Best Time to Post on Instagram

When to post on Instagram in 2026 — what three big studies agree on.

Sprout Social, Hootsuite and Buffer each analyzed millions of posts. Their exact hours differ, but they overlap more than you'd think. This page shows all three, where they agree, and what that means in your time zone.

Short answer

Tuesday 3–7 p.m. is backed by all three studies — the safest slot of the week.
Wednesday is strong too: Sprout Social's widest window (12–9 p.m.) and Buffer's best day.
Friday and Saturday are the weakest days in both Sprout Social's and Buffer's data.

Your Instagram posting times

Where is most of your audience?

Next recommended slot

—

No slot backed by two or more studies in the next 24 hours — aim for the strongest one below.

Today (Monday for your audience)

Sprout Social (2026)
2–4 p.m.
Hootsuite (2026)
3–9 p.m.
Buffer (2026)
7 p.m. (also 6 p.m., 8 p.m.)

Darker = more studies recommend this hour (0–3). Times shown in your time zone.

	12a			3a			6a			9a			12p			3p			6p			9p
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
Sun

Best time to post on Instagram by day

Each study's recommendation in the audience's local time. Hours are as published by each source.

Day	Sprout Social (2026)	Hootsuite (2026)	Buffer (2026)
Monday	2–4 p.m.	3–9 p.m.	7 p.m. (also 6 p.m., 8 p.m.)
Tuesday	1–7 p.m.	5–8 a.m. and 3–7 p.m.	7 p.m. (also 3 p.m., 5 p.m.)
Wednesday	12–9 p.m. (plus an 11 p.m. spike)	5 p.m.	12 p.m. (also 6 p.m., 8 a.m.)
Thursday	12–2 p.m.	4–5 p.m.	9 a.m. (also 8 a.m., 7 a.m.)
Friday	No clear peak	Around 4 p.m.	10 p.m. (also 9 p.m., 6 a.m.)
Saturday	Lowest engagement of the week	11 a.m. and around 5 p.m.	9 p.m. (also 10 p.m., 8 p.m.)
Sunday	One of the worst days	12–3 p.m.	9 p.m. (also 10 p.m., 8 p.m.)

Sprout Social (2026): Nearly 2 billion engagements across 307,000 profiles, Nov 2025 – Feb 2026.
Hootsuite (2026): Over 1 million posts, localized across 118 countries.
Buffer (2026): 9.6 million posts, Jan 2024 – Dec 2025, median engagement rate.

Why the studies disagree

They measure different accounts: Sprout Social's business customers, posts scheduled through Buffer, and Hootsuite's own sample.
They measure different things. Buffer ranks by median engagement rate (likes, comments, shares and saves per follower); Sprout Social looks at when engagement peaks across its profiles.
Reels are pushed to non-followers for days, so the posting hour mostly affects the first wave of views from your followers.

How to find your own best time on Instagram

Switch to a Professional account (Creator or Business) in Settings — it's free.
Open Professional dashboard → Total followers and scroll to "Most active times" to see hours and days.
Post at your top hour for two weeks, then at one of the windows above for two weeks, and compare reach in the first 24 hours.

Timing gets you the first wave. The Reel decides the rest.

A Reel that hooks in the first second keeps reaching new people long after your posting hour. Felo's Viral Remake copies the hook, cuts and pacing of a Reel that already went viral and generates a brand-new video with your own subject.

Remake a viral Reel

FAQ

What is the best time to post on Instagram?

Tuesday between 3 and 7 p.m. is the one window all three studies support. Buffer's single best slot is Thursday 9 a.m., and Sprout Social's strongest days are Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons.

What is the best day to post on Instagram?

Wednesday in Buffer's data, followed by Thursday and Tuesday. Sprout Social also ranks Tuesday and Wednesday highest. Both put Friday and Saturday among the weakest days.

Is the best time different for Reels?

The studies mix Reels, photos and carousels. Reels keep being shown to new viewers for days, so the hour matters less — use the windows above as a starting point and check your Reels insights.

Are these times in my time zone?

They are in your audience's local time. If your followers mostly live somewhere else, pick their location in the tool above and it converts the times to your clock.

How often should I post on Instagram?

Pick a pace you can keep — consistency matters more than the exact hour. Test a few slots and keep the ones your insights confirm.

Also see: Best time to post on TikTok