Ever noticed that some of your posts get tons of engagement while others barely get any attention? This is because what you share matters, but when you share it matters too! Timing is everything! Today is all about the best time to post on Instagram to the most engagement for your brand.
Finding the best time to post can be a huge help, whether you’re trying to grow your business, gain followers on Instagram as an influencer, or simply love sharing your life with your followers. Let’s ensure more folks see your posts and get those likes coming!
Is There a Best Time to Post on Instagram?
There is no definitive answer to the question, “What time is the best time to post on Instagram?”. The best time to post can change a lot based on who you are trying to reach, the kind of work you do, and your location. Even though studies suggest that 11 AM on Wednesdays is the best time to post on Instagram, remember that is a generic data point.
What truly matters is knowing when your audience is active on Instagram. For example, imagine one small handmade jewelry business posted at 11 AM on Instagram, which is a time many suggest, but their posts weren’t getting a lot of engagement.
Using Instagram Insights, they found they had more followers online around 8 PM. Why?
First, millennials and Gen Z often use Instagram to chill out after their daily activities, making evenings a better time for engagement. Then, many of their followers had regular 9-to-5 jobs and checked Instagram while they went home or rested at night.
When they adjusted their posting schedule and considered their audience’s activity, their engagement rates, and sales increased.
When Is the Best Time to Post on Instagram in 2024?
Knowing what time of the day to post on Instagram could make a big difference in engagement and visibility. On average, the best times are after the times between 7 AM. and 9 AM, when users often check their phones first thing in the morning or on the way to work/school. Then again you can post from 10 AM to 2 PM, the mid-morning breaks and lunchtime, when users are checking their phone again.
Tuesdays and Wednesdays are more engaging, so they are ideal for posting between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.
It’s important to remember that these rules do not apply to every business. Different businesses will see varied engagement levels based on their own target audience. This is why you need to test out and monitor your posting times against your own audience data. This will allow you to find the right posting schedule for your brand.
People usually check their phones at three main times throughout the day—when they wake up, at lunchtime, and in the evening when chilling out. Using these habits to post content will potentially increase views and engagement.
It is also important to understand that the Instagram algorithm is complicated, and the timing of your posts is only part of the equation. You need to continue posting high-quality content to get the balance right. Once you nail balancing great content with good timing and frequency, the sky will be the limit when it comes to your Instagram marketing strategy, and your efforts will reflect this.
The Best Times to Post on Instagram by Days
In the table below, you can see the best times to post on Instagram for each day of the week:
| Day | Best Time to Post | Additional Information |
| Monday | 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. | Decent engagement from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. |
| Tuesday | 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. | Twice the engagement of Monday |
| Wednesday | 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. | Highest engagement periods of the week |
| Thursday | 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., 2 p.m. | Slight dip at 1 p.m. |
| Friday | 11 a.m | Moderate engagement hours throughout the workday |
| Saturday | 9 a.m. to noon | Significant decrease in engagement compared to weekdays |
| Sunday | 10 a.m. to noon | Less engagement throughout the day |
What Is The Best Time to Post Reels on Instagram?
Here are the best times to post Reels on Instagram for optimal engagement each day of the week:
| Day | Best Time to Post Reels |
| Monday | 5 AM, 9 AM, 9 PM |
| Tuesday | 1 AM, 3 AM, 8 AM |
| Wednesday | 6 AM, 7 AM, 10 PM |
| Thursday | 8 AM, 11 AM, 6 PM |
| Friday | 4 AM, 12 PM, 2 PM |
| Saturday | 10 AM, 6 PM, 7 PM |
| Sunday | 6 AM, 7 AM, 3 PM |
According to a 2024 study of Reels hosted on Meta platforms Facebook and Instagram, the highest average video views on either platform were in the late hours of the day, especially at midnight.
Instagram Reels that were published at midnight generated approximately 25,000 views on average, while Facebook Reels published at the same time received approximately half of the views, or 12,300 on average during the first quarter of 2024.
However, the most popular posting time for content creators was 6 in the afternoon, with 119,000 Reels published on Instagram and 60,000 Reels published on Facebook at that time, respectively.
What Are the Best Times to Post on Instagram by Industry?
Below is a table that shows an overview of when to post on Instagram for different industries:
| Industry | Best Times to Post | Best Days to Post | Worst Days to Post |
| Hospitals & Healthcare | Mondays: 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Tuesdays: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesdays: 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Thursdays: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.Fridays: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. | Tuesdays through Fridays | Sundays |
| Restaurants | Mondays: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesdays: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesdays: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursdays: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Fridays: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. | Weekdays | Weekends |
| Schools & Education | Wednesdays: 2 to 4 p.m. and 9 p.m. | Wednesdays | Sundays |
| Travel and Tourism | Weekdays: 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.Weekends: 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. | Tuesdays and Wednesdays | None |
| Fashion and Apparel | Weekdays: 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Weekends: 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. | Weekends, especially Saturdays | None |
| Fitness and Wellness | Weekdays: 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.Weekends: 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. | Tuesdays and Wednesdays | None |
| Food and Beverage | Weekdays: 6 a.m. to 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.Weekends: 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. | Friday, Saturday, and Sunday | None |
| Digital Marketing/Social Media | Weekdays: 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.Weekends: Limited activity, but occasional posts from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. | Monday to Thursday | None |
| IT Brands | Weekdays: 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Weekends: 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. | Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday | None |
What Is The Best Time to Post on Instagram in Different Regions?
In the table below, you can check out the best times to post on Instagram across different regions:
| Day | United States | Canada | UAE | Japan | Australia | Switzerland | India (IST) | UK (EST) |
| Monday | 11 A.M. | 12 P.M. | 7 P.M. | 9 P.M. | 6 P.M. | 6 P.M. | 3:15 PM, 7:30 PM, 7:30 AM | 6 AM, 12 PM, 10 PM |
| Tuesday | 9 A.M. | 12 P.M. | 12 P.M. | 8 P.M. | 6 P.M. | 6 P.M. | 11:30 AM, 1:30 PM, 6:30 PM | 6 AM to 6 PM |
| Wednesday | 11 A.M. | 12 P.M. | 7 P.M. | 8 P.M. | 6 P.M. | 6 P.M. | 4:30 PM, 5:30 PM, 8:30 AM | 8 AM, 11 PM |
| Thursday | 12 P.M. | 12 P.M. | 6 P.M. | 9 P.M. | 6 P.M. | 7 P.M. | 6:30 PM, 9:30 PM, 4:30 AM | 7 AM, 12 PM, 7 PM |
| Friday | 10 A.M. | 12 P.M. | 11 P.M. | 8 P.M. | 5 P.M. | 5 P.M. | 2:30 PM, 10:30 PM, 12:30 AM | 9 AM, 4 PM, 7 PM |
| Saturday | 12 P.M. | 12 P.M. | 1 P.M. | 8 P.M. | 6 P.M. | 6 P.M. | 8:30 PM, 4:30 AM, 5:30 AM | 11 AM, 7 PM to 8 PM |
| Sunday | 12 P.M. | 12 P.M. | 11 A.M. | 7 P.M. | 6 P.M. | 6 P.M. | 4:30 PM, 5:30 PM, 2:00 AM | 10 AM to 4 PM |
Best Times to Post on Instagram: Morning vs. Night
The time you are posting content, whether morning or night, can make a great difference in user engagement. Posting in the morning allows you to reach users during their daily routine while posting in the evening might find them relaxed and more likely to engage.
Here is a comparison between posting in the morning and night to help you modify your strategy.
| Time of Day | Advantages | Considerations |
| Morning | High Engagement Rates: Many users check their phones first thing in the morning.Routine Checking: Users browse during their morning routine. Starting the Day: Captures attention when users are most alert. | Competition: High competition with many brands posting. Content Type: Quick, engaging content works best. |
| Night | Relaxation Time: Users are more relaxed and spend more time on social media. Less Competition: Less competition from other brands.Catch-Up Time: Users catch up on activities they missed during the day. | Audience Behavior: Not all audiences are active at night. Content Consumption: Longer, more engaging content works better. |
How to Find the Best Time to Post on Instagram For Your Business?
Finding what’s the best time to post on Instagram is crucial for increasing Instagram engagement. Here are two tips to help you out.
1. Use Instagram Insight or Creator Studio
Two powerful ways to find out when to post on Instagram are the built-in Insights within the app and Instagram Creator Studio. Both tools will give meaningful insights into your followers’ peak activity times.
Instagram Insight: A Snapshot of When Followers Are Most Active on Instagram
You can identify the best time of day to post on Instagram by studying metrics such as reach, impressions, and the time when most of your followers are active.
2. Find Your Best Times to Post with AiGrow
Another powerful method for finding the best posting times is to use AiGrow. This platform offers an Instagram account manager who helps you analyze your account’s performance and recommends the best times to post.
AiGrow uses advanced algorithms and data analysis to pinpoint the optimal posting schedule that works best for your specific audience and industry. Using AiGrow, you can ensure your posts are timed perfectly to get the most engagement and drive better results for your business.
What Affects the Best Time to Post on Instagram?
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer regarding the optimal posting times. The best day and time to post on Instagram? A lot of factors are going to determine that, all of which could affect the type of engagement you might see. Understanding these factors will help you in the process of refining your strategy on Instagram.
- Different Seasons or Holidays
Seasons and holidays change Instagram users’ activity. For example, near Thanksgiving and Christmas, the optimal engagement is in the mornings when people set up the celebrations. However, during the actual holidays, engagement decreases significantly since people are busy with their families.
Engagement during summertime is also highest in the evenings after people spend a lot of time outdoors. Following the seasonal tendency and posting according to that helps maintain a high rate of engagement.
- Content Type
The type of content you are posting will also affect the best times to post. Different types of content -videos, carousels, and single images- may perform better at other times of the day:
- Videos: Specifically, they perform better during peak activity times, like evenings, when users have more free time to watch longer content.
- Carousels: These can be effective during mid-morning and early afternoon. They show a mix of images and information that users can engage with during breaks.
- Single Images: Often do well in the mornings and late afternoons when users quickly scroll through their feeds.
- Analyzing Competitor Posting Times
Dig in through your competitors’ posting times. Check their posting time and the number of likes and comments they get. Tools like social media analytic platforms can be helpful in tracking competitors’ activities and identifying patterns that you can use in your strategy. Analyzing your competitors can give ideas for posting schedule benchmarks and keep you in front of them.
The best time to post on Instagram for likes and overall engagement is affected by seasonal changes, holidays, the type of content, and competitors’ activities. During analysis, consider these factors to straighten out your posting strategy.
Conclusion
In the world of Instagram, timing can be the difference between a post that gets lost in the feed and one that goes viral. When you post at the right times and keep an eye on when your specific audience is most active, you can boost your engagement and reach.
Remember, while timing is crucial, maintaining and growing your audience also needs regular posting of high-quality content.
Experiment, analyze, and adjust your strategy to find what works best for you. Now, go ahead and let your Instagram posts shine!
Best Time to Post on Instagram FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions on the best times to post on Instagram:
1. What Is the Best Day of the Week to Post on Instagram?
The best day of the week to post on Instagram is Thursday, specifically at 12:00 PM and 05:00 PM. During these times, users are most active, leading to maximum engagement for your posts.
Key Insights:
- Thursday: Posting at 12:00 PM and 05:00 PM captures users during their lunch break and early evening, times when engagement is highest.
- Monday and Friday: These days also see high engagement, making them excellent secondary options for posting.
2. Should I Post at the Same Time Every Day?
Try to be consistent, but it’s good to mix up the times a bit to find out what works best for your audience. Your engagement metrics can really help with that.
3. How Often Should I Post on Instagram to Maintain Engagement?
If you’re wondering how often you should post on Instagram to maintain a balanced and engaging presence, just post consistently, whether once a day or several times a week. The bottom line is to keep up a pace while ensuring quality does not fall through the floor.
