{
    "name": "Cost Per Acquisition Calculator",
    "url": "https://calculators.geekmidst.com/calculators/cost-per-acquisition-calculator",
    "markdown": "https://calculators.geekmidst.com/calculators/cost-per-acquisition-calculator.md",
    "category": "Marketing analytics",
    "description": "Work out CPA: total campaign cost (media plus fees and creative) divided by conversions, with a media-only CPA for comparing channels.",
    "summary": "Cost per acquisition is what a campaign cost divided by the conversions it produced. You choose the conversion: a sale, a sign-up or an install.",
    "also_called": [
        "CPA calculator",
        "Cost per conversion calculator"
    ],
    "applies_to": "Worldwide",
    "last_updated": "2026-10-29",
    "computation": "Results are computed in the visitor’s browser on the HTML page. This API describes the calculator; it does not compute results.",
    "inputs": [
        {
            "name": "media_spend",
            "label": "Media spend",
            "type": "number",
            "default": "8000"
        },
        {
            "name": "other_costs",
            "label": "Other campaign costs",
            "type": "number",
            "default": "2000",
            "optional": true
        },
        {
            "name": "conversions",
            "label": "Conversions",
            "type": "number",
            "default": "125"
        },
        {
            "name": "currency",
            "label": "Currency",
            "type": "currency",
            "default": "USD"
        }
    ],
    "outputs": [
        {
            "key": "cpa",
            "label": "Cost per acquisition",
            "format": "currency"
        },
        {
            "key": "total_cost",
            "label": "Total campaign cost",
            "format": "currency"
        },
        {
            "key": "media_cpa",
            "label": "Media-only CPA",
            "format": "currency"
        }
    ],
    "formula": {
        "text": "CPA = (Media spend + Other costs) ÷ Conversions;  Media-only CPA = Media spend ÷ Conversions",
        "variables": {
            "Conversions": "the chosen conversion action, counted in the same period (the denominator)"
        }
    },
    "worked_example": {
        "inputs": {
            "media_spend": "8000",
            "other_costs": "2000",
            "conversions": "125",
            "currency": "USD"
        },
        "steps": [
            "Total cost = 8,000 + 2,000 = $10,000.",
            "CPA = 10,000 ÷ 125 = $80.",
            "Media-only CPA = 8,000 ÷ 125 = $64."
        ],
        "result": "A $10,000 campaign that produced 125 conversions has a CPA of $80, or $64 counting media alone."
    },
    "interpretation": "Compare CPA with the profit one conversion earns. If a sale yields $100 of gross profit, any CPA under $100 is profitable on the first purchase.",
    "assumptions": [
        "Each conversion is counted once, under a single attribution model."
    ],
    "limitations": [
        "CPA ignores the value of each conversion; two campaigns with the same CPA can bring very different revenue."
    ],
    "rules": null,
    "faqs": [
        {
            "question": "How is CPA different from CAC?",
            "answer": "CAC counts only new paying customers and usually includes sales costs. CPA can count any conversion and is often limited to campaign costs."
        }
    ],
    "sources": [],
    "related": [
        {
            "name": "Customer Acquisition Cost Calculator",
            "url": "https://calculators.geekmidst.com/calculators/customer-acquisition-cost-calculator"
        },
        {
            "name": "Cost Per Lead Calculator",
            "url": "https://calculators.geekmidst.com/calculators/cost-per-lead-calculator"
        },
        {
            "name": "ROAS Calculator",
            "url": "https://calculators.geekmidst.com/calculators/roas-calculator"
        },
        {
            "name": "Break-even ROAS Calculator",
            "url": "https://calculators.geekmidst.com/calculators/roas-breakeven-calculator"
        }
    ],
    "disclaimer": null,
    "publisher": "GM¹X CalcVerse"
}