Newsletter sponsorship rates by subscriber count
What to charge sponsors at 1k, 5k, 10k, 50k and 100k subscribers — and why your open rate matters far more than your list size.
Price my newsletterSize sets the ballpark, opens set the price
Subscriber count gets you in the room, but it doesn't set your rate. Two 10,000-subscriber newsletters can be worth very different amounts: one opening at 50% in a B2B niche, another at 30% in a broad one. The first is worth roughly double per send.
So treat any 'rate at X subscribers' figure as a starting ballpark, then adjust hard for your open rate and niche CPM. The numbers below assume a healthy ~40% open rate and a mid-market niche CPM around $50–$70.
Rough per-send ballparks (mid-market niche)
These are order-of-magnitude figures for a single dedicated placement, not quotes. Premium niches (SaaS, finance, dev) run two to three times higher; broad lifestyle lists run lower. Always confirm with the calculator on your real opens.
- 1,000 subscribers → roughly $20–$50 per send
- 5,000 subscribers → roughly $100–$200 per send
- 10,000 subscribers → roughly $200–$400 per send
- 50,000 subscribers → roughly $1,000–$2,000 per send
- 100,000 subscribers → roughly $2,000–$4,000+ per send
Small lists can out-earn big ones
A tight 5,000-subscriber B2B SaaS newsletter with a 50% open rate and engaged readers can command a higher per-send price than a 30,000-subscriber lifestyle list. Sponsors pay for reach into the right audience, not for vanity numbers. If you run a premium niche, don't anchor your pricing to general 'size' charts — anchor to your niche band.
Get your exact, niche-benchmarked rate
Free calculator — your defensible rate, the per-signup equivalent, and a counter-offer in about a minute.
Open the calculatorFrequently asked questions
How much should I charge sponsors with 10,000 subscribers?+
As a mid-market ballpark, roughly $200–$400 per dedicated send at a ~40% open rate — but premium niches run 2–3× higher and your open rate moves it significantly. Calculate the exact figure on your real opens.
Does subscriber count or open rate matter more for pricing?+
Open rate. Sponsors pay for opens delivered, so a smaller, highly engaged list can out-earn a larger one with weak opens.
Can a small newsletter charge premium rates?+
Yes — if it's in a premium niche with strong engagement. A focused B2B or finance list of a few thousand engaged readers can command a higher per-send rate than a much larger broad-interest list.