The Best Time to Post on Instagram in 2025: How to get the most reach and engagement

It may take you hours to create a post, find the ideal photo, and create a snappy caption, only to get a few likes and a comment or two on your part, with the closest friend being the only one who reacts. The most creative content may not work if it is not shared at the appropriate moment.

So, when is the best time to post on Instagram in 2025?  Timing has never been as crucial as it is now due to changing algorithms, expanding global viewership, and the rise of formats such as Reels and Stories, which are increasingly becoming dominant. This guide makes it easier for you to achieve maximum engagement and understand when to post on Instagram for more likes.

Why Timing Makes a Difference 

Instagram is clever, but engagement is still a key factor that contributes to the number of people who see your posts. The content that gets likes, comments, and shares in a short amount of time is more likely to be promoted higher in feeds.

 People's behaviour and moods vary naturally during the day. Mornings can be a great time to be active, as users are most alert and open-minded. Evenings can be more of a time of relaxation and entertainment. By posting according to these natural rhythms, you are more likely to attract your audience to your content.

As a creator, brand, or agency working with influencers, knowing when to post on Instagram can be the difference between the post going viral and one that is hardly noticed.

Global Insights: Best Time to Post on Instagram in 2025

According to social media studies, such as Sprout Social, Later, and Hootsuite show that the behaviour of users has changed after the pandemic. Working remotely, flexible working hours, and screen time translate to the fact that individuals visit Instagram at different times.

The study indicates that in 2025:

The best time to post on Instagram 2025:

• Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 11 AM (local time)

Peak engagement hours:

• Morning (7-9 AM) - users scroll soon after getting up

• Evening (6-9 PM) - users relax at the end of the working day, and update themselves

Best day to post on Instagram:

• The most engagement is always on Wednesday

• Sunday is effective in lifestyle posts, food and entertainment posts

Note: Do not post too late at night (after 11 PM) because the amount of interaction starts to decline sharply.

These patterns show that the attention and energy levels of people naturally increase and decrease throughout the day. Midweek, users are more attentive and open, whereas on weekends, it is more casual and leisure-oriented scrolling.

Best Time to Post a Reel on Instagram

Reels dominate Instagram in 2025. The platform favours Reels that create early engagement, and therefore, time is critical.

Optimal  time to post Reels on Instagram:

• 12 PM to 3 PM

• 7 PM to 10 PM

Best days:

• Tuesday, Wednesday, and Saturday

It is during lunch breaks and evenings that users have the highest chances of scrolling through entertaining content. The closer you get to these windows, the higher the likelihood that your Reels will be on the first page of feeds when they become the most receptive.

Best Time to Post Stories on Instagram

Stories last for 24 hours and are best suited for keeping the followers entertained throughout the day. It is better to schedule them during the most active times of your audience to keep it visible and interactive.

Optimal time to post Stories on Instagram:

• 7 AM-9 AM (morning commute)

• 12 PM-2 PM (lunch scroll)

• 7 PM-10 PM (evening relaxation)

Posting Stories at these times will ensure that your users come across your content at their natural pauses in the day and when they are more prone to watch, respond, or engage.

Best Days vs. Worst Days to Post

Not all days are the same in terms of engagement. The activity of the users varies according to habits and moods.

The low engagement times are usually Sunday evenings and Monday midnights because the users are either resting or planning the upcoming week.

Common Posting Time Mistakes to Avoid

• Posting whenever you are free (instead of audience habits)

• Posting too frequently at low-engagement hours

• Ignoring global time zones

• Not checking Insights weekly

• Posting Reels at midnight (lowest conversion)

Time Zone Considerations

When you have an audience in more than one country, then scheduling your posts according to the local time zone of that country will ensure that your content is viewed at the appropriate time.

• Targeting India? Post between 9 AM and 11 AM IST

• Targeting the US? Post between 7 AM and 9 AM CST

• Targeting Europe? Post between 8 AM and 10 AM CET

Another way to check when your specific followers are online is by looking into Instagram Insights → Audience → Most Active Times.

How to Find Your Best Instagram Posting Time

• Check Insights → Audience → Most Active Hours

• Track performance for 30 days

• Identify peak engagement patterns

• Test 3–5 posting times each week

• Use analytics tools to compare impression time vs. engagement time

Posting Strategy Tips

Scheduling would not be enough to gain engagement. So combine it with good content and a consistent schedule:

• Post regularly (3-5 times/week)

• Use visually attractive content with trending audio

• Write catchy captions and use relevant hashtags

• Track performance and make changes accordingly

Agencies can use engagement pattern analysis tools to handle numerous influencers to determine the best time to post on Instagram for more likes and plan content schedules more efficiently.

The basic trick is to align posts with moments when the followers are generally most attentive and receptive.

Trends of 2025 Affecting Instagram Posting Times

On Instagram, Algorithms and habits of users are constantly changing. The Key trends include:

• AI-based Feeds: Content is ranked based on  relevancy, yet early attention also provides a visibility advantage to posts

• International Audiences: The timed posting can be used to reach followers in different regions

• Short-form Video Dominance: Reels are more effective than normal posts, particularly at times of high activity

• Stories and Polls: Interactive elements work better when shared during natural pauses of the day

You are more likely to get content that works well with the habits and attention patterns of users because you can schedule times to post content at the right time based on these trends.

Manage Smarter with RosterGrid

Understanding when it is better to post on Instagram in 2025:here is how to manage it better.

RosterGrid is an advanced influencer management solution that helps in aligning the work process, monitoring campaigns, and reporting. RosterGrid helps you make decisions based on data, regardless of the number of influencers you work with, engagement trends, post scheduling, or campaign planning, increasing your reach.

Final Thoughts

Knowing when to post on Instagram in 2025 has nothing to do with guessing. It is about monitoring follower behaviour, experimenting and changing with trends.

• The best times to engage are mornings and evenings.

• The most effective days are Wednesday and Saturday.

• Reels and Stories are most effective at lunch times or after work.

When you schedule your posts to align with the time when your followers are naturally attentive and receptive, your content will reach and engage more people without spending money on boosts or advertisements.

FAQ 

Q1: Do posting times still matter with the new Instagram algorithm?
Yes — early engagement boosts ranking in user feeds, even with AI-driven recommendations.

Q2: Is there one universal best time to post on Instagram?
No — the best time depends on your audience, niche, and time zone.

Q3: What is the best time to post on Instagram for small creators?
Morning (7–9 AM) and evening (6–8 PM) produce the fastest engagement for smaller accounts.

Q4: Should I post Reels at the same time as regular posts?
Not always — Reels perform best at lunch and after-work hours.

Q5: Does boosting a post remove the need to post at the best time?
Boosting helps, but posting at peak times still gives a stronger initial push.