There’s no question that most of the people in the world who are watching the Super Bowl have a rooting interest in the game itself. However, there are many people out there who only watch the Super Bowl because they want to see the commercials. This is one of the few broadcasts that people would rather watch the commercials than fast forward through them if they could.
That’s why it costs more to run a commercial for the Super Bowl than it does for any other event. I’m going to take a look at some of these costs from a few different resources and explain how much they have gone up over time. How much is a company willing to pay for a mere 30-second slot you ask?
The cost of a 30-second ad rose 60 percent in the decade from Super Bowl 50 in 2016 ($5 million) to Super Bowl LX in 2026 ($8 million).
Can you remember three Super Bowl ads from last year? Well, I know I can’t, but the fact of the matter is that many major companies are willing to shell out big money for one of these coveted slots, even though it’s hard to imagine that it can be worth it in the long run.
Why on earth would anyone pay this much for a single commercial? Well, it’s because the Super Bowl is the most-watched television program every year
From what I’ve read, Super Bowl LX on NBC averaged about $8 million per 30-second ad. Super Bowl LXI’s price on ESPN and ABC hasn’t been reported yet.
So when you’re watching an endless barrage of cute animals, heart-felt military reunions, and guys getting injured in every which way possible, you’ll know that somebody paid a fortune to put that on your television.
| Year | Cost |
|---|---|
| 2026 | $8,000,000 |
| 2025 | $8,000,000 |
| 2024 | $7,000,000 |
| 2023 | $7,000,000 |
| 2022 | $6,500,000* |
| 2021 | $5,500,000* |
| 2020 | $5,600,000* |
| 2019 | $5,300,000 |
| 2018 | $5,000,000 |
| 2017 | $5,000,000 |
| 2016 | $5,000,000 |
| 2015 | $4,500,000 |
| 2014 | $4,000,000 |
| 2013 | $3,800,000 |
| 2012 | $3,500,000 |
| 2011 | $3,000,000 |
| 2010 | $2,800,000 |
| 2009 | $3,000,000 |
| 2008 | $2,700,000 |
| 2007 | $2,600,000 |
| 2006 | $2,500,000 |
| 2005 | $2,400,000 |
| 2004 | $2,250,000 |
| 2003 | $2,100,000 |
| 2002 | $1,900,000 |
| 2001 | $2,050,000 |
| 2000 | $2,100,000 |
| 1999 | $1,600,000 |
| 1998 | $1,300,000 |
| 1997 | $1,200,000 |
| 1996 | $1,100,000 |
| 1995 | $1,000,000 |
| 1994 | $900,000 |
| 1993 | $850,000 |
| 1992 | $800,000 |
| 1991 | $800,000 |
| 1990 | $700,000 |
| 1989 | $675,000 |
| 1988 | $600,000 |
| 1987 | $575,000 |
| 1986 | $550,000 |
| 1985 | $500,000 |
| 1984 | $450,000 |
| 1983 | $400,000 |
| 1982 | $345,000 |
| 1981 | $324,300 |
| 1980 | $275,000 |
| 1979 | $222,000 |
| 1978 | $185,000 |
| 1977 | $162,000 |
| 1976 | $125,000 |
| 1975 | $110,000 |
| 1974 | $107,000 |
| 1973 | $103,500 |
| 1972 | $86,000 |
| 1971 | $72,000 |
| 1970 | $78,200 |
| 1969 | $67,500 |
| 1968 | $54,000 |
| 1967 | $40,000 |
*Reported prices differ for these years. 2022: NBC reported $6.5 million (Front Office Sports), and Kantar’s average was also $6.5 million; NBC said in February 2022 that several spots sold for $7 million (Fox Business). 2021: CBS reported about $5.5 million (Deadline); Kantar estimated $5.6 million. 2020: $5.6 million was Fox’s top price (Bloomberg, Adweek); Kantar estimated the average at $5.25 million.