CPC Calculator
Work out cost per click (CPC) from your total ad spend and clicks — the price you pay for each visit an ad sends you.
How it works
CPC = total ad spend ÷ clicks
Cost per click is what you pay, on average, for a single click on your ad — total spend divided by the number of clicks it bought. It is the core price of paid search and paid social: platforms auction each click, so your CPC reflects how competitive your keywords or audience are and how relevant your ad is. A lower CPC stretches the same budget across more visits, but only clicks that convert are worth paying for, so read CPC alongside conversion rate and cost per acquisition.
Worked example
A campaign that spent $500 and received 400 clicks has a CPC of 500 ÷ 400 = $1.25. Every click cost, on average, a dollar and a quarter — so $100 buys roughly 80 clicks at that price.
Frequently asked questions
What is a good CPC?
It varies enormously by platform and industry — cheap in low-competition niches, several dollars or more in fields like legal or insurance. Rather than chase a universal number, track your own CPC over time and judge it against what a click is worth to you, which depends on your conversion rate and order value.
How do I lower my CPC?
Improve ad relevance and quality score, tighten targeting to the audiences most likely to click, test better creative and headlines, and pause underperforming keywords. On search, more specific long-tail keywords often cost less per click than broad, heavily contested terms.
Is CPC the same as CPM?
No. CPC charges you per click, so you only pay when someone acts on the ad. CPM charges per 1,000 impressions, so you pay for views whether or not anyone clicks. CPC suits direct-response campaigns; CPM suits awareness campaigns.
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Educational estimate, not financial advice.