The cost an advertiser pays for one thousand impressions of an ad, regardless of clicks or engagement. ("Mille" is Latin for thousand.)
Why it matters
CPM is the standard pricing model for brand awareness campaigns, where the goal is reach and visibility rather than a direct click or conversion. It's useful for comparing the relative cost of buying attention across different platforms or ad formats.
In a sentence
"CPMs on connected TV are typically higher than social, but the format reaches an audience that's harder to get otherwise."
Related terms
- Antonyms: CPC, CPA (both charge based on an action taken, rather than on exposure alone).
- Often confused with: CPC (CPM charges for impressions regardless of engagement; CPC charges only when someone clicks).
- Synonyms: Cost per thousand.