Facebook Ads Insights Tool

Facebook Ads Cost Per Purchase Benchmarks for Retail in Canada

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

Cost Per Purchase for Retail in Canada

October 2024 - October 2025

Insights

Detailed observation of presented data

This analysis looks at cost per purchase trends for industry Retail in Canada compared to the global trend. Findings are based on $3B worth of advertising data from our dataset, which provides strong directional benchmarks.

Key takeaways

  • Overall level: Retail in Canada averaged 36.12 cost per purchase versus a 47.82 global baseline, 24% below market on average; the median was 31.34 vs. 48.96 (36% lower).
  • Extremes: Selected highs/lows were 86.30 (Sep 2025) and 10.04 (Jun 2025), a wide range of 76.26. Baseline ranged from 53.89 (Feb 2025) to 32.29 (Sep 2025), a 21.60 spread.
  • Volatility: Average month-to-month absolute change was 16.33 for the selected series versus 3.25 globally, indicating materially higher volatility.
  • Trend over time: From Oct 2024 to Sep 2025, Retail in Canada rose 77%, while the global baseline fell 31%.
  • Relative positioning: The selected series was below the baseline in 10 of 12 months, only above in Oct 2024 and Sep 2025.
  • Seasonality: The global baseline rose into Dec–Feb before easing through late summer; the selected series dipped into year-end, bottomed in Jun, then spiked sharply in Sep.

Retail in Canada: monthly profile

  • Average: 36.12; median: 31.34.
  • High: 86.30 in Sep 2025; low: 10.04 in Jun 2025.
  • Notable movements:
  • May to Jun 2025: drop from 33.50 to 10.04 (-70% month over month), the period’s sharpest decline.
  • Aug to Sep 2025: surge from 40.58 to 86.30 (+113% month over month), the period’s largest jump.
  • Quarter snapshots:
  • Q4 2024 average: 34.44
  • Q1 2025 average: 35.79
  • Q2 2025 average: 22.70 (lowest quarter)
  • Q3 2025 average: 51.55 (highest quarter, driven by September)

Comparison with the global baseline

  • Level check:
  • Averages: 36.12 (selected) vs. 47.82 (baseline), an 11.70 lower cost per purchase in Canada Retail.
  • Medians: 31.34 vs. 48.96, a 17.62 gap.
  • Highs/lows:
  • Baseline peak at 53.89 (Feb 2025) vs. selected peak at 86.30 (Sep 2025).
  • Baseline low at 32.29 (Sep 2025) vs. selected low at 10.04 (Jun 2025).
  • Volatility:
  • Selected average month-to-month absolute movement: 16.33.
  • Baseline average month-to-month absolute movement: 3.25.
  • Quarterly contrast:
  • Q4 2024: selected 34.44 vs. baseline 47.13 (selected 27% lower).
  • Q1 2025: 35.79 vs. 52.94 (selected 32% lower).
  • Q2 2025: 22.70 vs. 49.83 (selected 55% lower).
  • Q3 2025: 51.55 vs. 41.39 (selected 25% higher, driven by September).
  • Seasonal patterning:
  • Baseline shows a typical rise across Dec–Feb and easing into summer.
  • The selected series diverged: it softened through year-end, bottomed in June, then spiked into September.

Understanding cost per purchase benchmarks on Facebook Ads in industry Retail and Canada 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 Retail industry, Facebook ad costs can be influenced by seasonal trends and market competition. For campaigns targeting Canada, advertisers should consider local market factors and user behavior. 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.

Canada Advertising Landscape

National Holidays

Jan 1New Year's Day
Feb (3rd Mon)Family Day
Apr 18Good Friday
Apr 21Easter Monday (federal)
May (Victoria Day)Victoria Day
Jul 1Canada Day
Sep (1st Mon)Labour Day
Oct (2nd Mon)Thanksgiving
Nov 11Remembrance Day
Dec 25Christmas Day
Dec 26Boxing Day

Key Shopping Season

Late November (Black Friday and Cyber Monday), December (holiday shopping, Boxing Day), Back-to-school (August-September), Mother's Day (May)

Potential Advertising Impact

CPM might increase during Canada Day, Labour Day, and Thanksgiving. Black Friday and Cyber Monday see heightened e‑commerce bidding. December holiday period may spike ad costs. Back-to-school and Mother's Day drive retail competition. Provincial holidays might alter weekday inventory availability.

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.