Super Bowl 53 commercials: How much do ads cost in 2019?

Shanna McCarriston

Super Bowl 53 commercials: How much do ads cost in 2019? image

Super Bowl commercials have always been iconic. Many non-football fans watch the game just for the ads, but getting a spot on the biggest Sunday of the year isn’t cheap. 

The Super Bowl (and its halftime show) is consistently the most-watched program on television in the United States, with well over 100 million people expected to tune into the 2019 broadcast in the United States, so it’s no surprise it costs a lot to secure coveted airtime, even if it is just for a few seconds.

In the last decade alone, commercial prices for the Super Bowl have nearly doubled from the $2.4 million cost in 2007. This year, major brands like Budweiser and Pepsi spent more than ever before. CBS, the game's rights holder, is charging a record $5.25 million on average for a 30-second spot during the game between the Rams and Patriots.

MORE: Super Bowl commercials 2019: Watch the best Super Bowl 53 ads

Those figures far exceed the price of ads for other major sporting events such as an NBA Finals game or the World Series. Here's everything to know about Super Bowl commercial costs in 2019. You can watch sneak previews of the best ads so far with our guide here.

How much does a Super Bowl commercial cost in 2019?

CBS is charging between $5.1 and $5.3 million for a 30-second commercial spot, according to Variety — the most expensive they've ever been.

How much was a Super Bowl commercial in 2018?

Last year, Super Bowl 52 featuring the Patriots and Eagles averaged 103.4 million viewers in the United States, according to Nielson ratings — a decline of 7 percent from 2017. The 2018 Super Bowl averaged a cost of $5.05 million for a 30-second commercial.

MORE: Super Bowl logo has become 'corporate, soulless' like 'NFL itself'

How long are Super Bowl commercials?

Super Bowl commercials are typically 30 seconds, but one-minute slots are also available. Those are rare, though.

How many minutes of commercials are in the Super Bowl?

Super Bowl 51 in 2017 featured 102 total commercials, according to Statista.com. That adds up to 51 minutes, 30 seconds of advertising. 

First Super Bowl commercial cost

A commercial during the first Super Bowl, played in 1967 between the Packers and the Chiefs, cost "only" $42,000. 

MORE: Top 10 Super Bowls of all time

Super Bowl commercial price history

Super Bowl Year Average cost
LII 2018 $5,050,000
LI 2017 $5,050,000
50 2016 $4,800,000
XLIX 2015 $4,400,000
XLVIII 2014 $4,200,000
XLVII 2013 $4,000,000
XLVI 2012 $3,500,000
XLV 2011 $3,100,000
XLIV 2010 $2,974,000
XLIII 2009 $3,000,000
XLII 2008 $2,700,000
XLI 2007 $2,385,000
XL 2006 $2,500,000
XXXIX 2005 $2,400,000
XXXVIII 2004 $2,302,000
XXXVII 2003 $2,150,000
XXXVI 2002 $2,200,000
XXXV 2001 $2,200,000
XXXIV 2000 $2,100,000
XXXIII 1999 $1,600,000
XXXII 1998 $1,292,000
XXXI 1997 $1,200,000
XXX 1996 $1,085,000
XXIX 1995 $1,150,000
XXVIII 1994 $900,000
XXVII 1993 $850,000
XXVI 1992 $800,000
XXV 1991 $800,000
XXIV 1990 $700,000
XXIII 1989 $675,000
XXII 1988 $600,000
XXI 1987 $575,000
XX 1986 $550,000
XIX 1985 $500,000
XVIII 1984 $450,000
XVII 1983 $400,000
XVI 1982 $345,000
XV 1981 $324,300
XIV 1980 $275,000
XIII 1979 $220,000
XII 1978 $185,000
XI 1977 $162,000
X 1976 $125,000
IX 1975 $110,000
VIII 1974 $107,000
VII 1973 $103,500
VI 1972 $86,000
V 1971 $72,000
IV 1970 $78,200
III 1969 $67,500
II 1968 $54,000
I 1967 $42,000

Average cost for 30-second commercial and estimated total in-game TV ad spending since first Super Bowl in 1967 (Source: AdAge.com)

Average commercial cost for the World Series

To show just how costly Super Bowl commercial spots are, SN compared the 2016 Super Bowl commercial cost to the 2016 World Series Game 7 commercial cost. In 2016, a 30-second commercial during World Series Game 7 cost an average of $674,000. 

Average commercial cost for the NBA Finals

In 2018, the average commercial cost for Game 5 of the NBA Finals was $751,000.

Shanna McCarriston