CPL benchmark data for 2026. Compare averages, medians, and top-quartile performance across channels and industries.
| Channel | Median | 25th percentile | 75th percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Google Ads | $47.00 | $25 | $85 |
| Meta Ads | $21.98 | $11 | $44 |
| LinkedIn Ads | $75.00 | $42 | $130 |
| Email Marketing | $3.80 | $1.90 | $8.20 |
| Industry | Median | 25th percentile | 75th percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| SaaS | $55.20 | $30 | $95 |
| Financial Services | $79.40 | $44 | $135 |
| Healthcare | $45.80 | $25 | $78 |
| Legal | $92.10 | $52 | $156 |
| Home Services | $38.60 | $21 | $65 |
| Real Estate | $63.40 | $35 | $108 |
| Education | $32.80 | $18 | $56 |
| B2B Services | $67.20 | $37 | $114 |
| Ecommerce | $28.40 | $15 | $48 |
| Automotive | $42.30 | $23 | $72 |
| Insurance | $78.20 | $42 | $132 |
| Dental | $48.60 | $26 | $82 |
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 Cost Per Lead 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.