January 24, 2026
How to Price Brand Collaborations: Creator Rate Guide 2026
Creator rates are the fees content creators charge brands for sponsored content, partnerships, and collaborations. Rates depend on platform, follower count, engagement rate, niche, content type, and usage rights. This guide provides benchmark pricing for 2026.
How Creator Rates Are Calculated
Most creator rates follow a formula based on reach and engagement.
Basic Formula:
Base Rate = (Followers ÷ 1000) × CPM Rate
CPM (Cost Per Mille) varies by platform:
- Instagram: $5-$15 per 1,000 followers
- TikTok: $5-$10 per 1,000 followers
- YouTube: $20-$50 per 1,000 subscribers
- Twitter/X: $2-$5 per 1,000 followers
Engagement rate, niche, and content type adjust this base rate up or down.
Instagram Creator Rates (2026)
Instagram rates for a single in-feed post:
| Follower Count | Rate Range | Average |
|---|---|---|
| 1K-10K (Nano) | $50-$250 | $100 |
| 10K-50K (Micro) | $250-$750 | $500 |
| 50K-100K (Mid-tier) | $750-$2,000 | $1,250 |
| 100K-500K (Macro) | $2,000-$7,500 | $4,000 |
| 500K-1M | $7,500-$15,000 | $10,000 |
| 1M+ (Mega) | $15,000-$100,000+ | Varies |
Content Type Multipliers:
- Static post: 1x base rate
- Carousel post: 1.25x base rate
- Reels: 1.5-2x base rate
- Stories (3-5 frames): 0.5x base rate
- Story + Post bundle: 1.5x base rate
TikTok Creator Rates (2026)
TikTok rates for a single sponsored video:
| Follower Count | Rate Range | Average |
|---|---|---|
| 1K-10K | $50-$200 | $100 |
| 10K-50K | $200-$600 | $400 |
| 50K-100K | $600-$1,500 | $1,000 |
| 100K-500K | $1,500-$5,000 | $3,000 |
| 500K-1M | $5,000-$10,000 | $7,500 |
| 1M+ | $10,000-$50,000+ | Varies |
TikTok prioritizes engagement over follower count. Creators with high view-to-follower ratios can charge premium rates.
YouTube Creator Rates (2026)
YouTube rates for dedicated sponsored videos:
| Subscriber Count | Integration | Dedicated Video |
|---|---|---|
| 10K-50K | $500-$1,500 | $1,000-$3,000 |
| 50K-100K | $1,500-$3,500 | $3,000-$7,000 |
| 100K-500K | $3,500-$10,000 | $7,000-$20,000 |
| 500K-1M | $10,000-$25,000 | $20,000-$50,000 |
| 1M+ | $25,000+ | $50,000+ |
Video Types:
- Integration (30-60 sec mention): Lower rate
- Dedicated video (full sponsorship): Higher rate
- Shorts: 0.3-0.5x standard video rate
UGC Creator Rates (2026)
UGC rates differ from influencer rates because content is used on brand channels, not creator channels.
| Experience Level | Rate per Video | With Usage Rights |
|---|---|---|
| Beginner (0-6 months) | $50-$150 | $100-$250 |
| Intermediate (6-18 months) | $150-$300 | $250-$500 |
| Experienced (18+ months) | $300-$500 | $500-$800 |
| Premium/Specialized | $500-$1,000 | $800-$1,500 |
UGC Content Types:
- Product demo: Base rate
- Testimonial/review: Base rate
- Unboxing: Base rate
- Hook variations (3 hooks): 1.5x base rate
- Full ad creative (hook + body + CTA): 2x base rate
Usage Rights Pricing
Usage rights determine where and how long brands can use your content.
| Usage Type | Additional Fee |
|---|---|
| Organic social only | Included in base rate |
| Paid ads (social) | +50-100% of base rate |
| Website/landing page | +25-50% |
| Email marketing | +25% |
| Out-of-home (billboards) | +100-200% |
| TV/streaming | +200-500% |
Duration Fees:
- 30 days: Base rate
- 90 days: +25-50%
- 6 months: +75-100%
- 1 year: +100-150%
- Perpetual/buyout: +200-300%
Engagement Rate Premium
High engagement rates justify higher pricing.
| Engagement Rate | Rate Adjustment |
|---|---|
| Below 1% | -20% from standard |
| 1-3% (average) | Standard rate |
| 3-6% (good) | +20-30% |
| 6-10% (excellent) | +40-50% |
| 10%+ (exceptional) | +50-100% |
Calculate engagement rate: (Likes + Comments) ÷ Followers × 100
Niche Rate Adjustments
Some niches command premium rates due to audience purchasing power.
| Niche | Rate Premium |
|---|---|
| Finance/Investing | +50-100% |
| B2B/Business | +40-75% |
| Technology | +30-50% |
| Luxury/Fashion | +25-50% |
| Health/Wellness | +20-30% |
| Parenting | +10-20% |
| Lifestyle/General | Standard |
| Entertainment | -10-20% |
What to Include in Your Rate
Your rate should account for:
- Content creation time (filming, editing)
- Concept development (if not provided by brand)
- Revisions (typically 1-2 rounds included)
- Platform posting (if on your channel)
- Basic usage rights (organic social, 30 days)
Charge separately for:
- Additional revisions beyond included rounds
- Extended usage rights
- Exclusivity periods
- Whitelisting/spark ads access
- Raw footage delivery
Rate Negotiation Tips
- Never share rates first — Ask for the brand's budget
- Quote packages, not minimums — Offer bundles
- Add value before discounting — Offer extra content instead of lower prices
- Get everything in writing — Use contracts for deliverables and usage
- Track your time — Ensure your effective hourly rate is sustainable
Where to Find Brand Deals
Creators find paid collaborations through:
- Creator marketplaces: Collab Only, AspireIQ, Grin
- Direct brand outreach: Email pitches, DMs
- Talent managers: For creators earning $5K+/month
- Brand PR lists: Sign up for relevant brand databases
Platforms like Collab Only match creators with brands based on niche, content style, and rate expectations, reducing negotiation friction.
Summary
Creator rates in 2026 range from $50 for nano-influencer content to $100,000+ for mega-influencer campaigns. Key factors affecting rates include platform, follower count, engagement rate, niche, content type, and usage rights. UGC creators without large followings can earn $50-$500+ per video based on content quality and experience level.