Cost per click
CPC calculator
Enter what you spent and the clicks you got to see your cost per click — or plan a budget from the clicks you need.
Your CPC
$1.25
cost per click
$500.00 ÷ 400 = $1.25
The CPC formula
CPC = total cost ÷ clicks
Cost per click tells you what each visit from an ad costs. It is the main lever for traffic campaigns: if you know what a visitor is worth to you, CPC tells you whether the campaign can pay for itself.
From CPM to CPC
Many social and display ads are bought by impression, but marketers think in clicks. The two are linked by click-through rate:
CPC = CPM ÷ (CTR × 10)
| CPM | CTR 0.5% | CTR 1% | CTR 2% |
|---|---|---|---|
| $5 | $1.00 | $0.50 | $0.25 |
| $10 | $2.00 | $1.00 | $0.50 |
| $20 | $4.00 | $2.00 | $1.00 |
What is a good CPC?
The right CPC is the one your business can afford. If 1 in 50 visitors buys and a sale earns you $40 in profit, each visitor is worth $0.80 — any CPC below that is profitable. Work out the full picture with the CPA and ROAS calculators.
Frequently asked questions
How do you calculate cost per click?
Divide total ad spend by the number of clicks. $500 spent for 400 clicks is $500 ÷ 400 = $1.25 per click.
How do I convert CPM to CPC?
CPC = CPM ÷ (CTR × 10), with CTR as a percentage. A $10 CPM with a 1% CTR works out to $1.00 per click.
What budget do I need for a number of clicks?
Switch the calculator to Cost and enter the clicks you want and your expected CPC. 1,000 clicks at $0.80 need an $800 budget.
Why did my CPC go up?
Common causes are more advertisers bidding for the same audience (often in Q4), a falling CTR on auction platforms, or narrower targeting. Track CPC next to CTR to see which one moved.