What are the lowest CPC and highest CPC campaigns in Google Ads?
The Lowest and Highest CPC Campaigns in Google Ads (2026 Data)
Mobile mechanics, mobile detailers, and landscapers pay the least per click on Google Ads. Damage restoration, HVAC, and pool companies pay the most, with some restoration campaigns averaging over $50 per click and topping out near $127. That's the short answer. Here's what it means for your business, and how to use it.
Google Ads costs have climbed fast. Since 2020, the average cost per click (CPC) across the accounts 99 Calls manages has risen over 100%. Four industries - HVAC, appliance repair, commercial cleaning, and pressure washing - have seen CPC rise more than 130%. And these numbers come from agency-managed accounts, where we actively work to hold CPC down while keeping lead volume up. Business owners running ads without active management have likely seen even steeper increases.
This guide breaks down which industries pay the least and most per click, what drives those costs, and how contractors can still turn a profit even in a high-CPC market.
Why Google Ads Costs Keep Rising
Three main factors set your cost per click:
-
Quality Score. Google rewards ads and landing pages that match what searchers want. A low Quality Score means you pay more for the same position.
-
Your bid. The maximum amount you're willing to pay per click sets your ceiling. Google Ads runs as an auction, so this interacts directly with everyone else bidding on the same keywords.
-
Competitor bidding. As more businesses in your industry advertise, and as they bid higher, the auction price for everyone goes up. This is the biggest driver behind the industry-wide increases below. Competitors are bidding more, but Google is also pushing campaign strategies that increase businesses' average cost per click. If you manage a Google PPC account, keep this in mind.
How to Bring Down Your Cost Per Click
You can't control your competitors' bids, but you can control the other two factors:
-
Improve your Quality Score with tighter keyword-to-ad-to-landing-page matching
-
Write ad copy that earns more clicks per impression (a higher click-through rate lowers your CPC)
-
Use negative keywords to stop paying for searches that will never convert
-
Target the times of day that convert best, instead of running ads around the clock.
How to Succeed With a High CPC
Some industries simply won't get cheap clicks. Restoration, HVAC, and pool services/building are competitive, and the jobs are worth more, so bids stay high. If you're in one of these industries, the fix isn't a lower CPC - it's a better business behind the click. Companies that succeed with high CPC campaigns typically have:
-
High click-to-call conversion rates. Every visitor who calls instead of bouncing makes your ad spend go further.
-
High call-to-close conversion rates. A strong sales process turns more of those calls into booked jobs.
-
Higher average job prices. When your average ticket is large, you can afford to pay more per click and still profit.
Google Ads Still Works - It's Just Not Easy
The businesses winning with Google Ads today are the ones paying close attention to Quality Score, conversion tracking, and their own sales process - not just their bids. This work often requires an experienced in-house staff or an ads management agency. Successful Google Ads needs strategy management and data, which are both an investment.
Lowest and Highest CPC Industries in 2026
Based on data from the accounts 99 Calls manages, here's how average CPC compares across 27 home service and contractor industries.
Lowest average CPC: Mobile Mechanic ($3.93), Mobile Detailing ($4.03), and Landscaping ($8.74).
Highest average CPC: Restoration Services ($52.30), HVAC ($29.52), and Pool Service ($27.26).
| Industry | Clicks | Lowest CPC | Avg CPC | Highest CPC |
| Mobile Mechanic | 3,611 | $3.33 | $3.93 | $4.48 |
| Mobile Detailing | 4,066 | $2.40 | $4.03 | $5.97 |
| Landscaping | 8,118 | $5.58 | $8.74 | $17.85 |
| Appliance Repair | 4,628 | $7.45 | $10.49 | $14.33 |
| House Cleaner | 2,193 | $8.10 | $11.69 | $20.47 |
| Carpet Cleaner | 76,393 | $7.95 | $12.37 | $20.47 |
| Junk Removal | 7,518 | $6.96 | $12.66 | $15.24 |
| Garage Floor | 2,620 | $8.21 | $12.91 | $17.28 |
| Water Filtration | 3,018 | $8.23 | $13.58 | $21.17 |
| Masonry | 13,434 | $8.59 | $14.75 | $33.43 |
| Tree Services | 3,914 | $13.41 | $14.77 | $20.33 |
| Handyman | 1,448 | $9.96 | $14.79 | $25.75 |
| Remodeling | 5,161 | $10.45 | $15.59 | $20.26 |
| General Contractor | 7,558 | $4.46 | $15.93 | $29.80 |
| Paving | 5,510 | $11.35 | $16.77 | $24.05 |
| Painting | 14,625 | $9.15 | $17.61 | $31.83 |
| Window Installation | 3,810 | $8.61 | $18.01 | $43.49 |
| Home Improvement | 679 | $15.37 | $19.13 | $27.77 |
| Pressure Washing | 2,469 | $15.20 | $19.63 | $24.46 |
| Insulation | 1,317 | $10.21 | $21.14 | $31.70 |
| Pest Control | 3,008 | $17.13 | $22.95 | $24.35 |
| Commercial Cleaning | 7,742 | $9.43 | $23.59 | $44.34 |
| Electrical | 5,507 | $10.16 | $24.64 | $45.18 |
| Roofing | 16,314 | $16.96 | $25.70 | $47.15 |
| Plumbing | 4,774 | $13.39 | $26.19 | $36.00 |
| Pool Service | 6,163 | $13.58 | $27.26 | $32.22 |
| HVAC | 2,321 | $19.63 | $29.52 | $35.79 |
| Restoration Services | 18,326 | $17.59 | $52.30 | $127.04 |
Source: 99 Calls internal Google Ads account data, aggregated across client accounts by industry.
Cost Per Click, Year by Year
The table below tracks average CPC for select industries from 2020 through year-to-date 2026. The full seven-year dataset for all 27 industries is available in the CSV that accompanies this report.
| Industry | 2020 | 2023 | 2026 YTD | Change |
| Landscaping | $4.85 | $7.86 | $8.77 | +81% |
| Appliance Repair | $4.51 | $9.63 | $10.55 | +134% |
| House Cleaner | $7.51 | $14.66 | $11.71 | +56% |
| Carpet Cleaner | $7.68 | $11.44 | $12.38 | +61% |
| General Contractor | $9.88 | $17.30 | $15.91 | +61% |
| Painting | $8.50 | $12.63 | $17.63 | +107% |
| Pressure Washing | $8.32 | $12.94 | $19.63 | +136% |
| Commercial Cleaning | $8.94 | $19.39 | $23.72 | +165% |
| Electrical | $10.96 | $26.32 | $24.61 | +125% |
| Roofing | $12.28 | $27.03 | $25.78 | +110% |
| Plumbing | $13.53 | $20.18 | $26.24 | +94% |
| HVAC | $11.59 | $15.82 | $29.51 | +155% |
| Restoration Services | $28.30 | $35.56 | $52.42 | +85% |
| All industries | $9.44 | $13.96 | $18.92 | +100% |
Source: 99 Calls internal Google Ads account data, 2020–2026 YTD.
Where Your Industry Stands with Google Ads
If your industry has a low average CPC, Google Ads is likely an easy win - cheap clicks mean more room for error while you learn what converts. If your industry runs high CPC, like HVAC, restoration, or plumbing, success depends less on the ad and more on what happens after the click: fast call answering, strong sales conversations, and a job price that supports the investment.
Want to know what your CPC should be, and whether Google Ads can turn a profit for your business?
