TikTok creator RPM rates in Q1 2026 are tracking 28% higher than Q4 2025 averages, driven by increased advertiser budgets and TikTok's updated Creator Rewards payout structure that took effect in February. Our tiktok rpm q1 2026 analysis covers data from over 500 creator accounts across 15 niches and 12 countries, revealing significant variation by content category, geography, and video length. TikTok creators earned a median RPM of $0.92 in the US during the first six weeks of 2026, up from $0.68 in Q4 2025.
Key Findings
Our Q1 2026 RPM analysis reveals five critical trends that every TikTok creator should understand:
-
Overall RPM is up 28% quarter-over-quarter. The median US RPM rose from $0.68 in Q4 2025 to $0.92 in January-February 2026. This is the largest single-quarter increase since the Creator Rewards Program launched.
-
Finance and technology niches are pulling away. These categories now earn 2-3x the platform-wide average RPM, with finance creators hitting $1.80 median RPM in the US during February 2026.
-
European markets are closing the gap with the US. UK, German, and French RPMs grew faster than US rates in Q1 2026, narrowing the transatlantic earnings gap to approximately 25-30% (down from 40% in 2025).
-
Longer videos earn significantly more per view. Videos over 2 minutes generate RPMs roughly 45% higher than 60-90 second content, reflecting both higher ad load potential and TikTok's algorithm favoring longer formats.
-
January dip was shallower than expected. The typical post-holiday advertiser pullback in January 2026 was less severe than in previous years, with RPMs dropping only 8% from December 2025 peaks compared to the usual 15-20% January decline.
These findings align with TikTok's broader push to compete with YouTube on creator compensation. For context on how RPM translates to actual earnings, our RPM calculator lets you model income based on your specific numbers.
Q1 2026 TikTok RPM Report — Primary Data
RPM by Niche
Niche selection remains the single largest variable in creator RPM. Advertisers pay dramatically different rates to reach audiences in different content categories. Here are the Q1 2026 median RPM figures by niche for US-based creators:
| Niche | Q1 2026 Median RPM | Q4 2025 Median RPM | QoQ Change | Sample Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Finance / Investing | $1.80 | $1.35 | +33% | 42 creators |
| Technology / Software | $1.55 | $1.15 | +35% | 38 creators |
| Business / Entrepreneurship | $1.40 | $1.05 | +33% | 35 creators |
| Health / Wellness | $1.20 | $0.90 | +33% | 45 creators |
| Education / Study | $1.10 | $0.85 | +29% | 40 creators |
| Beauty / Skincare | $0.95 | $0.72 | +32% | 52 creators |
| Food / Cooking | $0.88 | $0.65 | +35% | 48 creators |
| Fitness | $0.85 | $0.68 | +25% | 36 creators |
| Travel | $0.82 | $0.62 | +32% | 30 creators |
| Fashion / Style | $0.78 | $0.60 | +30% | 44 creators |
| Gaming | $0.72 | $0.55 | +31% | 50 creators |
| Comedy / Entertainment | $0.65 | $0.50 | +30% | 55 creators |
| Music / Dance | $0.58 | $0.45 | +29% | 46 creators |
| Pets / Animals | $0.55 | $0.42 | +31% | 32 creators |
| General Lifestyle | $0.50 | $0.38 | +32% | 40 creators |
The pattern is clear: niches where advertisers can attribute direct purchase intent or high-value customer acquisition continue to dominate RPM rankings. Finance content earns more than 3x what general lifestyle content earns on a per-view basis. If you are considering pivoting your content strategy, our niche profitability calculator can help you weigh the trade-offs.
For creators looking to understand how niche selection fits into a broader monetization plan, the complete monetization guide covers strategies beyond just RPM.
RPM by Country
Geographic variation in RPM reflects differences in advertiser budgets and purchasing power across markets. Here are Q1 2026 median RPMs by country (all niches averaged):
| Country | Q1 2026 Median RPM | Q4 2025 Median RPM | QoQ Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | $0.92 | $0.68 | +35% |
| United Kingdom | $0.74 | $0.52 | +42% |
| Canada | $0.68 | $0.50 | +36% |
| Australia | $0.65 | $0.48 | +35% |
| Germany | $0.62 | $0.42 | +48% |
| France | $0.55 | $0.38 | +45% |
| Netherlands | $0.52 | $0.36 | +44% |
| Japan | $0.48 | $0.35 | +37% |
| South Korea | $0.42 | $0.30 | +40% |
| Brazil | $0.18 | $0.10 | +80% |
| Mexico | $0.14 | $0.08 | +75% |
| India | $0.08 | $0.04 | +100% |
The standout story is the growth in emerging markets. Brazil, Mexico, and India posted the largest percentage gains, reflecting TikTok's aggressive advertiser acquisition in these regions. While absolute rates remain low, the trajectory is encouraging for creators in these markets.
European markets also outpaced the US in growth rate. Germany and France both saw RPM increases above 40%, driven by new advertiser categories entering the TikTok ecosystem in these countries during Q1 2026. For more detail on regional earnings patterns, explore the TikTok creator income distribution data.
Q1 2026 TikTok RPM Report — Extended Data
Advertiser Spend Trends
The RPM increases in Q1 2026 are fundamentally driven by advertiser spending. TikTok's ad revenue is estimated to have grown 22% year-over-year in Q1 2026, reaching approximately $8.2 billion globally for the quarter. Several factors are contributing:
Brand safety improvements. TikTok invested heavily in content moderation and brand safety tools throughout 2025, convincing more conservative advertisers (financial services, healthcare, automotive) to increase their TikTok budgets in 2026.
TikTok Shop integration. The growth of TikTok Shop is creating a new category of performance advertisers who spend on creator content because they can directly track sales attribution. This commerce-driven ad spend tends to carry higher CPMs.
Election cycle absence. Unlike Q1 2024, there is no major US election cycle inflating political ad spend in Q1 2026. However, the advertiser demand that filled that gap in other categories has more than compensated.
Seasonal patterns. January 2026 saw a milder post-holiday dip than expected. Advertisers carried momentum from a strong Q4 2025 holiday season, and many increased their "always on" budgets for 2026. February saw a further boost from Valentine's Day campaigns across beauty, fashion, and gifting categories.
RPM by Video Length
The relationship between video length and RPM has become more pronounced in Q1 2026, reflecting both TikTok's algorithmic preferences and ad placement mechanics:
| Video Length | Q1 2026 Median RPM (US) | Q4 2025 Median RPM (US) | QoQ Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60-90 seconds | $0.72 | $0.55 | +31% |
| 90 seconds - 2 minutes | $0.88 | $0.65 | +35% |
| 2-3 minutes | $1.05 | $0.75 | +40% |
| 3-5 minutes | $1.15 | $0.80 | +44% |
| 5-10 minutes | $1.08 | $0.78 | +38% |
Videos in the 3-5 minute range earned the highest RPMs in Q1 2026. This makes sense: longer videos can accommodate mid-roll ad placements, which generate additional revenue per view. However, the 5-10 minute bracket shows slightly lower RPMs than 3-5 minutes, likely because retention rates drop off and not all viewers reach mid-roll ad positions.
These length-RPM dynamics are directly connected to the March 2026 algorithm update, which explicitly rewards longer-form content with more distribution. Creators who adapt their format stand to benefit from both more views and higher per-view earnings.
Monthly RPM Trend: Q4 2025 Through February 2026
| Month | US Median RPM | MoM Change |
|---|---|---|
| October 2025 | $0.62 | baseline |
| November 2025 | $0.70 | +13% |
| December 2025 | $0.78 | +11% |
| January 2026 | $0.72 | -8% |
| February 2026 | $0.92 | +28% |
The February 2026 spike reflects the combined impact of the new Creator Rewards payout structure (effective February 1) and strong Valentine's Day ad spending. March data, which will be available in our next quarterly report, is expected to sustain February levels as the algorithm update drives higher engagement metrics.
For historical context on how earnings fluctuate through the year, our seasonal TikTok earnings trends page tracks these patterns across multiple years.
Methodology
This report draws on data from the following sources:
Creator survey data. We collected self-reported RPM data from 537 TikTok creators across 15 content niches and 12 countries. Data was gathered through our creator community, direct outreach, and public creator earnings reports shared on social media during January and February 2026.
Platform analytics verification. Where possible, we verified self-reported data against TikTok Analytics screenshots shared by participants. Approximately 62% of data points were verified through this method.
Advertiser spend estimates. Global ad revenue figures are based on estimates from industry analysts and publicly available financial data. These are approximate and may differ from TikTok's actual revenue figures.
RPM calculation. RPM is calculated as (total Creator Rewards earnings / total qualified views) x 1,000. "Qualified views" are views on videos meeting the Creator Rewards eligibility criteria (minimum 60 seconds, from eligible accounts).
Limitations. Self-reported data introduces potential bias. Creators with higher earnings may be more likely to participate in surveys. Our sample skews toward US-based creators (45% of respondents). Small niches have limited sample sizes. All figures should be treated as directional estimates rather than definitive platform-wide averages.
We publish these reports quarterly. Our average TikTok earnings per views data provides additional context that complements this RPM-focused analysis.
Calculate Your Own Numbers
The data in this report represents averages and medians. Your individual RPM will vary based on your specific niche, audience geography, video length, and content quality. To get a personalized estimate, use our RPM calculator with your own view counts and niche selection.
For a broader picture of your total TikTok earning potential across all revenue streams, including brand deals, TikTok Shop, and live gifts, try the TikTok money calculator. You can also explore the brand deal rate calculator to understand how your engagement metrics translate into sponsorship pricing, which for most creators represents a far larger income source than RPM-based earnings alone.
Understanding your RPM is the foundation of smart TikTok monetization. The Q1 2026 data shows the platform is becoming more lucrative for creators who produce high-quality, longer-form content in high-value niches. If your current RPM falls below the benchmarks in this report, our complete monetization guide can help you identify opportunities to optimize.