How Many Subscribers to Make Money on YouTube in 2026? 💰
✅ Quick Answer
You need 1,000 subscribers + 4,000 watch hours to monetize on YouTube
YouTube Partner Program Requirements (2026):
- ✓1,000 subscribers on your channel
- ✓4,000 watch hours in the past 12 months
- ✓OR 10 million Shorts views in 90 days (for Shorts monetization)
- ✓Live in an eligible country (175+ countries supported)
- ✓Have no Community Guidelines strikes
- ✓Link an AdSense account
- ✓Enable 2-Step Verification on your Google account
📋 Table of Contents
If you're starting a YouTube channel in 2026, one of your first questions is probably: "How many subscribers do I need to start making money?"
The answer is straightforward, but there's more to it than just hitting a number. In this comprehensive guide, I'll walk you through every requirement, explain why YouTube set these thresholds, and give you a proven roadmap to reach monetization as quickly as possible.
✅ Complete YouTube Monetization Requirements (2026)
To join the YouTube Partner Program (YPP) and start earning money from ads, you must meet ALL of these requirements:
1. 1,000 Subscribers
Your channel must have at least 1,000 subscribers. This is a fixed, non-negotiable requirement.
2. 4,000 Watch Hours (Past 12 Months)
Your channel needs 4,000 valid public watch hours in the rolling 12-month period.
What counts:
- Public video watch time
- Unlisted video watch time
- Live stream watch time
What doesn't count:
- Private videos
- Deleted videos
- YouTube Shorts (unless using Shorts path)
- Ads or other channels' videos
Alternative: YouTube Shorts Path
Instead of 4,000 watch hours, you can qualify with:
10 million Shorts views in the past 90 days
This is specifically for creators who focus on YouTube Shorts. You still need 1,000 subscribers.
3. Live in an Eligible Country
YouTube Partner Program is available in 175+ countries as of 2026. Major eligible countries include:
Fully supported: USA, UK, Canada, India, Australia, Germany, France, Brazil, Japan, South Korea, and 165+ more.
Check the official list at: support.google.com/youtube/answer/72851
4. Follow YouTube Policies
Your channel must comply with:
- YouTube Community Guidelines (no hate speech, violence, spam)
- YouTube Terms of Service
- YouTube Monetization Policies (no copyright violations, no misleading content)
- Google AdSense Program Policies
5. Enable 2-Step Verification
Your Google account must have 2-Step Verification (2FA) enabled for security.
Set this up at: myaccount.google.com/security
6. Link Google AdSense Account
You'll need to create and link a Google AdSense account to receive payments.
Requirements for AdSense:
- Be 18+ years old (or have guardian consent)
- Provide valid payment information
- Verify your identity (may require ID submission)
🤔 Why Does YouTube Require 1,000 Subscribers?
YouTube introduced these requirements in 2018 to combat spam, fraud, and low-quality content. Here's the logic:
🛡️ Quality Filter
Channels with 1,000+ subscribers have proven they can create content people want to watch repeatedly, filtering out spam accounts.
💰 Revenue Protection
YouTube needs to ensure creators generate enough views to make ad revenue meaningful. Below 1,000 subs, most channels earn less than $1/month.
⚖️ Policy Enforcement
Smaller channels are easier for bad actors to create and abandon. The 1K threshold discourages those trying to game the system.
📊 Data Validation
1,000 subscribers + 4,000 hours is the statistical threshold where YouTube can reliably assess channel quality and advertiser safety.
Fun Fact: Before 2018, ANY channel could monetize with just 10,000 channel views. This led to massive fraud, forcing YouTube to implement stricter requirements.
⏱️ Understanding the 4,000 Watch Hours Requirement
4,000 watch hours sounds intimidating, but let's break it down:
📊 4,000 Watch Hours Breakdown:
4,000 hours=240,000 minutes
240,000 minutes=14,400,000 seconds
Example Calculations:
- • If avg video is 10 minutes → Need 24,000 views
- • If avg video is 15 minutes → Need 16,000 views
- • If avg video is 20 minutes → Need 12,000 views
⚠️ Common Watch Hour Myths:
Myth: "I need 4,000 hours on ONE video"
Reality: It's cumulative across ALL your videos in the past 12 months
Myth: "Deleted video hours count"
Reality: If you delete a video, its watch hours are removed from your total
Myth: "Shorts count toward 4,000 hours"
Reality: Shorts have a separate requirement (10M views in 90 days)
🔍 How to Check Your Current Eligibility Status
YouTube makes it easy to track your progress toward monetization:
📱 Step-by-Step:
- 1.Go to YouTube Studio (studio.youtube.com)
- 2.Click Monetization in the left sidebar
- 3.You'll see your progress toward:
✓ Subscribers (current count / 1,000)
✓ Watch Hours (current hours / 4,000 in past 12 months)
✓ Policy Compliance Status
🚀 Step-by-Step: Applying for YouTube Partner Program
Once you meet all requirements, here's exactly how to apply:
Step 1: Accept YouTube Partner Program Terms
Go to YouTube Studio → Monetization → Click "Start" → Read and accept the YPP terms
Step 2: Sign Up for Google AdSense
If you don't have an AdSense account, create one and link it to your YouTube channel.
Note: You must be 18+ or have parental consent
Step 3: Set Your Monetization Preferences
Choose which ad formats you want (skippable, non-skippable, display ads, etc.)
Step 4: Wait for Review (Usually 1-4 Weeks)
YouTube will manually review your channel to ensure it meets all policies.
What they check: Content quality, policy compliance, no misleading metadata, no copyright violations
Step 5: Get Approved & Start Earning! 🎉
Once approved, ads will automatically start running on your videos, and you'll see earnings in your YouTube Analytics.
📈 How to Get Your First 1,000 Subscribers (Proven Strategies)
This is the hard part. Here are the strategies that actually work:
1. Nail Your Niche
Focus on ONE specific topic instead of being a "everything" channel. People subscribe to channels with consistent themes.
2. Optimize Every Video for Search
Use keyword research to find topics with search demand. Use YouTowire Keyword Planner to find high-volume, low-competition keywords.
3. Create Click-Worthy Thumbnails
Your thumbnail is 90% of the decision to click. Use bold text, high contrast, and emotional faces.
4. Hook Viewers in the First 15 Seconds
Tell viewers exactly what they'll learn/gain in the opening. No long intros!
5. Ask for Subscriptions (Directly!)
Studies show that asking increases subscriptions by 300%+. Add a subscribe CTA in your video and description.
6. Upload Consistently
Pick a schedule (1x/week minimum) and stick to it. Subscribers need to know when to expect content.
7. Analyze Your Best Videos
Check YouTube Analytics to see which videos got the most subscribers. Make more content like that!
→ Use YouTowire Trending Tracker to find viral topics📅 Realistic Timeline: How Long Does It Take?
The brutal truth: it varies wildly based on niche, effort, and luck. But here are the averages:
| Scenario | Upload Frequency | Time to 1K Subs |
|---|---|---|
| New channel, poor optimization | 1 video/week | 12-24 months |
| New channel, good SEO & thumbnails | 2-3 videos/week | 6-12 months |
| Focused niche, consistent quality | 3-5 videos/week | 3-6 months |
| Viral hit or trending topic | Varies | 1-3 months |
Average for most creators: 8-12 months to hit 1,000 subscribers with consistent effort.
🚀 Accelerate Your Growth with YouTowire Tools
Use our free tools to optimize your content, find trending topics, and reach 1,000 subscribers faster.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can I monetize with less than 1,000 subscribers?▼
No. 1,000 subscribers is a strict requirement with no exceptions. However, you can earn through other means like affiliate links, sponsorships, or Patreon before hitting 1K.
Q: What happens if I lose subscribers and drop below 1,000?▼
If you're already monetized and drop below 1,000 subs, you'll typically keep monetization. However, YouTube may review your channel if numbers drop significantly. New applications require meeting the threshold.
Q: Can I buy subscribers to meet the requirement faster?▼
Absolutely not. Buying subscribers violates YouTube's Terms of Service. YouTube can detect fake subs and will permanently ban your channel from monetization. It's not worth the risk.
Q: Do YouTube Shorts count toward the 4,000 watch hours?▼
No. Shorts have a separate monetization path: 1,000 subscribers + 10 million Shorts views in 90 days. Regular watch hours only count for long-form videos (not Shorts).
Q: How much will I earn once I hit 1,000 subscribers?▼
Subscribers don't directly generate income—views do. Earnings depend on your CPM and view count. At 1,000 subs with minimal views, expect $5-50/month. Read our detailed guide: How Much Does YouTube Pay?
Q: My application was rejected. What should I do?▼
YouTube will explain why you were rejected (usually policy violations, reused content, or spam). Fix the issues, wait 30 days, and reapply. Review YouTube's monetization policies carefully before resubmitting.
🎯 Final Thoughts
Getting to 1,000 subscribers is a milestone that separates casual uploaders from serious creators. It's not easy, but it's absolutely achievable with the right strategy.
Your Action Plan:
- 1. Choose a focused niche you can create 100+ videos about
- 2. Research keywords and optimize every upload for search
- 3. Create thumbnails that stand out in the sidebar
- 4. Upload consistently (at minimum 1x/week)
- 5. Engage with your audience in comments
- 6. Track your progress in YouTube Studio
- 7. Celebrate when you hit 1,000 and immediately apply for YPP!
📚 Sources & Official Documentation:
- 1. YouTube Partner Program Overview: support.google.com/youtube/answer/72857
- 2. Monetization Eligibility: support.google.com/youtube/answer/72851
- 3. YouTube Community Guidelines: youtube.com/howyoutubeworks/policies/community-guidelines
- 4. Google AdSense Requirements: support.google.com/adsense
Last verified: January 24, 2026