Quick answer: YouTube engagement rate = (likes + comments) ÷ views × 100. Around 1–3% is average for most channels, 3–6% is good and anything above 6% is excellent.
How is YouTube engagement rate calculated?
This calculator uses the most common formula: add up the likes and comments on a video, divide by its views and multiply by 100. A video with 100,000 views, 3,500 likes and 240 comments has an engagement rate of 3.74%. It also shows the like rate and comment rate separately, and – if you add your subscriber count – how many views and interactions you get per subscriber.
What is a good engagement rate on YouTube?
Engagement rate
Rating
What it usually means
Under 1%
Low
Viewers watch but rarely react – often weak calls to action or passive traffic.
1% – 3%
Average
Typical for most channels and niches.
3% – 6%
Good
An engaged audience that likes and comments regularly.
Over 6%
Excellent
A loyal community – common on smaller, niche channels.
Rough benchmarks. Smaller channels and tutorials often see higher rates; viral videos and music usually see lower ones.
Why engagement matters
Likes and comments don’t directly decide rankings, but they show that people value a video – and they usually go hand in hand with the signals YouTube cares about most: clicks, watch time and satisfaction. Brands also look at engagement before offering sponsorships.
How to improve your engagement rate
Ask a specific question in the video and pin a comment that starts the conversation.
Reply to early comments – people comment more when creators answer.
Ask for the like at a natural moment, after you’ve delivered value, not in the first seconds.
Use community posts and polls to keep subscribers active between uploads.
Last updated: September 2026
FAQ
Engagement rate questions
What is a good like-to-view ratio on YouTube?
Many videos get somewhere around 2–5 likes per 100 views. Under 1% usually means viewers aren’t very engaged; above 5% is strong.
Should I use views or subscribers to calculate engagement?
Views are the fairest base for a single video, because not every viewer is a subscriber. Engagement per subscriber is useful for comparing channels of different sizes, so the calculator shows both when you add your subscriber count.
Do dislikes count?
No. Dislike counts are hidden publicly on YouTube, so the standard formula uses likes and comments only.
Where can I find exact numbers?
In YouTube Studio → Analytics → Engagement, or under each video in Studio’s content list. The numbers under a public video are rounded for large counts.
Does engagement rate affect the algorithm?
Not on its own. YouTube focuses on whether viewers click, keep watching and are satisfied. Likes and comments are signs of that satisfaction, so a higher engagement rate usually goes together with better performance.
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