Advertising and targeting
How Much Does a 5 Second Ad Cost on YouTube?
A YouTube ad costs nothing in media spend for the first 29 seconds someone watches it, so a 5 second view is completely free.
Last updated 31 August 2026
Running time 1:45Watch it
What does this video cover?
- 01A 5 second view of a YouTube ad does not cost anything in media spend.
- 02The same is true right up to 29 seconds, all of which is free.
- 03Payment only starts if someone clicks the ad into a website or takes some other action.
- 04A wide audience can effectively be reached for close to 29 seconds of free advertising per view.
Full transcript
Sinead of s.media answers a question she says comes up often in search: how much does a five second advert cost on YouTube. The straightforward answer is that a five second view does not cost a penny in media spend, and neither does a ten second view, and in fact the whole way up to 29 seconds is completely free. Payment only kicks in if someone clicks through into your website or takes some other action, which means there is an opportunity to put an advert in front of a wide audience for up to 29 seconds of advertising at no media cost at all.
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