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Times of India Obituary Ad Rates 2026 Breakdown: What Families Actually Pay
By Rituparna Ghosh Dastidar | Newspaper Advertising Consultant, Kolkata | 14 years coordinating print ad bookings across West Bengal and Bihar
There's a base rate. Then there's a city edition surcharge. Then there's color vs black-and-white. And then there's the "classified vs display" question, which can double or halve your total depending on what you actually need.
This breakdown covers obituary ad rates for the major TOI editions in 2026, explains what drives the price differences, and tells you where people routinely overspend.
How TOI Obituary Ad Pricing Is Structured
TOI ad cost varies by three things, mostly: the edition (which city), the format (classified or display), and any add-ons like color or border.
Classified text ads are priced per line or per word. Display ads are priced per square centimeter or per column centimeter. These are not the same unit, and mixing them up leads to real confusion when comparing quotes.
A standard classified obituary runs 3–6 lines. A display obituary can run anywhere from a small single-column box to a half-page notice with a photograph. The price gap between the two formats is large.
"One thing I tell every client before we talk numbers: confirm the edition first. A 'Times of India' booking in Chennai and a 'Times of India' booking in Ahmedabad aren't priced from the same rate card. They're different editions, managed somewhat separately."
Obituary Ad Rates: Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore (2026)
Approximate rates verified from direct ad-booking inquiries and aggregator portals as of early 2026. Rates shift quarterly — confirm before booking.
TOI Mumbai Obituary Rates
Mumbai is TOI's highest-circulation edition, and the rates reflect that.
A 3-line classified notice in TOI Mumbai comes to roughly ₹2,700–₹3,300 before GST. A small display ad — say 10 sq cm, black and white — runs ₹18,000–₹22,000. Color display pushes past ₹28,000 for the same size.
TOI Delhi Obituary Rates
Mumbai runs 10–15% more expensive than Delhi on average, both classified and display.
TOI Bangalore Obituary Rates
A 5-line classified in Bangalore would run approximately ₹3,000–₹4,000 before GST.
Other Cities — Quick Reference
| City | Classified (per line) | Display B&W (per sq cm) |
|---|---|---|
| Kolkata | ₹550–₹750 | ₹1,000–₹1,400 |
| Chennai | ₹600–₹800 | ₹1,200–₹1,600 |
| Ahmedabad | ₹500–₹700 | ₹900–₹1,300 |
| Chandigarh | ₹450–₹650 | ₹850–₹1,200 |
| Navi Mumbai | Priced under Mumbai main edition rate card | |
Note: Navi Mumbai is covered under the Mumbai main edition — not a separate rate card.
Classified vs Display: The Real Comparison
Most families don't need display. They think they do, because display ads look more dignified. But for an obituary that's going to inform people of a passing and perhaps the prayer meeting details — a well-worded classified does the job.
Display makes sense when
- There's a photograph of the deceased
- The family is prominent locally
- It's a combined obituary and legal public death notice
Classified makes sense when
- You need words on a page, nothing more
- Budget is a real concern
- The notice is primarily informational
A 5-line classified in TOI Delhi costs maybe ₹4,500. A 10 sq cm display in TOI Delhi costs ₹16,000+. Same information. Very different bill.
I've watched clients spend ₹35,000 on a display obituary when a ₹5,000 classified would have done the same thing.
What Affects the Final Cost
Front page obituaries cost significantly more — sometimes 3× the standard rate. Chennai and Ahmedabad front-page premiums run lower than Mumbai or Delhi.
Color adds roughly 50–60% to the base display rate in most editions. Black and white is fine for text-heavy notices.
Weekend rates (Saturday/Sunday) can be 10–20% higher. Many families don't realize this when they request Sunday publication.
Same-day or next-day bookings cost more. Plan at least 48 hours ahead if possible.
18% GST applies on all newspaper ad bookings. It's consistently left out of verbal quotes. Always ask for a GST-inclusive total.
Cost-Saving Tips That Actually Work
- Book through an authorized ad agency. Agencies have negotiated rates with TOI that are sometimes 15–20% lower than the walk-in counter.
- Choose B&W classified unless there's a real reason for display. For informing community members of a passing — classified is sufficient.
- Avoid same-day bookings. The urgency premium is real.
- Skip front page unless the family specifically requires it. The standard obituary section has high readership from people looking for exactly these notices.
- Combine cities only if needed. Booking across two editions costs double. Unless the deceased had meaningful community in both cities, one edition is usually enough.
- Verify rates on the booking day. Rates on aggregator websites sometimes lag by a quarter. Call and confirm before finalizing.
How Much Does an Ad in Times of India Cost?
10 FAQs: Times of India Obituary Ad Rates
1. What are current Times of India obituary ad rates Mumbai per line today?
Roughly ₹900–₹1,100 per line in 2026. Minimum 3 lines. The rate card isn't frozen — call the TOI booking desk or an authorized agency for the figure that's current on your booking date.
2. How much does obituary display ad cost in Times of India Navi Mumbai?
Navi Mumbai isn't a separate edition. It's billed at Mumbai main edition rates — ₹1,800–₹2,200 per sq cm for B&W, more for color. Don't expect a discount just because the address is Navi Mumbai.
3. What is Times of India front page obituary ad rates Chennai color vs black white?
B&W front page display runs ₹2,500–₹3,200 per sq cm; color adds another 50–60% on top. For most obituary purposes, front page isn't necessary.
4. What are Times of India obituary classified text ad Kolkata minimum cost?
Minimum for a classified text ad in Kolkata is 3 lines at roughly ₹550–₹750 per line. That puts the floor around ₹1,650–₹2,250 before GST.
5. What are current Times of India remembrance ad rates Ahmedabad per sq cm?
Ahmedabad display ads run approximately ₹900–₹1,300 per sq cm B&W — among the lower rates in TOI's network. Still confirm; this city's rates have moved more than once in the past 12 months.
6. What is Times of India double column obituary ad rates Chandigarh black white?
A 2-column × 5 cm notice comes to roughly ₹8,500–₹12,000 depending on exact cm pricing. Ask for a flat size quote rather than trying to calculate it yourself.
7. How to book obituary advertisement in Times of India Mumbai 2026 at lowest rates?
Go through an authorized print media agency. Agency rates are almost always better than walk-in. Book at least 3 days ahead to avoid urgency surcharges. Choosing classified over display alone saves ₹10,000–₹20,000 on a typical notice.
8. What are cheapest obituary ad rates Times of India Bangalore 5 lines?
Five lines at Bangalore classified rates: approximately ₹3,000–₹4,000 before GST. This is the floor for a properly formatted notice with name, date, survivors, and prayer meeting details.
9. What is Times of India obituary ad cost comparison Mumbai vs Delhi 2026?
Mumbai runs 10–15% higher across both classified and display. A 3-line classified: Delhi ₹2,400–₹3,000 vs Mumbai ₹2,700–₹3,300. A 10 sq cm B&W display: Delhi ₹16,000–₹20,000 vs Mumbai ₹18,000–₹22,000.
10. How much does an obituary ad in Times of India cost per column?
In Mumbai, display rates per column cm run approximately ₹550–₹700 (B&W) depending on placement. Delhi is slightly lower, Bangalore lower still. Ask for a total per your required size — one phone call gives a more accurate number than any online estimate.