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YouTube engagement rate calculator
Measure how much a video’s viewers interact: likes, comments and shares over views.
YouTube engagement rate by views, by subscribers, and where to find the numbers
On YouTube the usual base is views: each video is judged on the people who actually watched it. With the defaults, 1,800 likes, 140 comments and 90 shares on 50,000 views give 2,030 interactions and an engagement rate of 4.06%. The like rate is 3.6% and there are 2.8 comments per 1,000 views.
Some media kits divide by subscribers instead. On a channel with 200,000 subscribers the same video would read 1.02%, which says more about how many subscribers watch than about how viewers reacted. Use views for single videos and keep subscriber-based rates for comparing channels, with the base stated.
Likes and comments are shown for each video in the Content tab of YouTube Studio. Shares sit in the video’s analytics, under the engagement metrics in Advanced mode. Use the same date range for all four numbers, ideally the first 28 days or the video’s full lifetime.
Shorts and long-form videos should be measured separately. At the time of writing, YouTube counts a Shorts view each time a Short starts or replays, and keeps a separate engaged views metric in Analytics, so rates for Shorts calculated on views can look lower than they did under the older counting. Compare Shorts with Shorts.
The breakdown also helps you read a video. A high like rate with few comments often means viewers enjoyed it but had nothing to add, while many comments with a lower like rate can point to a divisive topic. Neither is a problem, but they suggest different follow-ups: a second part for the first, a reply video or a pinned comment for the second.
Sponsors tend to look at the comments per 1,000 views line, because comments show that viewers listen closely enough to respond. A tutorial or review with a steady comment rate often sells integrations better than a larger entertainment channel with passive viewers.
| Video | Views | Likes + comments + shares | Engagement rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tutorial | 50,000 | 2,030 | 4.06% |
| Vlog for a small loyal audience | 12,000 | 900 | 7.50% |
| Short shown to a wide audience | 1,000,000 | 25,000 | 2.50% |
How it works
YouTube engagement rate = (likes + comments + shares) ÷ views × 100. All three numbers are in YouTube Studio for each video.
Comments per 1,000 views is a good signal of how much a video sparks conversation, which brands value.
Long videos naturally get lower rates than Shorts; compare like with like.
Questions
Is engagement rate a ranking factor?
YouTube says it ranks on what viewers watch and how satisfied they are. Engagement is a useful signal for you and for sponsors, not a lever by itself.
Should I include dislikes?
Dislikes are still visible to you in Studio. Leave them out for a rate comparable with other creators.
What is a good engagement rate on YouTube?
It depends on the niche, the format and the size of the channel, so a universal number is not reliable. Compare each video with your own channel median and with similar channels, and look at comments per 1,000 views as well as the total rate.
Should I calculate YouTube engagement by views or subscribers?
By views for a single video, because only viewers could like, comment or share. By subscribers only when you compare whole channels, and say so when you share the number.
Where do I find shares in YouTube Studio?
Open the video’s analytics, switch to Advanced mode and add the shares metric. Likes and comments are also visible in the Content tab.
How do I calculate engagement rate for a whole channel?
Add likes, comments and shares across your last 10 to 20 videos and divide by their total views. This weights each video by its views, so one small video with an unusual rate does not distort the result.
Can I compare Shorts and long-form engagement rates?
Not directly. Shorts are watched in a feed with quick swipes and counted differently, so their rates by views behave differently from long-form. Keep two separate averages.