Average views per YouTube video: use your median, not the average
In short
There is no single normal number of views per video. The average is pulled up by a few hits, so use the median of your recent videos, then compare it with your subscriber count and with your own past videos.
Find your median#
Open the Content tab in YouTube Studio and list your long videos with their views. Sort by views and take the middle value, or paste the numbers into a spreadsheet and use its MEDIAN function. Leave Shorts out, since they are viewed differently.
See how far a few hits move the average#
In the sample audit, 80 long videos averaged about 5,200 views. The median video had 1,845, roughly 65 percent lower. The five most viewed videos accounted for 49 percent of all views, so the average describes the hits more than a typical upload.
Compare the median with subscribers#
Divide the median views of your recent videos by your subscriber count. The sample channel has 18,300 subscribers, so its median video reached about 10 percent of them. The ratio changes with topic, audience and channel age, so use it to follow one channel over time rather than to grade it against others.
Track your median over time#
Compare the median of your last ten videos with the ten before them. A rising median means typical videos are doing better. A flat median with occasional hits means the hits are not changing what a typical upload gets.
Common questions
What is a good number of views per YouTube video?
It depends on channel size, topic and audience. A more useful target is your own median for recent videos, raised over time, instead of a comparison with unrelated channels.
Why is the median better than the average for YouTube views?
A few very successful videos raise the average far above what most videos get. The median is the middle video, so it is not moved by a handful of hits.
How many videos do I need to calculate a median?
Ten or more recent long videos give a steadier number. With fewer, treat it as a rough guide.
Check this on your own channel
Run a free audit on your channel's public videos. It shows average views per video and median views by video length and title pattern.
Analyze my channel for free