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Facebook Ads Cost Per Lead Benchmarks for Gaming in United States

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Cost Per Lead for Gaming in United States

October 2024 - October 2025

Insights

Detailed observation of presented data

Facebook Ads benchmarks: cost per lead trends for Gaming in the United States

This analysis looks at cost per lead (CPL) trends for industry Gaming and target country United States compared to the global trend. The analysis is based on $3B worth of advertising data from our dataset, which provides strong directional benchmarks.

Main takeaways

  • The United States Gaming CPL averaged $30.99, below the global baseline average of $37.06 (about 16% lower), signaling generally below-market costs.
  • Volatility was high: average month-to-month absolute change was $35.50 vs just $3.42 globally.
  • Highs and lows were extreme: a peak of $115.93 in June 2025 and a low of $3.15 in October 2024 (range $112.78 vs baseline range $10.45).
  • From the first to last month observed, United States Gaming CPL fell 32.8% (from $27.86 in Sep-2024 to $18.72 in Aug-2025), while the global baseline rose 12.6%.
  • Seasonal pattern: both series show a Q4 lift, with a pronounced spike in November. The United States series also shows a sharp June spike.

United States Gaming CPL: monthly highlights

  • Average: $30.99 across Sep-2024 to Aug-2025.
  • High: $115.93 (Jun-2025); secondary high $70.33 (Nov-2024).
  • Low: $3.15 (Oct-2024); other troughs in Mar-2025 ($4.77) and Apr-2025 ($7.35).
  • Trend: -32.8% from Sep-2024 ($27.86) to Aug-2025 ($18.72).
  • Volatility: average month-to-month absolute change of $35.50, driven by large swings:
  • Oct-2024 plunge to $3.15 (-88.6% vs Sep).
  • Nov-2024 surge to $70.33.
  • Jun-2025 spike to $115.93, then a drop to $24.96 in Jul-2025.
  • Notable stability pockets: gradual rebuilding from Mar to May 2025 ($4.77 → $10.82) before the June spike.

Comparison to the global baseline

  • Average level: United States Gaming CPL was below market by ~16% ($30.99 vs $37.06).
  • Highs and lows:
  • Baseline high: $41.58 (Nov-2024); low: $31.12 (Oct-2024).
  • The United States series exceeded the baseline only in Nov-2024 and Jun-2025; all other months were below market, often materially (e.g., Mar-2025 was ~86% below).
  • Volatility: baseline month-to-month moves averaged $3.42, indicating a smooth global trend versus a highly variable United States series.
  • Direction of change: baseline increased 12.6% from Sep-2024 to Aug-2025, while the United States declined 32.8% over the same window.

Seasonality and pattern notes

  • Q4 pressures are visible globally, with a peak in November and elevated December. The United States Gaming series aligns with a sharp November spike and elevated December versus its prior months.
  • Outside Q4, the United States data shows outsized movements, especially the June spike to $115.93 and the troughs in October and March–April, contrasting with the stable global baseline.

Understanding cost per lead benchmarks on Facebook Ads in industry Gaming 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 Gaming 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.