What is Best Time To Post On Instagram? (Updated 2023)

In today’s social media-driven world, the timing of your Instagram posts can significantly impact your reach and engagement. With the platform constantly evolving and its algorithm changing, understanding when to hit that share button is crucial for maximizing your Instagram marketing efforts. But what exactly is the best time to post on Instagram, and why does it matter?

Why Does Finding the Best Time to Post on Instagram Matter?

According to socialpilot The Instagram algorithm heavily considers the timing of your posts, making it essential for your content to appear on your followers’ feeds. The algorithm prioritizes posts based on three key factors:

Interest: Posts with content similar to what you’ve previously engaged with will appear at the top of your feed.
Recency: Recent posts are given preference over older ones.
Relationship: Posts from accounts you frequently interact with rank higher on your feed.

Given the importance of recency in post ranking, choosing the right time to post becomes even more significant. Posting when your audience is most active can lead to higher engagement within the first hour, further boosting your post’s visibility and engagement throughout the day.

What Are the Average Best Times to Post on Instagram?

While it’s tempting to look for a universal best time to post, it’s essential to note that the ideal posting times can vary based on your niche and location. That said, an approximate best time to post on Instagram is from 6 am to 11 am PST. However, your business might have a personalized best time, which you can discover through careful analysis.

Here are some general insights based on our extensive study of Instagram posts from over 50,000 accounts:

Weekdays: The best times to post on weekdays are typically before and after work hours (6 am-9 am and 5 pm-6 pm) and during lunch hours (12 pm-2 pm).
Weekends: While weekends are generally less popular for posting, you can still engage your audience until 2 pm.

Best Times to Post on Instagram by the Days of the Week

Now, let’s explore the best times to post on each day of the week:

Monday: 9 am to 10 am is an ideal time to post as people settle into their workweek and scroll through their feeds.
Tuesday: Posting between 9 am and 10 am on Tuesday is recommended, as people remain productive and open to new content.
Wednesday: Wednesdays offer three prime posting windows – 5 am, 11 am, and 3 pm. These slots cater to early birds, mid-morning enthusiasts, and the afternoon audience.
Thursday: The best times on Thursday are 12 pm and 5 pm. Capture your audience during their lunch break and just before the workday ends.
Friday: For Fridays, aim for 9 am to 10 am and 5 pm to 6 pm. People are looking for distractions as the weekend approaches.
Saturday: The best time to post on Saturday is from 8 am to 12 pm when people have leisure time to scroll through Instagram.
Sunday: End the week on a high note by posting between 10 am and 2 pm on Sundays when your audience is relaxed.

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Best Times to Post on Instagram by Industry

Different industries have unique characteristics and audience behaviors, which should inform your posting schedule:

Travel and Tourism: For this industry, weekdays from 10 am to 12 pm and 7 pm to 9 pm, as well as weekends from 9 am to 11 am and 4 pm to 6 pm, work best.
Fashion and Apparel: Ideal times for this sector are weekdays from 12 pm to 2 pm and 7 pm to 9 pm, and weekends from 9 am to 11 am and 5 pm to 7 pm.
Fitness and Wellness: Post early on weekdays (6 am to 8 am and 5 pm to 7 pm) and on weekends (8 am to 10 am and 4 pm to 6 pm), with Tuesdays and Wednesdays being the most engaging days.
Food and Beverage: For this industry, weekdays from 12 pm to 2 pm and weekends from 5 pm to 7 pm are optimal posting times, particularly on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.
Digital Marketing/Social Media: Aim to post on weekdays from 9 am to 11 am and 1 pm to 3 pm, with Monday to Thursday being the best days.
IT Brands: These businesses should focus on weekdays from 10 am to 12 pm and weekends from 1 pm to 3 pm, with Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday being the most engaging days.

Best Time to Post Reels and Stories on Instagram

Instagram Reels have gained immense popularity, with 58% of marketers planning to use them in 2023. Reels’ best times to post depend on various factors, including your location and audience. However, here are some average best times to consider:

Monday: 3 am, 7 pm, and 7 pm
Tuesday: 12 am, 1 am, and 6 am
Wednesday: 4 am, 6 am, and 9 pm
Thursday: 6 am and 4 pm
Friday: 2 am, 11 am, and 1 pm
Saturday: 9 am, 4 pm, and 5 pm
Sunday: 5 am, 8 am, and 1 pm

For Instagram Stories, the best time to post for businesses looking to drive traffic to their profile is on weekdays during lunch breaks, specifically between 11 am and 2 pm.

How to Find the Best Time to Post on Instagram for Your Business?

While the average best times mentioned above can be a great starting point, it’s crucial to discover the optimal posting time for your specific business. You can achieve this in two ways:

Using Insights on the Instagram Application or Creator Studio: Instagram provides native analytics for business accounts and Creator Studio, which offers insights into your followers’ online activity. This data can guide your posting schedule.
Find Your Best Times to Post with SocialPilot: Tools like SocialPilot offer a comprehensive solution for finding the best times to post. Their analytics feature includes a heat map that calculates the average number of active followers at different hours and days, helping you determine your personalized best times.

How to Effectively Use Multiple Best Times to Post on Instagram?

With varying best times for different days and industries, it can be challenging to manually post at all the optimal slots. This is where a social media content scheduler like SocialPilot comes in handy. These tools allow you to schedule posts at various times in advance, ensuring you don’t miss out on engagement opportunities.

In conclusion, discovering the best time to post on Instagram can significantly enhance your engagement and reach. However, remember that the quality of your content remains the ultimate determinant of your success on the platform. So, combine your knowledge of the best times with compelling content to make the most of your Instagram marketing efforts.

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