The internet doesn’t sleep, 😴 so the best time to post on social media seems to be any time of day!
In this article, we’ll give you some tips on when to post on Instagram, so your social media team can plan, prioritize, and create a successful social media marketing strategy! ⚡
When is the best time to post on Instagram?
Overall, the best times to post on Instagram on weekdays are: 👇
- Mondays: from 9 am to 1 pm & from 5 to 6 pm.
- Tuesdays: from 9 am to 1 pm.
- Wednesdays: from 9 am to 1 pm & from 5 to 6 pm.
- Fridays: from 9 am to 1 pm & from 5 to 6 pm.
✅ The best days to post on Instagram are: Tuesday and Wednesday.
❌ The worst day to post on Instagram is: Sunday.
It’s no surprise that Instagram is the second-most loved customer service platform after Facebook, for marketers as well as consumers. 🥰 As the short-video competition between Instagram and TikTok continues to heat up, 🔥 Reels make up 30% of the time spent on the Meta-owned platform.
Instagram has come a long way from the photo-only days. 📸 The app is now a platform for sharing images, videos, reels and live streams, and several types of creative content. It’s also a way to collaborate with other brands and generate revenue through its e-commerce platform.
However, Instagram’s algorithm is unpredictable! 😨 Success on the platform requires consistently posting high-quality content that will engage and entertain your audience.
Best time to post on Instagram Monday:
Research suggests that the best time to post on Instagram on a Monday is between 6 am to 10 am. Additionally, posting during lunchtime (12 pm to 2 pm) and after work hours (5 pm to 6 pm) can also be effective in reaching a larger audience. 🏹
However, it’s important to consider your specific audience and their behavior on the platform before setting a time to post.
Best time to post on Instagram Tuesday:
Recent studies have shown that the best times to post on Instagram are usually during off-work hours, such as early mornings and evenings, but the specific timing may vary based on the market segmentation, the audience demographics and time zones. Tuesdays are considered the best day to post on Instagram, as it could have a strong impact on your reach. 💥
⚡ However, it is always recommended to experiment with different posting times and analyze your engagement data to determine the best time to post for your account.
Best time to post on Instagram Wednesday:
According to some studies, mid-week days are the best time to post on Instagram, on Wednesday it is recommended between 9 am to 1 pm and 5 pm to 6 pm, as many people are on their lunch break and evening free time. 🌈
Additionally, you can also use Instagram Insights to check when your audience is most active and adjust your posting schedule accordingly. 📅
Best time to post on Instagram on Thursday:
Generally, the best times to post on Instagram on Thursday are generally between 9 am to 1 pm. 🌞 However, the exact time that works best for your account may vary based on your audience demographics and geographical location.
👉 It is crucial to track your account’s engagement over time and determine the best posting times for your specific audience.
Best time to post on Instagram on Friday:
The best time to post on Instagram on Friday varies based on your audience demographics, behaviors, and location. 📌 However, according to various studies carried out in the past, the optimal time to post on Friday is between 11 AM and 1 PM.
This is because people are usually on their lunch break and have more free time to browse social media. 🥗 Additionally, posting during off-work hours (5 PM-9 PM) may also yield engagement as people unwind after work or begin their weekend. 🥳 It’s important to also keep in mind your specific audience and their individual habits on the platform.
Furthermore, learn how to improve your storytelling to have more impact, here! 🪶
Best time to post on Instagram on Saturday:
Like explained before, we do not have access to real-time analytics to give you the best time to post on Instagram on any specific day. 🫣 However, based on general trends and studies, Saturdays between 11:00 AM and 1:00 PM are considered the best time to post on Instagram as people are generally more active on weekends and during their lunch breaks.
👉 Yet, it’s important to note, once again, that the optimal posting time may vary based on your target audience demographics and location. It’s worth experimenting with different posting times and monitoring engagement rates to determine what works best for your brand positioning!
Best time to post on IG on Sunday:
According to general trends, the best time to post on Instagram on a Sunday would be between 10 am to 2 pm. ⌚ This timing can vary depending on your target audience and geographical location, so it’s always best to test and analyze your own account’s engagement to determine the optimal posting time.
Although, it’s not the most recommended day to post! 🤫
4 Tips to find the Best times to post on Instagram
Posting on social media platforms when your audience is not online means that the majority of your audience will never see your post. 🙈 To make matters worse, Instagram’s algorithm is constantly changing.
In addition, highly engaged posts are moved to the top of the feed while less popular posts remain hidden. If you’re not getting the engagement you want on Instagram (or worse, you only hear the crickets) 🦗, your post may be posted at the wrong time for your target audience!
1. Go to you Instagram Insights:
In your Instagram page, go to your Professional Dashboard and from there go to Insights. 🔎 There you will have an Overview and a detail per Followers, scroll down the page and at the bottom you will see the section “Most active times” below: 👇
There you can see which days and hours have the most audience on your IG Page! 🤩
2. Check what time your audience is most active:
Also, you need to look at your analytics to see when your followers are scrolling through their feeds. 🔍 As marketers, we need to know our target group and “buyer personas”.
For example, if you’re targeting college students on Instagram, their social media usage can be very different from the executives who wake up at 6 am. 👀 There are several tools that help you get a followers’ analysis, to know when to post on Instagram.
The information about your active audience times may look like the heatmap we’ve created below:
👉 This type of analysis is also useful for predicting and experimenting with specific times when your Instagram followers are online. It also suggests suitable time slots that haven’t been used before, if you want to test new tactics.
3. Check what are your high-performing posts:
You need to think about what kind of performance you’re aiming for? You want more engagement or brand awareness? Then your approach to planning your Instagram posts has to vary depending on your goals. 🎯
Which posts have had the most impressions in the past? When did you post them? Are these posts different from those that get likes? What do the numbers tell you about your most engaging posts? 🧐
Analytics tools are your best allies for this job! 🤝 However, not all analytics tools are created equally. Test a few, in order to compare the numbers you get, or start by using Instagram Insights to track your impressions.
4. Check what your competitors are posting:
Depending on your business, your competitors may be doing the same posts and experiments as you are. 😏 You can start tracking what works for them, try using the same music for your Reels, determine what are the types of content that gets the most likes and comments.
Is it working better to post videos, photos or carousels? 🤔 Should you try doing an online giveaway to gain more followers and interactions? Another quick tip, is that many brands post every day at the exact time, like 1 pm for example.
So, try posting a few minutes before or after this time, in order to avoid conflicts with the visibility of your post in the Instagram feed! 🤩
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When to Post on Instagram?
The best time to post on Instagram depends on your target audience. 🎯 Generally, the best time to post on Instagram is around 12 PM to 1 PM on weekdays, as it’s when most people are on their lunch break. 🍝
You can also try posting after regular working hours, around 5 PM to 6 PM on weekdays. 🤓 On weekends, the best time to post is between 11 AM to 1 PM.
However, these times can vary depending on your audience’s location and time zone. 🌎 Keep an eye on your Instagram Insights, experiment with different posting times, and track your engagement and reach to find the ideal posting time for your account.
| Day | Best time to post on Instagram |
| Monday | 9 am to 1 pm and 5 pm to 6 pm |
| Tuesday | 9 am to 1 pm |
| Wednesday | 9 am to 1 pm and 5 pm to 6 pm |
| Thursday | 9 am to 1 pm |
| Friday | 9 am to 1 pm and 5 pm to 6 pm |
| Saturday | 11 am to 1 pm |
| Sunday | 10 am to 2 pm |
When to post Reels on Instagram?
Here are 3 tips on when to post Reels on Instagram: ⏬
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When your audience is most active: 🗣️ Analyze your followers’ behavior to determine when they are most active on the platform. You can see this information in your Instagram Insights.
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At peak times and before key events: 🗓️ Posting during peak times and just before significant events such as holidays, product launches, or special occasions can help your Reels to be seen by more people.
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Consistency is key: 🗝️ Maintain a regular posting schedule to keep your profile visible and engage your audience, which could lead to increased visibility and reach.
Ultimately, the best time to post a Reel on Instagram will vary based on your unique audience and their behavior, so you should experiment with different posting times to determine what works best for your brand’s performance.
| Day | Best time to post Reels on IG |
| Monday | 7 am, 7 pm |
| Tuesday | 12 am, 1 am, 6 pm |
| Wednesday | 6 am, 9 pm |
| Thursday | 6 am, 4 pm |
| Friday | 6 am, 11 am, 1 pm |
| Saturday | 9 am, 4 pm, 5 pm |
| Sunday | 6 am, 8 am, 1 pm |
When to post a photo on Instagram?
Here are some general guidelines to follow while deciding when to post a photo on Instagram: ⏬
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Post during weekdays: ✅ People are typically busy on weekends, so weekdays work best as they have fewer distractions.
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Post during off-work hours: 🍸 The best posting time for most brands is when people are less likely to be busy, i.e., early morning, lunchtime, and after-work hours.
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Analyze your audience: 🔍 Use analytics tools to track the activity of your audience, and post when they are most active.
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Consider time zones: 🌐 Post when your target audience is residing in the most active time zone.
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Consistent posting pattern: ✍️ Try to post at least once a day so that your audience can have a consistent experience and engagement.
How to post on Instagram?
There’s nothing more frustrating than not getting any reach your Instagram post, knowing all the time and effort you put in them!! 💥
Use the guidelines in this article, and learn the best times to post on Instagram, for each day of the week. 😉
Probably, your numbers won’t skyrocket from day one, but if you keep working hard, you’ll definitely see results. 🚀 You’ll be able to connect more with your audience and get noticed faster by qualified leads.
But remember that knowing the best times to post is only going to get you visibility in your viewers’ feeds, from there, the fate of the post’s reach relies on the quality of your content. 🔮
If your content isn’t engaging, even if it’s the perfect time to post it on Instagram, you may not get the likes and comments you want. 😔
For instance, if you’re a “Community Manager” and manage multiple Instagram accounts for your clients, you need to use analytics tools.
Conclusion: Best time to post on Instagram for likes
Generally, the best days to post on Instagram are Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday, from 9 am to 1 pm. 🌟
Here are some general guidelines if you want to know when to post on Instagram for likes: ⏬
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The best time to post on Instagram for likes is between 9 am to 11 am (local time) on weekdays.
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Sundays tend to have the lowest engagement, so it might be best to avoid posting on that day.
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For businesses, the best time to post on Instagram for likes is during lunchtime (12 pm to 1 pm) or after work (5 pm to 6 pm).
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For international audiences, it’s recommended to post when the target audience is most active in their time zone.
However, keep in mind that every Instagram account is different. 🤔 Experimenting with post times and tracking engagement can help you determine the best time to post for your specific followers.
🚫 In addition, the “off” hours are the early morning hours every day of the week, from midnight to 4 am, so avoid posting at this time.
I hope you found this article helpful in your quest to know what is the best time to post on Instagram! 😘 It doesn’t have to be an enigma anymore…
FAQ of the article
What’s the best time of day to post on Instagram?
The best time of day to post varies depending on your target audience, industry, and location. Still, popular times to post on Instagram are between 9 am – 11 am, 12 pm – 2pm, and in the evening between 5 pm – 6 pm.
Therefore, it is important to conduct research and analyze your Instagram insights to determine the optimal posting time for your specific audience. 💯
What’s the worst time to post on Instagram?
The worst time to post on Instagram is after 2pm on weekends. That’s because most of your audience will be out and about, interacting with the real world and spending time with their families, rather than on their phones. 📱
Also, some studies have shown that the worst times to post on Instagram are during late-night hours, early morning hours, and during work hours when people are usually busy and not checking their social media networks. 🤫
What’s the best day to post on Instagram?
Usually, Tuesday is the perfect day to post on Instagram. 👌 Mondays tend to be very busy at the beginning of the week and are busy scheduling weekly chores. 🤪
On weekdays, people like to socialize and enjoy their free time. So the middle of the week, especially Tuesday, is the best day to post on Instagram!
Does time matter when you post on Instagram?
Yes, it does! 🔔 The time of the post is a big factor in how posts rank in your Instagram feed, so it’s very important to post when your posts are most likely to be popular.
This will help you appear in the largest feeds and maintain higher engagement rates!
Can I post twice a day on Instagram?
Yes, you can! 👍 On Instagram, you can post twice a day, but no more. Posting to Instagram once a day is a good frequency to get enough reach. 🚀
However, posting too frequently may result in your profile being flagged as spam. So post accordingly!
Alright, now you have some guidelines of what is the best time to post on Instagram! 🧐 It’s up to you to test what works best for your specific audience, good luck. 🍀
