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How Much Should a Tradie Spend on Google Ads?

March 23, 2026

Most Australian trade businesses should budget somewhere between $1,000 and $2,500 a month to start with Google Ads, scaling up as they prove the return — some established trades run $10,000+ a month profitably. But the right number for you depends entirely on your trade, your area and your job values. Here’s how to set a budget that makes money instead of burning it.

What drives Google Ads cost for tradies

Your cost per click swings on competition and intent. Emergency plumbing in a capital city might cost $30–$50 a click because every plumber wants that ready-to-buy searcher; landscaping in a regional town might be a few dollars. Across trades, most businesses end up paying $40–$100 per lead once you account for the clicks that don’t convert. You control the daily budget completely — from $10 a day to $500 — so the platform never spends more than you allow.

Start with a floor, not a guess

Under about $1,000 a month is generally considered low budget for tradie Google Ads — not useless, but you’ll hit your daily cap quickly and gather data slowly. A starting range of $1,000–$2,500 gives the campaign enough clicks to learn from and enough leads to judge whether it’s working. Give it at least 6–8 weeks before drawing conclusions.

Budget from your job value, backwards

The real question isn’t “what’s the going rate” — it’s “what can I afford to pay for a job and still profit?” If a booked job is worth $3,000 in gross profit and it takes $300 of ad spend to win one, that’s a 10:1 return; spend more. If it costs $300 to win a $400 job, stop. This is why tracking cost per lead and cost per booked job is non-negotiable before you scale spend.

When not to increase your budget

Don’t pour budget into a leaky funnel. If your ads point at a weak website, your phone goes unanswered after hours, or you have four reviews to a competitor’s two hundred, more spend just makes those problems more expensive. Fix conversion first — it’s almost always the cheaper win. For the bigger budgeting picture across every channel, see our guide to what a service business should spend on marketing.

Setting the budget is only half the job — structuring the campaign properly is the other half. Read Google Ads vs SEO for tradies to decide where paid fits in your mix, and the full marketing for tradies guide for the complete strategy.

Want a budget that pays for itself?

We build Google Ads campaigns for trade businesses sized to their job values and measured on booked jobs. Start with a free audit. Call (02) 8357 4899 or book your free audit and consultation.

Hear from The Author

Rebecca Jacobs

Rebecca Jacobs is a highly skilled content writer and SEO specialist with a passion for crafting engaging and compelling content. With her expertise in search engine optimisation, she brings valuable insights and strategies to enhance online visibility and drive organic traffic. With a keen eye for detail and a deep understanding of audience needs, Rebecca delivers high-quality, tailored content that captivates readers and delivers measurable results. Her ability to conduct thorough keyword research and optimise content ensures maximum visibility and ranking potential. Rebecca stays at the forefront of the ever-evolving digital landscape, constantly honing her skills and keeping up with the latest trends and best practices in SEO. She is adept at crafting persuasive copy, optimising meta tags, and implementing on-page SEO techniques to improve website performance.