How much can you make on Patreon?

Patreon creators range from a few hundred to $100,000+ per month. Top creators like MKBHD and CGP Grey have thousands of patrons. A realistic starting goal for a creator with an existing audience is $500–$2,000/month with a compelling membership offering.

What is a good Patreon conversion rate?

Converting 1–5% of your existing audience to Patreon is typical. If you have 10,000 YouTube subscribers, expect 100–500 potential Patreon members if your offering is compelling and the price is right.

How much can you make on Patreon?

Patreon creators range from a few hundred to $100,000+ per month. Top creators like MKBHD and CGP Grey have thousands of patrons. A realistic starting goal for a creator with an existing audience is $500–$2,000/month with a compelling membership offering.

What is a good Patreon conversion rate?

Converting 1–5% of your existing audience to Patreon is typical. If you have 10,000 YouTube subscribers, expect 100–500 potential Patreon members if your offering is compelling and the price is right.

Monetization

Patreon Revenue Calculator

Estimate your monthly Patreon earnings across multiple membership tiers, accounting for Patreon's platform fee, payment processing, and tier pricing strategy.

Your Patreon Setup

Tier 1

Tier 1 Price

Monthly price for tier 1

Tier 1 Patrons

Number of active patrons on this tier

Tier 2

Tier 2 Price

Monthly price for tier 2

Tier 2 Patrons

Number of active patrons on this tier

Tier 3

Tier 3 Price

Monthly price for tier 3

Tier 3 Patrons

Number of active patrons on this tier

Patreon Plan

Lite has fewer features; Premium unlocks merchandise, dedicated support

Patreon Revenue Breakdown

Net Monthly Revenue

$1,285.50

After all fees from 170 patrons

Net Annual Revenue

$15.4K

Gross Monthly Revenue

$1,500.00

Platform Fee (8%)

–$120.00

Payment Processing (2.9% + $0.30/patron)

–$94.50

Avg Revenue per Patron (net)

$7.56

Tier Contribution Breakdown

Tier 1

$5/mo × 100 patrons$500.00 (33%)

Tier 2

$10/mo × 50 patrons$500.00 (33%)

Tier 3

$25/mo × 20 patrons$500.00 (33%)

Note

Patreon charges are processed monthly. Some patrons may decline or fail — a 5–10% monthly churn rate is common. Payment processing fees vary slightly by payment method (cards vs. PayPal). Annual plan subscribers may pay a slightly different processing rate.

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How the Formula Works

Formula

Gross Revenue = Σ (Patrons per Tier × Tier Price) Platform Fee = Gross × Plan Rate (5–12%) Payment Processing = Gross × 2.9% + Patrons × $0.30 Net Revenue = Gross − Platform Fee − Payment Processing

Variables

Plan RatePatreon's cut: Lite 5%, Pro 8%, Premium 12%

Payment ProcessingStandard Stripe fees: 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction

Worked Example

100 patrons at $5 + 30 at $10 + 10 at $25 = $1,050 gross. Pro plan fee = $84. Processing = $30.45 + $42 = $72.45. Net = $893.55.

•Patreon processes payments on the 1st of each month

•Annual memberships reduce payment processing fees significantly

•Declining payments (~5–8% of charges fail monthly) reduce effective revenue

Choosing Your Patreon Plan

Lite (5% fee) is for simple membership without community features. Pro (8%) adds patron-only posts, tiers, and goals — this is what most creators use. Premium (12%) adds dedicated support and merch features. The additional features of Pro usually justify the 3% premium over Lite.

Frequently Asked Questions

Patreon takes 5% (Lite), 8% (Pro), or 12% (Premium) of your monthly earnings, plus payment processing fees of approximately 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction. Total effective fee is typically 11–15% depending on your plan and average pledge amount.