When to post on Instagram?

The best time to post on Instagram is (Eastern Standard Time, EST);

  • Tuesday at 9 a.m.
  • Thursday at 12 p.m.
  • Friday at 5 a.m.

If you're looking for the best time to post on Instagram, it's between 6am and 11am (PST).

When it comes to engagement on Instagram, posting at the RIGHT time often gives you an extra boost in terms of likes, followers, etc.

But there you have it: there is NO rule of thumb on when is the best time to post on Instagram to get more likes. This depends on several factors including;

  • Your audience
  • Their demographic characteristics
  • Their levels of engagement on the type of content you post
  • What hashtags do you use for maximum reach, and the list goes on.

With that being said, we're going to reveal some of the best times and days to post on Instagram.

Let's get started without further ado.

Contents :

When is the best time to post on Instagram to get likes?

How does Instagram's algorithm work?

It is extremely important to understand Instagram's algorithm. Because that's what affects your reach, likes, and engagement on Instagram.

Instagram takes into account a set of data which includes;

  • Captions and alt text applied to images or videos.
  • Hashtags
  • The content quality score which includes the frequency of your Instagram posts, engagement with followers, tagging by other people, etc.
  • Overall user engagement on images, videos, or actuals.

Apart from these elements, Instagram's algorithm also takes into account the interests and relevance of users.

If Instagram notices that a user likes a specific type of content, it will offer them more.

In summary, if you want your Instagram videos or posts to go viral, try to get more likes, tags, comments, and shares.

Best time to post on Instagram: In a nutshell

Here are some of the best times to post on Instagram, according to multiple sources.

best time to post on instagram

According to Social Pilot (Pacific Standard Time (PST)):

  • Monday: 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.
  • Tuesday: 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.
  • Wednesday: 5 a.m., 11 a.m. and 15 p.m.
  • Thursday: 12 p.m. and 17 p.m.
  • Friday: 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 17 p.m. to 18 p.m.
  • Saturday: 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.
  • Sunday: 10 a.m. to 14 p.m.

Grant Influencer Marketing Hub (US Central Time):

  • Monday: 12:00 p.m.
  • Tuesday: 9:00 a.m.
  • Wednesday: 11:00 a.m.
  • Thursday: 11:00 a.m.
  • Friday: 14:00 p.m.
  • Saturday: 9 a.m.
  • Sunday: 19:00 p.m.

Best time to post reels on Instagram in 2024

Did you know that people share their Instagram videos 1 billion times a day through direct messages? Instagram videos are often engaging and entertaining.

Want to know when is the best time to post videos on Instagram to go viral?

According to Influencer Marketing Hub, here are the best days and times of the week to post Instagram reels (Eastern Time Zone);

  • Monday: 6 a.m., 10 a.m., 22 p.m.
  • Tuesday: 2 a.m., 4 a.m., 9 a.m.
  • Wednesday: 7 a.m., 8 a.m., 11 a.m.
  • Thursday: 9 a.m., 12 p.m., 19 p.m.
  • Friday: 5 a.m., 13 p.m., 15 p.m. 5 a.m., 13 p.m., 15 p.m.
  • Saturday: 11 a.m., 19 p.m., 20 p.m. 11 a.m., 19 p.m., 20 p.m.
  • Sunday: 7 a.m., 8 a.m., 16 p.m.

Consult the following table to get a better idea.

best time to post on instagram

Here are some amazing tips and tricks to get your Instagram Reels going viral in 2024.

  • Reuse the coil that is already working. One of the easiest ways to increase your reach is to rework on your best performing coils. If you have an Instagram reel that already has a big reach, create new versions around the same style or music. Make it even more engaging, add new transitions, layers, etc.
  • Use a green screen. The best part of Instagram reels is that they have a green screen feature. Go to Instagram Actuals, search for Green Screen and Add Media. The green screen feature gives you a clip effect for moving subjects on backgrounds.
  • Create automatic reels. Instagram recently introduced a new feature called “Auto Lives” which automatically creates reels. You can also add audio to your Instagram reels if you want.

3 proven tips for finding the best time to post on Instagram

There are certainly many factors that contribute to the growth of your Instagram.

One of the main factors is the time you post. Want to know how to find the best time to post on Instagram? Here are 3 proven methods for you.

Experiment with different schedules

The best way to get more views is to try different times to post on Instagram.

This way, you can easily find what works best for your particular audience. Try posting at different times of the day and track your engagement rates.

It is ALWAYS best to identify the demographics of your followers. If your readers are in different time zones, plan your posts accordingly.

You can use social media scheduling tools like Buffer, HootSuite, etc. to schedule your posts at different times.

This is what the Buffer dashboard looks like;

best time to post on instagram

As you can see above, Buffer will present you with a list of all your social media activity;

  • The best time for your best posts
  • Range
  • Impressions
  • The likes
  • Engagement rate and more

Post when your followers are online

The key to getting more engagement on your Instagram posts or reels is to post when the majority of your followers are online.

This is where knowing MORE about the demographics of your audience plays a vital role.

You can use Instagram analytics to quickly find the "most active times" for your Instagram account.

This is what it looks like;

As you can see, using Instagram analytics, you can easily find out;

  • The growth of the number of followers
  • Their favorite places
  • The age group
  • Sex
  • Most active hours of your followers

Once you find out your followers' most active hours, only post during those hours (whether it's videos, normal posts, or reels). This is how you will get maximum engagement from your followers on Instagram.

Create a Content Calendar for Instagram

The ONLY way to be successful on Instagram is to post regularly. Unless you're a HUGE celebrity, you'll have to work REALLY hard to build and grow your followers.

This is why regularity is important.

Create a content calendar for your Instagram account. The content calendar is where you create a timing for posting a certain type of content.

Here's a great example of what a test timeline looks like on Instagram (Source: Buffer);

best time to post on instagram

You can start with 3 posts per day (at different times). For best results, consider posting different types of content based on your niche and audience.

Track and analyze your Instagram analytics data. See what works better for you in terms of user engagement. Do more of what works.

Amazing Instagram Stats for 2024 That Will Blow Your Mind

You are looking for statistics fascinating on Instagram? Here is a list of statistics for you.

Who has the most followers on Instagram?

Cristiano Ronaldo is the one with the most followers on Instagram, with more than 565 million followers. He is a Portuguese professional footballer whose net worth is estimated at over $500 million.

How many users will there be on Instagram in 2024?

By 2024, Instagram will have over two billion monthly active users. 70% of Instagram users are under 34. 87% of Instagram users live outside the United States.

Instagram's audience is 52,2% male and 47,8% female (Source: HootSuite).

Is Instagram one of the most popular social media platforms?

Yes, Instagram is the FOURTH most popular social media platform as it currently has 2 billion monthly active users. Facebook, YouTube and WhatsApp are ahead of Instagram in terms of daily active users.

What is the main user activity on Instagram?

According to DataReportal, nearly 70% of users use Instagram to post or share photos and videos.

Instagram being a photo sharing platform, millions of people post or share NEW photos every day.

Which country has the most Instagram users?

According to HootSuite, India is the country with the most Instagram users in the world, with 249 million users logging in from India. India is followed by the United States with 147 million users and Brazil with 117 million users.

How much does the average user spend on Instagram?

Most users around the world spend an average of 11,7 hours per month on Instagram. eMarketer reveals that Americans spend about 30 minutes a day on Instagram.

FAQ:

What is the best day to post on Instagram?

Tuesday is the best day to post on Instagram. 2 a.m., 4 a.m. and 9 a.m. are the best times to post on Instagram on Tuesdays, according to Influencer Marketing Hubs.

When is the best time to post reels on Monday?

The best times to post reels on IG on Mondays: 6 a.m., 10 a.m., and 10 p.m.

When is the best time to post on Instagram Reels?

The best time to post on Instagram Reels depends on when your target audience is most active. HootSuite suggests the best time to post Actuals is between 9 a.m. and 12 p.m., Monday through Thursday.

Does posting time matter on Instagram Reels?

Yes, post time matters a lot on Instagram reels to get more views, likes and engagement. Make sure you know which countries your biggest followers are from so you post at those times when they are most active.

How to make a video go viral?

Here are some proven ways to get your Instagram Reels going viral in 2024.

  • Share your reels on Instagram stories and grids.
  • Tag brands or celebrities in the video to get additional views.
  • Live up on trending topics (and use trending music).

When is the best time to post reals in India?

According to Sprout Social, Tuesday around 11am-14pm is the best time to post on Instagram.

When is the worst time to post on Instagram?

The worst time to post on Instagram is after 14 p.m. on weekends. This may be because people spend time with family or friends. Or that they interact with their phone after 14 p.m. on weekends.

Other resources:

Final thoughts on the best time to post reels to Instagram

When it comes to the best times to post on Instagram, there's no one-size-fits-all solution.

For what ? Because the best Instagram times depend on your followers, their demographics, the type of videos you post, etc.

Use the times above as a guideline to find the best time to post on Instagram for your business. Experiment a LOT with different schedules.

You have questions ? Please let us know in the comments.