CPM Calculator
Reviewed by Hamza Gujjar, Algorithm Architect & Software Developer
Last updated: July 27, 2026Pricing awareness, not clicks
CPM measures the cost of reaching 1,000 people with an ad impression - the standard pricing metric for brand awareness and display advertising, where the goal is exposure rather than an immediate click or conversion.
Worked example
For $300 in ad spend generating 100,000 impressions:
CPM = (300 / 100000) x 1000 = 3.0 per 1,000 impressions
Frequently asked questions
What does "mille" mean? It's Latin for "thousand" - CPM stands for Cost Per Mille, a naming convention that predates digital advertising, going back to print and broadcast media pricing.
When is CPM the right metric to focus on? CPM is most relevant for brand awareness or reach campaigns where the goal is simply getting an ad in front of as many eyes as possible - for direct response campaigns focused on clicks or conversions, CPC and CPA are typically more meaningful.