Thinking about running Pinterest ads but wondering how much they actually cost? Pinterest ads can be a game-changer for driving traffic, growing your audience, or promoting a freebie, but the pricing might seem mysterious at first. Let’s break down what Pinterest ads cost so you can see what to expect.
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Pinterest Ads Are Auction-Based
Pinterest ads work like an auction. You’re competing with other advertisers for the same audience, and the cost depends on factors like your audience, your objectives, and how competitive your niche is. Pinterest uses a bidding system where you set the maximum you’re willing to pay for clicks, impressions, or conversions.
Average Costs You Might See
On average, Pinterest ads cost between $0.10 and $1.50 per click. The exact cost depends on your niche, targeting, and the type of ad you run. Promoted pins in competitive categories like business or finance tend to cost more because more advertisers are competing for those audiences.
Campaign Objectives Affect Cost
Pinterest lets you choose campaign objectives like traffic, conversions, or awareness. Each objective can affect how much you’ll pay:
- Traffic campaigns: Usually cost a little less per click, great if you’re promoting a freebie or blog post
- Conversions campaigns: Can cost more because Pinterest is optimizing for purchases or sign-ups
- Awareness campaigns: Cost is based on impressions rather than clicks. The costs can be low, but the intent of the audience is less purchase-minded so keep in mind that cheaper ad costs isn’t necessarily better.
Daily Budget and Bids
You can control costs with daily budgets and bids. A daily budget sets the maximum Pinterest will spend per day, and a bid is the most you’re willing to pay for a click, impression, or conversion. Pinterest will try to get you results while staying within your limits.
Starting Small Is Smart
If you’re new to Pinterest ads, start small. Promote a free lead magnet or a high-performing pin to test the platform. This lets you experiment without spending a ton, figure out what works for your audience, and gradually increase your budget once you see results.
Alternatively, if you’re already seeing success with Meta ads or other ad platforms, you can probably start with a higher daily budget.
Tips to Keep Costs Down
- Focus on promoting high-value pins like lead magnets to start
- If you have a proven offer, you can create conversion campaigns to promote products (be careful about promoting unproven offers)
- Narrow your audience to the people most likely to engage
- Use strong visuals and clear messaging to improve performance
- Test different pin designs and copy to see what performs best
Final Thoughts
Pinterest ads can fit a range of budgets, but the cost depends on your niche, audience, and campaign goals.
Want help running Pinterest ads? Check out my Pinterest ads management services here.
