CPC Calculator
Calculate your Cost Per Click and optimize your ad spend efficiency!
Not sure what CPC means? Check the FAQ below
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For deeper analysisCost Metrics
CPC Analysis
Cost Per Click
$2.00
You pay $2.00 for each click on your ad
Performance
Industry Benchmarks
2025 DataAverage CPC by Platform
| Platform | Avg CPC |
|---|---|
| Twitter/X | $0.26 |
| TikTok | $0.50 |
| Google Display | $0.63 |
| $1.12 | |
| Bing/Microsoft | $1.54 |
| $1.72 | |
| $1.83 | |
| Google Search | $5.26 |
| $5.58 |
Sources: WordStream, Business of Apps, Brafton
Important: A "good" CPC depends entirely on your business economics. A $10 CPC can be excellent if your conversion value is $1,000, while a $0.50 CPC can lose money with poor conversion rates. Always evaluate CPC alongside your conversion rate and customer value.
How We Calculate Your CPC
Here's how we calculate your Cost Per Click:
Total Ad Spend
Total amount spent on your ad campaign
Total Clicks
Number of clicks your ad received
CPC
Your Cost Per Click
Tips & Insights
- 💡 Good CPC. You're in a healthy range for most platforms. Focus on conversion rate optimization to maximize each click's value.
- 📈 Tip: Add your impression count to see CTR and CPM metrics, which help you understand click efficiency relative to reach.
What is CPC?
CPC stands for Cost Per Click — the amount you pay each time someone clicks on your ad. It's the dominant pricing model for search advertising (Google Ads, Bing Ads) and is widely used on social platforms too. Unlike CPM where you pay for views, CPC means you only pay when someone actually engages.
If you spent $500 on a campaign and got 250 clicks, your CPC is $2.00. But whether $2.00 is good or terrible depends on what those clicks are worth to your business — a $2 click that leads to a $500 sale is a bargain.
CPC Formula
CPC = Total Ad Spend ÷ Total Clicks
The calculator above computes this instantly and also shows your cost per conversion — which is arguably more important. A low CPC means nothing if clicks don't convert. For the full breakdown, see our CPC glossary entry.
Average CPC by Platform
CPC varies dramatically across platforms. The benchmark table above shows exact numbers, but here's the pattern:
- Cheapest clicks: Twitter/X ($0.26), TikTok ($0.50), Google Display ($0.63) — high volume, lower intent
- Mid-range: Facebook ($1.72), Instagram ($1.83), Pinterest ($1.12) — social discovery, moderate intent
- Premium clicks: Google Search ($5.26), LinkedIn ($5.58) — high intent or B2B targeting
Expensive doesn't mean bad. Google Search clicks cost more because users are actively searching with purchase intent. A $5 click from someone searching "best CRM software" is worth far more than a $0.50 click from someone scrolling TikTok.
CPC vs CPM: When to Use Which Pricing Model
Choose CPC when your goal is performance — traffic, leads, or sales. You only pay for actual engagement, which protects your budget from wasted impressions.
Choose CPM when your goal is brand awareness and reach. If your ad has a high CTR, CPM can actually deliver cheaper clicks than CPC bidding.
The real question isn't CPC vs CPM — it's whether your clicks are profitable. Use our ROAS Calculator to measure actual return on your ad spend.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is CPC?
CPC (Cost Per Click) is the amount an advertiser pays each time someone clicks on their ad. It's the most common pricing model for search advertising (Google Ads, Bing Ads) and is also used on social platforms. For example: if you spend $500 and get 250 clicks, your CPC is $2.00.
What's a good CPC?
CPC varies massively by platform and industry. On Google Search, the overall average is $5.26 but ranges from $1.60 (arts) to $8.58 (legal). On social platforms, TikTok ($0.50) and Twitter ($0.26) are cheapest, while LinkedIn ($5.58) is most expensive. Always compare to your specific industry and platform benchmarks.
CPC vs CPM — which should I use?
Use CPC when you want to drive traffic and pay only for actual clicks — ideal for performance campaigns. Use CPM for brand awareness when reach matters more than clicks. Compare costs with our CPM Calculator. For overall campaign profitability, try our ROAS Calculator.
How can I lower my CPC?
1) Improve Quality Score — Google rewards relevant ads with lower CPCs. 2) Refine keywords — use long-tail keywords with less competition. 3) Test ad creative — higher CTR leads to lower CPC on most platforms. 4) Try different platforms — TikTok and Twitter offer significantly lower CPCs than Google Search.
How does CPC relate to conversion cost?
CPC × (1 / Conversion Rate) = Cost per Conversion. If your CPC is $2 and conversion rate is 5%, each conversion costs $40. Lowering CPC helps, but improving conversion rate is often more impactful. Use our Conversion Rate Calculator to analyze your funnel.
Why is my CPC increasing?
CPC increases are common due to: 1) More competition in your market. 2) Seasonal spikes (Q4, holidays). 3) Ad fatigue — audiences stop engaging, CTR drops, platforms charge more. 4) Audience saturation — you've reached most of your target audience. Refresh creatives and test new audiences to combat rising CPCs.
What's the relationship between CPC and CTR?
CPC and CTR are inversely related on most platforms. A higher CTR signals ad relevance, which platforms reward with lower CPCs. If your CTR drops, expect CPC to rise. This is why ad creative testing is one of the best ways to reduce costs. Check your click efficiency with our CTR Calculator.
What is the CPC if an ad costs $5,000 and receives 20,000 clicks?
CPC = $5,000 ÷ 20,000 = $0.25 per click. That's well below average on every major platform — for context, the Google Search average is $5.26 and even TikTok averages $0.50. A $0.25 CPC typically indicates broad targeting on a low-competition platform, or an exceptionally well-optimized campaign.
How do you calculate CPC?
Divide your total ad spend by the number of clicks: CPC = Total Ad Spend ÷ Total Clicks. For example, $500 spent on 250 clicks = $2.00 CPC. Most ad platforms report CPC automatically, but calculating it yourself lets you verify platform data and compare across campaigns. Use the calculator above to compute yours instantly.