Do you ever wonder when the best time to post on Instagram is?
Let’s be honest: no one uploads a photo to Instagram hoping it gets zero likes.
That person simply does not exist.
Most of us refresh the app repeatedly after posting, watching the heart count climb and silently judging the success of our latest perfectly filtered image. Timing, as it turns out, plays a much bigger role in that outcome than many users realize.
The truth is simple: the best time to post on Instagram depends on when your audience is active, and that activity varies by content category, lifestyle, and day of the week. Fashion, food, and fitness posts do not perform equally well at the same hours.
Understanding when to post is just as important as knowing what to post.
When Do You Get the Most Likes on Instagram?
The best time to get likes on Instagram is when the largest portion of your followers is online and actively scrolling.
A large-scale study analyzing over 1.2 million Instagram posts found clear engagement patterns. According to the data, photos posted:
- Between 6:00 PM and 7:30 PM on weekdays
- Around 11:00 PM on weekends
receive the highest average engagement.
The reason is straightforward. These hours align with leisure time, when users have finished work or daily responsibilities and actively consume content.
However, audience behavior matters more than global averages. Time zones, work schedules, and lifestyle habits directly affect when your followers are active.
What Type of Content Performs Best on Instagram?
Instagram engagement is strongly influenced by content type and visual style.
The same study revealed several consistent patterns:
- Personal experience photos (travel, fitness journeys, weight loss diaries) receive approximately 22% more likes than other posts on the same account.
- Animal photos follow closely behind in engagement.
- Gingham is statistically the most effective Instagram filter for likes and comments.
- Clarendon ranks as the second most effective filter.
While filters and formats help, authentic storytelling consistently outperforms purely aesthetic content.
The Best Time to Post on Instagram (Daily Overview)
The highest overall Instagram activity occurs between 3:00 PM and 9:00 PM, with the absolute peak around 7:00 PM.
This window reflects a typical daily routine:
- Work is finished
- Commutes are over
- Users are relaxed and browsing casually
Audience-Based Timing Adjustments
- Students tend to be active earlier in the afternoon and between classes.
- Professionals show higher activity:
- Early mornings (7:00–10:00 AM)
- Evenings (9:00–11:00 PM)
Matching your content to your audience’s daily rhythm increases relevance and engagement.
Posting at Peak Times for Maximum Engagement
Consistency is a core driver of Instagram growth.
Accounts that post once per day (7 posts per week) consistently show the highest engagement rates. Interestingly, fewer than 5% of Instagram accounts maintain this frequency, making consistency a competitive advantage.
Scheduling tools make this easier by ensuring posts go live during peak engagement windows without manual effort.
Popular Instagram scheduling tools include:
- Tailwind
- Hootsuite
- Buffer
- Later
- Sendible
- SocialReport
Each platform offers different features, pricing models, and trial options.
Best Days of the Week to Post on Instagram
The strongest engagement days on Instagram are:
- Monday
- Wednesday
- Thursday
- Friday
Daily Timing Insights
- 6:00–8:00 AM works well for photos, as users check phones after waking up.
- After 5:00 PM to 2:00 AM is ideal for videos, especially for audiences working standard 9–5 schedules.
Posting videos too early in the morning often underperforms because users avoid time-consuming content during rushed hours.
The Best Weekday for Instagram Engagement
Sunday and Monday show the highest engagement levels overall.
Summary by Editor: Captions bring photos to life and boost engagement on Instagram posts. Use different styles: heartfelt, funny, short, group, and a...
Summary by Editor: Brother captions help make Instagram posts more expressive, engaging, and meaningful. Include a mix of heartfelt, funny, cool atti...
Based on lifestyle-focused accounts targeting users aged 18–36, optimal posting times are:
- Sunday: 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
- Monday: 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Friday and Saturday typically perform worse, as users are more likely to be offline, socializing, or traveling.
What About Posting on Weekends?
Weekends generally generate lower engagement, especially during daytime hours.
On Saturdays, users are often away from screens.
On Sundays, engagement drops sharply outside of evening hours.
If you post on weekends, limit posting to Sunday evening and avoid daytime uploads.
Does posting at the best times really help get more likes?
Yes, posting at the best times can significantly help you get more Instagram likes. When you share content during peak activity hours, more of your followers are online, increasing the chance that your post appears near the top of their feed. Higher initial engagement signals the algorithm to push your post further, boosting visibility. While timing isn’t everything, it plays an important role in maximizing reach and increasing the number of likes you receive.
