Learn what CPA means. See average cost per acquisition by industry ($28-$131) and how to calculate if campaigns are profitable.
By The Ad Spend
The total cost to acquire one customer or conversion. Includes all ad spend divided by the number of completed actions like purchases or sign-ups.
Formula
Total Ad Spend ÷ Conversions
Benchmark range
Google Ads average: $70.11. Legal: $131.63. Auto Repair: $28.50. Restaurants: $30.27. E-commerce: $47.94.
Why it matters
The primary profitability metric. Compare CPA to customer lifetime value—if CPA exceeds LTV, the campaign loses money regardless of volume. Platform-reported CPA often looks better than reality; validate against backend data.
