blog · May 23, 2026

How much should I pay an influencer in 2026?

$100 per 10K followers as a baseline for static IG posts. Reels are 2-3x. Add brand-fit + engagement-rate adjustments. Most operators overpay by 30-50%.

The baseline rates

2026 baselines for sponsored posts (creator owns content rights):

Static IG post: $100 per 10K followers (so 50K follower account = $500)
IG Reel: $250 per 10K followers (so 50K = $1,250)
TikTok video: $200 per 10K followers
YouTube short: $400 per 10K subs
YouTube long-form integration (60-90s): $20-$40 per 1K views averaged

Adjustments that matter

Cut 30-50% for low-engagement accounts (under 1% engagement rate). Add 30-60% for niche-fit creators with 5%+ engagement. Premium tier (e.g., dedicated DTC review accounts with 4%+ engagement) prices 2x baseline.

Where most brands waste money

Paying for follower count without engagement check. A 200K account with 0.5% engagement reaches ~1K real eyeballs per post. A 30K account with 6% engagement reaches the same. Pay for engaged reach, not raw follower count.

Want to try the free tool? Get your 3 free ad creatives →