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The Madison Avenue Field GuideA field guide to marketing & advertising, by Brandon Mina

GlossaryMeasurement & AttributionSaturation Curve (Response Curve)

Measurement & Attribution

Saturation Curve (Response Curve)

A curve in MMM showing how outcomes respond to increasing spend in a channel, flattening as additional dollars produce smaller gains.

By Brandon MinaCEO, BrandPilot AIUpdated November 2026

Short answer

A saturation curve, or response curve, shows how outcomes respond to increasing spend in a channel within a marketing mix model. The curve flattens as additional dollars produce smaller gains, reflecting diminishing returns. Marketers use these curves to find efficient spend levels and reallocate budget from saturated channels to ones with more headroom.