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.
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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.
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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.
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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.