Break-Even CPC Calculator
Headroom, or the conversion rate you would need.
Break-even CPC
$0.58
$0.57 over
At $1.15 you need 4.72% conversion to break even against your current 2.4%. Either the page converts better or the bid comes down.
How the Break-Even CPC Calculator works
If you are paying below break-even you have headroom worth spending; if you are above it, the page has to convert better or the bid has to come down. Framing it as the conversion rate your current CPC demands makes the choice concrete.
Not financial advice. Marketplace fees change, and they vary by country, plan and seller status. Every rate here is an editable default, not a quoted price — check the platform's current fee schedule before you price a product against it. This is not tax or business advice.
Frequently asked questions
What is break-even CPC?
Contribution per order times conversion rate. At £25 contribution and 2.4% conversion, break-even is 60 pence a click.
What if I am bidding well below it?
You are winning only the cheapest inventory, which caps volume. The headroom exists to be spent — bidding conservatively is not the same as bidding profitably.
What if I am above it?
Either conversion improves or the bid falls. Working out the conversion rate your current CPC would require makes it obvious which is realistic.
Does this apply to automated bidding?
Yes — it is the sanity check on whatever target you give the algorithm. A target ROAS implies a CPC ceiling, and if that ceiling is below the auction floor the campaign will simply not spend.