Best Time to Post on Instagram by Industry [2024]

When is the best time to post on Instagram? It’s a hot topic among marketers, creators, and everyday Instagrammers. Crafting a stellar Instagram post, reel, story, or carousel is crucial, but knowing when to hit “share” is equally important. Significantly, it can make or break your engagement.

Join us on a journey to uncover the secrets behind optimal posting times. Get ready to boost your visibility, expand your reach, and level up your Instagram game!

When is the Best Time to Post on Instagram

Determining the best time to post on Instagram is crucial for businesses aiming to maximize their audience engagement. With various factors at play, including industry trends and audience behavior, timing becomes a strategic asset in social media marketing.

To provide actionable insights, our study meticulously examined the major 5 industries – fashion & beauty, food & beverage, finance, real estate, and automobile, of each Instagram account, allowing us to pinpoint the most effective posting times tailored to different businesses.

Here, we present industry-specific insights into the ideal times to post on Instagram. Use these findings to optimize your publishing schedule and boost engagement levels effectively.

This insight comes from Mandala Analytics’s extensive analysis of around 350,000 Instagram feeds worldwide, covering everything from images and videos to carousels and Reels posted between March 2023 and March 2024. 

By delving deep into engagement metrics across various industries and company sizes, we’ve pinpointed the optimal times to share content, analyzing data grouped by the hour and day of posting for each industry, as outlined in the following section.

Best Time to Post on Instagram for Fashion and Beauty

Instagram serves as a bustling runway where fashion and beauty brands can showcase their latest styles and trends. The timing is key in catching the eye of consumers, especially during the leisurely morning routines – whether it’s during commutes or work breaks, and evenings when they unwind and have ample time to scroll through their feeds. Seizing these moments and sharing content during these peak times can greatly amplify engagement and elevate your stylish brands’ visibility.

You might also interested in:

• Top 30 Fashion Bloggers
• 12 Best Beauty Marketing Strategies  
• 10 Impactful Beauty Industry Trends

Best Time to Post on Instagram for Fashion and Beauty [Overall]

• Weekdays: 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
• Weekends: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Best Time to Post on Instagram on Monday – Fashion and Beauty

• ⏰Peak Instagram engagement time on Monday: 8 p.m. 🗓️

Best Time to Post on Instagram on Tuesday – Fashion and Beauty

• ⏰Peak Instagram engagement time on Tuesday: 7 p.m. 🗓️

Best Time to Post on Instagram on Wednesday – Fashion and Beauty

• ⏰Peak Instagram engagement time on Wednesday: 12 p.m. 🗓️

Best Time to Post on Instagram on Thursday – Fashion and Beauty

• ⏰Peak Instagram engagement time on Thursday: 8 a.m. 🗓️

Best Time to Post on Instagram on Friday – Fashion and Beauty

• ⏰Peak Instagram engagement time on Friday: 12 p.m. 🗓️

Best Time to Post on Instagram on Saturday – Fashion and Beauty

• ⏰Peak Instagram engagement time on Saturday: 10 a.m. 🗓️

Best Times to Post on Instagram on Sunday – Fashion and Beauty

• ⏰Peak Instagram engagement time on Sunday: 9 p.m. 🗓 

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Best Time to Post on Instagram for Food and Beverage

The food and beverage industry is among the most sought-after sectors online, as people are hunting down recipes for meal prep or scouting recommendations from their favorite food bloggers and influencers, the demand is evident. Particularly, there’s a lively buzz around lunchtime in general and certain evenings for dining out. Taking advantage of these peak moments by sharing content during these times could greatly enhance the visibility of your gastronomic delight brand.

Best Time to Post on Instagram for Food and Beverage:

• Weekdays: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. 
• Weekends: 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. 

Best Time to Post on Instagram on Monday – Food and Beverage

• ⏰Peak Instagram engagement time on Monday: 8 a.m. 🗓️

Best Time to Post on Instagram on Tuesday – Food and Beverage

• ⏰Peak Instagram engagement time on Tuesday: 12 p.m. 🗓️

Best Time to Post on Instagram on Wednesday – Food and Beverage

• ⏰Peak Instagram engagement time on Wednesday: 7 p.m. 🗓️

Best Time to Post on Instagram on Thursday – Food and Beverage

• ⏰Peak Instagram engagement time on Thursday: 12 p.m. 🗓️

Best Time to Post on Instagram on Friday – Food and Beverage

• ⏰Peak Instagram engagement time on Friday: 5 a.m. 🗓️

Best Time to Post on Instagram on Saturday – Food and Beverage

• ⏰Peak Instagram engagement time on Saturday: 9 a.m. 🗓️

Best Time to Post on Instagram on Sunday – Food and Beverage

• ⏰Peak Instagram engagement time on Sunday: 9 a.m. 🗓️

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Best Time to Post on Instagram for Finance

In finance, the prime time for engagement is early morning, coinciding with the start of the day and the latest updates from the stock market. Here we can see that overall engagement in the evening is minimal. Simply put, users are particularly checking Instagram during their morning routines or commute, making it the perfect opportunity to share finance-related content that captures their attention as they kickstart their day.

Best Time to post on Instagram for Finance:

• Weekdays: 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. 
• Weekends: 7 a.m. to 9 a.m.

Best Time to Post on Instagram on Monday – Finance

• ⏰Peak Instagram engagement time on Monday: 12 p.m.🗓️

Best Time to Post on Instagram on Tuesday – Finance

• ⏰Peak Instagram engagement time on Tuesday: 6 a.m.🗓️

Best Time to Post on Instagram on Wednesday – Finance

• ⏰Peak Instagram engagement time on Wednesday: 2 a.m.🗓️

Best Time to Post on Instagram on Thursday – Finance

• ⏰Peak Instagram engagement time on Thursday: 12 p.m.🗓️

Best Time to Post on Instagram on Friday – Finance

• ⏰Peak Instagram engagement time on Friday: 1 p.m. 🗓️

Best Time to Post on Instagram on Saturday – Finance

• ⏰Peak Instagram engagement time on Saturday: 9 a.m. 🗓️

Best Time to Post on Instagram on Sunday – Finance

• ⏰Peak Instagram engagement time on Sunday: 8 p.m.🗓️

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Best Time to Post on Instagram for Real Estate

In the real estate industry, engagement times differ from the typical leisure topics with peak activity seen during mid-morning hours during weekdays making this an ideal time to share real estate content. Audiences in the real estate industry may browse Instagram during work breaks, while independent workers like real estate agents might engage with real estate content at any time due to their flexible schedules. Similarly, early weekend mornings also see high engagement, as users plan weekend activities or search for properties in their free time. Posting during these times can effectively capture their attention as they explore properties or gather information. 

You might also interested in:

• 40 Real Estate Marketing Ideas
• 40 Hotel Marketing Ideas  

Best Time to post on Instagram for Real Estate:

• Weekdays: 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
• Weekends: 5 a.m. to 9 a.m.  

Best Time to Post on Instagram on Monday – Real Estate

• ⏰Peak Instagram engagement time on Monday: 12 p.m. 🗓️

Best Time to Post on Instagram on Tuesday – Real Estate

• ⏰Peak Instagram engagement time on Tuesday: 11 a.m. 🗓️

Best Time to Post on Instagram on Wednesday – Real Estate

• ⏰Peak Instagram engagement time on Wednesday: 1 a.m. 🗓️

Best Time to Post on Instagram on Thursday – Real Estate

• ⏰Peak Instagram engagement time on Thursday: 10 a.m. 🗓️

Best Time to Post on Instagram on Friday – Real Estate

• ⏰Peak Instagram engagement time on Friday: 8 a.m. 🗓️

Best Time to Post on Instagram on Saturday – Real Estate

• ⏰Peak Instagram engagement time on Saturday: 5 a.m. 🗓️

Best Time to Post on Instagram on Sunday – Real Estate

• ⏰Peak Instagram engagement time on Sunday: 8 a.m. 🗓️

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Best Time to Post on Instagram for Automobile

For the automobile industry, the content landscape on Instagram is diverse, catering to a wide range of interests and needs. Audiences may be searching for new vehicle models, gas prices, or industry news updates – the content timing varies according to its nature. Peak engagement times are scattered throughout the day, including early morning, morning work hours, and late evenings.

Leveraging these peak moments to share content can significantly enhance your automobile brand’s visibility. However, it’s essential to customize your posting schedule according to your target audience and business type. For instance, reaching out to shift workers like truck drivers during late-night to early-morning hours or commuters during morning work hours can effectively yield higher engagement and superior outcomes.

Best Time to post on Instagram for Automobile:

• Weekdays: 7 a.m. to 11 a.m.
• Weekends: 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 9 p.m. to 11 p.m.

Best Time to Post on Instagram on Monday – Automobile

• ⏰Peak Instagram engagement time on Monday: 7 a.m.🗓️

Best Time to Post on Instagram on Tuesday – Automobile

• ⏰Peak Instagram engagement time on Tuesday: 11 a.m. 🗓️

Best Time to Post on Instagram on Wednesday – Automobile

• ⏰Peak Instagram engagement time on Wednesday: 7 a.m. 🗓️

Best Time to Post on Instagram on Thursday – Automobile

• ⏰Peak Instagram engagement time on Thursday: 10 a.m. 🗓️

Best Time to Post on Instagram on Friday – Automobile

• ⏰Peak Instagram engagement time on Friday: 10 a.m. 🗓️

Best Time to Post on Instagram on Saturday – Automobile

• ⏰Peak Instagram engagement time on Saturday: 11 a.m. 🗓️

Best Time to Post on Instagram on Sunday – Automobile

• ⏰Peak Instagram engagement time on Sunday: 11 p.m. 🗓️

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Instagram Posting Consideration

The ideal time to post on Instagram isn’t a one-size-fits-all equation—it’s influenced by a multitude of factors. 

When determining your optimal posting times, there’s a lot to consider. We have rounded up four crucial factors to keep in mind when scheduling your Instagram content. 

Weekday Selection:

Certain days hold more promise for engagement. Typically for most industries, weekdays see higher Instagram activity compared to weekends, when users are often out and about. Even within the workday, pinpoint when your audience is most likely to be scrolling, like during breaks or lunch hours.

Midday Breaks:

Lunch breaks during the workweek see a surge in Instagram usage, especially for leisure-topic industries. Tap into this trend by timing your posts to coincide with these moments of downtime, ensuring your content gets noticed when users take a breather.

Time Zone Alignment:

Tailor your posting schedule to match your followers’ time zones. Utilize Instagram Insights to identify their primary locations. If your audience spans different time zones, prioritize posting at times convenient for them, not just you.

Content Quality:

Ensure your posts are relevant to your audience and align with your brand identity to maintain consistency and build trust. Also don’t ever skimp to use high-quality images or videos that are visually appealing and consistent with your brand aesthetic to attract attention on the platform.

You might also interested in exploring more of our guide and inspiration for creating compelling Instagram Reels and Instagram posts. 

Posting Consistency:

The age-old question: how often should you post? The real answer lies in your content’s quality and your ability to maintain consistency. Whether it’s once a week or thrice daily, establish a content calendar to uphold a steady posting rhythm.  

Still, remember that consistency is key to a thriving Instagram strategy; find your frequency sweet spot, balance posts, and stories, and stick to it.

Audience Demographics: 

Unlocking the perfect posting times starts with knowing your audience inside out. Dive into their world – their ages, occupations, and lifestyles. Are they early birds or night owls? By tapping into their rhythm, you can hit that sweet spot when they’re most engaged, whether it’s during the morning commute or cozy evenings at home.

Industry Norms:

Every industry dances to its own beat on social media. Get in tune with your sector’s groove. Whether you’re in fashion, food, finance, or beyond, there are peak moments when your audience is ready to groove with your content. Ride the wave of industry trends and set your posts to make a splash when it matters most. 

Instagram Algorithms:

The algorithm might seem like a mystery, but there’s a method to the madness. Experiment with post timing, frequency, and engagement strategies to charm your way into the algorithm’s core. Stay nimble, stay curious, and watch as your posts shimmy to the top of your followers’ feeds. If delving deeper into the Instagram algorithm intrigues you, fear not – we’ve got all the insights you need.

In essence, by considering these factors, you can pinpoint the perfect timing for your Instagram posts and maximize engagement.

Mandala AI’s Time Analytics

Tracking and analyzing data is the foundation for determining the best time to post on Instagram. Though the platform offers access to some engagement stats, they only paint part of the picture.

Mandala AI’s powerful Time Analytics gives you the complete picture without any fuss. The tool analyzes and monitors post engagements across several social media channels, including Instagram.

With it, you don’t have to guess when it’s a good time to post on Instagram. You’ll know it.

Other benefits of using Time Analytics to optimize your Instagram strategy include:

• Improving post scheduling: The tool reveals the exact optimal times you should be communicating with your audience on Instagram and removes all guesswork;

• Boost engagement: By knowing the right times, you also increase the level of engagement your Instagram content will attract, whether it’s content on Stories, your regular feed, or even Reels.

• Save time and effort: Time Analytics removes the need to switch between multiple tools to get key insights and optimal posting times.

Discover the full potential of Mandala AI’s social media solutions now and use them to create better-converting campaigns.

Optimize Your Instagram Strategy Now

Finding the ideal time to engage with your audience varies by industry, so it’s crucial to tailor your posting schedule to match their behaviors. This personalized approach not only improves your Instagram strategy but also boosts visibility and connections with your audience.

If you’re in one of the five industries we’ve analyzed, you’re in luck! Leveraging insights from these prime engagement periods can enhance your online presence, foster genuine interactions, and help achieve your marketing goals on Instagram.

But if your industry wasn’t among those analyzed, don’t worry. Take time to understand your audience before planning content. And if you need assistance, our ultimate analytics tools, Mandala Analytics, are here to help.