2026 data
Average CPC in 2026
By Oliver Wakefield-Smith, Digital Signet. Updated October 2026.
The average search-ad CPC across all industries in 2026 is $5.42 LocaliQ, 2026 data. Industry averages run from $1.63 to $9.87. LocaliQ measured it across Google Ads and Microsoft Ads campaigns run by its customers. Figures are USD as published; the maths transfers to any currency.
The cross-industry averages
Avg CPC
$5.42
Avg CTR
6.64%
Avg CVR
8.18%
Avg CPL
$66.69
Cost per lead fell year on year for the first time in five years in this dataset LocaliQ, 2026 data. The context behind the numbers is on the 2026 trends page.
All 23 industries
Filled lime tick: below the $5.42 average. Hollow tick: above it. Rows with pages link to the industry deep-dive, each of which deep-links the calculator pre-filled with that average.
Search vs social, briefly
Cross-platform check
Social clicks are cheaper; search clicks carry intent. Different vintages, both stated. LocaliQ, 2026 data LocaliQ, 2026 data The full comparison lives on Google Ads vs Facebook Ads and the platform pages.