Facebook Ads Insights Tool

Facebook Ads Cost Per Lead Benchmarks for Marketplaces in United States

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

Cost Per Lead for Marketplaces in United States

October 2024 - October 2025

Insights

Detailed observation of presented data

Facebook Ads cost-per-lead benchmarks: Marketplaces in the United States vs. global

This analysis looks at cost-per-lead trends for industry Marketplaces 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.

  • Overall level: United States Marketplaces averaged $25.71 per lead from Sep 2024–Sep 2025, sitting 28% below the global baseline average of $35.80 — generally below market.
  • Seasonality: Costs rose into Q4, then spiked sharply in January ($51.57), before falling back to mid-teens by April–May. The global trend peaked in November and eased thereafter.
  • Volatility: United States Marketplaces showed higher month-to-month movement (average $8.91) than the baseline ($4.50), signaling more pronounced swings.
  • Relative positioning by month: Below market most months, briefly above market in January, and roughly in line in March.

United States Marketplaces: cost-per-lead trend (selected data)

  • Average: $25.71
  • High/low: High of $51.57 (Jan 2025); low of $9.60 (Sep 2024)
  • First-to-last change: Up 49% from $9.60 (Sep 2024) to $14.31 (Sep 2025)
  • Volatility: Average absolute month-to-month move of $8.91
  • Notable moves:
  • Q4 climb from $9.60 (Sep) to $30.94 (Dec)
  • Sharp January spike to $51.57 (+66% vs Dec)
  • Steep reset into spring: $32.55 (Mar) to $16.33 (Apr), roughly -50%
  • April–May trough around $16.33–$16.48
  • Late-summer softening: $25.32 (Aug) to $14.31 (Sep), -44% month over month

Interpretation for marketers: United States Marketplaces CPLs tend to rise into Q4, surge in January, and settle lower in spring, with moderate summer levels and a September pullback.

Global baseline: context for comparison

  • Average: $35.80
  • High/low: High of $41.58 (Nov 2024); low of $20.63 (Sep 2025)
  • First-to-last change: Down 37% from $32.88 (Sep 2024) to $20.63 (Sep 2025)
  • Volatility: Average absolute month-to-month move of $4.50
  • Seasonal pattern: Elevated in Q4 (peak in November), broadly easing through mid-year, and a sharp drop in September 2025 (-44% vs August)

How United States Marketplaces compares to the global baseline

  • Level: On average 28% below global. Month-by-month:
  • Below market in most months (typically 20–60% lower).
  • Above market only in January 2025 (United States Marketplaces $51.57 vs global $35.54, +45%).
  • In line with the market in March 2025 (within ~1%).
  • Shape: Both series rise in Q4, but the United States Marketplaces segment shows an outsized January spike, whereas the global peak arrives earlier (November).
  • Stability: The United States Marketplaces series is materially more volatile (average monthly swing $8.91 vs $4.50 globally).

Bottom line

United States Marketplaces cost-per-lead sat below average globally across most months, with a pronounced seasonal surge in January, a spring dip to mid-teens, and higher volatility than the global trend. Understanding COST_PER_LEAD benchmarks on Facebook Ads in industry Marketplaces 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 Marketplaces 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.