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Facebook Ads Cost Per Purchase Benchmarks for Media

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Cost Per Purchase for Media

November 2024 - November 2025

Insights

Detailed observation of presented data

Introduction

Media’s cost-per-purchase came in well below the global benchmark and trended downward across the period. The category opened high in November, fell sharply into December, then rebounded through early Q1 before easing into a mid-year low and settling into a tighter, lower-cost band by early Q4. Volatility was noticeable, with several sharp month-to-month swings and a brief July rebound standing out against a broadly softening trajectory.

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 the Media industry across all countries compared to the global benchmark.

The story in the data

Across November 2024 to October 2025, Media’s median cost per purchase (CPP) averaged $18.36, ranging from a high of $21.00 in November to a low of $16.05 in June—a range of roughly $4.95 (about 27% of the average). The period began at $21.00 in November and ended at $16.19 in October, a 23% decline end-to-end.

Key movements:

  • November to December: a steep -20% drop ($21.00 → $16.75).
  • January–March: a steady rebound to ~$20.31 in February and $19.90 in March.
  • May–June: a two-month slide to the cycle low ($18.17 → $16.05).
  • July: a sharp +24% rebound to $19.90, followed by another drop in August (-19%).
  • September–October: stabilization in a narrow $16.19–$16.70 band.

Month-to-month volatility averaged about $1.95 (roughly 10.6% of the category’s average), pointing to choppier movement than a smooth seasonal curve.

For context, the global all-industry benchmark averaged $49.33, peaking at $53.84 in February and bottoming at $42.61 in November.

Seasonal and monthly dynamics

Seasonally, the Media category showed:

  • Q4 2024: a mixed finish—elevated in November, then materially softer in December.
  • Q1 2025: the strongest stretch for the period (average ~$19.77), with CPP near $20 most of the quarter.
  • Q2 2025: a step down (average ~$18.14) culminating in the June low.
  • Q3 2025: another marginal step down (average ~$17.56), marked by a July pop and August retreat.
  • Early Q4 2025: a low, steady plateau around $16–$17.

This rhythm reflects a pronounced mid-year trough and a late-year leveling at the low end of the range.

Media vs. Global

Relative to Facebook Ads benchmarks across all industries, Media’s CPP stayed well below market throughout:

  • The category averaged 63% below the global all-industry level ($18.36 vs. $49.33).
  • The gap fluctuated from about 51% below in November (the narrowest) to roughly 68% below in August (the widest).
  • While Media declined -23% from November to October, the global benchmark was comparatively steady (+2%), peaking in February and easing into October.
  • Volatility was higher in Media: average monthly swings of ~10.6% vs. ~5.4% for the global baseline, indicating more abrupt shifts within the category.

Closing

In short, cost per purchase for the Media industry across all countries averaged $18.36 and trailed the global all-industry benchmark by roughly two-thirds, with a notable mid-year low and a late-year stabilization. Understanding Facebook Ads benchmarks for cost per purchase in the Media industry—alongside CPC trends, CPM analysis, and CTR performance—helps frame industry ad performance and compare it to global patterns across all countries.

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 Media industry, Facebook ad costs can be influenced by seasonal trends and market competition. Geographic targeting affects ad costs based on market competition and user engagement in different regions. 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.

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.