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Facebook Ads Cost Per Purchase Benchmarks for Media in United Kingdom

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Cost Per Purchase for Media in United Kingdom

October 2024 - October 2025

Insights

Detailed observation of presented data

Key takeaways

  • For Media in Great Britain, cost-per-purchase was below the global baseline for 11 of 12 months, then spiked sharply in September 2025.
  • Typical months (Oct–Aug) averaged 17.66, about 64% below the global baseline over the same period (49.24). Including September’s outlier, the 12‑month average rises to 49.57, slightly above the global 12‑month average (47.82).
  • Clear seasonality appears in the global trend with higher costs in Q4; Great Britain shows milder Q4 effects, very low summer costs, and a singular, extreme surge in September.
  • Volatility in Great Britain was high, with month-to-month swings of 30%+ occurring in over half of the periods.

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

What the Great Britain series shows

  • Averages and distribution
  • 12‑month average: 49.57; median: 15.56.
  • Typical Oct–Aug average: 17.66 (well below market).
  • Highs and lows
  • High: 400.57 in Sep 2025; next-highest: 41.40 in Mar 2025.
  • Low: 5.93 in Jul 2025.
  • Trend and volatility
  • From Oct 2024 to Sep 2025, costs rose by about 1,394% due to the September spike.
  • Frequent large swings: Jan (-40.6%), Feb (-35.2%), Mar (+309%), Apr (-71.3%), Jun (-39.9%), Jul (-36.5%).
  • Seasonal notes
  • Q4 2024 averaged 26.04, showing only a mild holiday lift compared to the global pattern.
  • Summer (Jul–Aug) costs were especially low (5.93–6.42).
  • September 2025 stands out as an anomaly at 400.57.

Comparison to the global baseline

  • Overall level
  • 12‑month average: Great Britain 49.57 vs global 47.82 (GB slightly above market overall due to September).
  • Oct–Aug average: Great Britain 17.66 vs global 49.24 (GB ~64% below market during typical months).
  • Medians: Great Britain 15.56 vs global 48.97 (GB well below typical global month).
  • Highs and lows
  • Global high: 53.89 (Feb 2025); low: 32.29 (Sep 2025).
  • Great Britain only exceeded global costs in Sep 2025 (400.57 vs 32.29, ~11.4x above market).
  • Volatility and seasonality
  • Global trend shows expected Q4 lift (Nov dip then Dec jump, +19.3% MoM), relatively stable Q1–Q3, and a notable drop in Sep (-29.3% MoM).
  • Great Britain was more volatile with sharper intra-quarter swings and a pronounced late-summer low.

Notable monthly highlights (Great Britain)

  • Q4 2024: Oct–Dec clustered near 25–26, below the global 43–52 range.
  • Q1 2025: Jan and Feb declined to 15.57 and 10.10, then Mar spiked to 41.40.
  • Q2 2025: Costs eased again (11.87–15.55).
  • Q3 2025: Very low in Jul–Aug (5.93–6.42), then an extreme jump in Sep to 400.57.

Bottom line

Great Britain’s Media cost-per-purchase sat well below average for most of the year, contrasting with the global pattern that shows a steadier, higher baseline and a predictable Q4 uplift. The September 2025 spike in Great Britain is a clear outlier that pushes the annual average above market despite the consistently lower costs earlier in the period. Understanding cost-per-purchase benchmarks on Facebook Ads in industry Media and Great Britain 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. For campaigns targeting United Kingdom, advertisers experience moderate to high costs with strong performance in urban areas. 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 Kingdom Advertising Landscape

National Holidays

Jan 1New Year's Day
Jan 22nd January (Scotland)
Apr 18Good Friday
Apr 21Easter Monday
May 5Early May Bank Holiday
May 26Spring Bank Holiday
Aug 25Summer Bank Holiday
Dec 25Christmas Day
Dec 26Boxing Day

Key Shopping Season

Late November (Black Friday/Cyber Monday surge), Late December (Christmas & Boxing Day promotions), Early May holiday weekend promotions

Potential Advertising Impact

CPM and CPC might increase around early May and late August bank holidays as people engage in leisure travel or retail browsing. During Black Friday/Cyber Monday, retail CPMs could spike sharply in fashion, electronics, and online shopping. Late December typically sees peak CPMs, with e‑commerce budgets needing early ramp-up.

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.