If you are running ads or reviewing a marketing report then you have probably seen the word impressions pop up a lot. You might have even asked yourself this exact question. How much is 1000 impressions worth and is it even a number that matters
Let us break it down without overcomplicating it
What does impression mean in digital marketing
An impression simply means your ad or content was shown once. It does not mean someone clicked. It does not mean someone read it or watched it. It just means the platform served your ad or post on someone’s screen.
So when you get 1000 impressions it means your message was seen 1000 times.
Now the question is how much are those 1000 views actually worth
The short answer is it depends
Different platforms and different goals mean different value. If you are running display ads on Google your cost for 1000 impressions or CPM could be two to five dollars. If you are advertising on LinkedIn that number could be as high as ninety dollars. And if you are paying for influencer reach or podcast sponsorships you might hear the term CPM but the price will vary based on their audience quality.
Let us look at some real examples.
Average CPM rates by platform in 2025
| Platform | Average CPM (Cost per 1000 impressions) |
|---|---|
| Google Display | $2 to $5 |
| Facebook Ads | $8 to $14 |
| Instagram Ads | $6 to $12 |
| LinkedIn Ads | $70 to $90 |
| YouTube Ads | $10 to $30 |
| TikTok Ads | $5 to $10 |
These are averages and your actual cost will depend on your targeting your ad relevance and your competition. But this gives you a ballpark range.
So if someone asks how much 1000 impressions cost you can say it ranges from $2 to $90 depending on the channel.
But impressions alone do not tell you value
The real value of 1000 impressions depends on what happens after someone sees your ad.
- Did they click
- Did they visit your site
- Did they engage
- Did they convert
If your ad is being seen by the right people and drives clicks and leads then 1000 impressions could be worth a lot. But if it is being shown to people who are not your audience and no one clicks then even 10000 impressions might be worth nothing.
That is why marketers care more about cost per click and cost per conversion than just CPM.
How to calculate the real value of 1000 impressions
Let us say you ran an ad that got 1000 impressions.
You paid $10 total.
That means your CPM is $10.
If 50 people clicked your ad your click through rate is 5 percent.
If 5 of them became leads your conversion rate is 10 percent.
If each lead is worth $100 to your business then those 1000 impressions brought you $500 in value.
Now imagine you paid $30 for those same impressions on another platform but only got one lead. That CPM was more expensive and less effective.
So 1000 impressions is not about the number. It is about what that exposure leads to.
When does CPM matter the most
CPM is useful when your goal is brand awareness. If you are trying to reach as many people as possible with a message or video then you want your impressions to be cheap but targeted. You are not looking for immediate clicks. You are trying to stay top of mind.
But if your goal is lead generation or sales then focus on the full funnel not just impressions. Look at CPC CTR and conversion rate. That tells you what 1000 impressions is really worth to your business.
Final thoughts
So how much is 1000 impressions worth. It could be two dollars or two hundred depending on your audience your content and your goals. The number by itself does not matter. What matters is how well those impressions translate into action.
If you are running paid campaigns and you are tired of chasing vanity metrics like impressions and CPM let us help.
Book a strategy session at inboundmarketer.co and we will show you how to build campaigns that focus on leads and revenue not just reach.