Facebook Ads Insights Tool

Facebook Ads CPC Benchmarks for Public Safety

Understand how your CPC compares. Dive into benchmark data by industry, region, and campaign type

CPC (Cost Per Click) for Public Safety

November 2024 - November 2025

Insights

Detailed observation of presented data

Facebook Ads cost-per-click benchmarks: Public Safety, all countries

This analysis looks at cost-per-click (CPC) trends for industry Public Safety and target country All countries available 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

  • On average, Public Safety CPCs were below market: 0.93 vs a global baseline of 1.16 (about 19% lower).
  • Volatility was high in Public Safety (average absolute month-over-month change ~36%) versus a far steadier baseline (~6.6%).
  • Seasonal shape diverged from the global pattern: the baseline peaked in November–December, while Public Safety hit its low in December and spiked in Q2.
  • From October to August, Public Safety CPC rose 119% (0.47 to 1.03), while the baseline fell 10% over the same window.
  • The Q2 surge (April–June) lifted Public Safety CPC above market for three months, driven by a May peak more than double the baseline.

Public Safety CPC overview (selected data)

  • Average: 0.93 across 11 months (Oct 2024–Aug 2025).
  • High: 2.242 in May 2025.
  • Low: 0.332 in December 2024.
  • First-to-last change: +119% (0.470 in Oct 2024 to 1.03 in Aug 2025).
  • Volatility: average absolute month-over-month change ~36%.
  • Notable movements:
  • November to December dipped 33% to the series low.
  • February to May climbed sharply: +416% from 0.434 to 2.242, with consecutive jumps in March (+114%), April (+50%), and May (+61%).
  • June–July retraced by ~34% month over month in each period, normalizing near 1.0 by July–August.
  • Seasonality observed in the data:
  • Q4 2024 was subdued (average ~0.43) with the trough in December.
  • Q1 2025 rose modestly (average ~0.60).
  • Q2 2025 was the standout (average ~1.71), before easing in early Q3 (~1.01 for July–August).

Global baseline overview

  • Average: 1.16 across the same months.
  • High: 1.474 in November 2024.
  • Low: 1.029 in June 2025.
  • First-to-last change: −10% (1.179 in Oct 2024 to 1.057 in Aug 2025).
  • Volatility: average absolute month-over-month change ~6.6%.
  • Seasonality:
  • Elevated in Q4 (average ~1.32), then gradually moderating through Q2 and steady around ~1.05 in Q3.

How Public Safety compares to the global trend

  • Relative level: Below market on average by ~19%.
  • By month: Public Safety CPC was below baseline in 8 of 11 months; above market only in April, May, and June.
  • The largest gap below baseline occurred in December (−74% vs market).
  • The largest gap above baseline was in May (+102% vs market).
  • Seasonal alignment:
  • The baseline shows the typical Q4 pressure (higher CPCs in November–December).
  • Public Safety diverged, with a December dip and a pronounced Q2 spike, then converged back “in line” with the market near August.

Understanding cost-per-click benchmarks on Facebook Ads in industry Public Safety and all countries available helps advertisers make more efficient budget and creative choices.

Understanding the Data

Insights & analysis of Facebook advertising costs

Cost Per Click (CPC) is the amount advertisers pay each time a user clicks on their Facebook ad. In the Public Safety industry, Facebook ad costs can be influenced by seasonal trends and market competition. Geographic targeting affects ad costs based on market competition and user engagement in different regions. 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.

What exactly is CPC in Facebook Ads?

CPC (Cost Per Click) is what you pay each time someone clicks on your ad, on any Facebook Ads placement. It's calculated by dividing your total spend by the number of clicks received. Facebook Ads lists Clicks, Link Clicks and Outbound Clicks separately. The former is the sum of all types of clicks (including, for example, clicks to your profile page, to a link or to a comment).

What's considered a good CPC for Facebook ads in 2025?

The truth is that varies, so play with our tool to get some benchmarks that are relevant to you. CPC values are highly dependent on the region, industry and campaign objective. The US is one of the most expensive markets.

What influences cost per click on Facebook?

Several factors affect CPC: your audience targeting, competition in your industry, ad relevance score, and creative performance. If your ad isn't getting engagement or relevance is low, CPC tends to spike.

Why is my Facebook ad CPC suddenly increasing?

CPC spikes usually happen because of increased competition in your target audience, seasonal trends (like holidays), poor ad relevance scores, or algorithm changes. Check if your audience targeting has become too narrow or if your creative is showing fatigue.

Do desktop and mobile Facebook ads have different CPCs?

Yes, there's a noticeable difference between platforms. Mobile CPCs often run lower than desktop. How many times do check Instagram on your phone and how often do you open it in your computer? There's simply much more mobile inventory. Tip: segment your performance data by placement to understand where your clicks are coming from. Spoiler: it's likely all mobile.

Should I optimize my campaigns for CPC or conversions?

For most businesses, optimizing for conversions will deliver much better ROI than focusing purely on CPC. A low CPC is meaningless if those clicks don't convert. However, if you're running awareness campaigns or some kind content promotion, CPC optimization might potentially make sense, although most experts have switched to conversion optimization by now.

Why do my CPC benchmarks differ from published industry averages?

Your specific audience targeting, creative quality, bidding strategy, and account history all influence your CPC. Industry averages provide a reference point, but your historical performance is a more reliable benchmark for setting expectations and measuring improvement.

Are CPCs cheaper on Instagram or Facebook?

Instagram CPCs are generally slightly higher due to stronger purchase intent and higher competition among advertisers. But it depends on the audience and creative.