When Can You Start Monetizing on YouTube
Published on 24.05.2026 by TF
YouTube has become one of the most attractive platforms for creators who want to turn content into income. For many beginners, the biggest question is simple: when can you start monetizing on YouTube? The answer depends on the type of monetization you want, the size of your audience, and whether your channel meets YouTube’s current eligibility rules. Officially, YouTube now offers an earlier entry point for some fan funding and Shopping features at 500 subscribers in eligible regions, while full ad revenue sharing through the YouTube Partner Program still requires 1,000 subscribers plus either 4,000 valid public watch hours in the last 12 months or 10 million valid public Shorts views in the last 90 days. We have renewed a guideline for monetization, compared to the previous year's blog, you can it read it here.
Importance of Monetization
Understanding when you can start monetizing on YouTube matters because monetization changes how creators plan content. Once a channel becomes eligible, it can move from being a hobby to a serious business asset. Monetization can create revenue from ads, channel memberships, Super Chat, Super Stickers, Super Thanks, and Shopping tools, depending on the level of access a creator has unlocked. YouTube also makes clear that monetization is not only about hitting numbers. A channel must follow monetization policies, avoid active Community Guidelines strikes, enable 2-Step Verification, have advanced features access, and link an AdSense for YouTube account before it can fully move forward. For creators in the United States, this makes planning especially important. Reaching a subscriber milestone without meeting policy standards or watch time goals will not be enough. That is why anyone asking when you can start monetizing on YouTube should think of monetization as both a growth target and a quality benchmark.
Overview of YouTube Monetization Process
The overall process is more structured than many new creators expect. First, a creator builds a public channel and publishes original content consistently. Then the creator works toward the required thresholds for the YouTube Partner Program. Once eligible, the creator applies inside YouTube Studio, accepts the base terms, and connects or creates an active AdSense for YouTube account. After that, YouTube reviews the channel as a whole before approving it for monetization. Meeting the numbers does not mean automatic approval because YouTube still checks whether the content follows channel monetization policies.
This is why the question of when you can start monetizing on YouTube has two layers. The first layer is numerical eligibility. The second layer is policy approval. A channel can meet the threshold and still be rejected if YouTube reviewers believe a significant part of the content is reused, repetitive, low effort, or otherwise outside monetization rules. If an application is rejected, YouTube says creators can reapply after 30 days for a first unsuccessful application, or 90 days after later rejections.
Requirements for YouTube Monetization
When discussing the requirements for YouTube monetization, it helps to split them into foundational requirements and threshold requirements. Foundational requirements include living in a country where YPP is available, following YouTube channel monetization policies, having no active Community Guidelines strikes, turning on 2-Step Verification, getting advanced features access, and linking one active AdSense for YouTube account.
Threshold requirements depend on which stage of monetization a creator is pursuing. In eligible countries, YouTube’s expanded YPP allows earlier access at 500 subscribers with 3 valid public uploads in the last 90 days and either 3,000 valid public watch hours in the last 12 months or 3 million valid public Shorts views in the last 90 days. Full ad revenue sharing requires 1,000 subscribers and either 4,000 valid public watch hours in the last 12 months or 10 million valid public Shorts views in the last 90 days.
YouTube Partner Program Eligibility
If the goal is to fully monetize YouTube channel content through ads, the YouTube Partner Program is the gateway. YPP is what gives creators access to revenue sharing from ads served on videos. It also opens up additional monetization features and support tools. YouTube’s official guidance confirms that the channel has to satisfy the threshold and then pass review. So, when can you start monetizing on YouTube with full ad income? The most direct answer is this: once your channel reaches 1,000 subscribers and either 4,000 valid public watch hours in the past 12 months or 10 million valid public Shorts views in the past 90 days, it then passes YouTube’s review.
Subscriber Count
Subscriber count is one of the clearest milestones in the YouTube system. For earlier access to select features, creators need 500 subscribers. For full ad revenue sharing, they need 1,000 subscribers. That means the answer to when you can start monetizing videos on YouTube is not always tied to one number only. Some creators can unlock fan funding earlier, but they still need to reach 1,000 subscribers if they want ad sharing on long-form videos or shorts. Subscriber growth usually comes from consistency, niche clarity, better packaging, and strong audience retention. Channels that post irregularly or switch topics too often usually take longer to reach the point where when can you start monetizing on YouTube becomes a realistic near-term question.
Watch Time Hours
Watch time is often the harder requirement for long-form creators. YouTube counts only valid public watch hours from public long-form videos. Hours from private, unlisted, or deleted videos do not count. Watch hours generated through ad campaigns do not count either. Most importantly, watch hours from Shorts views in the Shorts Feed do not count toward the 4,000-hour requirement. This matters because many new creators assume all viewing activity contributes equally. It does not. If a creator is focused on long-form content, the path to answering when you can start monetizing on YouTube is tied closely to producing public videos that keep viewers watching for meaningful lengths of time.
AdSense Account
To get paid, creators need an active AdSense for the YouTube account linked to the channel. YouTube specifically instructs creators to set up or link the account through YouTube Studio during the application process. That step is part of the approval flow, not a minor detail to leave for later. For that reason, anyone trying to monetize YouTube channel content should prepare the payment side early. Hitting the threshold without completing AdSense setup can slow down the review process.
Content Guidelines
Content quality and originality matter just as much as numbers. YouTube’s monetization policies say reviewers assess the channel as a whole. Reused content with only minimal changes can violate monetization rules even if there is no copyright strike. On the other hand, commentary, critical reviews, reaction videos with meaningful added value, and substantial editing may still be allowed. On top of that, advertiser-friendly guidelines apply to individual videos, Shorts, thumbnails, titles, descriptions, and tags. Even after joining YPP, some videos may earn limited or no ad revenue if they are not suitable for advertisers.
When Can You Start Monetizing Videos on YouTube?
The realistic answer to when you can start monetizing on YouTube is this: you can start the moment your channel has the right combination of subscribers, watch time or Shorts views, policy compliance, and successful review. For earlier YPP access in eligible countries, that can begin at 500 subscribers with 3 uploads in 90 days plus 3,000 watch hours or 3 million Shorts views. For ad revenue sharing, it begins at 1,000 subscribers plus 4,000 watch hours or 10 million Shorts views. That means when you can start monetizing videos on YouTube depends on which monetization layer you are targeting. A creator can access some earning tools earlier, but full ad monetization still comes later.
Achieving the Minimum Requirements
The fastest way to approach the point where you can start monetizing on YouTube becomes relevant is to build around one focused topic and publish consistently. Creators who mix too many unrelated subjects often struggle with audience retention and subscriber conversion. The platform rewards clarity. If viewers know exactly what to expect, they are more likely to return, watch longer, and subscribe. Channels should also keep all content public whenever possible if they are aiming for watch hours. Deleting or un-listing videos can reduce momentum because those views and hours do not help with YPP thresholds.