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Facebook Ads Cost Per Lead Benchmarks for Entertainment in United States

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

Cost Per Lead for Entertainment in United States

October 2024 - October 2025

Insights

Detailed observation of presented data

Key takeaways

  • This analysis looks at cost per lead (CPL) trends for industry Entertainment in the United States compared to the global trend, based on $3B worth of advertising data from our dataset, which provides strong directional benchmarks.
  • On average, US Entertainment CPL is 27% below market: 26.09 vs. a global baseline of 35.80.
  • Volatility is high: the average month-to-month swing is 10.38 for US Entertainment, more than double the global baseline’s 4.50.
  • Seasonal patterns are clear in both series: costs rise in Q4, with US Entertainment peaking later (January) than the global peak (November).
  • From the first to the last observed month, US Entertainment CPL fell 83%, versus a 37% decline globally.

US Entertainment CPL overview (selected data)

  • Average: 26.09 across Sep 2024–Sep 2025.
  • High: 37.52 in Jan 2025.
  • Low: 4.67 in Sep 2025.
  • Change from first to last month: 27.49 (Sep 2024) to 4.67 (Sep 2025), down 83%.
  • Volatility: average absolute month-to-month change of 10.38.
  • Seasonal pattern: steady build through Q4—Oct 25.73, Nov 28.96, Dec 31.73—continuing to a January peak (37.52). A sharp reset followed in Feb (22.79).
  • Notable swings:
  • May to Jun: +120% (15.88 to 34.95).
  • Aug to Sep: −85% (32.16 to 4.67).
  • Jan to Feb: −39% (37.52 to 22.79).

Global baseline comparison

  • Average: 35.80; High: 41.58 (Nov 2024); Low: 20.63 (Sep 2025).
  • Change from first to last month: 32.88 to 20.63, down 37%.
  • Volatility: average absolute month-to-month change of 4.50.
  • Seasonal pattern: pronounced Q4 inflation with a November peak (41.58), easing into December and January.

How the US Entertainment CPL compares to the global baseline

  • Level: Below market overall. US Entertainment CPL is lower in 12 of 13 months; the only month above baseline is Jan 2025 (37.52 vs. 35.54).
  • Volatility: Above market. US Entertainment shows roughly 2.3x the month-to-month movement of the global trend.
  • Seasonality: In line with overall trends—both series rise in Q4. The global high occurs in November, while US Entertainment continues climbing into January before a sharper-than-average correction.
  • Late-period divergence: Both series drop in Sep 2025, but US Entertainment falls more sharply to its series low (4.67), while the global baseline lands at 20.63.

Summary

US Entertainment Facebook Ads CPL benchmarks sit below global levels on average, but with materially higher volatility and larger intra-year swings. The data shows typical Q4 inflation, a peak in January for Entertainment in the United States, and a significant correction into late summer. Understanding cost per lead benchmarks on Facebook Ads in industry Entertainment and United States 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 Entertainment industry, Facebook ad costs can be influenced by seasonal trends and market competition. For campaigns targeting United States, advertisers often face higher costs due to high competition and purchasing power. 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.

United States Advertising Landscape

National Holidays

Jan 1New Year's Day
Jan 20Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Feb 17Presidents' Day
May 26Memorial Day
Jun 19Juneteenth
Jul 4Independence Day
Sep 1Labor Day
Oct 13Columbus Day
Nov 11Veterans Day
Nov 27Thanksgiving Day
Dec 25Christmas Day

Key Shopping Season

Late November (Thanksgiving & Black Friday weekend), December (Christmas), Back-to-school (July–September), Summer travel season (Memorial Day onwards)

Potential Advertising Impact

CPM and CPC might rise around major holidays like Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Labor Day, especially in travel and entertainment. Black Friday/Thanksgiving weekend triggers massive spikes in retail ad competition. December ad demand typically peaks—retail campaigns require significantly higher budgets. Back-to-school promotions drive increased competition. Juneteenth may see regional engagement rise.

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.