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Facebook Ads Cost Per Purchase Benchmarks in United Kingdom

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

Cost Per Purchase in United Kingdom

October 2024 - October 2025

Insights

Detailed observation of presented data

Facebook Ads cost-per-purchase benchmarks: trend summary

This analysis looks at cost-per-purchase trends for industry All industries available 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.

Key takeaways

  • Great Britain’s cost-per-purchase averaged 60.33 across the period, about 26% above the global baseline (47.73), indicating above‑market costs most months.
  • High volatility in Great Britain: average month‑to‑month swing of ~18.62 (≈32%), versus a far steadier global pattern at ~2.99 (≈6%).
  • Seasonal pattern is visible: elevated costs in Q4 (Oct–Dec), a January dip, then sharp increases in February–March. Costs typically increase in Q4 around holiday periods.
  • From first to last month, Great Britain rose 21% (47.85 in Sep 2024 to 57.92 in Sep 2025), while the global baseline fell 31% over the same period, widening the gap.

Selected trend (Great Britain)

  • Average: 60.33
  • High: 85.74 in March 2025
  • Low: 37.14 in June 2025
  • Range: 48.60 points
  • First-to-last change: +21% (Sep 2024 to Sep 2025)
  • Volatility: average absolute month‑to‑month change 18.62 (≈32%)

Notable movements:

  • Q4 2024 rose from 47.85 (Sep) to 66.25 (Oct), then softened to 54.16 in Dec.
  • January 2025 dipped to 42.95, then surged: 75.28 (Feb, +75% vs Jan) and a peak at 85.74 (Mar).
  • A second high in May (79.22) was followed by the period’s trough in June (37.14, −53% vs May).
  • Strong rebound into late summer: 73.00 in August, finishing at 57.92 in September 2025.

Comparison to the global baseline

  • Average: 47.73 (baseline) vs 60.33 (GB) — Great Britain is above market on average.
  • High/Low: 53.89/32.29 (baseline) vs 85.74/37.14 (GB) — Great Britain shows a much wider range and higher peaks.
  • Volatility: ~2.99 average month‑to‑month change (≈6%) globally versus 18.62 (≈32%) in Great Britain.
  • Trajectory: baseline declines from 46.60 (Sep 2024) to 32.29 (Sep 2025, −31%), while Great Britain ends substantially higher than it began, placing GB well above market by September 2025 (+79% vs baseline that month).

Monthly relative positioning:

  • Above market in most months, markedly so in Feb (+40%), Mar (+63%), May (+55%), Aug (+60%), and Sep 2025 (+79%).
  • Below market in Jan 2025 (−18%), Jun (−21%), and marginally in Jul (−1%), showing occasional dips in line with seasonal resets and mid‑year softness.

Seasonal patterns and stability

  • Both series reflect mild Q4 elevation and a January reset, with the Great Britain series amplifying these moves.
  • The baseline remains steady through most months and then drops sharply in September 2025, while Great Britain exhibits repeated spikes and troughs.

Understanding cost-per-purchase benchmarks on Facebook Ads in industry All industries available 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. Different industries see varying ad costs due to market competition, user demographics, and conversion value. 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.