Average Cost of Super Bowl Ads Breakdown by Year
For decades, the Super Bowl has been a platform for some of the most memorable and talked-about advertisements and commercials. From the thrill of seeing well-known celebrities to the humorous and heart-warming stories, there is no shortage of creativity on display during this annual event.
When Super Bowl I aired in 1967, it was fairly unheard of to advertise during such a large sporting event. However, prior to the game, NBC sold commercial time for $37,500 per minute. Since then, the cost for advertising time has increased significantly with companies paying an average of $5.2 million for 30 seconds of air time during Super Bowl LIII in 2019. Below is a yearly chart with the average cost of Super Bowl ads, as well as their rating, share and viewership.
Throughout the years, there have been a number of iconic Super Bowl ads that have become part of pop culture. The 1984 Apple commercial is widely considered to be one of the best commercials ever created, with its powerful message and inspiring visuals. Other memorable advertisements include Reebok’s “Terry Tate: Office Linebacker’” from 2003 and Volkswagen’s “The Force” in 2011.
The ads and commercials that air during the Super Bowl are created by some of the most talented marketing professionals in the business. The most recent Super Bowl saw record viewership, shares and ratings during the broadcast which contained the ad slots for advertising. Companies take great care in producing quality ads that will connect with viewers on an emotional level while also conveying their key message. As we look ahead to future Super Bowls, we can expect to see some unique and creative advertisements as companies try to make their mark in history with an unforgettable ad campaign.
About SuperBowl-Ads.com
SuperBowl-Ads.com is a website dedicated to providing viewers with access to Super Bowl commercials. The website features a library of over 900 Super Bowl commercials, allowing viewers to watch their favorite ads from the past and present. Additionally, the website provides resources such as news articles and analysis, as well as trivia and polls related to the ads. This allows users to explore and discuss the advertisements. Through SuperBowl-Ads.com, viewers can gain an appreciation for the creativity and messaging behind the ads, as well as stay up-to-date on the latest trends in Super Bowl advertising.
Are Super Bowl Ads still Worth the High Price?(Opens in a new browser tab)
| Super Bowl | Season | Game Date | Network | Rating | Share | Avg. Cost Per 30-Seconds | Avg. Number of Viewers | ||||
| LVII | 2022 | Feb 12 2023 | FOX | 40.0 | 77 | $7,000,000 | 113,700,000 | ||||
| LVI | 2021 | Feb 13 2022 | NBC | 37 | 72 | $6,500,000 | 101,100,000 | ||||
| LV | 2020 | Feb 2 2021 | CBS | 38.2 | 68 | $5,600,000 | 91,600,000 | ||||
| LIV | 2019 | Feb 2 2020 | FOX | 41.6 | 69 | $5,600,000 | 99,900,000 | ||||
| LIII | 2018 | Feb 3 2019 | CBS | 41.1 | 67 | $5,200,000 | 98,477,000 | ||||
| LII | 2017 | Feb 4 2018 | NBC | 43.1 | 68 | $5,235,000 | 103,400,000 | ||||
| LI | 2016 | Feb 5 2017 | FOX | 45.3 | 70 | $5,400,000 | 111,300,000 | ||||
| L (50) | 2015 | Feb 7 2016 | CBS | 46.6 | 72 | $4,800,000 | 111,900,000 | ||||
| XLIX | 2014 | Feb 1 2015 | NBC | 47.5 | 71 | $4,250,000 | 114,442,000 | ||||
| XLVIII | 2013 | Feb 2 2014 | FOX | 46.7 | 69 | $4,000,000 | 111,500,000 | ||||
| XLVII | 2012 | Feb 3 2013 | CBS | 48.1 | 71 | $3,800,000 | 108,700,000 | ||||
| XLVI | 2011 | Feb 5 2012 | NBC | 47.8 | 71 | $3,500,000 | 111,346,000 | ||||
| XLV | 2010 | Feb 6 2011 | FOX | 47.9 | 68 | $3,100,000 | 111,010,000 | ||||
| XLIV | 2009 | Feb 7 2010 | CBS | 45.0 | 66 | $2,954,010 | 106,476,000 | ||||
| XLIII | 2008 | Feb 1 2009 | FOX | 42.0 | 64 | $2,999,960 | 98,732,000 | ||||
| XLII | 2007 | Feb 3 2008 | FOX | 43.1 | 65 | $2,699,963 | 97,448,000 | ||||
| XLI | 2006 | Feb 4 2007 | CBS | 42.6 | 64 | $2,385,365 | 93,184,000 | ||||
| XL | 2005 | Feb 5 2006 | ABC | 41.6 | 62 | $2,500,000 | 90,745,000 | ||||
| XXXIX | 2004 | Feb 6 2005 | FOX | 41.1 | 62 | $2,400,000 | 86,072,000 | ||||
| XXXVIII | 2003 | Feb 1 2004 | CBS | 41.4 | 63 | $2,302,200 | 89,795,000 | ||||
| XXXVII | 2002 | Jan 26 2003 | ABC | 40.7 | 61 | $2,200,000 | 88,637,000 | ||||
| XXXVI | 2001 | Feb 3 2002 | FOX | 40.4 | 61 | $2,200,000 | 86,801,000 | ||||
| XXXV | 2000 | Jan 28 2001 | CBS | 40.4 | 61 | $2,200,000 | 84,335,000 | ||||
| XXXIV | 1999 | Jan 30 2000 | ABC | 43.3 | 63 | $2,100,000 | 88,465,000 | ||||
| XXXIII | 1998 | Jan 31 1999 | FOX | 40.2 | 61 | $1,600,000 | 83,720,000 | ||||
| XXXII | 1997 | Jan 25 1998 | NBC | 44.5 | 67 | $1,291,100 | 90,000,000 | ||||
| XXXI | 1996 | Jan 26 1997 | FOX | 43.3 | 65 | $1,200,000 | 87,870,000 | ||||
| XXX | 1995 | Jan 28 1996 | NBC | 46.0 | 68 | $1,085,000 | 94,080,000 | ||||
| XXIX | 1994 | Jan 29 1995 | ABC | 41.3 | 62 | $1,150,000 | 83,420,000 | ||||
| XXVIII | 1993 | Jan 30 1994 | NBC | 45.5 | 66 | $900,000 | 90,000,000 | ||||
| XXVII | 1992 | Jan 31 1993 | NBC | 45.1 | 66 | $850,000 | 90,990,000 | ||||
| XXVI | 1991 | Jan 26 1992 | CBS | 40.3 | 61 | $850,000 | 79,590,000 | ||||
| XXV | 1990 | Jan 27 1991 | ABC | 41.9 | 63 | $800,000 | 79,510,000 | ||||
| XXIV | 1989 | Jan 28 1990 | CBS | 39.0 | 63 | $700,400 | 73,852,000 | ||||
| XXIII | 1988 | Jan 22 1989 | NBC | 43.5 | 68 | $675,000 | 81,590,000 | ||||
| XXII | 1987 | Jan 31 1988 | ABC | 41.9 | 62 | $645,000 | 80,140,000 | ||||
| XXI | 1986 | Jan 25 1987 | CBS | 45.8 | 66 | $600,000 | 87,190,000 | ||||
| XX | 1985 | Jan 26 1986 | NBC | 48.3 | 70 | $550,000 | 92,570,000 | ||||
| XIX | 1984 | Jan 20 1985 | ABC | 46.4 | 63 | $525,000 | 85,530,000 | ||||
| XVIII | 1983 | Jan 22 1984 | CBS | 46.4 | 71 | $368,200 | 77,620,000 | ||||
| XVII | 1982 | Jan 30 1983 | NBC | 48.6 | 69 | $400,000 | 81,770,000 | ||||
| XVI | 1981 | Jan 24 1982 | CBS | 49.1 | 73 | $324,300 | 85,240,000 | ||||
| XV | 1980 | Jan 25 1981 | NBC | 44.4 | 63 | $275,000 | 68,290,000 | ||||
| XIV | 1979 | Jan 20 1980 | CBS | 46.3 | 67 | $222,000 | 76,240,000 | ||||
| XIII | 1978 | Jan 21 1979 | NBC | 47.1 | 74 | $185,000 | 74,740,000 | ||||
| XII | 1977 | Jan 15 1978 | CBS | 47.2 | 67 | $162,300 | 78,940,000 | ||||
| XI | 1976 | Jan 09 1977 | NBC | 44.4 | 73 | $125,000 | 62,050,000 | ||||
| X | 1975 | Jan 18 1976 | CBS | 42.3 | 78 | $110,000 | 57,710,000 | ||||
| IX | 1974 | Jan 12 1975 | NBC | 42.4 | 72 | $107,000 | 56,050,000 | ||||
| VIII | 1973 | Jan 13 1974 | CBS | 41.6 | 73 | $103,500 | 51,700,000 | ||||
| VII | 1972 | Jan 14 1973 | NBC | 42.7 | 72 | $88,100 | 53,320,000 | ||||
| VI | 1971 | Jan 16 1972 | CBS | 44.2 | 74 | $86,100 | 56,640,000 | ||||
| V | 1970 | Jan 17 1971 | NBC | 39.9 | 75 | $72,500 | 46,040,000 | ||||
| IV | 1969 | Jan 11 1970 | CBS | 39.4 | 69 | $78,200 | 44,270,000 | ||||
| III | 1968 | Jan 12 1969 | NBC | 36.0 | 70 | $55,000 | 41,660,000 | ||||
| II | 1967 | Jan 14 1968 | CBS | 36.8 | 68 | $54,500 | 39,120,000 | ||||
| I | 1966 | Jan 15 1967 | CBS | 22.6 | 43 | $42,500 | 26,750,000 | ||||
| I | 1966 | Jan 15 1967 | NBC | 18.5 | 36 | $37,500 | 24,430,000 | ||||
Source: Nielsen Media Research and others.