What is Mid-Roll Ad?

Mid-roll ads are the gold standard of podcast advertising because they appear when listeners are most engaged with your content. Unlike pre-roll ads that some listeners might skip, or post-roll ads that many never reach, mid-roll ads catch listeners at peak attention. This engagement translates to higher CPMs, typically ranging from $20-$40 depending on your show's category and audience. Mid-roll ads are usually placed at natural transition points—between segments, after a major topic discussion, or during a planned break. The best practice is to place them around the 25-50% mark of your episode, when listeners are invested but not yet thinking about moving on. Many successful podcasters use mid-rolls as their primary revenue source, sometimes running multiple mid-roll ads in longer episodes. The key is maintaining listener trust by keeping ads relevant and not overwhelming your content with too many interruptions.