Instagram is a powerhouse of engagement, with 4.2 billion likes occurring daily. However, reality may hit you differently. Despite efforts to create high-quality posts, some people are not receiving the same level of engagement as before.
Many businesses suffer the same fate by neglecting one crucial factor: the time to post on Instagram. Time is a crucial element when posting on Instagram, as the timeliness of your post impacts the Instagram algorithm.
The more active your followers are when you post, the more early engagement you will reap. Additionally, if the Instagram algorithm tags your content as popular or interesting, it will be shown to more people.
Figuring out the best Instagram posting time is simple: post when most of your audience is active and ready to engage. You can learn when your followers are most active by checking your Instagram Insights.
In this article, you will learn the best time to post by industry and country on Instagram. Let’s start.
🔑 Key Takeaways
- To determine the best time to post on Instagram, know when your target audience is active online.
- When considering when to post on Instagram, consider the day of the week, your audience’s timezone, content type, frequency, and more.
- Posting on weekdays during working hours receives more engagement than on weekends and late-night and early mornings.
- You can focus on general timing only if you are just starting, but after gaining a good following, you can check Instagram’s propriety data to see how often your followers engage with your content.
- When posting globally, check where most viewers are and post when they are active.
Discover the Best Time to Post on Instagram in 2023.
The best time to post on Instagram may differ from other social media platforms. Generally, the best time to post on Instagram is 11:00 a.m. on Wednesdays.
People are more relaxed on Wednesdays and have time to scroll through Instagram during lunch.
For those who succeed in posting at any time, knowing the best posting days and times may not matter.
However, if you look at your posts’ analytics, you can see that some days and times do better than others. This is simply because people use Instagram more on certain days and times than others.
Here are some factors to consider when thinking about when to post on Instagram:
- Day of the week – Weekdays are highly recommended over weekends when determining the best time for posting.
- Target audience’s time zone – Understanding where most of your audience is located and their local time zone is crucial in determining the best time for your post.
- Content type and purpose – Consider the nature of your content and purpose. Posting during working hours might be more effective if you share informative or educational content. Conversely, entertaining or visually captivating content might perform better during leisure hours.
- Frequency of posting – No matter how often you post, the key is consistency. Think about user feeds and how often they want to see your content. Consider your ratio of Instagram posts to Instagram stories, and from there, find the times that work for you.
| 🎉Fun Fact: Over 500 million people use Instagram Stories every day. |
In the next section, you will learn the best times and days to post on Instagram and when to post across industries and on posting reels.
The Ideal Time of Day to Post on Instagram
Instagram users are most likely to engage with content during work hours, mid-day, and mid-week. On the other hand, weekends are the worst days to post.
Saturday and Sunday posts rarely receive much engagement on the platform. It is possible that on weekends people are out, meeting friends and visiting places, and are not scrolling through their online profiles.
Here’s a quick look at the best times of the day when people are usually online and ready to engage from Monday to Sunday:
| Day | Time |
| Monday | 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm |
| Tuesday | 8:00 am to 10:00 am |
| Wednesday | 9:00 am to 11:00 am |
| Thursday | 11:00 am to 2:00 pm |
| Friday | 7:00 am to 2:00 pm |
| Saturday | 9:00 am |
| Sunday | 7:00 pm |
Monday
The best time to post on Mondays is 12:00 pm. Mondays are typically the start of the week for most working people. Get your content online by lunch (12:00 pm to 1:00 pm). This is a good time to reach a larger audience because they can check their social profiles while taking a break.
Tuesday
Posting early on Tuesdays between 8:00 am and 10:00 am can be a strategic choice, as it’s no longer as hectic as Monday. Also, it falls in the middle of the workweek, when people have settled into their routine.
| 🎉 Fun Fact Instagram stories can help you increase engagement with your audience. In fact, 70% of Instagram users watch stories daily. |
Wednesday
Having your post live from 9:00 am to 11:00 am on Wednesday is a strategic choice. Furthermore, the best time to post on Instagram is on Wednesday at 11:00 am. This time on Wednesdays gets more engagement than other times and days of the week.
Thursday
The best time to post on Instagram is at 11:00 am on Thursdays. Generally, the 11:00 am to 2:00 pm time frame is suitable for any engagement on any weekday.
Friday
The best time to post on Instagram on a Friday is 2:00 pm. Engagement is consistent from 7:00 am to 2:00 pm on Friday, giving you more time to post.
| 📝 Note Take note that these are only general timings. You can focus on these general timings only if you are starting. After gaining a good following, you can check Instagram’s propriety data to see how often your followers engage with your content. |
Saturday
Post your content by 9:00 am on Saturday. This is the best time to catch people’s attention before they start making plans for the weekend.
Sunday
The best time to post on Instagram on Sundays is at 7:00 pm. People may have recovered from their weekend activities by this time and have time to scroll through Instagram.
Instagram has the lowest engagement on Sundays, so avoid posting content you hope will get engagement.
Aside from knowing the best time to post your content, understanding the right timing for each sector can significantly enhance your online presence and overall impact.
In the next section, we’ll explore the optimal posting times for different industries
Best Time to Post Across Industries
General data on optimal posting timing is a great starting point if you don’t have any idea where to begin. To get more specific, you can test different posting times for your Instagram account and industry.
You can also keep track of when your top competitors are posting and see if their time works for you too.
| 💡 Did you know That hashtags are necessary to make your content visible? Hashtags can help you reach more Instagram users and promote your content. If you want to know more about Instagram hashtags, check out Techjury’s article on Most Popular Instagram Hashtags and How to Correctly Use Them |
Here are the best times to post on Instagram for several popular industries:
Social Media and Digital Marketing
The best time to post for social media and digital marketing is during working hours, from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm on Mondays and Fridays. Most postings are done on weekdays and during business hours; less is done on weekends.
Best times
- Mondays at 9:00 am to 3:00 pm
- Thursdays at 9:00 am to 3:00 pm
Best days
- Mondays
- Thursdays
Worst days
- Saturdays
- Sundays
Consumer Goods
Posting at 2:00 pm on Thursdays is optimal for consumer goods businesses. Every day has some engagement, but it peaks at 2:00 pm on Thursday. On Tuesdays, people are also beginning to kick up their engagement from 10:00 am until 3:00 pm.
Here are the best and worst posting times and days:
Best times
- Thursday at 2:00 pm
Best days
- Thursdays
- Tuesdays
Worst days
- Sundays
| 💡Did you know That selecting a good Instagram user name can also impact your engagement? Choosing the right name for a business is of utmost importance, as Instagram is the place where people follow brands. Check out our article on 30+ Awesome Instagram Usernames Ideas To Make You Stand Out. |
Food and Beverages
The best times for posting for food and beverages are often just before lunch or dinner. Mondays are the best days to post at 2:00 pm and before dinner, starting at 4:00 pm.
Best times
- Mondays at 2:00 pm and 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm
Best days
- Mondays
Worst days
- Thursdays
- Saturdays
- Sundays
Education
For education, high engagement starts in the midmorning and continues until the early evening. The optimal time is 10:00 am on Tuesdays. Fridays and weekends are the worst days to post anything education-related.
Best times
- Tuesdays: 10:00 am and 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm
- Wednesdays: 12:00 pm and 3:00 pm
- Thursdays: 10:00 am to 12:00 pm
Best days
- Tuesdays
Worst days
- Fridays
- Weekends
Clothing and Fashion
Instagram is a fitting platform for clothing and fashion brands. During weekends, people tend to engage more in clothing and fashion posts. The best time to post about clothing and fashion is during midday and near dinner time.
Best time for weekdays
- 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm
- 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm
Best time for weekends
- 9:00 am to 11:00 am
- 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm
Healthcare
The best time to post for healthcare is at 1:00 pm on Thursdays. Moderate engagements start at 7:00 am on all days of the week, but the highest is on Thursday after lunch.
Also, some days get above-average engagement in the afternoon, from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm on Tuesdays and Fridays.
Best time
- Thursday at 1:00 pm
Best days
- Tuesdays
- Thursdays
- Fridays
Worst days
- Sundays
Media
For media-related Instagram posting, the best times are at 11:00 am on Mondays and Wednesdays and 10:00 am on Thursdays. These are the best times when engagement kicks in. Moreover, there are also considerable engagements from 5:00 am through 3:00 pm from Mondays through Fridays.
Best times
- Mondays at 11:00 am
- Wednesdays at 11:00 am
- Thursdays at 10:00 am
Best days
- Mondays
- Wednesdays
- Thursdays
Worst days
- Saturdays
- Sundays
Hospitality
Tuesdays at 10:00 am, Wednesdays from 11:00 am to 1: pm, and Fridays at 10:00 am are best for hospitality posts.
Engagement kicks in from late mornings until lunch, and then moderate engagement happens in the afternoon until 5:00 pm throughout the week. This could be because people are beginning to plan their weekends.
Best times
- Tuesdays at 10:00 am
- Wednesdays from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm
- Thursdays at 12:00 pm
- Fridays from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm
Best days
- Tuesdays
- Wednesdays
Worst days
- Sundays
Travel and Tourism
Tuesdays at 10 am are the best days to post for travel and tourism businesses. It is the time when people take a break from work and have time to scroll through their Instagram accounts.
Best times
- Tuesdays at 10:00 am
Best days
- Tuesdays
- Wednesdays
Worst days
- Thursdays
- Saturdays
- Sunday
Non-Profit
The best time to post for non-profit companies is Wednesday, with 10:00 am as the optimal time. Moreover, posting on Tuesdays and Fridays can also give you higher engagement.
During these times and days, people are more relaxed and have time to scroll on their devices and check Instagram.
Best times
- Tuesdays at 10:00 am to 1:00 pm
- Wednesdays at 11:00 am to 5:00 pm
- Fridays, from 10:00 am to noon
Best days
- Wednesday
Worst days
- Saturdays
- Sundays
Optimal Time to Upload Instagram Reels
The best time to post reels on Instagram is between 9:00 am and 12:00 pm from Monday to Thursday. Instagram reels can get up to 300% more engagement than regular Instagram videos.
With its growing popularity, you must also identify the best time to post reels to get more eyes on them.
Here’s a guide that you can use as to when to post reels on certain days:
| Best Time to Post Instagram Reels | ||
| Day | AM | PM |
| Monday | 3:00 am | 7:00 pm |
| Tuesday | 12:00 am, 1:00 am, and 6:00 am | – |
| Wednesday | 4:00 am, 6:00 a.m | 9:00 pm |
| Thursday | 6:00 am | 4:00 pm |
| Friday | 2:00 am, 11:00 am | 1:00 pm |
| Saturday | 9:00 am | 4:00 pm, 5:00 pm |
| Sunday | 5:00 am, 8:00 am | 1:00 pm |
Source: SocialPilot
| 🎉 Fun Fact Instagram allows you to download your own Reels to your phone. To learn how to download reels, check out our article on downloading Instagram reels on Android, iPhone, and desktop. |
Learn the best Instagram posting times by country in the next section.
Ideal Time to Post on Instagram by Country
The behavior of audiences varies depending on where they are in the world. You can benefit from knowing when they are most active on Instagram and posting within those active hours.
With multiple audiences in different time zones, consider posting in a time zone when your large following is most active. If you want to reach a larger audience in a specific time zone, post during peak hours for that time zone.
Here are some general guidelines for the best times to post on Instagram in the following countries:
| 🎉 Fun Fact Using trending audio in your post feed can increase its reach. It can boost algorithmic favor. If you can’t find music on Instagram, check out our article on Why Can’t I Search for Music on IG: 5 Quick Solutions |
US
The best time to post on Instagram in the US is 11:00 am. It is during this time that users are active and ready to engage on Instagram. Moreover, the best days to post are Mondays and Sundays.
Weekdays: 9:00 am to 1:00 pm and 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm
Weekends: 10:00 am to 1:00 pm
People check their social media during breaks and after work, so posting during lunch and after work on weekdays is effective.
Posting in the late morning and early afternoon on weekends is beneficial because people have more time to engage with the content.
| 🎉 Fun fact Feed, Explore, and Reels each have their own algorithm. To know how Instagram algorithms work and how you can work around them, check Techjury’s article on How Instagram Algorithms Work [Reels, Stories, Posts, Explore Page] |
Australia
In Australia, the best time to post on Instagram is usually between 6:00 pm and 8:00 pm on Sundays, Mondays, and Fridays.
This timeframe aligns with peak usage hours when people relax after work or school. The worst days to post are Saturdays, between 12:00 am and 5:00 am.
Weekdays: 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Weekends: 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm
UK
The best time to post on Instagram in the UK can vary depending on your target audience and their habits.
Instagram posts get the most engagement at 6:00 pm on Sundays and Thursdays, when more people are online.
Tuesday is considered the worst day to post on Instagram. Moreover, posting late, between 11:00 pm and 6:00 am has less engagement.
Weekdays: 11:00 am to 1:00 pm and 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Weekends: 9:00 am to 8:00 pm
UAE
You can increase engagement by posting at 6:00 pm, the best time to post in the country. UAE workers have regular work hours, making them more likely to check Instagram and engage after work.
Furthermore, Saturday posts receive more engagement than other days, with Thursday posts receiving less.
Weekdays: 11:00 am to 1:00 pm and 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Weekends: 11:00 am to 1:00 pm and 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm
South Africa
Posting at 6:00 pm on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays gets the most engagement. People are more active and have time to look at their social profiles during these times.
Saturdays have the lowest engagement of the week, as do late-night and early-morning posts.
Weekdays: 8:00 am-1:00 pm and 5:00 pm to 6:00 pm
Weekends: 10:00 am to 1:00 pm and 5:00 pm to 6:00 pm
India
As of April 2023, India has 326.6 million active Instagram users. Posting at peak times can boost your engagement. The best time for posting on Instagram in India is 6:00 pm on Sundays.
Posting on Thursday gets the least attention of the week’s days. Avoid posting late at night and early in the morning; Instagram users seldom check their accounts.
Weekdays: 10:00 am to 12:00 pm and 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm
Weekends: 10:00 am to 12:00 pm and 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Conclusion
When posting on Instagram, nothing is more satisfying than seeing your post get noticed. However, getting good engagement takes a lot of work.
One factor that affects your engagement is posting during the times and days of the week when your audience is most active in engaging with your content.
While there is no single best time to post on Instagram, you can get a general idea of the most popular times and days to post.
You can use these best times as your starting point when you don’t have enough followers. Ultimately, you can also combine it with Instagram insights to learn more about your audience’s Instagram habits.
FAQs
Is 11:00 pm still a good time to post on Instagram?
Late-night hours between 11:00 pm and 3:00 am are considered the worst time to post on Instagram. These hours have lower engagement almost every day of the week.
What is the ideal number of posts on Instagram?
Most brands post at least 2-3 times per week and no more than 1-2 times per day. Posting more than twice a day may be considered spam.
Does Instagram have a post limit? +
Instagram does not have a post limit. It only restricts follow and unfollow and prevents you from commenting more than 180–200 times daily.
Sources
Timeline Of The Article
Muninder Adavelli is a core team member and Digital Growth Strategist at Techjury. With a strong background in marketing and a deep understanding of technology's role in digital marketing, he brings immense value to the TechJury team.