Facebook Ads Insights Tool

Facebook Ads CPM Benchmarks in New Zealand

Understand how your CPM compares. Dive into benchmark data by industry, region, and campaign type

CPM (Cost Per Mille) in New Zealand

November 2024 - November 2025

Insights

Detailed observation of presented data

Introduction

New Zealand’s Facebook Ads CPM spent most of the year below the global benchmark, then surged dramatically midyear before resetting back to earlier levels. The pattern is clear: a soft start through early Q1, a steady climb into early winter, a two‑month price spike in July and August, and a sharp normalization in September–October. Volatility was far more pronounced than the worldwide trend, with standout highs in August and a trough in February.

This analysis is based on $3B worth of advertising data from our dataset, which provides strong directional benchmarks. This analysis explores ad performance trends for all industries in New Zealand compared to the global benchmark.

The story in the data

Across November 2024–October 2025, New Zealand’s CPM averaged $18.40 per thousand impressions, versus a $19.97 global median. The period opened at $13.26 in November 2024 and closed at $11.83 in October 2025, a modest 11% decline.

  • Lows and highs: The low came in February at $8.53; the peak arrived in August at $55.91. That August figure was 6.6x February’s level.
  • Build and break: After sliding from November ($13.26) to February ($8.53), CPMs climbed steadily into June ($17.15)—a 101% rebound from the trough—then leapt to $38.48 in July and $55.91 in August. The surge unwound quickly to $15.26 in September and $11.83 in October.
  • Volatility: Month‑to‑month absolute change averaged 8.74 points, far more turbulent than the global benchmark’s 1.27 points.

Framed as a rhythm, New Zealand showed a stable first half averaging $12.52 (Jan–Jun), a two‑month spike averaging $47.19 (Jul–Aug), then a reset to $13.55 (Sep–Oct).

Seasonal and monthly dynamics

The softest period was late Q4 into Q1, with CPMs easing from $13.26 in November to the February low of $8.53. Prices then firmed through autumn and early winter, reaching $17.15 by June. The market’s inflection came in Q3: July and August were atypically elevated for country-specific ad costs, followed by a sharp correction as September fell by 41 points from August, with October stabilizing near $11.83. Globally, CPMs followed a more classic seasonal shape—lighter into January, steady through spring and summer, with a mild October lift.

Country vs. Global

Relative to Facebook Ads benchmarks worldwide, New Zealand CPMs underperformed in 10 of 12 months:

  • Gap size: Outside July–August, New Zealand trailed the global median by 13–53% (narrowest in June, widest in February).
  • Above market: July and August bucked the trend, running 100% and 173% above global levels, respectively.
  • Trajectory: The global benchmark was stable (average $19.97, low $17.87 in January, high $24.53 in November 2024) and drifted down 13% from November to October. New Zealand ended slightly lower as well, but with much sharper swings.

Closing

Taken together, this CPM analysis shows New Zealand’s all‑industry Facebook Ads benchmarks generally below the global average, punctuated by a brief Q3 price spike and a swift reversion. Understanding Facebook Ads CPM benchmarks for all industries in New Zealand helps contextualize country-specific ad costs and compare them to global CPM analysis and broader industry ad performance trends.

Understanding the Data

Insights & analysis of Facebook advertising costs

Cost Per Mille (CPM) is the cost advertisers pay for 1,000 impressions of their Facebook ad. Different industries see varying ad costs due to market competition, user demographics, and conversion value. For campaigns targeting New Zealand, advertisers should consider local market factors and user behavior. Different campaign objectives lead to varying costs based on how Facebook optimizes for your specific goals. The data shown represents median values across multiple campaigns, and individual results may vary based on ad quality, audience targeting, and campaign optimization.

Why we use median instead of average

We use the median CTR because the underlying distribution of click-through rates is highly skewed, with a small share of campaigns achieving extremely high CTRs. These outliers can inflate a simple average, making it less representative of what most advertisers actually experience. By using the median—which sits at the midpoint of all campaigns—we provide a more rigorous and realistic benchmark that reflects the true underlying data model and helps you set attainable performance expectations.

Key Factors Affecting Facebook Ad Costs

  • Competition within your selected industry and audience demographics
  • Ad quality and relevance score – higher quality ads can lower costs
  • Campaign objective and bid strategy
  • Timing and seasonality – costs often increase during holiday periods
  • Ad placement (News Feed, Instagram, Audience Network, etc.)

Note: This data represents industry median values and benchmarks. Your actual costs may vary based on specific targeting, ad creative quality, and campaign optimization.

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The data behind the benchmarks

All data is sourced from over $3B in Facebook ad spend, collected across thousands of ad accounts that use Superads daily to analyze and improve their campaigns. Every data point is fully anonymized and aggregated—no individual advertiser is ever exposed.

This dataset updates frequently as new ad data flows in. It will only get bigger and better.

New Zealand Advertising Landscape

National Holidays

Jan 1New Year's Day
Jan 2Day after New Year's Day
Feb 6Waitangi Day
Apr 18Good Friday
Apr 21Easter Monday
Apr 25ANZAC Day
Jun 2King's Birthday
Jun 20Matariki
Oct 27Labour Day
Dec 25Christmas Day
Dec 26Boxing Day

Key Shopping Season

Late November–early December (Black Friday/Cyber Monday), Christmas season (Boxing Day sales), Mid‑year promotions (Matariki in June), Back-to-school (late January/early February)

Potential Advertising Impact

CPM and CPC might rise around Waitangi Day and ANZAC Day as public events increase media consumption. Matariki is new public holiday with growing awareness—advertising may see elevated competition. Late November–December Black Friday/Cyber Monday could drive ad costs significantly. Regional anniversary holidays may cause local inventory shifts.

What affects CPM rates on Facebook Ads?

CPMs are heavily influenced by competition, seasonality (e.g., Q4 costs more), audience size, and ad quality. Smaller audiences and lower relevance scores often lead to higher CPMs.

Why does my CPM vary so much between campaigns?

Different campaign objectives, bidding strategies, and even time of day can change your CPM. For example, conversion campaigns usually have higher CPMs than traffic ones. Also, broad targeting tends to drive lower CPMs.

What's a competitive CPM for 2025?

In most industries, CPMs range from $5 to $18 depending on the region and objective. Retail and e-comm campaigns often sit at the higher end. Our live data above shows a breakdown by country and industry.

Does audience size or targeting affect CPM more?

Both matter, but audience quality (intent + match with your offer) usually has more impact than pure size. However, extremely tight audiences often lead to expensive CPMs due to limited delivery opportunities.

Should I worry more about CPM or CPC?

Depends on your goal. For awareness, CPM is more relevant. For performance campaigns, CPC and CPA matter more. But all are connected—inefficient CPMs can inflate your entire funnel.