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Facebook Ads Cost Per Purchase Benchmarks for Retail in Netherlands

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Cost Per Purchase for Retail in Netherlands

October 2024 - October 2025

Insights

Detailed observation of presented data

Key takeaways

  • Retail in Netherlands shows a lower median cost-per-purchase than the global baseline overall: $39.07 vs $49.02, about 20% below market.
  • Volatility is high: average month-to-month absolute change is ~42% (about 10x the global baseline’s ~4%), with a wide range from $13.59 to $75.30.
  • Seasonal patterns diverge from the global trend: a sharp spike in October and again in April, followed by a sustained slide to yearly lows in July–August. The global baseline shows a steadier Q4–Q1 lift instead.
  • From the first to the last month, Netherlands Retail cost-per-purchase fell 54%, while the global baseline was nearly flat (-2%).

Introduction

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

Retail Netherlands: cost-per-purchase overview

  • Period covered: Sep 2024–Aug 2025 (monthly medians).
  • Average: $39.07
  • High: $75.30 in Oct 2024
  • Low: $13.59 in Aug 2025
  • First-to-last change: -54% (from $29.69 in Sep 2024 to $13.59 in Aug 2025)
  • Volatility:
  • Average absolute month-to-month change: ~$17.06
  • Average absolute month-to-month percent change: ~42%
  • Notable movements:
  • Sharp surge in Oct ($75.30), easing in Nov ($58.39), then a marked dip in Dec ($26.65).
  • Another peak in Apr ($66.21), followed by a steady decline through summer to the annual lows in Jul ($14.12) and Aug ($13.59).

Comparison to the global baseline

  • Baseline average (same months): $49.02
  • High: $53.89 in Feb 2025
  • Low: $43.19 in Nov 2024
  • First-to-last change: -2% (Sep 2024 to Aug 2025)
  • Average absolute month-to-month percent change: ~4%
  • Relative positioning:
  • Netherlands Retail is below market in 9 of 12 months. It is above market in Oct (+61%), Nov (+35%), and Apr (+28%).
  • Q4 2024 average: Netherlands Retail $53.45 vs baseline $47.13 (higher due to the October spike).
  • H1 2025 average: Netherlands Retail $41.85 vs baseline $51.38 (about 19% below).
  • Summer (Jul–Aug): Netherlands Retail averages $13.86 vs baseline $45.95 (about 70% below).

Seasonal patterns and stability

  • Global pattern: costs typically firm up in Q4 and remain elevated into Q1; this appears in the baseline (Dec–Feb higher than surrounding months).
  • Netherlands Retail: a pronounced early Q4 spike (Oct), a secondary peak in Apr, and a prolonged decline into July–August. The profile is more variable than the baseline, with a much wider range ($13.59–$75.30 vs baseline $43.19–$53.89).

Month-by-month highlights

  • Above market: Oct 2024 ($75.30, +61% vs baseline), Nov 2024 ($58.39, +35%), Apr 2025 ($66.21, +28%).
  • Below market: Dec 2024 ($26.65, -48%), Jan–Mar 2025 (slightly to materially lower), and especially Jul–Aug 2025 (around -70%).

Understanding cost-per-purchase benchmarks on Facebook Ads in industry Retail and Netherlands 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 Netherlands, 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.

Netherlands Advertising Landscape

National Holidays

Jan 1New Year's Day
Apr 18Good Friday
Apr 20Easter Sunday
Apr 21Easter Monday
Apr 26King's Day
May 5Liberation Day
May 29Ascension Day
Jun 8Pentecost Sunday
Jun 9Pentecost Monday
Dec 25Christmas Day
Dec 26Boxing Day

Key Shopping Season

Late November–early December (Black Friday/Cyber Monday), December (Christmas and Boxing Day sales), Spring holidays (April–June tourism)

Potential Advertising Impact

CPM and CPC might rise during spring holiday cluster when travel and leisure ads see elevated engagement. Liberation Day (May 5) is mandatory national holiday—ad inventory might shrink. Ad competition increases in late December for holiday promotions. Few summer holidays mean more consistent campaign performance through summer.

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.