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Universal · Buy-Side calculator

CPA (Cost per Acquisition)

CPA is what you pay, on average, for each conversion you define as the goal.

Formula

CPA = Spend ÷ Conversions

Fill in any 2 fields. The one you edited longest ago is solved for you.

input
Dollars.
input
waiting
Dollars. Waiting for the other fields.

Waiting for 2 values to solve CPA.

What is CPA?

CPA is what you pay, on average, for each conversion you define as the goal. It is the metric most performance budgets are ultimately judged on, so it is worth knowing which conversion it counts.

Worked example

If spend is $12,000 and conversions is 300, then CPA = $40.00.

CPA = Spend ÷ Conversions

Formula variable breakdown

spendSpend
Enter spend directly, or leave it blank and let the solver calculate it from the other 2 fields.
conversionsConversions
Enter conversions directly, or leave it blank and let the solver calculate it from the other 2 fields.
cpaCPA(output)
Enter CPA directly, or leave it blank and let the solver calculate it from the other 2 fields.

Tactical application guide

CPA links spend and conversions in a fixed ratio, so any two pin down the third. Planning backwards is where it earns its keep: enter the spend you have and the CPA you are targeting, and the solver tells you the conversions you must secure. Or lock conversions and CPA from a benchmark to see the spend that plan implies before you commit.

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