Special Report
How Much It Cost to Buy a Commercial at Every Super Bowl in History
Published:
The Super Bowl is not only America’s most-watched sports event of the year, it is usually among the most-viewed events of any kind in the United States. And that’s why advertisers trip over themselves to pay ever-increasing costs for a spot during the big game.
To determine what a Super Bowl commercial costs the year you were born, 24/7 Tempo reviewed data on the cost of a 30-second ad spot for every Super Bowl in NFL history from Nielsen. Costs for a 30-second ad spot were adjusted for inflation using Consumer Price Index data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Official Game results came from ESPN.
Average pricing for advertising on the broadcast of the Super Bowl LVII – pitting the Kansas City Chiefs against the Philadelphia Eagles – is between $6 million and $7 million for 30 seconds, according to Fox Sports executive vice president of advertising sales Mark Evans.
Some of the ads themselves have been memorable: Apple’s nod to George Orwell’s dystopian novel “1984” in 1984; banged-up Steelers lineman Joe Greene tossing his jersey to a starstruck boy in a Coca-Cola ad; a Snickers spot featuring Betty White; a McDonald’s ad of Michael Jordan and Larry Bird in a basketball shooting duel….
Click here to learn how much it cost to buy a commercial at every Super Bowl in history
Besides the commercials and the game itself, people tune in to watch the halftime show that has featured some of music’s most famous performers – including Katy Perry, The Weeknd, Lady Gaga, and the various rap and hip-hop artists who headlined the halftime show in 2022. (See who has performed at every Super Bowl halftime show.)
The rising viewership of the Super Bowl is in contrast to the declining interest in other annual television events such as awards shows. For advertisers, the big game is one of the few remaining opportunities to reach a television audience that isn’t fragmented.
1967: Super Bowl I
> Cost of a 30-second ad spot: $42,500
> Adjusted for inflation: $372,390
> Total television viewership: 26.8 million
> Game result: Green Bay (35), Kansas City (10)
[in-text-ad]
1968: Super Bowl II
> Cost of a 30-second ad spot: $54,500
> Adjusted for inflation: $458,325
> Total television viewership: 39.1 million
> Game result: Green Bay (33), Oakland (14)
1969: Super Bowl III
> Cost of a 30-second ad spot: $55,000
> Adjusted for inflation: $438,584
> Total television viewership: 41.7 million
> Game result: New York Jets (16), Baltimore (7)
1970: Super Bowl IV
> Cost of a 30-second ad spot: $78,200
> Adjusted for inflation: $589,836
> Total television viewership: 44.3 million
> Game result: Kansas City (23), Minnesota (7)
[in-text-ad-2]
1971: Super Bowl V
> Cost of a 30-second ad spot: $72,500
> Adjusted for inflation: $523,889
> Total television viewership: 46.0 million
> Game result: Baltimore (16), Dallas (13)
1972: Super Bowl VI
> Cost of a 30-second ad spot: $86,100
> Adjusted for inflation: $602,813
> Total television viewership: 56.6 million
> Game result: Dallas (24), Miami (3)
[in-text-ad]
1973: Super Bowl VII
> Cost of a 30-second ad spot: $88,100
> Adjusted for inflation: $580,696
> Total television viewership: 53.3 million
> Game result: Miami (14), Washington (7)
1974: Super Bowl VIII
> Cost of a 30-second ad spot: $103,500
> Adjusted for inflation: $614,397
> Total television viewership: 51.7 million
> Game result: Miami (24), Minnesota (7)
1975: Super Bowl IX
> Cost of a 30-second ad spot: $107,000
> Adjusted for inflation: $582,046
> Total television viewership: 56.1 million
> Game result: Pittsburgh (16), Minnesota (6)
[in-text-ad-2]
1976: Super Bowl X
> Cost of a 30-second ad spot: $110,000
> Adjusted for inflation: $565,765
> Total television viewership: 57.7 million
> Game result: Pittsburgh (21), Dallas (17)
1977: Super Bowl XI
> Cost of a 30-second ad spot: $125,000
> Adjusted for inflation: $603,661
> Total television viewership: 62.0 million
> Game result: Oakland (32), Minnesota (14)
[in-text-ad]
1978: Super Bowl XII
> Cost of a 30-second ad spot: $162,300
> Adjusted for inflation: $728,495
> Total television viewership: 78.9 million
> Game result: Dallas (27), Denver (10)
1979: Super Bowl XIII
> Cost of a 30-second ad spot: $185,000
> Adjusted for inflation: $745,746
> Total television viewership: 74.7 million
> Game result: Pittsburgh (35), Dallas (31)
1980: Super Bowl XIV
> Cost of a 30-second ad spot: $222,000
> Adjusted for inflation: $788,464
> Total television viewership: 76.2 million
> Game result: Pittsburgh (31), Los Angeles Rams (19)
[in-text-ad-2]
1981: Super Bowl XV
> Cost of a 30-second ad spot: $275,000
> Adjusted for inflation: $885,370
> Total television viewership: 68.3 million
> Game result: Oakland (27), Philadelphia (10)
1982: Super Bowl XVI
> Cost of a 30-second ad spot: $324,300
> Adjusted for inflation: $983,503
> Total television viewership: 85.2 million
> Game result: San Francisco (26), Cincinnati (21)
[in-text-ad]
1983: Super Bowl XVII
> Cost of a 30-second ad spot: $400,000
> Adjusted for inflation: $1,175,321
> Total television viewership: 81.8 million
> Game result: Washington (27), Miami (17)
1984: Super Bowl XVIII
> Cost of a 30-second ad spot: $368,200
> Adjusted for inflation: $1,037,108
> Total television viewership: 77.6 million
> Game result: Los Angeles Raiders (38), Washington (9)
1985: Super Bowl XIX
> Cost of a 30-second ad spot: $525,000
> Adjusted for inflation: $1,427,917
> Total television viewership: 85.5 million
> Game result: San Francisco (38), Miami (16)
[in-text-ad-2]
1986: Super Bowl XX
> Cost of a 30-second ad spot: $550,000
> Adjusted for inflation: $1,468,615
> Total television viewership: 92.6 million
> Game result: Chicago (46), New England (10)
1987: Super Bowl XXI
> Cost of a 30-second ad spot: $600,000
> Adjusted for inflation: $1,545,713
> Total television viewership: 87.2 million
> Game result: New York Giants (39), Denver (20)
[in-text-ad]
1988: Super Bowl XXII
> Cost of a 30-second ad spot: $645,000
> Adjusted for inflation: $1,595,625
> Total television viewership: 80.1 million
> Game result: Washington (42), Denver (10)
24/7 Wall St.
1989: Super Bowl XXIII
> Cost of a 30-second ad spot: $675,000
> Adjusted for inflation: $1,593,082
> Total television viewership: 81.6 million
> Game result: San Francisco (20), Cincinnati (16)
1990: Super Bowl XXIV
> Cost of a 30-second ad spot: $700,400
> Adjusted for inflation: $1,568,290
> Total television viewership: 73.9 million
> Game result: San Francisco (55), Denver (10)
[in-text-ad-2]
1991: Super Bowl XXV
> Cost of a 30-second ad spot: $800,000
> Adjusted for inflation: $1,718,972
> Total television viewership: 79.5 million
> Game result: New York Giants (20), Buffalo (19)
1992: Super Bowl XXVI
> Cost of a 30-second ad spot: $850,000
> Adjusted for inflation: $1,773,035
> Total television viewership: 79.6 million
> Game result: Washington (37), Buffalo (24)
[in-text-ad]
1993: Super Bowl XXVII
> Cost of a 30-second ad spot: $850,000
> Adjusted for inflation: $1,721,500
> Total television viewership: 91.0 million
> Game result: Dallas (52), Buffalo (17)
1994: Super Bowl XXVIII
> Cost of a 30-second ad spot: $900,000
> Adjusted for inflation: $1,777,257
> Total television viewership: 90.0 million
> Game result: Dallas (30), Buffalo (13)
1995: Super Bowl XXIX
> Cost of a 30-second ad spot: $1,150,000
> Adjusted for inflation: $2,208,355
> Total television viewership: 83.4 million
> Game result: San Francisco (49), San Diego (26)
[in-text-ad-2]
1996: Super Bowl XXX
> Cost of a 30-second ad spot: $1,085,000
> Adjusted for inflation: $2,023,777
> Total television viewership: 94.1 million
> Game result: Dallas (27), Pittsburgh (17)
1997: Super Bowl XXXI
> Cost of a 30-second ad spot: $1,200,000
> Adjusted for inflation: $2,188,075
> Total television viewership: 87.9 million
> Game result: Green Bay (35), New England (21)
[in-text-ad]
1998: Super Bowl XXXII
> Cost of a 30-second ad spot: $1,291,100
> Adjusted for inflation: $2,318,079
> Total television viewership: 90.0 million
> Game result: Denver (31), Green Bay (24)
1999: Super Bowl XXXIII
> Cost of a 30-second ad spot: $1,600,000
> Adjusted for inflation: $2,810,612
> Total television viewership: 83.7 million
> Game result: Denver (34), Atlanta (19)
2000: Super Bowl XXXIV
> Cost of a 30-second ad spot: $2,100,000
> Adjusted for inflation: $3,568,963
> Total television viewership: 88.5 million
> Game result: St. Louis (23), Tennessee (16)
[in-text-ad-2]
2001: Super Bowl XXXV
> Cost of a 30-second ad spot: $2,200,000
> Adjusted for inflation: $3,635,466
> Total television viewership: 84.3 million
> Game result: Baltimore (34), New York Giants (7)
2002: Super Bowl XXXVI
> Cost of a 30-second ad spot: $2,200,000
> Adjusted for inflation: $3,578,883
> Total television viewership: 86.8 million
> Game result: New England (20), St. Louis (17)
[in-text-ad]
2003: Super Bowl XXXVII
> Cost of a 30-second ad spot: $2,200,000
> Adjusted for inflation: $3,499,136
> Total television viewership: 88.6 million
> Game result: Tampa Bay (48), Oakland (21)
24/7 Wall St.
2004: Super Bowl XXXVIII
> Cost of a 30-second ad spot: $2,302,200
> Adjusted for inflation: $3,566,704
> Total television viewership: 89.8 million
> Game result: New England (32), Carolina (29)
2005: Super Bowl XXXIX
> Cost of a 30-second ad spot: $2,400,000
> Adjusted for inflation: $3,596,375
> Total television viewership: 86.1 million
> Game result: New England (24), Philadelphia (21)
[in-text-ad-2]
2006: Super Bowl XL
> Cost of a 30-second ad spot: $2,500,000
> Adjusted for inflation: $3,629,154
> Total television viewership: 90.8 million
> Game result: Pittsburgh (21), Seattle (10)
2007: Super Bowl XLI
> Cost of a 30-second ad spot: $2,385,365
> Adjusted for inflation: $3,366,848
> Total television viewership: 93.2 million
> Game result: Indianapolis (29), Chicago (17)
[in-text-ad]
2008: Super Bowl XLII
> Cost of a 30-second ad spot: $2,699,963
> Adjusted for inflation: $3,669,980
> Total television viewership: 97.5 million
> Game result: New York Giants (17), New England (14)
2009: Super Bowl XLIII
> Cost of a 30-second ad spot: $3,000,000
> Adjusted for inflation: $4,092,371
> Total television viewership: 98.7 million
> Game result: Pittsburgh (27), Arizona (23)
2010: Super Bowl XLIV
> Cost of a 30-second ad spot: $2,800,000
> Adjusted for inflation: $3,757,906
> Total television viewership: 106.5 million
> Game result: New Orleans (31), Indianapolis (17)
[in-text-ad-2]
2011: Super Bowl XLV
> Cost of a 30-second ad spot: $2,948,649
> Adjusted for inflation: $3,836,315
> Total television viewership: 111.0 million
> Game result: Green Bay (31), Pittsburgh (25)
2012: Super Bowl XLVI
> Cost of a 30-second ad spot: $3,442,752
> Adjusted for inflation: $4,388,349
> Total television viewership: 111.3 million
> Game result: New York Giants (21), New England (17)
[in-text-ad]
2013: Super Bowl XLVII
> Cost of a 30-second ad spot: $3,765,130
> Adjusted for inflation: $4,729,989
> Total television viewership: 108.7 million
> Game result: Baltimore (34), San Francisco (31)
2014: Super Bowl XLVIII
> Cost of a 30-second ad spot: $4,084,864
> Adjusted for inflation: $5,049,743
> Total television viewership: 112.2 million
> Game result: Seattle (43), Denver (8)
2015: Super Bowl XLIX
> Cost of a 30-second ad spot: $4,283,129
> Adjusted for inflation: $5,288,562
> Total television viewership: 114.4 million
> Game result: New England (28), Seattle (24)
[in-text-ad-2]
2016: Super Bowl 50
> Cost of a 30-second ad spot: $4,800,000
> Adjusted for inflation: $5,852,929
> Total television viewership: 111.9 million
> Game result: Denver (24), Carolina (10)
2017: Super Bowl LI
> Cost of a 30-second ad spot: $5,399,873
> Adjusted for inflation: $6,447,046
> Total television viewership: 111.3 million
> Game result: New England (34), Atlanta (28)
[in-text-ad]
2018: Super Bowl LII
> Cost of a 30-second ad spot: $5,235,379
> Adjusted for inflation: $6,101,621
> Total television viewership: 103.4 million
> Game result: Philadelphia (41), New England (33)
2019: Super Bowl LIII
> Cost of a 30-second ad spot: $5,199,916
> Adjusted for inflation: $5,952,434
> Total television viewership: 98.2 million
> Game result: New England (13), Los Angeles Rams (3)
2020: Super Bowl LIV
> Cost of a 30-second ad spot: $5,400,000
> Adjusted for inflation: $6,106,143
> Total television viewership: 100.5 million
> Game result: Kansas City (31), San Francisco (20)
[in-text-ad-2]
2021: Super Bowl LV
> Cost of a 30-second ad spot: $5,500,000
> Adjusted for inflation: $5,940,150
> Total television viewership: 95.2 million
> Game result: Tampa Bay (31), Kansas City (9)
2022: Super Bowl LVI
> Cost of a 30-second ad spot: $6,500,000
> Adjusted for inflation: $6,500,000
> Total television viewership: 99.2 million
> Game result: Los Angeles Rams (23), Cincinnati (20)
Take This Retirement Quiz To Get Matched With An Advisor Now (Sponsored)
Are you ready for retirement? Planning for retirement can be overwhelming, that’s why it could be a good idea to speak to a fiduciary financial advisor about your goals today.
Start by taking this retirement quiz right here from SmartAsset that will match you with up to 3 financial advisors that serve your area and beyond in 5 minutes. Smart Asset is now matching over 50,000 people a month.
Click here now to get started.
Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us?
Contact the 24/7 Wall St. editorial team.
Latest from 24/7
