Linkedin Ads benchmark data for 2026. Compare performance by channel, industry, and metric.
| Metric | Median | 25th percentile | 75th percentile | Elite |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CTR (click-through rate) | 0.44% | 0.22% | 0.80% | 1.2%+ |
| CPC (cost per click) | $5.39 | $3.10 | $9.20 | <$2.50 |
| CPM (cost per 1,000 impressions) | $33.80 | $19 | $58 | <$12 |
| CVR (conversion rate) | 6.10% | 3.2% | 10.4% | 15%+ |
| CPA (cost per acquisition) | $97.50 | $55 | $165 | <$35 |
| CPL (cost per lead) | $75.00 | $42 | $130 | <$28 |
| Industry | Median | 25th percentile | 75th percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| SaaS | 0.58% | 0.30% | 1.02% |
| B2B Services | 0.52% | 0.27% | 0.92% |
| Financial Services | 0.48% | 0.25% | 0.85% |
| Healthcare | 0.42% | 0.21% | 0.74% |
| Education | 0.55% | 0.28% | 0.97% |
| Legal | 0.38% | 0.19% | 0.67% |
| Ecommerce | 0.32% | 0.16% | 0.57% |
| Industry | Median | 25th percentile | 75th percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| SaaS | $58.40 | $32 | $98 |
| B2B Services | $72.60 | $40 | $122 |
| Financial Services | $88.20 | $49 | $148 |
| Healthcare | $64.10 | $36 | $108 |
| Education | $51.30 | $28 | $86 |
| Legal | $95.80 | $54 | $162 |
The Benchmarketing 4-Band Method. The Benchmarketing 4-Band Method reads every marketing metric against four percentile bands — P25 (bottom quartile), median, P75 (top quartile), and elite (top ~10%) — for a specific industry and channel, instead of a single cross-industry average. Averages blend brand and non-brand campaigns, $500/month and $500,000/month accounts, and unrelated industries into a number almost nobody actually has.
Where the numbers come from. The figures on this page come from the Benchmarketing benchmark dataset — thousands of curated benchmark observations across channels, industries, and US metro areas. Every statistic traces to a named source: WordStream Google Ads Benchmarks (2024), Meta Business Insights (2024), HubSpot Email Marketing Report (2024), Unbounce Conversion Benchmark Report (2024), Databox Marketing Benchmark Report (2024), Benchmarketing Platform Data (2023–2024). Benchmarketing does not publish anonymous "studies show" figures.
The Benchmarketing position. Beating the cross-industry average for LinkedIn Ads is a vanity milestone, not a target. Compare your number to the P25–P75 band for your specific industry and channel; if you are above average but below your industry's P75, you are leaving performance on the table.
The average LinkedIn Ads CTR across all industries is 0.44%. SaaS (0.58%) and Education (0.55%) tend to see higher CTRs. Legal (0.38%) and Ecommerce (0.32%) are lower due to audience mismatch - LinkedIn is a B2B platform, and B2C offers typically underperform.
LinkedIn CPCs average $5.39 - higher than Google Display or Meta - because of precise professional targeting. You pay a premium to reach decision-makers by job title, company size, and seniority. For B2B deals with high LTV ($10k+ ACV), the math typically works.
The cross-industry median CPL for LinkedIn Ads is $75. B2B Services ($72.60) and SaaS ($58.40) tend to be most efficient. Legal ($95.80) and Financial Services ($88.20) are higher. Lead quality on LinkedIn is typically superior to other channels - factor in close rate and deal size.
For high-ACV B2B products (enterprise software, professional services, consulting), LinkedIn is often essential. For SMB-focused products or those with ACV below $5k, the CPL may not justify the investment versus content marketing or Google Ads.