CPM Benchmarks 2026
CPM benchmarks for 2026 with sources and update date. Compare platforms, industries, and regions to understand what a “good CPM” can look like.
- Typical range
- $3.50–$15.00
- Premium range (if any)
- $15.00–$50.00
- Source
- mykitchenincome.com
- Typical range
- $5.00–$15.00
- Premium range (if any)
- $10.00–$20.00
- Source
- socialrails.com
- Typical range
- $7.00–$8.00
- Premium range (if any)
- $10.00–$15.00
- Source
- brafton.com
- Typical range
- $9.16–$12.00
- Premium range (if any)
- $12.00–$20.00
- Source
- webfx.com
- Typical range
- $3.00–$12.00
- Premium range (if any)
- $8.00–$15.00
- Source
- businessofapps.com
- Typical range
- $15.00–$20.00
- Premium range (if any)
- $20.00–$30.00
- Source
- businessofapps.com
| Platform | Typical range | Premium range (if any) | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| YouTube | $3.50–$15.00 | $15.00–$50.00 | mykitchenincome.com |
| $5.00–$15.00 | $10.00–$20.00 | socialrails.com | |
| $7.00–$8.00 | $10.00–$15.00 | brafton.com | |
| TikTok | $9.16–$12.00 | $12.00–$20.00 | webfx.com |
| Google Display | $3.00–$12.00 | $8.00–$15.00 | businessofapps.com |
| Mobile Ads | $15.00–$20.00 | $20.00–$30.00 | businessofapps.com |
How to read CPM benchmarks
Benchmarks are meant for orientation, not as a pass/fail score.
What is a CPM benchmark?
A CPM benchmark is a reference range that describes what CPM often looks like for a platform or context. It is not a guarantee and it is not a promise for your campaign. Think of it like a speed limit sign for sanity-checking: it tells you what is common, not what is optimal.
Industry benchmarks
The same platform can have very different CPM depending on what you sell, who you target, and how competitive the category is.
- CPM range
- $15.00–$50.00
- Why it varies
- High-value audiences, competitive auctions.
- CPM range
- $10.00–$30.00
- Why it varies
- B2B audiences often cost more to reach.
- CPM range
- $5.00–$15.00
- Why it varies
- Conversion-driven campaigns vary by season.
- CPM range
- $2.00–$8.00
- Why it varies
- Large inventory, lower advertiser value per user.
- CPM range
- $10.00–$150.00
- Why it varies
- Ranges vary widely; B2B newsletters can be premium.
| Industry | CPM range | Why it varies |
|---|---|---|
| Finance | $15.00–$50.00 | High-value audiences, competitive auctions. |
| Tech (B2B) | $10.00–$30.00 | B2B audiences often cost more to reach. |
| E-commerce | $5.00–$15.00 | Conversion-driven campaigns vary by season. |
| Entertainment | $2.00–$8.00 | Large inventory, lower advertiser value per user. |
| Newsletter | $10.00–$150.00 | Ranges vary widely; B2B newsletters can be premium. |
Region multipliers
A simple way to think about geography: some regions cost more to reach because advertiser competition and purchasing power differ.
- Multiplier
- 1.0x
- Note
- Baseline market.
- Multiplier
- 0.8–1.0x
- Note
- Often close to Tier-1.
- Multiplier
- 0.3–0.5x
- Note
- Emerging markets with lower CPM.
- Multiplier
- 0.4–0.6x
- Note
- Growing market with mid-range CPM.
| Region | Multiplier | Note |
|---|---|---|
| US/UK/Canada (Tier-1) | 1.0x | Baseline market. |
| Western Europe | 0.8–1.0x | Often close to Tier-1. |
| Southeast Asia | 0.3–0.5x | Emerging markets with lower CPM. |
| Latin America | 0.4–0.6x | Growing market with mid-range CPM. |
How to use benchmarks (simple steps)
Methodology and caveats
These ranges are compiled from multiple industry sources. Each platform row links to a source domain so you can review the original context. The goal is transparency: you should be able to audit where a number came from.
Frequently Asked Questions
A “good CPM” depends on platform, country, industry, and audience. Start with the platform range, then adjust using the industry and region sections.
Benchmarks are useful for direction, but your results depend on targeting, creative, auction competition, seasonality, and geography. Use benchmarks to spot outliers and then test changes.
Common reasons include competitive audiences, narrow targeting, premium inventory, expensive geographies, or creatives that don’t earn enough engagement. Benchmarks can help you diagnose what to test next.
Low CPM often means cheaper inventory, but cheaper does not always mean effective. If low CPM comes with low CTR or low conversion rate, you may be buying impressions that don’t create attention or intent. Always evaluate CPM together with CTR and CPA (or conversion rate) before you conclude that a low CPM is “good”.
Be careful. Awareness and reach objectives often buy different inventory than conversion objectives, and that can change CPM. Compare CPM within the same objective and format first, then use outcome metrics when comparing across objectives. Benchmarks are most helpful when the context matches.
Markets change continuously. Benchmarks typically update less frequently because they require compilation and sourcing. Use benchmarks to set expectations and explain context, but use your own time-series data to make day-to-day optimization decisions.
Use them as a checklist: if your CPM is far above range, check targeting scope, geo, placements, and seasonality; if far below, check whether you’re buying low-attention inventory. Then run one controlled test at a time so you can attribute changes to a single lever.
No. Benchmarks are not goals. The best CPM for your campaign depends on the value of the audience and the outcome you need. If you optimize only to hit an average CPM, you can sacrifice quality. Use benchmarks to understand the landscape, then optimize to your business KPI (CPA, ROAS, lift) while watching CPM as the cost context.
Sources use different samples, time windows, ad formats, and definitions (served vs viewable impressions). Some include agency fees or deal premiums; others do not. That’s why the safest way to use benchmarks is directional: look for magnitude and relative differences, then validate with your own data and controlled tests.