About this calculator
The YouTube Watch Time Calculator estimates how many views (at a given average view duration) you'd need to reach 4,000 hours of watch time — one of the eligibility requirements for the YouTube Partner Program.
How is the estimate calculated?
Required views are estimated by dividing the total watch time goal (4,000 hours, converted to minutes) by your average view duration per video: Views Needed = (4000 × 60) ÷ Average View Duration (in minutes). A channel with a longer average view duration needs fewer total views to reach the same watch time threshold.
What else is required for the YouTube Partner Program?
Watch time is only one requirement — YouTube's current criteria also include a minimum subscriber count and adherence to its monetization policies and community guidelines, and these requirements can change over time. It's worth checking YouTube's official Partner Program page for the current full eligibility list before assuming watch time alone is enough.