Facebook Ads Insights Tool

Facebook Ads Cost Per Lead Benchmarks for Consulting

See how your CPL compares. Explore lead generation cost benchmarks by industry, region, and campaign type

Cost Per Lead for Consulting

October 2024 - October 2025

Insights

Detailed observation of presented data

Facebook Ads cost per lead benchmarks: Consulting, All countries available

This analysis looks at cost per lead trends for industry Consulting and target country All countries available compared to the global trend. The analysis is based on $3B worth of advertising data from our dataset, which provides strong directional benchmarks.

Key takeaways

  • Overall level: Consulting runs below market. Average cost per lead is 29.50 versus the global baseline at 35.80 (about 17.6% lower).
  • Seasonality: Both series rise in Q4, peaking around the holidays. Selected data peaks in December (39.53); the baseline peaks in November (41.58).
  • Volatility: Consulting is more volatile than the market, with average month-to-month moves of 6.06 versus 4.50 in the baseline.
  • Trend direction: From September to September, Consulting rises 86.2% (17.04 to 31.73), while the baseline falls 37.3% (32.88 to 20.63).

Selected Consulting trend (All countries available)

  • Average: 29.50 across Sep 2024–Sep 2025.
  • High/low: High at 39.53 in Dec 2024; low at 17.04 in Sep 2024. Range of 22.49.
  • First-to-last change: +86.2% from Sep 2024 (17.04) to Sep 2025 (31.73).
  • Volatility: Average absolute month-to-month change of 6.06.
  • Notable swings:
  • Oct 2024 jumps from 17.04 to 32.06 (+88%).
  • Dec 2024 spikes to 39.53, followed by a steep drop in Jan 2025 to 24.22 (-39%).
  • A pronounced spring surge from Apr to May 2025 (21.40 to 38.57, +80%).
  • Seasonal pattern: Costs firm through Q4, culminating in December, then ease in Q1 before a May spike and a mid-year plateau.

Comparison to the global baseline

  • Level comparison:
  • Average: 29.50 (Consulting) vs 35.80 (baseline), below market by ~17.6%.
  • Peak: 39.53 vs 41.58 (about 4.9% lower than the baseline peak).
  • Trough: 17.04 vs 20.63 (Consulting’s low is ~17.4% below the market low).
  • Volatility: Consulting’s typical monthly move (6.06) exceeds the baseline’s (4.50), indicating greater month-to-month variability.
  • Relative positioning by month: Consulting sits below the baseline in 10 of 13 months; it’s slightly above in Oct 2024 and Sep 2025, and essentially in line in Dec 2024.
  • Baseline dynamics:
  • High in Nov 2024 (41.58) and strength through Q4.
  • A broad decline into 2025 with a sharp drop from Aug to Sep 2025 (37.03 to 20.63, -44%), which diverges from Consulting’s steadier late-summer/early-fall levels.
  • Overall Sep-to-Sep decrease of 37.3%.

Seasonal context

  • Both series signal classic Q4 pressure as competition rises around holidays.
  • Consulting shows an additional spring spike in May 2025 that is sharper than the market’s more measured increase.

Understanding cost per lead benchmarks on Facebook Ads in industry Consulting and All countries available helps advertisers make more efficient budget and creative choices.

Understanding the Data

Insights & analysis of Facebook advertising costs

Facebook advertising costs vary based on many factors including industry, target audience, ad placement, and campaign objectives. In the Consulting industry, Facebook ad costs can be influenced by seasonal trends and market competition. Geographic targeting affects ad costs based on market competition and user engagement in different regions. Different campaign objectives lead to varying costs based on how Facebook optimizes for your specific goals. The data shown represents median values across multiple campaigns, and individual results may vary based on ad quality, audience targeting, and campaign optimization.

Why we use median instead of average

We use the median CTR because the underlying distribution of click-through rates is highly skewed, with a small share of campaigns achieving extremely high CTRs. These outliers can inflate a simple average, making it less representative of what most advertisers actually experience. By using the median—which sits at the midpoint of all campaigns—we provide a more rigorous and realistic benchmark that reflects the true underlying data model and helps you set attainable performance expectations.

Key Factors Affecting Facebook Ad Costs

  • Competition within your selected industry and audience demographics
  • Ad quality and relevance score – higher quality ads can lower costs
  • Campaign objective and bid strategy
  • Timing and seasonality – costs often increase during holiday periods
  • Ad placement (News Feed, Instagram, Audience Network, etc.)

Note: This data represents industry median values and benchmarks. Your actual costs may vary based on specific targeting, ad creative quality, and campaign optimization.

Optimize Smarter with Superads

Improve your Facebook ad performance

Instant performance insights – See which ads, audiences, and creatives drive results.

Data-driven creative decisions – Spot patterns to improve ROAS.

Effortless reporting – No spreadsheets, just clear insights.

Get Started for free →

The data behind the benchmarks

All data is sourced from over $3B in Facebook ad spend, collected across thousands of ad accounts that use Superads daily to analyze and improve their campaigns. Every data point is fully anonymized and aggregated—no individual advertiser is ever exposed.

This dataset updates frequently as new ad data flows in. It will only get bigger and better.

What is considered a good cost per lead on Facebook in 2025?

A good CPL usually ranges from $10 to $50, depending on your industry and target audience. B2C offers tend to be cheaper, while B2B or high-ticket services may see CPLs over $100.

Why is my CPL higher than industry averages?

Your CPL could be high due to weak creative, irrelevant targeting, or an offer that doesn't resonate. Low engagement or poor conversion rates on your landing page can also drive up costs.

Does campaign objective impact CPL?

Yes. Campaigns optimized for conversions or leads tend to generate cheaper and more qualified leads compared to traffic or engagement objectives. Facebook needs clear signals to find the right users.

How can I generate leads at a lower cost without hurting lead quality?

Focus on improving your offer, targeting the right audience, and using high-converting creative. Test native lead forms, but make sure you're still qualifying users properly.

Should I optimize for leads or conversions if my goal is pipeline growth?

If your goal is sales or revenue, optimizing for deeper funnel conversions is better. Optimizing for leads alone can inflate volume but hurt quality.