Facebook Ads Insights Tool

Facebook Ads Cost Per Lead Benchmarks for E-commerce in New Zealand

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

Cost Per Lead for E-commerce in New Zealand

October 2024 - October 2025

Insights

Detailed observation of presented data

Key takeaways

  • Cost-per-lead (CPL) in E-commerce for New Zealand averaged 39.63 over the past 12 months, sitting 6.9% above the global baseline average of 37.06.
  • Clear seasonality: CPL surged in Q4, peaking in November (56.30), then reset in January (31.51), with a mid-year trough in June (30.51) before climbing into August.
  • Volatility was materially higher than the global trend: average month-to-month movement was 7.71 in New Zealand vs 3.42 globally.
  • Relative positioning: New Zealand CPL was above market in 8 of 12 months—especially Q4—while below average in January, February, June, and July.
  • Overall trajectory: from September to August, New Zealand CPL rose 21.3%, compared with a 12.6% rise in the global baseline.

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

Overview of the selected trend

  • Average CPL: 39.63
  • High: 56.30 (November 2024)
  • Low: 30.51 (June 2025)
  • Range (high–low): 25.79
  • First-to-last change: +21.3% (34.17 in September 2024 to 41.44 in August 2025)
  • Volatility: average month-to-month absolute change of 7.71
  • Notable spikes/dips:
  • Spikes: October (+25.7% MoM), November (+31.1%), April (+26.9%), August (+29.8%)
  • Dips: December→January (-36.7%), May→June (-28.5%)

Seasonality signals

  • Q4 holiday pressure is evident: CPL climbs from October and peaks in November before easing in December—mirroring typical Facebook Ads benchmarks during peak shopping.
  • Q1 reset: January posts one of the lowest CPLs in the period, followed by a gradual stabilization through March.
  • Mid-year softness: CPL bottoms in June and remains comparatively low in July, before rebuilding into August.

Comparison with the global baseline

  • Averages: New Zealand at 39.63 vs global 37.06 (+6.9% above market).
  • Highs/Lows: New Zealand’s peak (56.30) is 35% above the global peak (41.58); its trough (30.51) is slightly lower than the global low (31.12).
  • Volatility: New Zealand’s CPL moved more than twice as much month-to-month as the global trend (7.71 vs 3.42).
  • Monthly positioning:
  • Above market: September, October, November, December, March, April, May, August.
  • Below average: January, February, June, July.
  • Seasonal comparisons:
  • Q4: New Zealand tracked well above the global baseline (Oct–Dec +26% to +38% above).
  • Mid-year: June and July fell 17–20% below the global baseline.
  • Global baseline context (for the same period):
  • Average: 37.06; High: 41.58 (November); Low: 31.12 (October).
  • First-to-last change: +12.6%.

Notable monthly movements

  • Q4 2024: Oct 42.96 → Nov 56.30 → Dec 49.78 (peak season surge and partial pullback).
  • Early 2025: Jan 31.51 (reset), Feb 34.77, Mar 35.06 (stabilization).
  • Mid 2025: Apr 44.47 and May 42.65 (rebound), then Jun 30.51 (year’s low), Jul 31.93, Aug 41.44 (re-acceleration).

Understanding cost-per-lead benchmarks on Facebook Ads in industry E-commerce and New Zealand 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 E-commerce industry, Facebook ad costs can be varied, with peaks during holiday seasons and competitive product categories. For campaigns targeting New Zealand, advertisers should consider local market factors and user behavior. 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.

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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.

New Zealand Advertising Landscape

National Holidays

Jan 1New Year's Day
Jan 2Day after New Year's Day
Feb 6Waitangi Day
Apr 18Good Friday
Apr 21Easter Monday
Apr 25ANZAC Day
Jun 2King's Birthday
Jun 20Matariki
Oct 27Labour Day
Dec 25Christmas Day
Dec 26Boxing Day

Key Shopping Season

Late November–early December (Black Friday/Cyber Monday), Christmas season (Boxing Day sales), Mid‑year promotions (Matariki in June), Back-to-school (late January/early February)

Potential Advertising Impact

CPM and CPC might rise around Waitangi Day and ANZAC Day as public events increase media consumption. Matariki is new public holiday with growing awareness—advertising may see elevated competition. Late November–December Black Friday/Cyber Monday could drive ad costs significantly. Regional anniversary holidays may cause local inventory shifts.

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.