Facebook Ads Insights Tool

Facebook Ads Cost Per Purchase Benchmarks for Retail in United Kingdom

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

Cost Per Purchase for Retail in United Kingdom

October 2024 - October 2025

Insights

Detailed observation of presented data

Key takeaways

  • Based on $3B worth of advertising data from our dataset, which provides strong directional benchmarks, cost-per-purchase in the selected Retail market for Great Britain sits below the global baseline on average, but ends the period sharply above it.
  • The selected series averages 43.44 versus the global baseline at 47.73 (about 9% lower), with a wider month-to-month swing (23.7% average absolute MoM change vs 6.4% globally).
  • Seasonality diverges from global norms: the global trend is elevated in Q4–Q1, while Great Britain Retail dips in late Q4 and then peaks in late spring/early summer and again in early autumn.
  • First-to-last month movement is +71% in the selected series (Sep 2024 to Sep 2025), versus a -31% decline in the global baseline.

What this analysis covers

This analysis looks at cost-per-purchase trends for industry Retail and target country Great Britain compared to the global trend. It summarizes a monthly time series of median values, highlighting averages, highs/lows, volatility, and seasonal patterns to position Great Britain performance “above market,” “below average,” or “in line with overall trends.”

Selected trend overview (Retail, Great Britain)

  • Overall level: Average 43.44 across 13 months.
  • Highs and lows:
  • High: 57.92 in Sep 2025.
  • Low: 32.25 in Dec 2024.
  • Range: 25.67.
  • Direction of travel: From 33.79 (Sep 2024) to 57.92 (Sep 2025), a +71% increase.
  • Volatility (month-to-month):
  • Average absolute MoM change: 23.7%.
  • Largest spikes/dips:
  • Oct 2024 surged +62% MoM (to 54.69).
  • Dec 2024 dropped to the series low (32.25).
  • Apr 2025 jumped +29% MoM (to 53.76).
  • Jun 2025 rose to 54.25, followed by a sharp July dip (-33%).
  • Sep 2025 hit the period peak (57.92, +44% MoM).

Comparison to the global baseline

  • Average level: Selected 43.44 vs baseline 47.73 → about 9% below market overall.
  • Highs and lows:
  • Baseline high: 53.89 (Feb 2025); low: 32.29 (Sep 2025); range: 21.60.
  • The selected peak (57.92) is 7.5% higher than the global peak; lows are essentially similar (32.25 vs 32.29).
  • Month-to-month volatility:
  • Selected: 23.7% average absolute MoM change.
  • Baseline: 6.4% average absolute MoM change.
  • The selected series is roughly 3.7× more volatile than the global pattern.
  • First-to-last month:
  • Selected: +71% (Sep 2024 → Sep 2025).
  • Baseline: -31% (Sep 2024 → Sep 2025).
  • Positioning by month:
  • Above market in 4 of 13 months (notably Oct 2024, Apr 2025, Jun 2025, and Sep 2025).
  • Below market in the other 9 months, particularly Dec 2024 through Mar 2025.

Seasonal patterns

  • Global seasonality: Costs typically rise in Q4 and remain elevated through Q1 (Dec–Feb averaging ~52–54), then moderate into summer before a sharp drop in Sep 2025.
  • Great Britain Retail pattern:
  • A pronounced spike in Oct 2024, but a softer Nov–Dec, with the series low in Dec 2024—contrary to the global Q4 lift.
  • Stronger levels reappear in Apr–Jun 2025 (two months above the global average).
  • A pronounced dip in Jul 2025 followed by a robust climb to the series peak in Sep 2025, while the global baseline falls to its lowest point that same month.

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