Q: What are the advertising rates for top newspapers in India in 2026?
Newspaper advertising rates in India for 2026 typically range from ₹500 to ₹2,500 per square centimeter for display ads across the top 50 English, Hindi, and regional dailies. Rates vary based on circulation, readership demographics, and publication prestige, with premium national dailies commanding higher costs, according to Shubindia Ad Works.
Top 50 Newspapers for Advertising in India 2026: Complete Rate Comparison
With 100,000+ newspapers in India, choosing the right one for your ad campaign is overwhelming. This data-driven guide ranks the top 50 Indian newspapers by readership, compares their advertising rates, and reveals which papers deliver the best ROI for every budget and geography.
India's Newspaper Advertising Landscape at a Glance
India is the world's largest newspaper market with over 400 million daily readers, 17,000+ active publications, and newspapers in 22+ languages. For advertisers, this represents an unmatched opportunity to reach specific demographics, geographies, and language groups through trusted local media.
This guide ranks the top 50 Indian newspapers by readership and provides a side-by-side advertising rate comparison to help you find the perfect paper for your campaign.
Top 50 Indian Newspapers by Readership
| # | Newspaper | Language | Readers (Lakh) | Display Rate Range (Rs/sq cm) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dainik Jagran | Hindi | 684 | 180 - 1,200 |
| 2 | Dainik Bhaskar | Hindi | 572 | 150 - 950 |
| 3 | Amar Ujala | Hindi | 463 | 150 - 900 |
| 4 | Hindustan | Hindi | 380 | 130 - 750 |
| 5 | Lokmat | Marathi | 180 | 100 - 650 |
| 6 | Gujarat Samachar | Gujarati | 150 | 200 - 900 |
| 7 | Daily Thanthi | Tamil | 140 | 100 - 600 |
| 8 | Rajasthan Patrika | Hindi | 130 | 120 - 700 |
| 9 | Divya Bhaskar | Gujarati | 120 | 180 - 850 |
| 10 | Eenadu | Telugu | 120 | 100 - 700 |
| 11 | Malayala Manorama | Malayalam | 97 | 150 - 800 |
| 12 | Prabhat Khabar | Hindi | 95 | 80 - 380 |
| 13 | Dinamalar | Tamil | 80 | 80 - 450 |
| 14 | Sandesh | Gujarati | 80 | 150 - 650 |
| 15 | Sakshi | Telugu | 78 | 80 - 500 |
| 16 | Sakal | Marathi | 75 | 120 - 700 |
| 17 | Nai Dunia | Hindi | 72 | 80 - 420 |
| 18 | Mathrubhumi | Malayalam | 62 | 120 - 650 |
| 19 | Punjab Kesari | Hindi | 58 | 100 - 500 |
| 20 | Dinakaran | Tamil | 52 | 70 - 380 |
| 21 | Anandabazar Patrika | Bengali | 52 | 250 - 1,000 |
| 22 | The Hindu | English | 49 | 350 - 1,800 |
| 23 | Sambad | Odia | 45 | 80 - 350 |
| 24 | Andhra Jyothy | Telugu | 45 | 70 - 400 |
| 25 | Maharashtra Times | Marathi | 45 | 200 - 900 |
| 26 | Vijay Karnataka | Kannada | 42 | 120 - 600 |
| 27 | Prajavani | Kannada | 38 | 100 - 520 |
| 28 | Ajit | Punjabi | 35 | 120 - 500 |
| 29 | Dinamani | Tamil | 35 | 80 - 400 |
| 30 | Times of India | English | 31 | 300 - 3,000 |
| 31 | Pudhari | Marathi | 30 | 60 - 300 |
| 32 | Dharitri | Odia | 30 | 60 - 280 |
| 33 | Bartaman | Bengali | 25 | 120 - 500 |
| 34 | Samaja | Odia | 22 | 50 - 240 |
| 35 | Hindustan Times | English | 22 | 350 - 2,500 |
| 36 | Jag Bani | Punjabi | 20 | 80 - 350 |
| 37 | Deccan Chronicle | English | 20 | 200 - 800 |
| 38 | Navbharat Times | Hindi | 18.5 | 200 - 1,100 |
| 39 | Loksatta | Marathi | 18 | 150 - 600 |
| 40 | Madhyamam | Malayalam | 18 | 60 - 300 |
| 41 | Kannada Prabha | Kannada | 18 | 80 - 380 |
| 42 | Indian Express | English | 17 | 300 - 2,000 |
| 43 | Asomiya Pratidin | Assamese | 16 | 50 - 250 |
| 44 | Telegraph | English | 15 | 300 - 1,200 |
| 45 | Udayavani | Kannada | 15 | 70 - 340 |
| 46 | Pragativadi | Odia | 15 | 40 - 200 |
| 47 | Vaartha | Telugu | 15 | 50 - 280 |
| 48 | Deccan Herald | English | 12 | 180 - 700 |
| 49 | Ei Samay | Bengali | 12 | 150 - 600 |
| 50 | Kerala Kaumudi | Malayalam | 12 | 50 - 250 |
Rate Comparison by Language Group
| Language | Avg Display Rate (Rs/sq cm) | Avg Classified (Rs/line) | Total Readership (Crore) | CPM (Rs) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hindi | 150 - 800 | 50 - 180 | 30+ | 15 - 40 |
| English | 300 - 2,500 | 100 - 400 | 3.5 | 80 - 200 |
| Tamil | 80 - 500 | 25 - 110 | 4+ | 20 - 50 |
| Telugu | 70 - 600 | 22 - 120 | 3+ | 20 - 55 |
| Malayalam | 80 - 700 | 25 - 140 | 2+ | 30 - 70 |
| Marathi | 80 - 700 | 25 - 150 | 4+ | 20 - 50 |
| Gujarati | 120 - 800 | 30 - 140 | 3.5+ | 25 - 60 |
| Bengali | 100 - 900 | 30 - 170 | 1.5+ | 35 - 80 |
| Kannada | 70 - 550 | 22 - 120 | 1.5+ | 25 - 60 |
| Punjabi | 70 - 450 | 22 - 95 | 0.8+ | 25 - 55 |
| Odia | 50 - 320 | 18 - 75 | 1.2+ | 20 - 45 |
How to Choose: Decision Framework
| Your Goal | Best Paper Type | Examples | Budget Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pan-India brand awareness | Top Hindi + English dailies | Dainik Jagran + TOI + The Hindu | ₹10-50 lakh |
| State-level campaign | Dominant regional daily | Lokmat (MH), Gujarat Samachar (GJ) | ₹2-10 lakh |
| City-specific promotion | City edition of top paper | Sakal Pune, Eenadu Hyderabad | ₹50K-3 lakh |
| Recruitment drive | Paper with best classifieds | TOI Times Ascent, Jagran, ABP | ₹5K-50K |
| Matrimonial listing | Sunday edition specialists | Jagran, Bhaskar, TOI, Lokmat | ₹1K-10K |
| Legal/Public notice | Cheapest qualifying paper | District editions of any major daily | ₹500-5K |
| Premium audience targeting | English broadsheets | The Hindu, Economic Times, Indian Express | ₹1-15 lakh |
Book Across 200+ Newspapers with Shubindia
Shubindia Ad Works provides one-stop newspaper advertising across all 50 papers listed above — and 150+ more. Our media buying team handles rate negotiation, creative design, multi-language translation, placement coordination, and publication proofs. Whether you need a single classified or a pan-India multi-language display campaign, we deliver the best rates with zero hassle.
Get your free newspaper advertising proposal or call +91-9850219850.
Need Exact, Updated Newspaper Ad Rates?
Newspaper ad rates change frequently based on demand, season, and availability. Contact our media buying team for the most current rates and exclusive package deals.
Written by
Shubham Jain
Founder, Shubindia Ad Works
Outdoor advertising strategist with 13+ years planning hoardings, metro, airport, and DOOH campaigns across 114+ Indian cities. Founded Shubindia Ad Works in 2013; today the agency manages 12,000+ media options for 300+ brands. Passionate about measurable brand outcomes and honest media rate-cards.
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