When is the best time to post on Instagram? Does everyone have the same best day and time to post on Instagram? What’s the winning combination here?
You’ve probably asked yourself these questions a time or two – we know we have!
In fact, these questions sparked a gigantic research project dropping today: The 2020 Instagram Industry Report: When to Post Your Content For Maximum Engagement!
We analyzed 1.8 million posts over a period of 3 months to determine what the best (and worst!) times to post on Instagram are. Then, we took it one step further by segmenting all those accounts into 17 industries!
Why? To uncover the key differences in when – and why – posts in various niches take off.
Below, we’re sharing the insights you NEED in your Instagram life – from the best days to post for your industry to the precise hour of the day (or night!) that works best for your specific niche.
From travel to children’s topics and everywhere in between, we’re breaking down exactly when to post on Instagram for maximum engagement by niche.
PSST… open a handy time converter to find your best time to posts in your time zone!
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As we crafted our study, an overall trend emerged across all 17 industries in consistently high likes and comments during certain times on Instagram.
If you’re hoping to boost your exposure by raking in engagement, here are time slots you should strongly consider testing in your posting schedule!
We evaluated the performance of 1.8 million posts based on the time they were posted and gained some interesting insights!
According to the data, the best time to post on Instagram for engagement globally is 6 AM UTC. This is a peak time to for both likes and comments!
| UTC | PST | CST | EST |
| 6:00 AM | 10:00 PM | 12:00 AM | 1:00 AM |
The best times to post on Instagram for likes are 5:00 AM, 6:00 AM, and 8:00 AM UTC, while the best times to post on Instagram for comments are 12:00 AM, 1:00 AM, and 6:00 AM UTC.
Take note, weekend warriors.
Posts on Saturday rake in the most likes, with Friday as a close second.
So when’s the best time to post on Instagram for likes?
According to our research, the best time of day to post on Instagram for likes is also on Saturday at 5:00 p.m (UTC) Here are the next best average slots:
Maybe comments are more your speed.
We don’t blame you – with Instagram hiding likes, other metrics of engagement are taking a front-row focus.
If you want more comments on your Instagram posts, try posting on Wednesday.
This day doesn’t lead by much, so you should also target Sunday in your posting schedule!
Now for the fun stuff! Let’s dive into each day of the week to examine the best time to upload on Instagram on average per day.
For a more in-depth look into your specific industry for a complete breakdown of best days and times to post, as well as helpful industry benchmarks to help you determine what success looks like in each one, download our FREE research report!
To recap the date from above, the best day to post to Instagram for likes globally is Saturday. Wednesday and Sunday are the best days of the week to upload your posts to Instagram for comments!
The best time to post on Instagram on Monday is 3 p.m (UTC). ☀️ The next best times are:
Shocked by the best times to post on Insta? Experimenting with different times to post in the evening and even early in the morning exposes your content to users active in different time zones.
Helpful Tip: Check out the demographics of your current followers and where they’re located with Instagram Analytics. Then tailor your posting schedule to put fresh content in front of them in their time zones!
The best time to post on Instagram on Tuesday for engagement is 8:00 pm (UTC). The next best times are:
The best time to post on Instagram on Wednesday for engagement is 9:00 pm (UTC). The next best times are:
The best time to post on Instagram on Thursday for engagement is 8:00 pm (UTC). The next best times are:
Tailwind Tip: You don’t have to devote your entire Instagram posting schedule to catching engagement from your current followers if you aim to grow.
Use some of the best day and time to post on Instagram recommendations to send out posts (with relevant hashtags!) in regions you’d like to attract more followers from!
The best time to post on Instagram on Friday for engagement is 3:00 pm (UTC). ☀️ The next best times are:
The best time to post on Instagram on Saturday for engagement is 5:00 pm (UTC). The next best times are:
The best time to post on Instagram on Sunday for engagement is 7:00 pm (UTC). The next best times are:
Ready to get specific insights for your industry? We analyzed 18 different niches in our research report to uncover your sweet spot for posting. Scroll to find your niche, or use the handy menu to skip to your relevant section!
And hey, don’t forget to download our FREE study to find even more helpful insights for your industry, including:
-Handy comparison charts to the top 25% of your industry for likes, followers and comments to check your progress
-Easy-to-skim goals for reaching the top 50% of your category
–Worksheets and planning tools
–Tips and recommendations to help you optimize your posting game
If you’re in the travel space, your best days to post are over the weekend!
7 a.m EST on Saturday is best for comments, while 6 a.m EST on Sunday is best for likes!
Brick and Mortar locations should plan to post on Instagram on Friday at 4 p.m EST to scoop up comments from local traffic planning their weekends.
Sunday at 1 a.m. EST is the best time for Instagram likes!
Children’s resources have three best times to post on Instagram for engagement: 9 p.m EST on Monday and Wednesday for comments, and the same time on Tuesday for likes!
Education resources have a prime-time opportunity to catch parents and teachers prepping over the weekend.
7 p.m EST on Saturday AND Sunday are the best times for both types of engagement.
If entertainment is your niche, shift your Instagram posting schedule to the end of the week for best results.
Thursday at 4 p.m EST is the best time for comments, and you’ll see an uptick of likes at 11 p.m EST on Saturday and Sunday.
Food and beverage, Wednesday is a delicious day for comments ( at 8 a.m and 8 p.m EST).
Post again on Sunday at 8 a.m EST for more likes!
Health and beauty, you tend to catch Instagram users at 1 a.m EST on Monday who want to chat.
4 p.m EST on Wednesday and Sunday is when to post on Instagram for likes!
Marketers, Wednesday is your lucky day! 4 p.m EST is a great time to post on Instagram for comments, while posts at 3 & 6 p.m EST on Wednesday and Saturday rake in likes.
Those in the technology niche should post at 8 a.m EST on Monday and Friday for comments.
Try 12 a.m EST on Sunday to catch those Instagram likes!
If recreation is your niche, you have two balanced opportunities to get the most Instagram engagement possible.
Post on Sunday at 11 p.m EST for comments, and 12 a.m EST Tuesday for likes!
Uploading your post to Instagram on Monday at 3 a.m EST is the best time to grab comments if you’re in professional services.
Saturday and Sunday at 3 and 4 a.m EST is the prime time for likes!
Photographers can raise their engagement rates by posting high-quality Instagram photos at 5 a.m EST Monday and Sunday.
If you’re a personal brand looking for more engagement on Instagram, wire these three posting times into your Instagram scheduler.
Monday at 11 p.m EST, and Thursday + Sunday at 5 a.m!
Non-profits can always benefit from higher engagement, right?
Focus your attention on Sunday. 12 a.m EST is your magic hour for comment and likes, while Sunday at 3 a.m EST can also give you a boost!
Media creators and outlets can increase their reach with three key times to post on Instagram!
Tuesday at 8 p.m EST is best for comments. Saturday and Sunday at 8 p.m EST will increase your Instagram likes!
Is your Instagram business focused on clothing and apparel?
Then target 3 p.m EST for the most engagement on Tuesday and Sunday!
If you’ve devoted your Instagram account to creative services, you have three posting schedule hotspots to choose from.
Tuesday at 12 a.m EST gets the most comments, while 11 a.m and 12 p.m EST on Saturday and Sunday get lots of likes!
Bloggers, you can optimize your Instagram content for engagement by adjusting your posting schedule on three days.
Post on Thursday and Friday at 12 a.m EST for more comments, and 8 p.m EST on Sunday for likes!
Now that you know some of the best times and days to post on Instagram for your industry, why not take it one step further and schedule your content in advance with Tailwind’s Instagram Planner app?
With our mobile app, you can:
What are you waiting for? Snag a free trial of Tailwind for Instagram today and get started – right from your phone!
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