Key takeaways
- Buffer (9.6M posts, updated Sep 2026): Thursday 9am, Wednesday 12pm and 6pm. Sprout Social (31 Mar 2026): Tuesday 1–7pm, Wednesday 12–9pm.
- Both favour midweek; Wednesday midday into the evening is where they overlap. Friday and Saturday are weakest in Buffer’s data.
- Neither study separates Reels from feed posts, so compare your own results by format.
- SkedCast shows each account’s own best times from its engagement history, from the Solo plan.
On this page
What is the best time to post on Instagram?
Midweek. Both studies put Wednesday among the best days, and Wednesday midday into the evening is the window they share. These are averages across many accounts; your audience’s time zone and habits shift the real answer. The best time to post on Instagram tool page and the posting schedule guide cover each study in full.
| Finding | |
|---|---|
| Best days | Wed, Thu (Tue also strong) |
| Best times | Buffer: Thu 9am, Wed 12pm and 6pm · Sprout Social: Tue 1–7pm, Wed 12–9pm |
| Where they agree | Wednesday midday into the evening is where the two studies overlap; Friday and Saturday are weakest in Buffer’s data. |
| Sources | Buffer, updated Sep 2026 (9.6M posts); Sprout Social, 31 Mar 2026 (nearly 2 billion engagements) |
Is the best time to post Reels different?
It can be, but neither study reports Reels on their own. Buffer’s analysis found evenings strong on most weekdays, with Thursday morning the exception, across all formats together. Post comparable Reels and feed posts in the same windows and compare reach and plays for each format before you assume one time fits both. See the Instagram Reels scheduler for Reels settings.
How do you find your own best time on Instagram?
Once an account has a posting history, its own engagement is a better guide than any study.
Start from the overlap
Post in the Wednesday midday-to-evening window for a few weeks.
Add a second window
Alternate it with Buffer’s Thursday 9am slot for comparable posts.
Compare one metric
Reach or interactions per post, the same measure each week.
Keep the winner
Make it your default and retest every few months.
How does SkedCast find your best time to post?
From each connected account’s own engagement history, from the Solo plan. Insights shows each account’s best times, and when you import a batch of posts, the “Best times” option spreads them into those slots; a new account needs a posting history first, so start from the study windows above. An AI assistant connected to SkedCast reads the same best times. See bulk scheduling for imports.
Sources
FAQ
- What is the single best time to post on Instagram?
- There is no single answer. Buffer’s 2026 study points to Thursday 9am and Wednesday 12pm and 6pm, and Sprout Social’s to Tuesday 1–7pm and Wednesday 12–9pm; start with Wednesday midday into the evening and test.
- What is the best day to post on Instagram?
- Wednesday, with Thursday and Tuesday close behind; Friday and Saturday are weakest in Buffer’s data.
- Does SkedCast post at the best time automatically?
- When you import a batch, the “Best times” option spreads posts into each account’s best times from its engagement history; for single posts, pick the slot yourself from the best times Insights shows.
- How much posting history does SkedCast need for best times?
- Enough published posts with engagement to compare slots. Until then, start from the study windows.
- Is the best time for Reels different from the feed?
- It can be, but the 2026 studies report all formats together, so compare your own Reels and feed results.
- Which SkedCast plan includes best times?
- Best-time recommendations are included from the Solo plan.