How much does advertising cost?
How much does advertising cost?
$0.10 – $4.00 average cost per click
$100 – $2,000 average cost per month for small businesses
Advertising cost
Advertising costs range from as low as $100 to $1,000 per month for digital ads for a small business to $2,000 to $15,000+ per month for a medium or large business running ads in multiple channels.
Online advertising is popular for being affordable, flexible, and easy to measure, making it ideal for small businesses. As your business and ad budget grow, you can expand into broader markets, adding print, TV, and radio to reach even more customers.
| Business size (Number of employees) |
Monthly ad budget | Common channels used |
|---|---|---|
| Micro (1 – 10) | $100 – $1,000 | Social media, search ads |
| Small (11 – 50) | $1,000 – $2,000 | Social media, search ads, local print |
| Medium (51 – 250) | $2,000 – $15,000 | Digital, local print, local TV/radio |
| Large / enterprise (251+ ) | $15,000+ | National TV, print, digital |
Digital advertising
Digital advertising opens up a world of flexible options for any size business. Marketing costs depend on your goals, audience, and where you advertise. Knowing these common pricing terms will help you plan your ad strategy and budget more effectively.
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| CPC (cost per click) | The amount you pay each time someone clicks your ad |
| CPM (cost per 1,000 impressions) | The cost for every 1,000 times your ad is shown whether or not it’s clicked |
| CPA (cost per acquisition) | What you pay for each sale or completed action, like a sign-up or purchase |
| CPL (cost per lead) | The price for each new lead, such as someone filling out a contact form |
| CTR (click-through rate) | The percentage of people who see your ad and then click on it |
| PPC (pay-per-click) | An advertising model where you pay only when someone clicks your ad, commonly used for search and social media ads |
Pay-per-click advertising cost
Pay-per-click (PPC) is the most widely used digital ad pricing model, where you’re charged only when someone clicks your ad. Typical costs range from $0.10 to $4.00 per click, but highly competitive industries can see rates of $7.00 or more. On Google Ads, for example, the average click costs about $2.70 for search and $0.63 for display.
| Platform | Average cost per click (CPC) | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Google Search | $1.00 – $4.00 | Text ads shown on search results targeting users actively searching for products or services |
| Google Display | $0.01 – $0.70 | Visual ads on websites and apps for brand awareness and retargeting |
| TikTok | $0.10 – $0.30 | Short video ads in feeds, ideal for engaging younger audiences |
| $0.26 – $1.00 | Ads in feeds and stories with detailed audience targeting for awareness and conversions | |
| $0.50 – $2.00 | Visual ads in feeds and stories, great for brand and performance marketing |
Google advertising cost
Google Ads is the most popular online advertising platform, allowing businesses to reach customers on Google search, YouTube, and partner sites. Google advertising costs $1.00 to $4.00 per click on average, with most businesses paying about $2.70 per click, though this varies by industry.
Google Ads offers flexible budget control, detailed performance tracking, and the ability to target people actively searching for your products or services.
Facebook advertising cost
Facebook is one of the largest and most versatile platforms for digital advertising, allowing businesses to reach a wide range of audiences with image and video ads. These formats are common and affordable, with a typical cost of $0.26 to $1.00 per click, depending on your industry, audience, and ad quality.
Facebook has minimum daily spending requirements starting at $1 to $5 per day, depending on your campaign objective, making it accessible for advertisers of all sizes.
TikTok advertising cost
TikTok is a fast-growing social media platform where businesses can reach a young, highly engaged audience through short video ads. The average cost per click ranges from $0.10 to $0.30, while premium ad formats like branded hashtag challenges and TopView ads can cost $65,000 to $150,000 or more per campaign.
Instagram advertising costs
Instagram is a visually driven platform popular with younger audiences, making it ideal for brands focused on awareness and engagement. Instagram ads typically cost between $0.50 and $2.00 per click.
Instagram uses an auction system, so your ad competes with others for a spot. The most relevant and interesting ads are more likely to be shown, even if they don’t have the highest budget.
Outdoor advertising
Beyond the digital world, outdoor advertising remains a powerful way to connect with people on the move through billboards, bus stops, and more.
Billboard advertising cost
Billboards are large signs placed in high-traffic areas to capture the attention of drivers and pedestrians. Costs typically range from $1,000 to $10,000 per month, with higher prices in major metropolitan areas or premium locations.
Digital billboard advertising cost
Digital billboards use bright, dynamic screens to display multiple ads throughout the day, offering greater flexibility and visibility. Monthly costs generally fall between $1,200 and $15,000, varying significantly based on location and audience size.
Car wrap advertising cost
A car wrap transforms a vehicle into a mobile advertisement, providing continuous exposure as the vehicle moves through different areas. The cost for a full car wrap usually ranges from $1,500 to $3,500, depending on design complexity and geographic market.
Bus stop advertising cost
Bus stop ads are placed on shelters or benches in public transit areas, targeting pedestrians and commuters. Prices range from $250 to $2,500 per month, with costs increasing in densely populated urban centers.
Radio & television advertising cost
While outdoor ads offer 24/7 exposure in public spaces, radio and TV advertising deliver your message directly into homes and cars, reaching listeners and viewers during their daily routines.
Radio advertising cost
Radio ads are an effective way to reach local listeners, especially during commuting hours. A 30-second spot typically costs between $65 in small markets to $1,400 or more in large cities. Pricing depends on the location, station popularity, audience size, ad length, and the time your ad airs, with peak hours costing the most.
TV advertising cost
TV advertising reaches both local and national audiences, with costs based on channel, time slot, audience size, and ad length. Local ads targeting a small, specific geographic area are more affordable at $500 to $1,500 for a 30-second spot. National commercials cost much more due to their broader reach, ranging from $115,000 to $425,000+ for a 30-second ad.
Producing a quality TV commercial usually costs between $3,000 and $25,000, depending on the script writing, filming, editing, and special effects.
Super Bowl advertising cost
The cost of advertising during the Super Bowl is unmatched, with a 30-second spot averaging about $8 million. Brands are willing to pay top dollar for the chance to reach over 100 million viewers at once and to create ads that often become the talk of the nation long after the game ends.
Advertising cost factors
Several important factors influence advertising costs:
Audience size: Reaching more people (national TV, broad social) costs more than local or niche ads.
Ad length / format: Longer ads cost more to air on TV or radio. More complex ad formats on digital platforms also have higher costs.
Platform / placement: Premium channels, platforms, or slots charge higher rates.
Targeting: More precise audience targeting raises costs.
Timing: Prime time or peak usage slots are pricier.
Production quality: Creating a high-quality, professional advertisement adds to expenses.
Advertising FAQs
Which advertising channel is right for my business?
The best channel depends on your goals, audience, and budget. Digital ads (like Google, Facebook, or Instagram) are great for targeting specific groups and tracking results. Outdoor ads (billboards, bus stops) work well for local awareness. TV and radio reach broad audiences but usually cost more. Consider where your customers spend their time and start there.
What other costs should I expect besides the ad placement itself?
In addition to paying for ad space or clicks, you may need to budget for ad creation (design, video production, copywriting), software tools, and possibly agency or consultant fees if you want expert help managing your campaigns.
What is a good starting advertising budget for a small business?
Many small businesses start with $100 to $500 per month on platforms like Facebook or Google Ads. This allows you to test what works without overspending. As you see results, you can increase your budget for greater impact.
Can I advertise with a very small budget?
Yes! Many platforms, like Facebook and Instagram, allow you to start with as little as $1 to $5 per day. Even a small budget can help you test ideas and learn what works for your business.
How long should I run my ads to see results?
Digital ads can show results within days or weeks, while outdoor or traditional ads may take a month or more to build awareness. Most experts recommend running a campaign for at least 30 days to gather enough data for meaningful insights and adjustments.
How do I measure if my ads are working?
Look at key metrics like clicks, impressions, leads, or sales generated from your ads. Most platforms provide dashboards with these numbers. For traditional ads (like billboards or radio), you might track results through special offers, unique phone numbers, or asking customers how they heard about you.
Using our proprietary cost database, in-depth research, and collaboration with industry experts, we deliver accurate, up-to-date pricing and insights you can trust, every time.