How to Do Polls on Instagram

Instagram polls are an easy yet powerful way to drive engagement, collect feedback, and involve your audience in fun or informative decisions. Whether you’re a content creator, business owner, or casual user, adding a poll to your story or chat makes your content more interactive.

With just a few taps, you can ask a question and give followers two response options to choose from. Polls boost story views, increase time spent on your content, and offer instant audience insights.

In this guide, you’ll learn where Instagram polls appear, how they work, and how to set one up step by step. We’ll also explore different types of polls and how to use them effectively.

What Is an Instagram Poll?

Instagram polls are interactive stickers that allow users to vote on a question you ask. They’re primarily used in Instagram Stories, but you can also use them in group chats and certain reel or post formats, depending on the latest app features.

Polls offer a fast and fun way to engage your audience and can provide real-time insights into what your followers think.

Where Polls Appear (Stories, Chats, Reels)

Here are the key areas where polls are supported on Instagram:

Stories: The most popular place to add a poll using a “Poll” or “Emoji Slider” sticker.
Group Chats: Users in a chat can vote directly on a shared topic.
Reels (limited rollout): Some users can place poll stickers on reels to get quick feedback.
DMs and Broadcast Channels: Polls in chats let you interact with multiple people at once in private groups.

Polls vs. Quizzes vs. Emoji Sliders

While all three are interactive, each serves a different purpose:

Feature	Purpose	Interaction Type
Poll Sticker	Let users choose between 2 options	Simple tap selection
Quiz Sticker	Ask a multiple-choice question	Choose 1 of 4 possible answers
Emoji Slider	Get nuanced feedback using emojis	Drag the slider to respond

Polls are best when you want quick input on a clear choice. Use quizzes for testing knowledge, and emoji sliders for measuring sentiment or intensity.

Step-by-Step Guide: Creating a Poll on Instagram

Setting up a poll on Instagram is quick and requires no special tools. Whether you’re posting to Stories, chatting in groups, or experimenting with new formats like Reels, here’s how to add a poll.

How to Add a Poll in Instagram Stories

Open the Instagram app and swipe right to access Stories.
Upload a photo or video from your gallery or capture a new one.
Tap the sticker icon at the top of the screen.
Select the Poll sticker.
Enter your question and edit the default “Yes” and “No” options to your desired choices.
Place the poll on your Story and position it where it fits best.
Tap Share to Your Story to publish it.

Your followers can now vote directly on your Story. Don’t forget to buy Instagram Story poll votes for your engagement!

Creating a Poll in Reels or Posts (if available)

Instagram occasionally rolls out poll features within Reels or feed posts. If the feature is enabled on your account:

Open the Reel or Post composer.
Add media content as usual.
Tap the sticker or interaction icon (depending on UI changes).
Choose Poll, then add your question and options.
Position the poll in your content.
Share the post or Reel when ready.

This feature may not be available to all users and may vary by region or update.

Setting Up a Poll in Group Chats

Polls can be used inside Instagram group DMs to make decisions or gather feedback.

To add a poll in a group chat:

Open the group conversation in Direct Messages.
Tap the plus (+) icon or sticker button.
Choose the Poll feature.
Write your question and list multiple choice options.
Tap Create Poll to send it into the chat.

All participants will be able to vote and see the results in real time.

Customizing Poll Options and Design

While Instagram keeps the poll format simple, you can make it stand out:

Use bold colors or filters in your background to draw attention.
Adjust the poll sticker placement so it’s visible but not intrusive.
Replace default text with creative responses or emojis to make the poll more engaging.

Design plays a role in response rate, so treat your poll like a mini campaign.

How to Delete or Edit an Active Poll

Instagram does not currently allow direct editing of an active poll. However, here are your options:

To delete a poll in Stories: Go to your Story, tap the three dots (More), then select Delete.
To repost a poll with new options: Delete the original, then repeat the setup steps with your updated content.

Once a poll receives votes, the choices are locked in, so plan carefully before publishing.

How to View and Share Poll Results

After your poll goes live, you can track responses in real time and share the outcome with your audience. Here’s how to manage and use the results effectively.

Accessing Poll Insights in Stories

To view who voted and how they responded:

Open the Instagram app and tap Your Story.
Navigate to the story that contains the poll.
Swipe up on the screen or tap the Activity icon at the bottom.
You’ll see:
- Total number of votes
- Individual responses
- Who chose which option

This data is only visible to the person who posted the poll.

Time Limits on Poll Visibility

Instagram poll results remain available for the same duration as the Story, typically 24 hours. Once the Story expires:

You will no longer receive new votes.
You can still view the final results if you’ve enabled Story Archive.
The original audience can no longer interact with the poll.

To keep poll results beyond 24 hours, consider saving them to a Highlight or capturing a screenshot.

Sharing Poll Outcomes with Followers

You can let your followers know what the majority chose by sharing results in a follow-up Story:

Go to the original poll story.
Swipe up to view results.
Tap “Share Results” to auto-generate a summary slide.
Add your own commentary or follow-up question before posting.

This encourages continued engagement and shows your audience that you value their input.

Instagram Poll Ideas to Boost Engagement

If you’re looking to increase interaction, keep followers interested, or gain useful insights, these Instagram poll formats are perfect for Stories or chats. Each style can be customized to match your brand voice or personal tone.

“This or That” Style Questions

This simple format helps users express preferences quickly. It’s perfect for light, visual engagement:

Coffee or Tea?
City Trip or Nature Getaway?
Night Owl or Early Bird?

Great for lifestyle, fashion, and entertainment accounts.

Would You Rather…?

These questions are more thought-provoking and encourage fun debate. Try:

Would you rather travel the world for free or eat at any restaurant for free?
Would you rather lose your phone or your wallet?

It helps spark conversation in comments and DMs.

Product Feedback & Market Research

For creators and brands, polls are a great tool for testing ideas. Ask:

Which product color do you like more?
Should we launch this in summer or fall?
How much would you pay for this item?

Polls double as feedback collection and product validation.

Quizzes & Guessing Games

Turn your Story into a mini quiz with fun or educational value:

Guess the ingredient: 🥑🍅🧅
Which country has this flag? 🇳🇴
How well do you know our brand?

This drives repeat visits as people check back for answers.

Promote Upcoming Content or Events

Build anticipation by involving followers in your process:

What should tomorrow’s reel be about?
Should we go live at 6 PM or 8 PM?
What topic should we cover next week?

It boosts reach and makes followers feel included.

Poll Format Ideas by Purpose

Poll Type	Best Used For	Example Questions
This or That	Quick preferences	“Morning or night?”
Would You Rather	Fun, engagement-driven	“Beach vacation or mountain retreat?”
Product Feedback	Business and brand decisions	“Which color do you prefer?”
Quizzes & Guessing Games	Education or gamification	“Which logo is older?”
Content/Event Promotion	Community building and teasers	“Should we do a Q&A or tutorial next?”

Pro Tips for Effective Instagram Polls

To get the most out of your Instagram polls, go beyond just asking questions. These proven tips will help you improve engagement, visibility, and responses.

Keep It Short and Visually Appealing

Polls should be easy to read at a glance. Use:

Large, readable fonts
Bright or high-contrast backgrounds
Clear yes/no or A/B choices

Avoid clutter or long-winded questions. Make it scannable in seconds.

Ask Actionable or Relatable Questions

Think from the follower’s perspective. What would make them stop and vote?

Ask about everyday habits or trending debates
Phrase questions that feel personal or fun
Stay away from overly niche topics unless it suits your audience

The more relatable it feels, the more likely they are to engage.

Combine Polls with Stickers or GIFs

Pairing polls with other visual elements makes them more eye-catching. Try:

Funny or reaction GIFs that match the tone of the poll
Emojis to add expression
Countdown stickers if you’re using polls before a launch or event

These extras draw more attention and create a playful vibe.

Plan Polls Around Trending Topics

Timing is everything. Consider aligning your poll with:

Viral challenges or memes
Major holidays or seasonal events
Product launches or announcements

You can also create a highlight on Instagram to save your best-performing polls and make them accessible long after the 24-hour window.

When to Post for Maximum Reach

Best posting times depend on your audience. Generally, polls perform better when:

Posted during mid-day or early evening
Scheduled for when your followers are most active (use Insights)
Paired with other Story content for context

Test and adjust timing based on your engagement data to find your sweet spot.