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 AM · Wednesday 12:00 PM · Wednesday 6:00 PM
- 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 | 2:00 – 4:00 PM |
|---|---|
| Tuesday | 1:00 – 7:00 PM |
| Wednesday | 12:00 – 9:00 PM and 11:00 PM |
| Thursday | 12:00 – 2:00 PM |
| Friday | No recommended slot |
| Saturday | No recommended slot |
| Sunday | No recommended slot |
Sources
- Buffer — Best Time to Post on Instagram in 2026Published July 14, 2026 · 9.6M posts analysed
- Sprout Social — Best Times to Post on Social Media in 2026Published March 31, 2026 · 2B engagements · 307K profiles
Figures checked on each publisher's page on September 21, 2026. Studies get updated: check on their site.