Instagram Reels are a powerful tool to connect with your audience and hook them on your feed. The platform users spend 50% of their time watching Reels. They also achieve twice the reach of other content types. Seeing that you, as a creator, also wish to get your Reels to reach as many people as possible.
But for that, you must post your Reels at the best possible time, when your audience is most active on the platform. Posting timing also matters. Your creativity and hard work deserve to be seen.
This blog post will discuss the best time to post Reels on Instagram in 2025, days, location, and industry-wise. We’ll look at data and trends to help you understand when your audience is most active. Moreover, we’ll guide you on determining the best posting times for your specific audience. This data will enable you to schedule and post your Reels for maximum visibility.
Let’s dive in and discover how to optimize your Reel posting strategy!
Best Times to Post Instagram Reels
Post during peak user hours and when they are active to maximize your Reel’s visibility and engagement. These timings primarily include early mornings when people are ready to commute or start their day, lunchtime when people take breaks, and early evenings when they unwind after work and are ready to scroll. Experiment with these time slots to find what works best for your audience, then stick to it.
Best Time to Post Reels on Instagram by Day of the Week
While general peak hours exist, the best time to post Reels can vary significantly depending on the day of the week. Understanding your audience’s weekly patterns is key to this.
For example, you might find higher engagement on weekdays during lunch breaks or on weekends when people have more free time.
Here are the optimal posting times for each day of the week. Use them to discover when your Reels are expected to get more views and engagement.
Now, let’s break down each day’s schedule to gain a clear understanding of the posting times!
Best Time to Post Reels on Instagram on Monday
Mondays are a fresh start for everyone. To capitalize on this, consider posting your Reels at 3 AM, 11 AM, and 12 PM EST and 12 AM and 5 PM PST. These times often coincide with the workweek’s start, when people check their feeds for inspiration and motivation.
Best Time to Post Reels on Instagram on Tuesday
Tuesdays often see a surge in mid-morning engagement as users begin their workday. So, schedule your Reels for release between 8:00 AM and 10:00 AM EST (5:00 AM – 7:00 AM PST).
Alternatively, strategically post your content for a lunchtime boost around 12:00 PM EST (9:00 AM PST). For those targeting a later audience, 2:00 AM EST (11:00 PM PST) offers a unique opportunity to reach users browsing before bed.
Best Time to Post Reels on Instagram on Wednesday
On Wednesdays, people settle into their work routines. Post your Reels around 9:00 AM EST (6:00 AM PST) to appear on users’ feeds. Moreover, lunchtime remains the most popular and suitable time for social media scrolling and consumption.
Consider scheduling your Reels for 11:00 AM EST (8:00 AM PST) or 1:00 PM EST (10:00 AM PST) to reach audiences during their breaks.
Best Time to Post Reels on Instagram on Thursday
On Thursdays, post your Reel between 6:00 AM and 11:00 AM EST (11:00 AM—4:00 PM GMT) to capitalize on this increased activity.
Alternatively, targeting the West Coast with a posting time between 7:00 AM and 8:00 AM PST (10:00 AM—11:00 AM GMT) helps you effectively reach a broader audience.
Best Time to Post Reels on Instagram on Friday
Fridays bring the joy of a long weekend ahead, and people begin to wind down from the work week. So, on Fridays, schedule your Reels at 11:00 AM, 2:00 PM, and 4:00 PM Eastern Time (EST).
For Pacific Time, post around 7:00 AM—8:00 AM, 10:00 AM—11:00 AM, and 1:00 PM—2:00 PM. These time slots cater to early risers and those taking a break from their workday.
Best Time to Post Reels on Instagram on Saturday
Saturdays offer a unique opportunity to capture the attention of audiences engaged in weekend activities. Reels have observed peak engagement between 9:00 and 10:00 AM, the start time for weekend routines.
Furthermore, from 5:00 PM EST onwards, the late afternoon window coincides with increased social media activity as people unwind after leisure. Posting between 6:00 AM, 1:00 PM, and 2:00 PM PST yields favorable results for those targeting the Pacific Time zone.
Best Time to Post Reels on Instagram on Sunday
Sundays are an excellent time to relax and browse social media, specifically Instagram. So, post your Reels around 5:00 AM EST (2:00 AM PST), when early risers scroll through their feeds.
And to leverage the afternoons’ active audience posts around 1:00 PM and 2:00 PM EST (10:00 AM and 11:00 AM PST) to catch the attention of those taking a break from their weekend activities.
Best Times to Post Reels on Instagram by Location
Along with the weekdays, the optimal time to post Reels varies significantly depending on your target audience’s location. Time zones, cultural norms, and daily routines are crucial in determining when your audience is most active on Instagram.
For example, if your audience is primarily North American, you’ll likely see higher engagement during peak hours in Eastern and Pacific Time zones. Conversely, if your audience is based in Europe or Asia, you must adjust your posting schedule accordingly.
Understanding your target audience’s specific time zones and daily patterns is paramount. By tailoring your posting strategy to their location, you can increase your chances of reaching them when they are most likely to scroll through their Instagram feeds and interact with your Reels and content.
Let’s look at the optimal posting times for Reels worldwide location-wise!
Best Time to Post Reels on Instagram in the USA
All the above-mentioned times are in EST.
Best Time to Post Reels on Instagram in Canada
The times mentioned above are in EST.
Best Time to Post Reels on Instagram in Australia
The mentioned times are in AEST.
Best Time to Post Reels on Instagram in the Philippines
Let’s look at the times in PHT.
Best Time to Post Reels on Instagram in Pakistan
The mentioned times are in IST.
Best Time to Post Reels on Instagram in Bangladesh
The times mentioned above are in IST.
Best Time to Post Reels on Instagram in India
The following mentioned times are in IST.
Best Time to Post Reels on Instagram in Europe
Let’s look at the optimal times to post Reels in CET.
Best Time to Post Reels on Instagram in South Africa
The mentioned times are in SAST.
Best Times to Post on Reels by Industry
Here’s the best time to post Reels on Instagram Industry-wise:
Industry | Days | Best Time to Post |
| Finance | Tuesdays & Wednesdays | Mornings (7 am – 11:30 am) |
| Technology | Sunday & Monday | Mornings (9 am) |
| Tourism | Saturdays & Sundays | 7 pm – 10 pm |
| Fitness & Wellness | Monday to Friday | Mornings (6 am – 8 am) & evenings (6 pm – 8 pm) |
| Restaurants | Monday to Friday | Afternoons (3 pm – 5 pm) |
| Education | Saturdays & Sundays | 11 am – 1 pm |
How to Find the Best Time to Post Reels on Instagram?
Finding the best time to post Reels requires data analysis, audience observation, and experimentation. While general guidelines and industry benchmarks can offer valuable insights, understanding your specific audience’s behavior is crucial.
By closely monitoring your Instagram analytics and actively engaging with your followers, you can gain valuable insights into their online activity patterns.
Let’s explore practical strategies for identifying the optimal posting times for your unique brand and audience.
1. Understand Your Audience
Understanding your target audience, online behaviors, and demographics can help you develop an effective content strategy and determine the best posting time. The first step is to conduct thorough audience research that includes:
Demographics
- Their age, gender, location, occupation, education level, and interests.
- What are their hobbies?
- Are they early birds or night owls?
Pro Tip: Use Instagram Insights to get valuable data about your followers.
Psychographics
- Their values, lifestyle, personality traits, motivations, and online behavior.
Online Behavior
- When are they most active on social media?
- What platforms do they prefer?
- What kind of content do they engage with?
- Are they watching Reels during their morning commute, lunch break, or late at night?
Start noticing these patterns.
After understanding your audience, it’s time to engage with them. Ask questions in your Stories or create polls to gather insights into your followers’ preferences and online habits. Respond to comments and pay attention to what they say.
This real-time feedback from your audience is gold. It helps you better understand them and enables you to tailor your posting strategy to their online behavior, increasing the likelihood of reaching them at the optimal times and maximizing engagement.
2. Use Audience Insights Tools
To determine the best time to post Reels, you need data-driven and proven insights. Here are two tools for audience Insights.
SocialBu: Your All-in-One Social Media Management Tool
A social media management tool to help you manage multiple accounts and all the other scheduling and insights tasks is all you need to relieve a burden. Use SocialBu, a top-tier social media management and automation tool, to gain valuable insights and take control of your Instagram.
SocialBu provides the following features for Instagram management:
- Top Posts: Identify your best-performing Reels and posts and understand what resonates with your audience.
- Individual Post Insights: Get detailed analytics for each Reel, including reach, engagement (likes, comments, shares) and audience demographics.
- Follower Insights: Understand your audience’s demographics, location, and activity patterns to tailor your content.
- Track Growth Trends: Monitor your follower growth and engagement over time to assess the effectiveness of your strategy.
- Page Analytics: Get an overview of your Instagram page’s performance, including reach, impressions, and engagement rates.
These features help you analyze the key metrics effectively and optimize your content strategy accordingly.
Instagram’s Insights: Platform’s Built-in Feature
If you have an Instagram business account, you can leverage this built-in analytics feature, which is exclusively available for business accounts.
This feature provides valuable data on the following, helping you find the optimal time to post on Instagram for maximum reach.
- Audience Demographics: Access data on your followers’ age, gender, and location.
- Activity Patterns: See when your followers are most active on different days and times.
- Content Performance: Analyze the reach, impressions, and engagement of your Reels/posts.
- Reach and Impressions by Hour/Day: Pinpoint when your content gets the most views in terms of days and hours.
3. Experiment with A/B Testing
A/B testing helps you refine your Reel posting strategy. By experimenting with different posting times and analyzing the results, you can identify the most effective time for reaching your audience. Here’s how to implement A/B testing:
Choose your variables
Time of day: Select two or more distinct time slots to test. For example, compare posting at 9:00 a.m. with posting at 3:00 p.m.
Day of the week: Test different days to see which ones bring the highest engagement. For instance, compare posting on Tuesdays versus Saturdays.
Create Identical Reels
Ensure that the Reels used in your A/B test are identical in content type, length, and overall quality. The only variable must be the posting time.
Track your Results
Track key performance indicators (KPIs) for each reel, such as views, likes, comments, shares, saves, and reach.
3. Analyze the Previous Posts
The next step is to analyze your previously posted Reels, which will provide valuable insights into what has worked or resonated with your audience and what hasn’t. Identifying patterns in your past performance will help you refine your posting strategy and optimize your future efforts. Here’s how to analyze your previous posts:
Firstly, review your Instagram insights to:
- Identify top-performing Reels and determine which received the highest engagement (views, likes, comments, shares, saves).
- Analyze posting times to note the times of your top-performing Reels. Look for patterns in the times when your audience was most receptive.
- Analyze the demographics of viewers who engaged with your top-performing Reels. This can help you refine your target audience and tailor your content accordingly.
Secondly, track key metrics:
- Monitor engagement rates and calculate the average engagement rate for your Reels over time.
- Look for trends in your engagement rates across different days of the week and times of day.
- Compare the performance of Reels posted at different times to identify the most effective posting windows.
4. Refine Your Posting Strategy
After analyzing your previous Reels and conducting A/B testing, it’s time to refine your posting strategy based on the data. However, remember that this isn’t a one-time setup; it’s an ongoing process of optimizing your content and posting strategy.
Based on your findings, develop a consistent posting schedule that aligns with your audience’s peak activity times. Regular posting keeps your audience engaged and signals to the algorithm that your content is valuable.
But, if you have a diverse audience, consider segmenting them based on demographics, interests, or location. Then, tailor your posting times and content to each segment for maximum impact.
Since Instagram’s algorithm constantly evolves, stay informed about the latest updates and adjust your strategy accordingly. Follow industry blogs, attend webinars, and experiment with new features.
Key Factors To Consider While Choosing the Best Time to Post Reels on IG
Still you’re uncertain about when to post on Instagram. Can’t decide what time-zone suits you the most? Let’s examine the most important factors when choosing the best time to post on Instagram.
1. Reason for Posting
Think about why you’re posting. If your goal is to entertain, aim for times when people are relaxed, like evenings or weekends. If your goal is educational or promo-heavy, post when your audience is most alert—mornings or lunch breaks. Your goal shapes the timing.
For example, a quick tutorial might work best when folks plan their tasks early in the day. A meme or fun reel? Save it for Friday nights when everyone’s unwinding. Match the vibe of your content to the mood of the hour.
2. Peak Usage Times
You’ll catch more eyes when your followers are already scrolling. Lunch breaks (12–2 PM) and evenings (7–9 PM) are hotspots. You can check your Instagram Insights to see when your crowd is online.
Posting 15–30 minutes before peak times helps your reel appear early in feeds. Test posting at 6:45 PM instead of 7 PM—sometimes, being fashionably early beats the rush.
3. Days of the Week
Weekends mean lazy scrolling, so casual or entertaining reels thrive. But weekdays? That’s when people hunt for tips or inspiration. Niche audiences (like professionals) might engage more mid-week.
Mondays can be hit-or-miss, while Wednesdays and Thursdays often see steady engagement. Experiment—drop a reel on a Tuesday afternoon and see if your “hump day” content sticks.
4. Global Trends
Jumping on a viral trend? Post when it’s fresh. If a challenge is blowing up in Europe, adjust your timing to match their peak hours. But if your audience is local, keep it simple—stick to their clock.
Use Instagram’s Explore page to spot rising trends. If a sound or hashtag starts surging at 8 AM in your target region, post then—you’ll ride the trend before it’s oversaturated.
5. Analyze Competitors’ Performance
Keep an eye on your competitors. Notice when their reels get the most likes or comments. Tools like Iconosquare can show their top posting times—use that as a rough guide.
However, don’t copy their strategy. If they post daily at 5 p.m., try 5:30 p.m. instead. Find the gaps in their schedule where your content can shine without getting buried.
6. Time Zones
If your followers are spread across the globe, this can be tricky. Instagram’s audience analytics break down locations—use it! Posting at 9 AM for New York also hits London’s afternoon and LA’s early risers.
In addition, prioritize your largest audience segment. To mix things up, you can rotate posting times—share a reel at 8 PM EST one day and 10 AM PST the next.
7. Frequency of Posting
Are you posting too much? Your followers might get bored.
Too little? The algorithm might forget you. Aim for consistency. Three to five Reels a week works for most, but adjust based on your engagement.
Track how your views change if you post daily instead of weekly. If your reach drops when you post back-to-back, ease up, as quality matters more than quantity.
8. Industry
Fashion? Glam reels kill it during weekends or evenings. B2B? Stick to weekday work hours. Every niche has its rhythm—research what’s normal in your field.
Join industry-specific groups or check hashtags to see when similar accounts post. Fitness influencers crush it at 8 AM (morning workout crew), while foodies peak at dinner-planning hours (4–6 PM).
9. Audience Demographics and Routine
Age, job, and location of your audience shape habits. Teens scroll late at night; professionals check during commutes. Dive into your audience insights—do most work 9–5? Stay-at-home parents? Tailor accordingly.
Ask your followers directly! Use polls like “When do you binge reels?” in Stories if 60% say “before bed,” schedule posts for 9–10 PM.
10. Algorithm Understanding
Posting when your audience is active boosts initial engagement, which tells Instagram to promote your reel further. If you miss that window, your reel might get buried.
The algorithm is constantly changing. Keep an eye on updates—sometimes video watch time matters more than likes. Test different times monthly to stay ahead of the curve.
Wrap Up
So, here you have it: a detailed guide about the best times to post Reels on Instagram. Now, it’s your turn to understand your audience and create and post engaging IG Reels that bring in more engagement and views.
Moreover, don’t hesitate to experiment to see what times best suit your niche and audience. Consistently analyze your insights, run A/B testing, and stay aware of your followers’ habits so that you post accordingly and maximize your Reel’s reach. Remember, Instagram constantly rolls out new updates, so stay adaptable for long-term success.
Feeling overwhelmed by the constant need to be online at the “perfect” moment and upload your Reels?
But what if there is a tool to help you schedule your Reels for those optimal times and analyze their performance? Yes, it’s SocialBu.
With SocialBu, you can schedule your Reels, ensuring they hit your audience’s feeds when they’re most active and engaged. Plus, you can track all your essential metrics in one place, so you know exactly what’s working. Sign up for a 7-day free trial and experience the ease of automation.
FAQs
What is the Peak Time for Instagram?
Peak Instagram times vary, but generally, early mornings (6-9 AM), lunch breaks (12-2 PM), and early evenings (6-8 PM) tend to see higher engagement. However, your specific audience’s activity patterns are the most crucial factor.
How do I Increase My Reel Views?
You can increase Reel views by posting high-quality, engaging content, using relevant hashtags, posting at optimal times, and actively interacting with your audience.
How do You Get 10,000 Views on Instagram Reels?
To reach 10,000 views, create compelling content that resonates with your target audience, use trending IG Reel trends and audio, popular hashtags, and consistently post at peak engagement times
Do Hashtags Work on Reels?
Yes, hashtags are effective on Reels and work in many ways. They help categorize your content, making it discoverable to users searching for specific topics, thus increasing your reach.
How can I Make My Reels Viral?
To create viral reels that attract more attention, use trending audio, engaging visuals, and a relatable or unique concept. Focus on creating content that sparks emotion and encourages sharing.
How do You Get 100k Views on Reels?
To achieve 100,000 views, consider a combination of factors, including high-quality content, strategic hashtag usage, consistent posting, and using trending audio and challenges.
Can Reels Go Viral Without Hashtags?
While hashtags can significantly boost visibility, Reels can go viral without them if the content is exceptionally engaging, shareable, and aligns with current trends.
