David KimAI EngineerBest times to post on each social network in 2026
When to post on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X, TikTok, YouTube, Pinterest and Threads in 2026, per Sprout, Buffer, Later and Hootsuite, plus a test plan.
When is the best time to post on social media? Every social media manager wants an answer to this question!
Posting times can increase the engagement and influence who sees your post, so getting this right plays a part in the success of any social media strategy.
If you do a quick Google search of the “Best Time to Post on Instagram.” You'll get 1,000s of results and many answers. You'll find everything from "post at 9 AM on Tuesdays" to "avoid posting on weekends altogether." But it's not all about the time, but there's more to it than that. Instagram algoritm plays a crucial role in your post success.
Consider How the Instagram Algorithm Influences Post Reach
The time you choose to publish on Instagram matters, but so does the algorithm which will affect what your followers will see on their feeds.
Because Instagram's algorithm will evaluate your content's engagement levels to determine whether or not it should be shown to your followers, you'll need to make sure the content you are posting is like-worthy. The algorithm looks at things like how many likes, comments, shares, and saves your post gets. The more engagement, the more likely it is to be shown to more people. It also considers how recently you posted and how often your followers interact with your account.
Instagram's algorithm prioritizes content from accounts you've previously engaged with, so even if you are posting new content all of the time, your followers may not see any of it, if they haven't engaged with you previously. To encourage this, try responding to comments, using interactive stories, and posting content your audience genuinely likes.
What is the best time to post on Instagram?
Most of the studies we have looked at did pick a “best” time for your Instagram post. Please note, though, these do depend on time zone, and not all posts use the same time zone in their recommendations. The bulk of these surveys stated CT (Central Time US) in their findings.
Although you will presumably post more than once per week, the various studies suggest the following times as the best:
The Best time to post on Instagram by HubSpot. (Recommendations are in CT)
- Sunday: 10 AM – 2 PM
- Monday: 9 AM – 5 PM (Engagement peaks at 11 AM and 2 PM)
- Tuesday: 8 AM – 6 PM, *7 PM
- Wednesday: 5 AM, *11 AM - 3 PM
- Thursday: 5 AM, *11 – 4 PM
- Friday: *5 AM, 9 AM - 10 AM, *11 AM - 1 PM, 2 - 4 PM
- Saturday: 9 - 11 AM
The Best time to post on Instagram by Later. (Recommendations are in EST)
- Monday: 6am, 10am, and 10pm EST
- Tuesday: 2am, 4am, and 9am EST
- Wednesday: 7am, 8am and 11pm EST
- Thursday: 9am, 12pm, and 7pm EST
- Friday: 5am, 1pm, and 3pm EST
- Saturday: 11am, 7pm, and 8pm EST
- Sunday: 7am, 8am, and 4pm EST
The Best time to post on Instagram by Sprout Social
The general data above about optimal post timing is a great starting point for growing an engaged Instagram audience. But if you want to get more granular, here are the best times to post on Instagram if your organization is in the technology, B2C, education, healthcare, and non-profit industries, according to Sprout Social's research.
Best Times to Post on Instagram for Technology Companies
Best Time: Wednesday at 10:00 AM CDT
- Most Consistent Engagement: Wednesday to Friday from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM CDT
- Best Day: Thursday
- Worst Day: Sunday
Best Times to Post on Instagram for B2C Companies
Best Time: Friday at 11:00 AM & 1:00 PM CDT
- Most Consistent Engagement: Everyday from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM CDT
- **Best Day: **Wednesday
- Worst Day: Sunday
Best Times to Post on Instagram for Educational Organizations
Best Time: Monday at 8:00 PM CDT
- Most Consistent Engagement: Weekdays from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM CDT
- Best Day: Monday
- Worst Day: Sunday
Best Times to Post on Instagram for Healthcare Companies
Best Time: Tuesday at 1:00 PM CDT
- Most Consistent Engagement: Tuesday to Friday from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM CDT
- Best Day: Tuesday
- Worst Day: Saturday & Sunday
Best Times to Post on Instagram for Non-Profit Organizations
Best Times: Tuesday at 3:00 PM & 9:00 PM, Wednesday at 3:00 PM & 4:00 PM, Thursday at 2:00 PM & 3:00 PM, and Friday at 10:00 AM & 2:00 PM,
- Most Consistent Engagement: Weekdays from 12:00 PM to 5:00 PM
- Best Day: Tuesday
- Worst Day: Saturday
Active Instagram followers tend to check in on platforms in the morning during the week, while midday provides the perfect moment to check in again during lunch hour. By the late afternoon, when energy levels are low, Instagram can provide a great break before followers call it a day.
What is the worst time to post on Instagram?
Generally, the early hours of the morning (1 am to 5 am) are considered the worst times to post on Instagram for typical users. However, some studies present conflicting data. Later found good results from posts at 2 am Tuesday, and 5 am Friday. Hubspot found high levels of engagement for 5 am posts, Tuesday to Friday. It all comes back to your specific audience and when they are online.
Bonus Tip-
Learn from Habits
People usually have common patterns and routines. By focusing on that you can find out your best engagement time by your self.
For ex- Most common habit people have is to use phone at the breakfast time. You can utilize this time for post to get better engagement. To figure this out, you could look at your Instagram Insights to see when your followers are most active. Also, check out what your competitors are doing and when they seem to get the most interaction. Then, try posting around those times and track your own engagement to see what works best for you.
Similarly, you can focus on more usual habits and trends to find out your best time of social engagement.
