Best time to post on Instagram in 2026
Which days and hours should you post on Instagram? Two large public studies answer, and they don't always agree: here are both, without choosing for them.
Times are in your audience's local time zone: they apply as they are, wherever you are.
According to Buffer
- Peak slots
- Thursday 9:00 · Wednesday 12:00 · Wednesday 18:00
- Best day
- Wednesday
- Quietest days
- Friday and Saturday
According to Sprout Social
- Best days
- Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday
- Quietest days
- Saturday and Sunday
The week day by day, according to Sprout Social
| Monday | 14:00–16:00 |
|---|---|
| Tuesday | 13:00–19:00 |
| Wednesday | 12:00–21:00 and 23:00 |
| Thursday | 12:00–14:00 |
| Friday | No recommended slot |
| Saturday | No recommended slot |
| Sunday | No recommended slot |
Sources
- Buffer — Best Time to Post on Instagram in 2026Published 14 July 2026 · 9.6m posts analysed
- Sprout Social — Best Times to Post on Social Media in 2026Published 31 March 2026 · 2bn engagements · 307k profiles
Figures checked on each publisher's page on 21 September 2026. Studies get updated: check on their site.