Best Time to post on Instagram
Instagram is one of the most popular social media platforms in the world, with over 1 billion monthly active users. With so many people using the platform, it can be challenging to get your content seen by the right audience. One of the most important factors in increasing your visibility on Instagram is understanding when to post.
In this post, we will take a closer look at the best times to post on Instagram and how you can use this information to optimize your posting schedule and boost engagement on your account. Whether you’re a business, influencer, or just looking to grow your personal brand, this guide will provide you with the knowledge and strategies you need to succeed on Instagram.
How to Find When Your Followers are Mostly Active?
One of the most effective ways to find when your followers are mostly active is by using Instagram Insights. Insights is a built-in analytics tool that allows you to see a variety of data about your followers, including when they are most active on the platform.

- You can access this information by going to your profile, tapping on the three horizontal lines in the top right corner, and selecting “Insights.” you will be able to see a graph that shows the average engagement on your posts by day and by hour. You can use this information to determine the best times to post on Instagram.
Another way to find when your followers are mostly active is by using third-party tools such as Hootsuite, Sprout Social, and Later. These tools can provide you with detailed analytics about your Instagram activity, including when your followers are most active. They also offer scheduling features, which allow you to schedule your posts in advance based on the best times to post.

You can also identify when your followers are mostly active by analyzing the engagement on your posts. Look for patterns in the number of likes, comments, and views on your posts and use this information to determine when your followers are most active. Additionally, you can also look at your audience demographics, such as age, location, and gender, to identify when they are mostly online.

Lastly, you can also ask your followers directly when they are mostly active. This can be done through a survey or by asking them in your stories or post. This way you can have an idea of when they are active and plan your post accordingly.
By using a combination of these methods, you can identify the best times to post on Instagram to reach your audience when they are most active
What is the Best Times to Post on Instagram?
There are a few important factors to keep in mind when choosing the best times to post on Instagram. The kind of content you post is one of the most important parts. For example, the best times to post differ for Reels, Stories, Videos, and Live.
1. Best Time to Post Reels:
Instagram Reels are on their way to taking over the platform. It can be difficult to determine the best time to post Reels on Instagram, but here’s what researchers discovered after studying over 100,000 reels on Instagram to find the highest engagement rates.

Best time to post Reels on Instagram from Monday to Sunday is during the weekdays, specifically Monday to Thursday. It is best to post during off-peak hours, Such as
- 9AM – 11AM,
- 2PM – 4PM,
- 7PM – 9PM.
Because your audience is less likely to be bombarded with other content during these hours, they are more likely to interact with your Reels.
It’s important to note that engagement is lower on weekends in general, so if you decide to post reels on weekends, make sure to do so during peak hours, such as 12PM -1PM and 7PM – 9PM, when there will be less competition for attention.
2. Best Time to Post Stories:

The best time of engagement caught to post Stories on Instagram from Monday to Sunday is during the weekends, specifically on Saturdays and Sundays. It is recommended to post during the peak hours, such as
- 12PM – 1PM
- 7PM – 9PM
This is because during these hours, your audience is more likely to be free and looking for something to engage with.
On weekdays, engagement is generally lower, so it’s best to post during off-peak hours, such as
- 9AM – 11AM,
- 2PM – 4PM,
- and 7PM – 9PM.
3. Best Time to Post Vedios:

According to the deep research the best time to post Videos on Instagram from Monday to Sunday varies depending on the length of your video. If you’re posting a short-form video, such as a 15-second reel, it’s recommended to post during the weekdays, specifically from Monday to Thursday. It is recommended to post during the off-peak hours, such as
- 9AM – 11AM,
- 2PM – 4PM,
- 7PM – 9PM.
This is because during these hours, your audience is less likely to be inundated with other content and more likely to engage with your videos.
If you’re posting a long-form video, such as a 60-second video or a IGTV video, it’s best to post during the weekends, specifically on Saturdays and Sundays. It is recommended to post during the peak hours, such as 12pm-1pm and 7pm-9pm. This is because during these hours, your audience is more likely to be free and looking for something to engage with
4. Best Time to Go Live:

According to research, the best time to go live on Instagram is during the weekdays, specifically from Monday to Friday. The peak times to go live during these days are at 12 PM or from 7 PM to 9 PM.
Going live during lunchtime on weekdays, specifically at 12 PM is an ideal time as most people are on their lunch break and have a few spare minutes to tune in to a live stream. This is also the time when many people are looking for something to engage with during their break.
Additionally, the after-work hours of 7 PM to 9 PM are also considered the best time to go live on Instagram. This is because audience members and followers tend to relax and unwind by scrolling through their feeds after a long day at work. They are more likely to tune in to a live stream during this time, as they are looking for something to engage with during their leisure time.
When is the best time to Post on Instagram by location?
Location is another factor that may affect the average best time to post on Instagram. Such as Time Zones, Cultural Norms, and the typical schedule of your target audience will all affect the optimal posting time for your account.
For example, if your target audience is located in the United States, the best times to post on Instagram are generally considered to be weekdays from 2 PM to 3 PM and Wednesdays at 11 AM. However, if your target audience is located in a country in Asia, the best times to post on Instagram would be in the evening and night time, as many people in Asia tend to be more active on social media during those hours.

Here are the best times to post in local times across different time zones:
Location | Best Time to Post |
---|---|
US + Canada West Coast | 9PM – 12AM |
US + Canada Central | 10PM – 12 AM |
US + Canada East Coast | 11PM – 4AM |
South America | 5AM |
UK | 3AM – 4AM |
Western Europe | 4AM – 6AM |
Eastern Europe | 5AM – 7AM |
Africa | 2AM – 3AM |
Middle East | 4AM |
East + Southeast Asia | 6AM – 8AM |
Australasia | 11PM – 12AM |
It’s recommended to use Instagram analytics or other tools to analyze the engagement on your posts and determine the best posting time based on the activity of your target audience. Additionally, you can use Instagram Insights to see when your followers are most active, and schedule your posts accordingly.
What is the best time to Post on Instagram by Industry?
According to multiple studies and research, the best time to post on Instagram can vary greatly depending on the industry. From retail to food and hospitality, different industries have unique audiences with different online behaviors. Understanding the best time to post for your specific industry can greatly impact the reach and engagement of your content.
Industry | Best Time to Post on Weekdays | Best Time to Post on Weekends |
---|---|---|
Fashion & Beauty | 11 AM to 4 PM | Not specified |
Food & Beverage | 9 AM to 11 AM | 12 PM to 2 PM |
Travel & Tourism | 2 PM to 4 PM | 9 AM to 11 AM |
Fitness & Wellness | 6 AM to 8 AM and 5 PM to 7 PM | Not specified |
Technology & Business | 9 AM to 5 PM | Not specified |
Time to Avoid Posting on Instagram
In order to determine the best time to post on Instagram, it’s equally important to understand the times to avoid posting. The general consensus is to avoid posting during early mornings (before 9 AM) and late nights (after 9 PM) as these are typically the times when the least amount of users are active on the platform. Additionally, posting during work hours (9 AM to 5 PM) may also result in lower engagement as users are busy with work and not browsing their feeds.
To measure the impact of posting time on your engagement, there are several options available. Instagram’s built-in insights tool provides data on engagement, reach, and audience activity, which can give you a general understanding of the best times to post for your specific audience. However, this data is limited and may not provide a complete picture. Third-party tools, such as Hootsuite, offer more in-depth analytics and the ability to schedule posts in advance, making it easier to test different posting times and track the results.
Benifits of using Instagram’s insights tool or third-party tools include:
- Ability to track engagement, reach, and audience activity
- Ability to schedule posts in advance
- Ability to test different posting times and track results
- Ability to see the impact of posting time on engagement
Ultimately, the best way to determine the best time to post for your specific audience is to experiment with different posting times and compare the results. This will give you a better understanding of what works best for your audience and help you optimize your posting strategy for maximum engagement.
Tips:
- Use Instagram Insights: Instagram provides you with data about your followers, including the times when they are most active on the platform. You can use this information to schedule your posts during peak hours to maximize visibility.
- Experiment with different posting times: Try posting at different times of the day and track the engagement on each post. This will give you a better understanding of the best times to post based on your specific audience.
- Consistency is key: Make a posting schedule and stick to it. Consistent posting will help you build a following and increase engagement over time.
- Consider your audience’s time zone: Make sure you are posting at a time when your target audience is most likely to be online. This will help you reach the maximum number of people and increase engagement.
- Use a scheduling tool: There are several scheduling tools available that can help you schedule your posts in advance and publish them at the best times. This can save you time and effort, and ensure that your content is being published at the optimal time.
- Test and adjust: Always measure and monitor your post performance, keep track of engagement and adjust your posting schedule accordingly. With time, you will be able to find the best posting times for your audience and adjust your strategy accordingly.
Best Website For Instagram Post Scheduling and Analytics To Grow Your Business
Hootsuite:

Hootsuite is a powerful social media management tool that can help businesses and individuals manage their social media accounts, including Instagram. With its user-friendly interface, scheduling feature, and analytics, Hootsuite is an excellent option for those looking to streamline their social media management and improve their social media performance.
Features:
- Social Media Management: Hootsuite allows you to manage multiple social media accounts in one place, including Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and more. You can publish posts, view analytics, and schedule content ahead of time.
- Scheduling: Hootsuite’s scheduling feature allows you to schedule your posts for specific times and dates in advance, which helps you maintain a consistent presence on social media. You can even schedule posts for later on weekends or during off hours when you’re not available.
- Analytics: Hootsuite provides detailed analytics and insights into your social media performance, including reach, engagement, and conversion rates. You can see which posts are performing best and adjust your strategy accordingly.
- Teams and Collaboration: Hootsuite makes it easy for teams to collaborate and manage social media together. You can assign tasks, delegate responsibilities, and track progress, making it an ideal tool for businesses and organizations.
- Mobile App: Hootsuite has a mobile app that allows you to manage your social media accounts on the go. You can schedule posts, view analytics, and respond to messages from your phone or tablet.
Pricing:
Hootsuite offers a range of pricing options to suit different needs and budgets. The basic plan starts at $19 per month, while the professional plan starts at $99 per month. Business plans are available for larger teams and organizations, with prices starting at $599 per month.
Later:

Later is a social media scheduling and management tool that helps businesses and individuals optimize their social media presence by automating the process of publishing and scheduling content. It provides a comprehensive suite of tools for managing Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter accounts.
Features:
- Post scheduling: Later allows you to schedule posts for multiple social media platforms in advance. You can schedule posts up to a year in advance, giving you plenty of time to plan your social media strategy.
- Auto-publishing: Later’s auto-publishing feature ensures that your posts are published even if you’re not available to post them at the scheduled time.
- Media library: Later’s media library stores all of your media in one place, making it easy to access and reuse content.
- Content planning: Later’s content planning feature allows you to plan and visualize your content for the upcoming month, giving you a clear understanding of what your social media presence will look like.
- Analytics: Later provides detailed analytics and insights into your social media performance, allowing you to track and measure your results.
- Team collaboration: Later’s team collaboration features make it easy to work with multiple team members and manage social media accounts collectively.
Pricing:
Later offers several pricing plans, starting from $9 per month. The plans vary based on the number of social media accounts, the number of posts you can schedule in advance, and the level of analytics and team collaboration features you require.
Sprout Social

Sprout Social is a comprehensive social media management platform designed to help businesses and individuals streamline their social media presence and engage with their audiences. With its robust set of features and user-friendly interface, Sprout Social is one of the best options for managing social media accounts and optimizing post schedules.
Features:
- Social Media Management: Sprout Social provides an all-in-one solution for managing social media accounts, including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and more. You can manage all your accounts from a single dashboard, schedule posts, monitor mentions, and track analytics.
- Post Scheduling: The platform makes it easy to schedule posts in advance, so you can focus on creating content instead of worrying about the best time to post. You can schedule posts for multiple accounts, and the platform will automatically publish them at the designated time.
- Social Media Analytics: Sprout Social provides detailed analytics for your social media accounts, including insights into audience growth, engagement, and top-performing content. The platform also offers real-time analytics and metrics, so you can make data-driven decisions about your social media strategy.
- Listening and Engagement: Sprout Social helps you listen to your audience by tracking mentions, keywords, hashtags, and more. You can engage with your followers by responding to comments, messages, and mentions, and you can also track the success of your engagement efforts with analytics.
- Collaboration: Sprout Social makes it easy to collaborate with team members and stakeholders, so you can work together to create effective social media strategies. The platform allows you to assign tasks, share content, and communicate with team members all in one place.
Pricing:
Sprout Social offers several pricing plans based on your business needs, including Professional, Select, Advanced, and Corporate plans. Prices start at $99 per month and go up to $249 per month, depending on the features and level of support you require.
Iconosquare

Iconosquare is a comprehensive and powerful Instagram analytics and management tool for businesses and individuals looking to grow their online presence. It provides in-depth insights, scheduling and publishing capabilities, and an array of other features to help businesses and individuals optimize their Instagram account.
Features:
- Analytics: Iconosquare provides comprehensive analytics including information on engagement rates, follower growth, and post performance. This allows users to see how their posts are performing, where their audience is located, and what types of content get the most engagement.
- Scheduling: Iconosquare’s scheduling feature allows users to schedule posts and stories in advance, saving time and ensuring that content is published at the optimal times.
- Engagement: Iconosquare provides tools for increasing engagement, including the ability to interact with other Instagram users and respond to comments, messages and direct messages.
- Reporting: Iconosquare provides customizable reports, so businesses and individuals can see their performance over time and how they compare to competitors.
Pricing:
Iconosquare offers several pricing options, starting from $29/month for their basic plan and going up to $149/month for their enterprise plan. The pricing depends on the number of Instagram accounts and the level of features required.
Final Words
The best posting time for your account may vary depending on the specific audience and goals of your account. It’s recommended to use Instagram analytics or other tools to monitor the engagement on your posts and determine the best posting time based on the activity of your target audience.
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Frequently Asked Question?
Is 7pm a good time to post on Instagram?
It depends on your target audience and their activity level on the platform. Generally, the best time to post on Instagram is during off-work hours, such as evenings and weekends. It’s recommended to try posting at different times and analyze your engagement rate to determine the best time for your specific audience.
What is the prime time to post on instagram?
There is no universal prime time to post on Instagram as it varies depending on your target audience and their location. However, studies suggest that the best times to post on Instagram are during off-work hours, such as:
Weekdays: around 5 pm and 2 am
Weekends: around 2 pm and 4 am It’s best to experiment with posting at different times and analyze your engagement rate to determine the best time for your specific audience.
What are the 3 best days to post on instagram?
The 3 best days to post on Instagram are:
Wednesday: considered to be the best day as it has the highest engagement rate compared to other weekdays.
Thursday and Friday: both are considered to be good days to post as they’re close to the weekend and people tend to be more active on the platform.
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