How to Find Google CPC (Cost-Per-Click): A Complete Guide

Google CPC (Cost-Per-Click) refers to the price advertisers pay when a user clicks on their ad in Google Search or Google Display Network. Finding the CPC for specific keywords is crucial for planning Google Ads campaigns, setting budgets, and optimizing your bidding strategy.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through various methods to find the CPC for keywords in Google Ads.

1. Using Google Keyword Planner

Google Keyword Planner is a free tool provided by Google Ads that helps you research keywords, see search volume, and find estimated CPC. This is the most direct way to get CPC data for Google Ads keywords.

Steps to Find CPC with Google Keyword Planner:

1. Sign in to Google Ads: Go to Google Ads and sign in with your Google account.
2. Navigate to Keyword Planner: Click on the wrench icon (Tools & Settings) in the top right corner and select Keyword Planner under the Planning section.
3. Discover New Keywords: Click on Discover New Keywords to enter your seed keywords or website URL. You can also target specific locations and languages if needed.
4. View Keyword Results: After entering your keywords, you’ll see a list of related keywords, along with data on Search Volume, Competition, and Top of Page Bid (low and high range).
5. Analyze CPC Data: The Top of Page Bid data shows the estimated CPC for each keyword. It represents the typical range of CPC for advertisers bidding on that keyword in Google Ads.

Key Points:

• The low range of the CPC represents the bid amount for advertisers willing to pay lower prices to show up in the top search results.
• The high range represents what advertisers might pay to appear in the top spot for that keyword.

Note: While Keyword Planner is a great tool, you may need to have an active Google Ads account and campaign to access detailed data.

2. Using Google Ads Campaign Data

If you already have a Google Ads account and are running ads, you can access the actual CPC for keywords from your live campaigns. This provides the most accurate and real-time data about how much you are paying per click.

Steps to Find CPC in Google Ads:

1. Log in to Google Ads: Go to Google Ads and log in to your account.
2. Go to Campaigns: From the dashboard, navigate to Campaigns.
3. Select a Campaign: Click on the campaign for which you want to check the CPC.
4. Go to Keywords Tab: In the left-hand menu, click on Keywords to see a list of all keywords in the selected campaign.
5. Check Average CPC: You’ll find the Average CPC column, which displays the actual cost per click you are paying for each keyword in your campaign.

Key Points:

• The Average CPC represents the amount you have paid on average for a click on a keyword.
• It can fluctuate depending on competition, bidding strategies, and the quality of your ads.

3. Using SEMrush (Paid Tool)

SEMrush is a comprehensive SEO and PPC tool that can give you CPC estimates for keywords, even if you aren’t running ads on Google Ads. It offers keyword research and competitive analysis features, including CPC data.

Steps to Find CPC with SEMrush:

1. Log in to SEMrush: Go to SEMrush and log in to your account (a free trial is available).
2. Keyword Overview: Enter a keyword into the Keyword Overview search bar.
3. View CPC Data: SEMrush will display the CPC data for the keyword in the CPC section, showing how much advertisers are paying on average for that keyword.

Key Points:

• SEMrush provides both CPC and other helpful metrics like search volume, keyword difficulty, and competition level.

4. Using Ahrefs (Paid Tool)

Ahrefs is another popular SEO tool that provides CPC data, along with other valuable SEO and PPC metrics. Ahrefs Keywords Explorer helps you find CPC for keywords, along with estimated traffic and keyword difficulty.

Steps to Find CPC with Ahrefs:

1. Log in to Ahrefs: Visit Ahrefs and log in to your account (a trial is available).
2. Go to Keywords Explorer: In the dashboard, click on Keywords Explorer.
3. Enter Your Keyword: Enter your target keyword in the search bar.
4. View CPC Data: Under the Paid Difficulty section, you’ll find the estimated CPC for that keyword, which is derived from Google Ads.

Key Points:

• Ahrefs offers CPC estimates as part of the overall keyword analysis, along with keyword difficulty and other valuable insights.

5. Using Ubersuggest (Free and Paid Tool)

Ubersuggest by Neil Patel is a free and paid SEO tool that provides keyword CPC data. It’s easy to use and offers useful insights into the competitiveness and potential cost of your target keywords.

Steps to Find CPC with Ubersuggest:

1. Go to Ubersuggest: Visit Ubersuggest.
2. Enter Your Keyword: Type your target keyword into the search bar.
3. View CPC Data: Once you get the keyword results, Ubersuggest will display CPC data along with other metrics like search volume, SEO difficulty, and competition level.

Key Points:

• Ubersuggest is a great option for beginners who need basic keyword data, including CPC estimates for Google Ads campaigns.

6. Using SpyFu (Paid Tool)

SpyFu allows you to see your competitors’ keyword strategies and CPC data. It’s especially helpful for understanding how much others are spending on Google Ads for certain keywords.

Steps to Find CPC with SpyFu:

1. Go to SpyFu: Visit SpyFu and sign up for an account.
2. Enter Your Keyword: Type in your keyword or competitor’s domain to get keyword and ad data.
3. View CPC Information: SpyFu will show you the estimated CPC for the keyword along with other insights like competitor ad spend, keyword volume, and more.

Key Points:

• SpyFu provides historical and current CPC data, helping you understand keyword trends and competitor strategies.

Conclusion: How to Find Google CPC

Finding the CPC for Google keywords is essential for planning your Google Ads campaigns. The most direct and reliable way is through Google Keyword Planner, but other tools like SEMrush, Ahrefs, Ubersuggest, and SpyFu can also provide useful CPC data, especially when you’re analyzing competitors or keywords for SEO and PPC.

By using these tools and strategies, you can make informed decisions on keyword bidding, budget allocation, and optimization for your Google Ads campaigns, helping you maximize ROI while minimizing advertising costs.