# What is my CPC?

Computes the average cost per click (CPC) of an ad campaign from its total cost and clicks, or the cost or the clicks from the other two.

- Page: https://www.acalculator.org/finance/cpc-calculator
- JSON spec: https://www.acalculator.org/finance/cpc-calculator.json
- Version: 439836ffcf31

## Default answer

Example with the default inputs (Total cost of clicks $1,500.00, Clicks 1,200): $1,500.00 for 1,200 clicks is an average CPC of $1.25.

## Inputs

| Key | Label | Description |
| --- | --- | --- |
| cost | Total cost of clicks | What the clicks cost in total. |
| clicks | Clicks | How many clicks the ads got. |
| cpc | Average CPC | The average cost per click: total cost ÷ clicks. |

## Outputs

| Key | Label | Description |
| --- | --- | --- |
| cost | Total cost of clicks | Average CPC × clicks, to the cent. |
| clicks | Clicks | Total cost ÷ average CPC, to the nearest whole click (halves up). |
| cpc | Average CPC | Total cost ÷ clicks, to the cent. |

## Method

Average CPC = total cost ÷ clicks; total cost = average CPC × clicks; clicks = total cost ÷ average CPC.

## Assumptions

- The cost is what you paid for the clicks (the actual cost per click summed over all clicks), not your bids.
- Arithmetic is exact on the typed decimals; money shows to the cent and clicks to the whole number, halves up.

## Worked examples

1. cost = $0.60, clicks = 2 gives cpc = $0.30. Source: Google Ads Help, "Average cost-per-click (Avg. CPC): Definition" (the total cost of your clicks ÷ the total number of clicks; two clicks costing $0.20 and $0.40 are $0.60 ÷ 2 = $0.30). https://support.google.com/google-ads/answer/14074: 0.60 ÷ 2 = 0.30.
2. cpc = $1.25, clicks = 800 gives cost = $1,000.00. Source: Google Ads Help, "Average cost-per-click (Avg. CPC): Definition" (the total cost of your clicks ÷ the total number of clicks; two clicks costing $0.20 and $0.40 are $0.60 ÷ 2 = $0.30). https://support.google.com/google-ads/answer/14074, worked back.
3. cost = $1,500.00, cpc = $2.50 gives clicks = 600. Source: Google Ads Help, "Average cost-per-click (Avg. CPC): Definition" (the total cost of your clicks ÷ the total number of clicks; two clicks costing $0.20 and $0.40 are $0.60 ÷ 2 = $0.30). https://support.google.com/google-ads/answer/14074, worked back.
4. cost = $100.00, clicks = 3 gives cpc = $33.33. Source: Google Ads Help, "Average cost-per-click (Avg. CPC): Definition" (the total cost of your clicks ÷ the total number of clicks; two clicks costing $0.20 and $0.40 are $0.60 ÷ 2 = $0.30). https://support.google.com/google-ads/answer/14074.

## FAQ

### What is CPC?

CPC, cost per click, is what an advertiser pays each time someone clicks an ad. The average CPC is the total cost of the clicks divided by the number of clicks.

### How do I calculate the average CPC?

Divide the total cost of the clicks by the number of clicks. Two clicks costing $0.20 and $0.40 cost $0.60 in total, so the average CPC is 0.60 ÷ 2 = $0.30.

### How many clicks will my budget buy?

Divide the budget by the average CPC. A $1,500 budget at an average CPC of $2.50 buys 1,500 ÷ 2.50 = 600 clicks.

### Why is my average CPC lower than my bid?

In Google Ads the maximum CPC bid is the most you offer for a click, and you are often charged less. The average CPC comes from the amounts actually charged, so it is usually below the bid. Bid adjustments can sometimes push a charge above it.

### What is the difference between CPC and CPM?

CPC is the cost of one click. CPM is the cost of 1,000 impressions (showings of the ad), whether or not anyone clicks. With the clickthrough rate (CTR) you can move between them: CPC = CPM ÷ (10 × CTR in percent).

### How much can I afford to pay per click?

Up to what a click earns you: the profit from a sale times the share of clicks that end in a sale. With $50 of profit per sale and 1 sale in every 25 clicks (4%), a click is worth 50 × 0.04 = $2, so an average CPC below $2 makes money.

## Sources

- Google Ads Help, "Average cost-per-click (Avg. CPC): Definition": average CPC is the total cost of your clicks divided by the total number of clicks; two clicks costing $0.20 and $0.40 give $0.60 ÷ 2 = $0.30. https://support.google.com/google-ads/answer/14074 (retrieved 2026-10-18)
- Google Ads Help, "Actual cost-per-click (CPC): Definition": you are often charged less than your maximum CPC bid. https://support.google.com/google-ads/answer/6297 (retrieved 2026-10-18)