How to use this calculator
- Enter or choose video starts.
- Enter or choose completed views.
- Enter or choose impressions.
- The completion rate updates as you type. Use Copy result or Share to keep it.
Method
Completion rate = Completed views ÷ Starts × 100; Drop-off = 100 − Completion rate; View rate = Starts ÷ Impressions × 100
- Starts
- video plays that began (the completion-rate denominator)
- Impressions
- times the video was shown (the view-rate denominator)
Worked example
- Completion rate = 2,600 ÷ 8,000 × 100 = 32.5%.
- Drop-off = 100 − 32.5 = 67.5%.
- View rate = 8,000 ÷ 50,000 × 100 = 16%.
2,600 completions from 8,000 starts is a 32.5% completion rate.
What the result means
Completion rate falls with length, so compare videos of similar duration. For long videos, quartile retention (25%, 50%, 75%) says more about where viewers leave.
Assumptions and limits
- Starts and completions come from the same platform report.
- Platforms define a “view” and a “completion” differently (some count 30 seconds as complete), so do not compare rates across platforms directly.
Questions
Some platforms divide by impressions. Which is right?
Both exist. Dividing by starts measures the content; dividing by impressions mixes in how many people chose to play. State the denominator when you report it.