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Facebook Ads CTR Benchmarks for Retail in United States

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CTR (Click Through Rate) for Retail in United States

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, this analysis looks at click-through-rate trends for industry Retail and target country United States compared to the global trend.
  • Retail in the United States ran above market for most of the period: the average click-through-rate (CTR) was 1.91% versus the global baseline at 1.81% (+5.5% relative), outperforming in 11 of 12 months.
  • Highest CTR for the selection was 2.10% in July 2025 (also 2.10% in August), with a low of 1.81% in January 2025. Overall change from the first month (Oct 2024) to the last (Sep 2025) was +11.8%.
  • The baseline climbed more steeply into late summer: average 1.81%, low 1.67% (Feb 2025), high 2.12% (Sep 2025), and a +20.1% rise from October to September.
  • Seasonal patterns are clear: CTR firmed in Q4, dipped in January, and surged in mid-to-late summer (June–August). September shows the global trend peaking above the U.S. Retail selection.

Selected trend overview

  • Average level: 1.91% CTR across Oct 2024–Sep 2025.
  • Highs and lows:
  • High: 2.10% in July 2025 (and 2.10% in August).
  • Low: 1.81% in January 2025.
  • Range: 0.29 percentage points.
  • Trend and movement:
  • Q4 uplift: 1.81% (Oct) → 1.91% (Dec).
  • January dip to the period low (1.81%), followed by steady recovery into March (1.87%).
  • Soft patch in April–May (≈1.82%), then a sharp rise in June (1.90%) and a spike in July (2.10%).
  • Slight easing by September (2.03%).
  • Volatility: average month-to-month absolute change ≈ 0.06 percentage points, with the largest jump in July (+0.20 pp vs. June).

Comparison to the global baseline

  • Relative level: 1.91% (Retail, United States) vs. 1.81% (global baseline) — about 0.10 pp higher on average (+5.5% relative).
  • Highs and lows:
  • Baseline high: 2.12% in September 2025 (above the selection’s peak of 2.10%).
  • Baseline low: 1.67% in February 2025 (lower than the selection’s trough).
  • Momentum:
  • The selection posted +11.8% from first to last month; the baseline rose faster at +20.1%.
  • The selection outperformed the baseline in 11 of 12 months; the clearest outperformance came in December (+0.21 pp vs. baseline). In September, the selection slipped 0.09 pp below the global level.
  • Volatility:
  • Baseline average month-to-month change ≈ 0.05 pp (slightly less volatile than the selection).
  • Baseline acceleration was most pronounced from May to September, culminating in the September peak.

Seasonal context

  • Q4 behavior: CTRs strengthened from October to December for U.S. Retail, consistent with holiday-driven engagement patterns.
  • New Year reset: January marked the local low before a gradual Q1–Q2 recovery.
  • Summer lift: Both series rose strongly in mid-to-late summer, with the baseline continuing to accelerate into September, edging above the selection at the end of the period.

Understanding click-through-rate benchmarks on Facebook Ads in industry Retail and United States helps advertisers make more efficient budget and creative choices.

Understanding the Data

Insights & analysis of Facebook advertising costs

Click-Through Rate (CTR) is the percentage of impressions that resulted in a click on the Facebook ad. In the Retail industry, Facebook ad costs can be influenced by seasonal trends and market competition. For campaigns targeting United States, advertisers often face higher costs due to high competition and purchasing power. Different campaign objectives lead to varying costs based on how Facebook optimizes for your specific goals. 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. 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 States Advertising Landscape

National Holidays

Jan 1New Year's Day
Jan 20Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Feb 17Presidents' Day
May 26Memorial Day
Jun 19Juneteenth
Jul 4Independence Day
Sep 1Labor Day
Oct 13Columbus Day
Nov 11Veterans Day
Nov 27Thanksgiving Day
Dec 25Christmas Day

Key Shopping Season

Late November (Thanksgiving & Black Friday weekend), December (Christmas), Back-to-school (July–September), Summer travel season (Memorial Day onwards)

Potential Advertising Impact

CPM and CPC might rise around major holidays like Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Labor Day, especially in travel and entertainment. Black Friday/Thanksgiving weekend triggers massive spikes in retail ad competition. December ad demand typically peaks—retail campaigns require significantly higher budgets. Back-to-school promotions drive increased competition. Juneteenth may see regional engagement rise.

What is CTR and why does it matter for Facebook ads?

CTR (Click-Through Rate) is the percentage of people who click your ad after seeing it. It's calculated by dividing total clicks by total impressions, then multiplying by 100. A high CTR indicates your ad resonates with your audience and helps improve your relevance score, which can lower your overall costs.

What's the average CTR for Facebook ads in 2025?

The average Facebook ad CTR across industries sits around 0.90-1.10%. But there's significant variation. Your specific industry, audience targeting, and campaign objectives should determine your benchmark.

Why is my Facebook ad CTR consistently low?

Low CTR usually stems from poor audience targeting, weak creative, or a disconnect between your ad content and audience needs. Your ad might simply not be standingo out enough. Check if your visuals grab attention, your copy addresses clear pain points, and your audience targeting aligns with people genuinely interested in your offer.

Is CTR still a reliable metric for ad performance in 2025?

Yes—but only in context. High CTR is a signal that your creative works, but it doesn't guarantee conversions. Use it alongside other metrics like conversion rate to get the full picture.