Facebook Ads Insights Tool

Facebook Ads Cost Per Purchase Benchmarks for Design in Australia

See how your purchase costs compare. Explore ecommerce conversion cost benchmarks by industry, region, and campaign type

Cost Per Purchase for Design in Australia

October 2024 - October 2025

Insights

Detailed observation of presented data

Key takeaways

  • Across October 2024 to August 2025, Design advertisers in Australia posted a markedly lower cost per purchase than the global benchmark: average 22.94 vs 49.24 (about 53% below market).
  • Volatility in the selected data was very high (average month‑to‑month absolute move ~23.85 vs 2.24 for the baseline, ~11x higher), driven by a sharp March spike and deep lows in late Q2.
  • Seasonal patterns diverged from typical norms. While global costs stayed elevated through Q4 and Q1, Australia Design costs fell through Q4, spiked in March, and remained unusually low from April through July.
  • First-to-last-month change: selected down 80% (Oct 2024 to Aug 2025), baseline down 2% over the same period.

This analysis looks at cost per purchase trends for industry Design and target country Australia compared to the global trend. The analysis is based on $3B worth of advertising data from our dataset, which provides strong directional benchmarks.

Selected trend highlights

  • Period average: 22.94
  • High/low: peak 73.67 in March 2025; trough 1.82 in May 2025; range 71.85.
  • Month-to-month volatility: average absolute change 23.85.
  • Notable moves:
  • Q4 2024 stepped down from 52.69 (October) to 16.45 (December).
  • January rebounded to 34.65, followed by a deep dip in February (3.41) and a sharp spike in March (73.67).
  • Sustained lows April–July (4.28 → 1.82 → 4.84 → 3.74), with a modest lift in August to 10.32.
  • First-to-last change: -80.4% from October 2024 to August 2025.

Baseline benchmarks (global)

  • Period average: 49.24
  • High/low: peak 53.89 in February 2025; low 43.19 in November 2024; range 10.70.
  • Month-to-month volatility: average absolute change 2.24.
  • Seasonal profile: elevated through Q4 and Q1 (December–March mostly above 51), easing gradually into the summer months.
  • First-to-last change: -2.1% (October 2024 to August 2025).

How the selected data compares to the global baseline

  • Relative level: selected averaged ~53% below the global benchmark (22.94 vs 49.24). In 9 of 11 months, Australia Design costs were below the global median, often significantly:
  • Examples: February (-94% vs baseline), April (-92%), May (-96%), June (-90%), July (-92%), August (-77%).
  • Above-market months: October (+13%) and March (+40%).
  • Volatility: selected month-to-month movement (~23.85) was about 10.7x the baseline (~2.24), indicating far less stability.
  • Seasonal alignment:
  • Global trend shows classic Q4/Q1 strength (holiday and early-year demand).
  • Australia Design diverged: Q4 costs declined, then a singular March spike was followed by unusually low costs through late Q2 and early Q3.

Seasonal notes and timing

  • Global: costs typically increase in Q4 around holiday periods and remain elevated through Q1 before softening into mid-year.
  • Selected: inverse Q4 behavior and extreme March spike define the period; April–July sits materially below global norms.

Understanding cost per purchase benchmarks on Facebook Ads in industry Design and Australia 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 Design industry, Facebook ad costs can be influenced by seasonal trends and market competition. For campaigns targeting Australia, advertisers typically see good engagement rates despite moderate costs. 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.

Australia Advertising Landscape

National Holidays

Jan 1New Year's Day
Jan 27Australia Day (observed)
Apr 18‑21Easter weekend
Apr 25Anzac Day
Jun 9King's Birthday
Oct 6Labour Day
Dec 25Christmas Day
Dec 26Boxing Day

Key Shopping Season

Late December (Christmas and Boxing Day), Early December (Cyber Monday), January (Back-to-school), May (Mother's Day)

Potential Advertising Impact

Ad costs could spike around major holidays, especially Easter, Anzac Day, and Christmas. Increased budgets and earlier scheduling may be necessary. Retailers should consider planning promotions around back-to-school and Mother's Day to maximize campaign effectiveness.

What's a healthy cost per purchase for ecommerce brands?

It depends on your product price and margins. Most brands aim for $10 to $50. For higher-ticket products, a higher CPA may be acceptable as long as you're maintaining a strong return on ad spend.

How does product price impact CPA benchmarks?

Higher-priced products typically have a higher CPA because people take longer to convert. That's not necessarily a problem if your margin can support it. You should measure CPA in context with AOV and LTV.

Why are my purchase costs going up despite stable ROAS?

Your AOV may be increasing, which helps maintain ROAS even if CPA rises. You could also be facing higher CPMs, lower conversion rates, or creative fatigue.

Should I use manual bidding to control CPA more effectively?

Manual bidding can help if you're struggling to stay within target CPA. It's best used by experienced advertisers who can monitor performance and adjust regularly. It gives more control, but also requires more effort.

How do I scale spend without letting CPA skyrocket?

Increase budget gradually, rotate creative often, and avoid overlapping audiences. Scaling too quickly can lead to audience saturation and rising CPAs.