PODCAST SPONSORSHIP RATE CALCULATOR · RUNS IN YOUR BROWSER · NOTHING UPLOADED

What should you charge for a podcast ad?

Enter your average downloads per episode, niche, and read type below. This turns those numbers into a price range for each common ad placement — a pre-roll, a mid-roll, and a post-roll spot — using the same cost-per-1000-downloads logic podcast ad marketplaces and network rate cards use, applied to your own show instead of a marketplace's cut-taking listing.

Nothing is uploaded. Your numbers are read in this browser and never leave your device — see the privacy note in the footer.

Also selling ads on a newsletter alongside the show? See the newsletter sponsorship rate calculator. Also monetizing a social following? See the brand deal rate calculator for pricing that channel too. Also streaming on Twitch? See the Twitch payout calculator for real take-home from subs and Bits.

Your show's numbers

Enter your numbers above and click Calculate my rates.

What this does and doesn't do

This applies commonly cited podcast-ad-market CPM-per-1000-downloads benchmark ranges — wide ranges, by design — to the downloads, niche, and read type you enter. It does not know your specific niche's current market, your show's engagement or conversion history, or what a specific sponsor is willing to pay this quarter. Treat the output as a starting point for a negotiation, not a quote.

Already listed on Podcorn's marketplace, or thinking about it? See how this free calculator differs from a marketplace listing and its commission. Pricing off one flat "average podcast CPM" number instead? See why a flat rate misprices individual spots.

Common questions

How much should I charge for a podcast ad?

It depends on your average downloads per episode, niche, which ad placement you're selling, and whether it's host-read or produced. This calculator applies commonly cited market CPM-per-1000-downloads ranges to your own numbers to give a starting price range for a pre-roll, mid-roll, or post-roll spot.

Why does this calculate price from downloads instead of subscriber or listener count?

Sponsors are paying for a spot that actually got served. Podcast ad marketplaces and network rate cards routinely price against downloads in the first 7 days of an episode (the industry-standard IAB/Podtrac window), not a lifetime subscriber count that includes people who stopped listening long ago. See why that gap can mean a 4x overask if you price off the wrong number.

Is this price a guarantee of what a sponsor will pay?

No. It is a starting point for negotiation based on general market ranges, not a quote, valuation, or offer performed on your behalf. Actual rates vary by audience quality, host endorsement strength, niche demand, and how much a specific sponsor wants your specific audience this quarter.

What is the difference between a host-read and a produced ad?

A host-read ad is read live by the host in their own voice and words, usually woven into the episode — it commands a premium because listeners trust the host's personal endorsement. A produced ad is a pre-recorded, studio-produced spot dropped into the episode, similar to traditional radio or streaming audio ads, and typically prices lower.