Facebook Ads Insights Tool

Facebook Ads Cost Per Purchase Benchmarks for Media

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

Cost Per Purchase for Media

October 2024 - October 2025

Insights

Detailed observation of presented data

Key takeaways

  • This analysis looks at cost per purchase (COST_PER_PURCHASE) trends for industry Media and target country All countries available compared to the global trend, using a monthly median time series. The analysis is based on $3B worth of advertising data from our dataset, which provides strong directional benchmarks.
  • The Media, all-countries series averaged about $27.05 per purchase across the period, roughly 43% below the global baseline average of $47.73—consistently below market for 12 of 13 months.
  • Seasonality appears muted until a sharp September 2025 spike. While costs typically increase in Q4 around holiday periods, this series rose in October but fell in December before rebounding in early 2025.
  • Volatility in the selected series is notably higher (median month-to-month absolute change ≈ $4.77, ~21.8%) than the global baseline (≈ $1.16, ~2.2%).

Selected series overview (Media, all countries)

  • Average: $27.05 per purchase across Sep 2024–Sep 2025.
  • High/low: High in Sep 2025 at $62.51; low in Jun 2025 at $17.30. Overall range: $45.22.
  • Trend: From $22.15 in Sep 2024 to $62.51 in Sep 2025 (+182% from first to last month).
  • Seasonality:
  • Q4 2024: October rose to $30.76, then November eased and December dipped to $18.95.
  • Early 2025: Gradual build to February ($32.97), then steady softening into June ($17.30).
  • Late summer: Stable around $20–$21 in July–August, followed by a pronounced spike in September ($62.51).
  • Volatility: Median month-to-month absolute change ≈ $4.77 (typical relative shift ~21.8%). The most significant one-month increase was August to September 2025 (+$42.42, +211%).

Global baseline comparison

  • Baseline average: $47.73 per purchase. Selected series ran approximately 43% below market on average.
  • High/low: Baseline peaked in Feb 2025 at $53.89 and hit a low in Sep 2025 at $32.29 (range: $21.60).
  • First-to-last change: From $46.60 (Sep 2024) to $32.29 (Sep 2025), a 30.7% decline.
  • Volatility: Median month-to-month absolute change ≈ $1.16 (typical relative shift ~2.2%), indicating steadier movement than the selected series.

How Media compares to the global trend

  • Relative level: The Media, all-countries series was below average in 12 of 13 months, only moving above market during the September 2025 spike.
  • Seasonal alignment: Both series showed early-year firmness into February. However, the selected series diverged in late 2024 with a December dip and ended with a sharp September 2025 surge, while the baseline trended down into September.
  • Stability: The global baseline moved in a narrower band and with lower month-to-month change. The Media series displayed wider swings, especially around mid-year lows and the late-September jump.

Understanding cost per purchase benchmarks on Facebook Ads in industry Media and all countries available 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 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.