How Much is a Super Bowl Commercial?

Right around 100 million people are expected to tune in for the Super Bowl this year. On top of ticket sales, viewers spend billions on merchandise, food, and alcohol for the big game. Another number that generally gets a lot of attention is the cost of an ad that airs during the event. How much is a Super Bowl commercial this year?

The Cost of Super Bowl Commercials

Can you believe that a Super Bowl commercial only cost $37,500 in 1966? In fact, Super Bowl ads were just half their current price 12 years ago. Take a look at a timeline of the cost of a Super Bowl commercial from the very beginning until more recent years.

Much of the fluctuation in the cost of a Super Bowl commercial has to do with the number of people who will tune in. As mentioned above, around 100 million people will watch the game this year. However, the very first Super Bowl only expected 24 million viewers.

Since then, the price of advertising during the big game has only increased. Year over year, the networks are asking for more money to advertise during the Super Bowl. As you can see, the pricing stayed the same for 2017 and 2018. However, that definitely can’t be said of this year.

How Much is a Super Bowl Commercial in 2023?

In 2023, Super Bowl commercials are priced up to $7 million. This is significant hike up since 2018’s commercial price of $5.2 million price tag for a 30-second ad during the game. On top of that, the average price of a ticket to the Super Bowl comes in around $7,000. The most inexpensive package for attending the Super Bowl is just over $4,800.

Plenty of Americans will be betting on the game this year too. Usually, the betting totals come in above $6 billion. There is no doubt the Super Bowl impacts the economy in a huge way every year. Billions of dollars (and 1.38 billion chicken wings) are circulated around this single event.

So, it is worth the advertising money if the company is able to swing it. There will be a ton of eyes on the events and some people that only show up at the football party for the commercials anyway.

Photo: Mike Mozart

Amanda Blankenship

Amanda Blankenship is the Chief Editor for District Media. With a BA in journalism from Wingate University, she frequently writes for a handful of websites and loves to share her own personal finance story with others. When she isn’t typing away at her desk, she enjoys spending time with her daughter, son, husband, and dog. During her free time, you’re likely to find her with her nose in a book, hiking, or playing RPG video games.