Benchmarks
April 4, 2025
YouTube Ads Benchmarks Per Industry (2025)
YouTube continues to be one of the most powerful platforms for reaching, educating, and converting audiences. However, with so many formats and industries in play, it can be hard to know what “good” really looks like.
We’ve put together the latest global YouTube Ads benchmarks for 2025, so you can see how your campaigns stack up. We’ve broken down performance by both industry and ad format and covered key metrics like:
CTR (Click-through Rate)
CPV (Cost per View)
CPC (Cost per Click)
CPM (Cost per 1,000 Impressions)
CVR (Conversion Rate)
CPA (Cost per Action)
Average View Duration
Let’s dive in.
YouTube Ads Benchmarks by Industry
Each industry performs differently on YouTube. Here’s how key verticals compare when it comes to attention, engagement, and cost.
Industry | CTR | View Rate | CPV | CPM |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Retail & E-commerce | 0.84% | 15.7% | $0.045 | $3.20 |
Finance & Insurance | 0.40% | 35.4% | $0.048 | $3.30 |
Automotive | 0.65% | 35.4% | $0.058 | $2.90 |
Beauty & Skincare | 0.44% | 29.6% | $0.034 | $3.40 |
Travel & Tourism | 0.78% | 29.6% | $0.047 | $4.70 |
Technology | 0.31% | 35.4% | $0.038 | $3.20 |
Education | 0.56% | 35.4% | $0.037 | $3.70 |
Entertainment | 0.35% | 30.2% | $0.035 | $3.50 |
Takeaways:
Retail and Travel have higher CTRs but lower view rates — likely due to more frequent skipping.
Finance, Education, and Automotive benefit from longer watch times and more engaged views.
Beauty and Entertainment enjoy very low CPVs, making them ideal for cost-efficient reach.
YouTube Ad Performance by Format
Different ad formats serve different goals. Here’s how the main types stack up in terms of CTR, view/completion rate, and cost.
Ad Format | Avg. CTR | View/Completion Rate | Avg. Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
Skippable In-Stream (TrueView) | ~0.5–0.65% | ~30% view rate | ~$0.02–$0.03 CPV |
Non-Skippable (15s) | <0.3% | 100% completion | ~$6–$10 CPM |
Bumper (6s) | <0.1% | 100% completion | ~$10+ CPM |
In-Feed Video | Varied | Click to watch | ~$0.10 CPV |
Shorts Ads | Varied | Integrated in feed | ~$0.10–$0.30 CPV |
Format Tips:
Skippable ads are the most flexible and cost-efficient for views and traffic.
Non-skippable and bumper ads are ideal for reach and branding — not for clicks.
In-feed ads are intent-driven — ideal for educational or long-form content.
Shorts ads are perfect for fast awareness and snackable creative.
Conversion & Engagement Benchmarks
YouTube is a visual-first, upper-funnel channel, and conversions can be modest. But knowing the right benchmarks helps you set realistic expectations.
Metric | Benchmark Range |
|---|---|
Conversion Rate (CVR) | 0.1% – 0.5% (typical) |
Cost per Action (CPA) | $50 – $150+ |
Average View Duration | 15–20s on a 30s ad |
View-Through Conversions | Common, trackable, valuable |
Tips:
Most viewers won’t click or convert — but many will remember your brand. Use retargeting.
A 0.5% CVR on YouTube is good. If you're doing better, you're ahead of the curve.
If your CPV is high, your intro might be weak — test stronger hooks in the first 5 seconds.
What to Aim For
Metric | Goal |
|---|---|
CTR | > 0.5% is a solid baseline. |
View Rate | > 30% on skippable ads is strong. |
CPV | < $0.05 means you're running efficiently. |
CPA | < $100 is a great goal if you're converting directly. |
Watch Time | Ideally, your ad should pass the halfway mark. |
Conclusion: Benchmarks are not rules — they’re starting points. Use them to audit, optimize, and scale with confidence.
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