The Best Times to Post on Social Media
If you’re trying to grow your social media presence or manage a brand, you probably already know that what you post is super important. But did you know that when you post can make a big difference too? Timing matters more than you might think! In this guide, we'll walk you through the best days and times to post on popular social media platforms.
Quick glance: Best times to post
Here’s a cheat sheet for the best times to post on each platform:
Facebook: Post between 9 AM and 10 AM, especially on Fridays.
Instagram: 7 AM to 8 AM on weekdays, with Fridays being a sweet spot.
LinkedIn: Stick to 9 AM to 5 PM on weekdays, with Tuesdays and Wednesdays performing best.
TikTok: Post at 2 PM on Mondays, 4 PM on Wednesdays, and 8 AM on Sundays for the best engagement.
YouTube: The magic time is 3 PM to 4 PM on Fridays.
X (formerly Twitter): 11 AM on Mondays and Fridays is your go-to time for tweets.
Instagram: Catch the early risers
Instagram is huge, with over 2 billion people scrolling through their feeds every month. Most users check it on their phones during their morning routine, which is why:
Best Times: Studies show posting between 7 AM and 8 AM on weekdays gets the most engagement.
Best Days: Fridays are great for engagement, while Sundays are typically slower, so maybe skip posting then.
Facebook: Morning breaks work best
Facebook’s users follow a similar pattern to Instagram, but the timing is a little different:
Best Times: Post between 9 AM and 10 AM—right when people are taking their first break of the day and checking their feed.
Best Days: Fridays are prime posting days, while weekends generally see less activity.
X (formerly Twitter): Mid-morning wins
X is all about real-time conversations, so timing your posts is key:
Best Times: The sweet spot is around 11 AM on Mondays and Fridays when people are catching up on the latest news and updates.
Pro Tip: Posting in the mornings and early afternoons works best for engagement.
LinkedIn: Stick to work hours
LinkedIn is all about professional networking, so it makes sense that posting during working hours will give you the best results:
Best Times: Posting between 9 AM and 5 PM on weekdays is the way to go.
Best Days: Tuesdays and Thursdays are LinkedIn’s busiest days, so aim for these if you want the most engagement.
Pinterest: Lunchtime inspiration
Pinterest is where people go for inspiration, whether it’s recipes, home decor, or fashion. The best times to post reflect when people are looking for creative ideas:
Best Times: Try posting at 12 PM and 6 PM, with Fridays seeing the most action.
Weekends: If you want to post on a Saturday, aim for 8 PM to 11 PM when people are winding down and browsing for inspiration.
YouTube: Late afternoon for views
YouTube has a huge audience, with 82% of U.S. adults using the platform regularly. To get the most views:
Best Times: Posting videos between 3 PM and 4 PM on Fridays is a solid strategy for boosting views.
Weekday Posts: If you’re posting during the week, 2 PM to 4 PM is generally a good time to reach your audience.
TikTok: Aim for after lunch
TikTok is still growing fast, especially with younger audiences. The key to success is hitting the right times when people are most likely to scroll through their feed:
Best Times: Post between 10 AM and 11:50 AM, 2:30 PM and 4 PM, or 6:30 PM and 9:30 PM from Tuesday to Thursday.
Weekends: Posting at 8 AM on Saturdays can also work if you want to catch people starting their day.
Tailoring your schedule to your audience
While these times are a great starting point, remember that your audience might have slightly different habits. Use these suggestions to guide your posts if you’re not sure when your followers are most active. But once you start posting regularly, take note of which times work best for you.
It’s also helpful to experiment with different types of content. For example, your videos might do better in the mornings, while your images get more likes in the afternoon. Keep testing and tweaking your schedule to find what works best.
So, there you have it! Knowing when to post on social media can really boost your engagement and help you grow your presence. It’s all about hitting the right times when your audience is online and ready to engage. Try out these recommended times, monitor your results, and adjust as needed to keep improving your strategy!
Happy posting!
