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Facebook Ads Cost Per Lead Benchmarks for Marketing & Advertising in United States

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

Cost Per Lead for Marketing & Advertising in United States

October 2024 - October 2025

Insights

Detailed observation of presented data

Key takeaways

  • For cost per lead (CPL) on Facebook Ads, Marketing & Advertising in the United States averaged $29.14 over the last 13 months, 18.6% below the global baseline average of $35.80. This analysis is based on $3B worth of advertising data from our dataset, which provides strong directional benchmarks.
  • 12 of 13 months came in below the global baseline; only August 2025 was above market.
  • Volatility was higher in the United States series (average absolute month‑to‑month change of 21.6%) versus the global trend (12.6%). The range was wider as well ($12.61–$44.45 vs. $20.63–$41.58 globally).
  • Seasonality is visible: costs lifted into Q4, with a pronounced October jump locally and a stronger November peak globally. Both series ended the period lower than they started.

Scope of the analysis

This analysis looks at cost per lead trends for industry Marketing & Advertising and target country United States compared to the global trend.

What the United States time series shows

  • Average, high, low:
  • Average CPL: $29.14
  • High: $44.45 in August 2025
  • Low: $12.61 in September 2025
  • Trend over time:
  • From September 2024 ($19.87) to September 2025 ($12.61), CPL fell 36.6%.
  • Notable spikes/dips:
  • +55.1% jump from September to October 2024 (to $30.81).
  • +26.3% increase in April 2025 (to $36.53).
  • +24.2% rise in August 2025 (to $44.45), followed by a −71.6% drop in September 2025 (to $12.61).
  • Volatility:
  • Average absolute month‑to‑month change: 21.6%, indicating a relatively choppy CPL pattern.

How it compares to the global baseline

  • Level versus market:
  • Overall, the United States CPL averaged 18.6% below the global baseline ($29.14 vs. $35.80).
  • Monthly positioning: below market in 12 of 13 months; August 2025 was the lone “above market” month.
  • Highs and lows:
  • United States peak ($44.45 in August 2025) exceeded the global peak ($41.58 in November 2024).
  • United States trough ($12.61 in September 2025) was lower than the global trough ($20.63 in September 2025), reflecting sharper swings.
  • Volatility:
  • United States showed higher volatility (21.6% average absolute MoM change) than the baseline (12.6%).
  • Quarter-by-quarter averages:
  • Q4 2024: $28.51 vs. $37.44 baseline (23.9% below market).
  • Q1 2025: $26.73 vs. $35.75 (25.2% below).
  • Q2 2025: $33.49 vs. $38.86 (13.8% below).
  • Q3 2025: $30.95 vs. $32.11 (3.6% below), but with a larger August spike and September dip.

Seasonality and patterns

  • Q4 effect: costs typically increase around peak retail months; the global series showed a strong November–December elevation, while the United States rose sharply in October then stabilized.
  • Early 2025 remained below market and relatively subdued, with a spring lift in April.
  • Summer showed an August surge followed by a pronounced September reset in both series, sharper in the United States.

Understanding cost per lead benchmarks on Facebook Ads in industry Marketing & Advertising 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 Marketing & Advertising 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.