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YouTube Engagement Rate Calculator
YouTube engagement is measured against views, since most viewers are not subscribers. See your rate, like rate, comment rate and how your views compare with your subscriber count.
Free, no sign-up, runs in your browser. Updated 2026-10-31.
How YouTube engagement rate is calculated
The usual formula is (likes + comments) ÷ views × 100. YouTube does not show public share or save counts, so likes and comments are the interactions most tools and brands use. A video with 15,000 views, 620 likes and 48 comments has an engagement rate of about 4.5%.
Views is the right base for YouTube because most people who watch a video are not subscribers. Searches, suggested videos and the Home feed all bring in viewers who have never subscribed.
Where to find the numbers
- Open YouTube Studio and go to Content.
- Find the video and read its views, likes and comments.
- Enter your subscriber count from the channel dashboard to see views as a share of subscribers.
What is a good YouTube engagement rate?
| Rate (likes + comments ÷ views) | Rule of thumb |
|---|---|
| Under 2% | Below average |
| 2% to 5% | Average |
| 5% to 8% | Good |
| Above 8% | Very high |
These bands are informal rules of thumb, not figures from YouTube. Niche, video length and audience all change what is normal, and tutorials and entertainment often differ.
Engagement is not the same as watch time
Likes and comments tell you how viewers reacted, but YouTube also looks closely at how long people watch. A video can have a modest engagement rate and still do well if viewers stay to the end. Check average view duration and click-through rate in Studio alongside this figure.
How to raise YouTube engagement
- Ask for a like or a comment at a natural moment, with a specific question rather than a generic request.
- Pin a comment that starts a conversation, and reply early.
- Keep the promise of the title and thumbnail so viewers do not leave disappointed.
- Use chapters so viewers can find the part they want. The timestamp generator builds them for you.
- If a video lost reach after a strike or claim, read the YouTube views dropped guide.
Curious what your views could earn? Try the YouTube money calculator. For other platforms see the Instagram and TikTok versions.
Frequently asked questions
Do I include dislikes?
No. YouTube hides public dislike counts, and the standard formula uses likes and comments only.
Is this for Shorts too?
The formula works, but Shorts are watched in a feed with very different behaviour, so compare Shorts only with other Shorts.
Why is my comment rate so low?
Comment rates are normally much smaller than like rates, often well under 1% of views. A few comments per 1,000 views is common.
Should subscribers or views be the base?
Views. Subscribers are shown only as context, since a video can reach many more people than subscribe to your channel.