad spend / completed video views
  • View rate = reported video views / video ad impressions x 100
  • Completion rate = completed video views / reported video views x 100
  • Views at target CPV = video ad spend / target CPV
  • Budget at target CPV = reported video views x target CPV
  • Implied CPM = video ad spend / video ad impressions x 1,000

Worked example

Video campaign example

Inputs: $1,000 spend, 100,000 impressions, 25,000 reported views, 10,000 completed views, and a $0.04 target CPV

Result: $0.04 CPV, $0.10 per completed view, 25% view rate, and 40% completion rate

Note: At the entered target CPV, the $1,000 budget supports 25,000 views.

Common mistakes

  • Using public video views instead of the campaign's billable or reported ad views.
  • Comparing CPV across platforms that count a view at different thresholds.
  • Calling a low CPV efficient without checking completed views or downstream conversions.

What the result means

  • Google Ads says CPV changes with ad length, creative, targeting, and auction conditions.
  • Use your own matched campaign history instead of a universal CPV benchmark.

Source notes

  • Google Ads defines CPV as a video-campaign bidding method where advertisers pay for an eligible view and documents different view rules for in-stream, in-feed, and Shorts ads.
  • Google Ads distinguishes TrueView views from YouTube public views and defines TrueView view rate as views divided by served impressions.

CPV Calculator FAQ

How do I calculate CPV?

Divide video ad spend by the number of reported video views from the same reporting period.

What is the difference between CPV and cost per completed view?

CPV uses the platform's reported view count. Cost per completed view divides spend by the number of people who reached 100% of the video.

How is video view rate calculated?

Divide reported video views by video ad impressions, then multiply by 100.

Is a target CPV the same as the actual CPV?

No. A target is a bidding or planning input. Actual CPV comes from delivered spend and reported views, and can differ by campaign and format.

What is a good CPV?

There is no single good CPV. Compare campaigns with the same platform, format, audience, and view definition, then check completion and conversion quality before changing budget.

Can I compare YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok CPV directly?

Not safely unless the view thresholds match. Use completed views for a more consistent comparison, and still check how each platform reports completions.