Best Time to Post on Instagram

If you’re wondering when to post on Instagram, the answer is simple. Share when your audience is online! You want your content to get engagement right away, as that will prompt the algorithm to keep pushing it into more users’ feeds. Here’s the global and regional trends around post timing and engagement. But remember that the answer for your audience might vary, so keep careful watch of how content performs when you post it at different times.

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Best time of day to post on Instagram

The prime time to post on Instagram this year is between 8pm (20:00) and 9pm (21:00), when the average engagement rate peaks at 7.33%. This period is closely followed by 7pm (19:00) to 8pm (20:00) with an average rate of 7.10%. It seems that evenings continue to be the best time to reach your audience on Instagram.

On the flip side, engagement rate is at its lowest between 8am (08:00) and 9am (09:00), so it's advisable to avoid posting during these early morning hours. Overall, engagement tends to rise gradually from 10am (10:00) through the afternoon, peaking in the evening, which mirrors the trend from last year.

Average engagement rate vs. Hour of day

Average engagement rate

Best day of the week to post on Instagram

This year, Sunday remains the best day to post on Instagram, with an average engagement rate peaking at 6.92%. Saturday is also a strong day for engagement, coming in second with a rate of 6.66%. Interestingly, the start of the workweek, Monday, has risen in the ranks, now showing an engagement rate of 6.53%.

While there is no weak day per se, Friday tends to be the least engaging day of the week with an average rate of 6.16%. Despite minor fluctuations, it's clear that Instagram engagement remains fairly robust throughout the week.

Average engagement rate vs. Day of the week

Average engagement rate

Best day of the week to post on Instagram by engagement

Sunday holds its position as the champion of Instagram engagement, boasting an average of 971.73 engagements per post. Not far behind, Saturday stands strong with an average of 914.34 engagements. These results confirm that the weekend continues to be an optimal time to post for high engagement.

Among weekdays, Monday and Thursday take the lead, with average engagements of 763.85 and 785.55 respectively. Tuesday sees the lowest engagement of the week with an average of 706.86, but overall, every day of the week yields considerable engagement. Scheduling your posts smartly throughout the week can help maximize your Instagram reach and impact.

Average engagement vs. Day of the week

Average engagement

Best time to post on Instagram on Monday

The best time to post on Instagram on a Monday has slightly shifted this year. The peak engagement is now between 8pm (20:00) and 9pm (21:00), with an average engagement rate of 7.87%. This is closely followed by the 7pm (19:00) to 8pm (20:00) slot, averaging 7.18%.

On the other end of the spectrum, early Monday mornings continue to see lower engagement. Particularly, the period from 7am (07:00) to 9am (09:00) has the lowest engagement rates, with averages of 5.38% and 5.44% respectively. Engagement rates start to gradually rise after these hours, leading up to the peak evening time.

Monday

Average engagement rate

Best time to post on Instagram on Tuesday

The best time to post on Instagram on a Tuesday this year is at 8pm (20:00), with an exceptional average engagement rate of 8.83%. The period from 7pm (19:00) to 8pm (20:00) is also highly effective, averaging a 7.90% engagement rate.

Contrary to last year, the lowest engagement rates now occur in the early morning hours from 8am (08:00) to 9am (09:00), with an average engagement rate of 5.37%. Similar to Mondays, engagement begins to rise after these hours, peaking again in the evening.

Tuesday

Average engagement rate

Best time to post on Instagram on Wednesday

The best time to post on Instagram on a Wednesday this year has shifted slightly. The highest average engagement rate now occurs at midnight (0:00) with 7.24%, and the following hour at 1am (01:00) is not far behind with an average rate of 7.38%. Interestingly, another peak occurs at noon (12:00), also with an engagement rate of 7.24%.

Conversely, the lowest engagement rate is found in the early morning from 7am (07:00) to 8am (08:00) with an average of just 5.17%. As with the other days, engagement starts to gradually climb after these hours, reaching the highest points at noon and midnight.

Wednesday

Average engagement rate

Best time to post on Instagram on Thursday

On Thursdays this year, the highest average engagement rate is found later in the evening at 9pm (21:00) with an impressive rate of 8.05%. This is a significant increase compared to last year's peak time of 9 PM, which had an average engagement rate of 6.48%.

However, the lowest engagement rate occurs earlier in the day at 6am (06:00) with just 5.45%. Following this, engagement gradually increases throughout the day, reaching another notable peak at 10am (10:00) with a 7.69% engagement rate.

Thursday

Average engagement rate

Best time to post on Instagram on Friday

On Fridays this year, the peak average engagement rate is at 1 AM (01:00) with 7.55%. This significantly differs from last year when the peak hour was at 9 PM, which had an average engagement rate of 6.48%.

However, the lowest engagement rate now occurs at 7 AM (07:00) with just 5.05%. After this, engagement gradually increases throughout the day, reaching another high point at 9 PM (21:00) with a 7.59% engagement rate.

Friday

Average engagement rate

Best time to post on Instagram on Saturday

On Saturdays this year, the highest average engagement rate is at 10 PM (22:00) with 8.25%, a significant change from last year's peak time of 8 PM, which had an average engagement rate of 7.20%.

Conversely, the hour with the lowest engagement rate is now at 6 AM (06:00) with just 5.32%. The engagement rate then gradually increases throughout the day, with another peak occurring at 7 PM (19:00) with a rate of 7.39%.

Saturday

Average engagement rate

Best time to post on Instagram on Sunday

For Sundays this year, the highest average engagement rate is seen at 7 PM (19:00) with 7.46%. This is a shift from last year's peak time of 8 PM, which had an average engagement rate of 7.33%.

On the other hand, the hour with the lowest engagement rate is now at 5 AM (05:00) with only 5.49%. The engagement rate then starts to increase throughout the day, with another peak occurring at 5 PM (17:00) with a rate of 7.55%.

Sunday

Average engagement rate

Best time of day to post on Instagram in North America

For the year 2023 in North America, the best time to post on Instagram for maximum engagement appears to be at 9 PM (21:00), which has an average engagement rate of 7.715%. This is closely followed by 11 PM (23:00) with an average engagement rate of 6.933%, and 7 PM (19:00) with 6.902%.

The time period with the lowest engagement rates is early in the morning at 7 AM (07:00) with an engagement rate of 5.793%, followed by 8 AM (08:00) with an engagement rate of 5.761%. This suggests that posting later in the day or at night tends to result in higher engagement.

Average engagement rate vs. Hour of day in North America

Average engagement rate

Best time of day to post on Instagram in the UK

In the UK for the year 2023, the best time to post on Instagram to maximize engagement appears to be at 10 PM (22:00), which has an average engagement rate of 7.407%. This is followed by 4 PM (16:00) with an average engagement rate of 6.981%, and 9 PM (21:00) with 6.941%.

The time period with the lowest engagement rates is early in the morning at 3 AM (03:00) with an engagement rate of 5.456%, followed by 8 AM (08:00) with an engagement rate of 5.349%. This again suggests that posting in the late afternoon to evening tends to result in higher engagement.

Average engagement rate vs. Hour of day in North America

Average engagement rate

Best day of the week to post on Instagram in North America

For the year 2023 in North America, the best day to post on Instagram to maximize engagement appears to be on Sunday, with an average engagement of 871.82. This is followed by Saturday with an average engagement of 777.75, and Friday with an average engagement of 753.82.

The day with the lowest engagement is Tuesday, with an average engagement of 677.89. This suggests that posting later in the week and on weekends tends to result in higher engagement in North America.

Average engagement vs. Day of the week in North America

Average engagement

Best day of the week to post on Instagram in the UK

For the year 2023 in the UK, the best day to post on Instagram for maximum engagement is Saturday, with an average engagement of 1062.21. This is followed by Sunday with an average engagement of 859.08, and Monday with an average engagement of 793.32.

The day with the lowest engagement is Friday, with an average engagement of 578.63. This suggests that, for UK-based Instagram users, posting at the beginning of the week and the weekend tends to result in higher engagement.

Average engagement vs. Day of the week in the UK

Average engagement

Best time to post on Instagram in Los Angeles

In Los Angeles, for the year 2023, the best time to post on Instagram to maximize engagement appears to be at 9 PM (21:00), with an average engagement rate of 9.80%. This is followed by 1 PM (13:00) with an average engagement rate of 8.19% and 6 PM (18:00) with an average engagement rate of 7.37%.

The hours with the lowest engagement rates are between 10 AM (10:00) and 3 PM (15:00), with engagement rates ranging from 5.21% to 5.66%.

Average engagement vs. Hour of day in Los Angeles

Average engagement

Best time to post on Instagram in Atlanta

In Atlanta, for the year 2023, the best time to post on Instagram to maximize engagement appears to be at 10 PM (22:00), with an average engagement rate of 8.90%. This is followed by 4 PM (16:00) with an average engagement rate of 8.43% and 7 PM (19:00) with an average engagement rate of 6.73%.

The hours with the lowest engagement rates are between 9 AM (09:00) and 11 AM (11:00), with engagement rates ranging from 3.77% to 4.48%.

Average engagement vs. Hour of day in Atlanta

Average engagement

Best time to post on Instagram in New York

In New York City, for the year 2023, the best time to post on Instagram to maximize engagement appears to be at 8 PM (20:00), with an average engagement rate of 8.68%. This is followed by 5 AM (05:00) with an average engagement rate of 6.92% and 7 AM (07:00) with an average engagement rate of 6.85%.

The hours with the lowest engagement rates are between 10 AM (10:00) and 12 PM (12:00), with engagement rates ranging from 5.06% to 5.33%.

Average engagement vs. Hour of day in New York

Average engagement

Best time to post on Instagram in Miami

In Miami, for the year 2023, the best time to post on Instagram to maximize engagement appears to be at 1 AM (01:00), with an average engagement rate of 7.15%. This is followed by 5 AM (05:00) with an average engagement rate of 6.68% and 9 AM (09:00) with an average engagement rate of 6.39%.

The hours with the lowest engagement rates are between 8 AM (08:00) and 10 AM (10:00), with engagement rates ranging from 3.56% to 3.87%.

Average engagement vs. Hour of day in Miami

Average engagement

Best time to post on Instagram in London

In London, for the year 2023, the best time to post on Instagram to maximize engagement appears to be at 1 AM (01:00), 2 AM (02:00), and 3 AM (03:00), all with an average engagement rate of 6.73%. This is followed by 9 PM (21:00) with an average engagement rate of 6.55% and 8 PM (20:00) with an average engagement rate of 6.56%.

The hours with the lowest engagement rates are between 5 AM (05:00) and 7 AM (07:00), with engagement rates ranging from 4.06% to 4.50%.

Average engagement vs. Hour of day in London

Average engagement

Best time to post on Instagram in Manchester

In Manchester, for the year 2023, the best time to post on Instagram to maximize engagement appears to be at 12 AM (00:00), 2 AM (02:00), and 3 AM (03:00), all with an average engagement rate of 6.74%. This is followed by 8 PM (20:00) with an average engagement rate of 6.66% and 1 AM (01:00) with an average engagement rate of 6.50%.

The hours with the lowest engagement rates are between 5 AM (05:00) and 9 AM (09:00), with engagement rates ranging from 3.93% to 4.64%.

Average engagement vs. Hour of day in Manchester

Average engagement

Best time to post on Instagram in Mumbai

In Mumbai, for the year 2023, the best time to post on Instagram to maximize engagement appears to be during the early morning hours, specifically between 3 AM (03:00) and 7 AM (07:00). During this time, engagement rates are significantly higher, with the peak occurring at 4 AM (04:00), 5 AM (05:00), and 6 AM (06:00), where engagement rates reach as high as 25.40%.

The engagement rates gradually decline throughout the day, with the lowest rates observed in the late evening and nighttime.

Average engagement vs. Hour of day in Mumbai

Average engagement

Best time to post on Instagram in Sydney

In Sydney, for the year 2023, the best time to post on Instagram to maximize engagement appears to be during the midday to early afternoon hours. Specifically, posting between 11 AM (11:00) and 3 PM (15:00) shows higher average engagement rates.

The peak engagement rate occurs at 12 PM (12:00), with an engagement rate of 10.11%. Additionally, posting between 1 PM (13:00) and 2 PM (14:00) also yields above-average engagement rates.

Engagement rates tend to decline during the early morning and late evening hours, with the lowest rates observed between 8 PM (20:00) and 6 AM (06:00).

Average engagement vs. Hour of day in Sydney

Average engagement

Best time to post on Instagram in Edinburgh

In Edinburgh, for the year 2023, the best time to post on Instagram to maximize engagement appears to be during the late evening to early morning hours.

Posting between 9 PM (21:00) and 3 AM (03:00) shows higher average engagement rates, with a peak engagement rate occurring at 2 AM (02:00), reaching an engagement rate of 10.08%. Additionally, posting between 8 PM (20:00) and 10 PM (22:00) also yields above-average engagement rates.

Engagement rates tend to be lower during the early morning and late afternoon hours, with the lowest rates observed between 5 AM (05:00) and 7 AM (07:00). Download full report (57 pages)

Average engagement vs. Hour of day in Edinburgh

Average engagement

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