CPC Calculator
Calculate cost per click (CPC) from ad spend and clicks.
This tool runs entirely in your browser. Your files are never uploaded to a server.
0.20
Cost per click
What this calculator does
Divides your total ad spend by the number of clicks it generated, giving you the average Cost Per Click (CPC) you paid across the campaign.
How to use it
Enter your total ad spend and the number of clicks the campaign received. The CPC updates immediately as you type either value.
Worked example
With ad spend of $500 and 2,500 clicks (the pre-filled defaults), CPC = 500 ÷ 2,500 = $0.20 — you paid 20 cents, on average, for each click.
Formula
CPC = ad spend ÷ number of clicks. This is an average across the whole campaign; individual auctions and keywords within it can each have paid a different price per click.
How CPC compares to CPM and CTR
CPC only counts spend against clicks, ignoring impressions that didn't get clicked — the opposite of CPM, which charges per impression regardless of clicks. Click-through rate (CTR) connects the two: a higher CTR generally lowers CPC on auction-based platforms, since ad quality/relevance scoring rewards ads people actually click.
Limitations
Average CPC hides the spread between your best- and worst-performing keywords, placements or audiences — a single expensive outlier can pull the average up even if most clicks were cheap. It also says nothing about whether those clicks converted into leads or sales, which is what cost-per-acquisition metrics like CAC are for.
Scope, sources and privacy
CPC is a standard pay-per-click advertising metric used the same way across search, social and display platforms. The calculation runs entirely in your browser; the numbers you enter are never sent to a server.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What's a good CPC?
- It depends heavily on industry and platform, ranging from a few cents to tens of dollars for competitive keywords.
- How do I lower my CPC?
- Improve your quality/relevance score, refine audience targeting, and test different ad copy and landing pages.
- Does CPC include impressions that don't get clicked?
- No — CPC only counts spend divided by clicks; impressions instead factor into CPM.