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Facebook Ads Cost Per Lead Benchmarks in India

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Cost Per Lead in India

December 2024 - December 2025

Insights

Detailed observation of presented data

Introduction

India’s cost per lead (CPL) spent most of the year well below the global benchmark, then surged dramatically in October before easing in November. The underlying pattern through Q2–Q3 showed exceptionally low, stable lead costs, with standout spikes in February and an extreme outlier in October that reshaped the yearly average and volatility profile. This analysis is based on $3B worth of advertising data from our dataset, which provides strong directional benchmarks. This analysis explores ad performance trends for all industries in India compared to the global benchmark.

The story in the data

Across December 2024 to November 2025, India’s CPL started at 64.5, dipped to single digits in mid-year, and ended elevated at 222.4. The series averaged 307 for the period, but that mean is heavily skewed by October’s one-month spike to 3,229.7. The median—better reflecting the typical month—landed at 14.2. The low came in June at 4.23.

Month by month, the rhythm was clear:

  • December 2024: 64.5 (above global)
  • January: 13.6
  • February: 91.3 (a brief surge)
  • March–April: 15.3 → 14.7
  • May–July: 7.3 → 4.23 → 4.43 (the trough)
  • August–September: 6.73 → 13.68 (modest lift)
  • October: 3,229.7 (exceptional outlier)
  • November: 222.4 (down sharply from October, still elevated)

Month-over-month swings averaged 586 points when including the October–November extremes. Before Q4, the average monthly change was about 25 points—more active than the global benchmark’s steadier 2.9-point average change.

Seasonal and monthly dynamics

Typical seasonality—softer efficiency early in the year, firmer costs as competition builds into Q4—was visible globally, but India’s pattern diverged in magnitude. In India:

  • Q1 was uneven, with a low January (13.6), a February spike (91.3), and a reversion in March (15.3).
  • Q2–Q3 were the softest on cost, with CPL hovering in low single digits through July and only a modest lift by September (13.7).
  • Q4 broke pattern: October shot to 3,229.7 and November settled at 222.4—levels far above earlier months and well beyond the typical Q4 uplift seen globally.

Country vs. Global

Compared with the global Facebook Ads benchmarks for CPL, India spent most of the year below market:

  • From March through September, India trailed the global benchmark by 54–89% each month.
  • January–September averages illustrate the gap: India at 19 vs. the global 39—about half of market levels.
  • February and December bucked the trend, with India above market (February +132% over global; December +71%).
  • The Q4 divergence was dramatic: October in India reached roughly 67x the global benchmark (3,229.7 vs. 47.9), while November remained nearly 5x above (222.4 vs. 44.9).

Globally, CPL moved in a controlled, upward arc from January (34.7) to October (47.9) before easing in November (44.9), reflecting a steady, moderate rise rather than sharp swings.

Closing

In summary, Facebook Ads cost-per-lead benchmarks for all industries in India show a year marked by exceptionally low CPLs through mid-year, punctuated by a February surge and a one-off October spike that elevated late-year costs and volatility. Understanding these CPL trends and country-specific ad costs helps contextualize India’s industry ad performance against the global benchmark.

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. Different industries see varying ad costs due to market competition, user demographics, and conversion value. For campaigns targeting India, 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.

India Advertising Landscape

National Holidays

Jan 26Republic Day
Mar 14Holi
Apr 18Good Friday
May 1Labour Day
Aug 15Independence Day
Oct 2Mahatma Gandhi Jayanti
Oct 21Diwali
Dec 25Christmas Day

Key Shopping Season

October (Diwali), Late November (Black Friday/Cyber Monday), December (Christmas), July–August (Raksha Bandhan, Ganesh Chaturthi)

Potential Advertising Impact

CPMs might spike significantly during Diwali, especially in electronics, apparel, jewellery, and gifts. Black Friday/Cyber Monday and December could drive elevated ad competition. State-specific festivals might see regional campaign spikes. Bank closures during holidays may push online shopping to cluster in end-of-week periods.

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.