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Claim offerWhen is the best time to post on social media?
Your guide to the best times to post on Instagram, Facebook, X (Twitter), LinkedIn, Pinterest, TikTok, Snapchat, and YouTube.
Adobe Express
06/09/2025
Overview
Social media is constantly evolving. People don’t just look at their feeds for entertainment or to find out what their friend ate for lunch anymore. Instead, people get all kinds of information from social media — such as facts about a business, customer service help, and more. And now more than ever, social media has become a hub for online shopping and ecommerce.
Creating a strategy around when to post on each of your channels is a social media best practice. So, when is the best time to post on social media? This post will guide you on the best days and times to post on Instagram, Facebook, X (Twitter), LinkedIn, Pinterest, TikTok, Snapchat, and YouTube.
You probably know there’s no such thing as a “one schedule fits all” approach to getting your post timing right. The most reliable learnings on the best days and times to post will come from your own analytics and by monitoring your social media engagement rates. The timing of a given post depends on the platform, your target audience, seasonality (like national and regional holidays), global events (like a pandemic), and above all — the quality of your content.
However, this report covers general best practices for better engagement and reach, sourced through a study by Sprout Social as well as other sources linked throughout.
The best times to post on social media
- Monday: 10am - 1pm
- Tuesday: 10am - 1pm
- Wednesday: 10am–4pm
- Thursday: 10am - 1pm
- Friday: 9am - 11am
- Worst days to post: Sundays
- Best days to post: Wednesdays
The best times to post on Instagram
- Monday, Wednesday: 10am - 4pm
- Tuesday: 10am - 2pm
- Thursday: 10am - 3pm
- Friday: 11am - 2pm
- Saturday: 9am - 4pm
- Sunday: 10am - noon and 3pm
- Worst days to post on Instagram: Saturdays
- Best days to post on Instagram: Mondays through Thursdays
People are spending more time on Instagram, which means there’s a higher chance of reaching your audience when they’re online. The peak time for posting on Instagram falls midday during the week.
The best times to post on Facebook
- Monday, Tuesday: 9am - noon
- Wednesday: 8am - 11am and 3pm - 5pm
- Thursday: 8am - noon
- Friday, Saturday: 9am - 10am
- Sunday: 8am - 1pm
- Worst days to post on Facebook: Sundays
- Best days to post on Facebook: Mondays through Fridays
Facebook’s window of best times to post has also widened. Much like on Instagram, Facebook posts that go live on weekdays after 5pm or anytime on weekends get less engagement.
The best times to post on X (Twitter)
- Monday: 10am - noon
- Tuesday, Thursday: 10am - 2pm
- Wednesday: 9am - 3pm
- Friday: 9am - 1pm
- Saturday: 9am - 2pm
- Sunday: noon
- Worst days to post on X: Saturdays
- Best days to post on X: Tuesdays through Thursdays
X is the destination for people looking for the latest news and hot takes. It’s also a key channel for your audience to @ you in their mentions or connect via direct messages. Wednesday is the strongest day to get engagements here.
The best times to post on LinkedIn
- Monday: 10am - 1pm
- Tuesday, Friday: 10am
- Wednesday: 10am - 11am
- Thursday: 9am - 1pm
- Friday: 10am
- Saturday: 9am
- Sunday: 7am - 5pm
- The worst days to post on LinkedIn: Sundays
- The best days to post on LinkedIn: Tuesdays through Thursdays
LinkedIn typically gets the bulk of its engagement from Tuesday to Thursday between 9am and 11am. It makes sense that people would be on LinkedIn most during their workweeks. Like other social media platforms, weekends are slow on LinkedIn.
The best times to post on Pinterest
- Monday through Sunday: 1pm
- The worst days to post on Pinterest: Saturdays and Sundays
- The best days to post on Pinterest: Mondays through Fridays
Pinterest has a very different demographic compared to the other platforms. It skews female and caters to people looking to gain inspiration for crafts, events, projects, hobbies, passion projects, and small businesses. This variety of use cases helps explain why Pinterest’s peak days and times land outside of working hours, as opposed to the other social platforms we cover in this post.
The best times to post on TikTok
- Monday: noon - 5pm
- Tuesday: 5pm
- Wednesday: 2pm - 5pm
- Thursday: 3pm - 5pm
- Friday: 5pm
- Worst days to post on TikTok: Sundays
- Best days to post on TikTok: Wednesdays
Target your captive TikTok audience mid-week, in the afternoon.
The best times to post on Snapchat
- Every day: 2pm – 5pm; 9pm – 11pm
Snapchat is the nocturnal member of the group with most of its users being active at night, according to Lift. Keep the late-night habits of your Snapchat audience in mind when posting to this platform.
The best times to post on YouTube
- Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 1pm
- Wednesday: 10am - 1pm
- Worst days to post on YouTube: Saturdays
- Best days to post on YouTube: Monday through Thursday
It can take time for the YouTube algorithm to pick up on new content. Therefore, it’s best to begin your YouTube strategy by understanding the times when most users watch videos. According to HowSociable, the best time to post on YouTube is in the evening.
Understanding audience behavior
Finding the best time to post on social media isn’t just about following general guidelines, it requires understanding the nuances that influence audience behavior. Here are key factors to consider:
Audience behavior by industry
The ideal posting time varies by industry. For example:
- B2B brands often see higher engagement on LinkedIn during business hours, while B2C brands may perform better in the evenings or weekends.
- Ecommerce brands can benefit from posting when people are most likely to shop — typically evenings and weekends.
- Entertainment and media industries often see peak engagement at night when users are unwinding.
Time zones & global considerations
If your audience is spread across multiple regions, using a single posting schedule may not work. You should:
- Identify your top-performing regions and adjust posting times accordingly.
- Use scheduling tools to ensure content goes live at optimal times in different time zones.
- Consider A/B testing different posting times to see what works best for various segments of your audience.
Algorithm updates & engagement trends
Social media algorithms continuously evolve, impacting how content is distributed. Staying informed of these updates can help you optimize your posting strategy. For example:
- Instagram and TikTok prioritize content with high early engagement, making it crucial to post when your audience is most active.
- Facebook’s algorithm favors meaningful interactions, so posting when followers are likely to comment or share can boost visibility.
- LinkedIn engagement often peaks on weekday mornings when professionals check updates before starting work.
Common mistakes to avoid
Even with the best timing strategy, you can fall into common pitfalls that hinder social media success. Avoid these mistakes:
Relying solely on generic best times
General guidelines are helpful, but they shouldn’t replace data-driven decisions. Always analyze your own engagement metrics to refine your posting schedule.
Ignoring platform-specific trends
Each platform has unique user behavior patterns. What works on Instagram might not work on Twitter. Tailor your posting times and content formats accordingly.
Posting too much or too little
- Overposting can overwhelm your audience and decrease engagement.
- Underposting can cause followers to lose interest and affect your visibility in algorithms. Finding a balance is key.
Neglecting audience interaction
Engagement doesn’t stop after posting. Failing to respond to comments, messages, and shares can make you seem unapproachable. Actively engaging with followers helps build community and trust.
How to maximize reach and engagement
While posting at the right time can increase visibility, engagement ultimately depends on content quality and interaction. Here’s how to maximize your reach:
Prioritize quality over quantity
Rather than posting frequently at suboptimal quality, focus on creating engaging, high-value content. Posts that spark conversations and shares will perform better regardless of timing or frequency.
Leverage trends and hashtags
- Jumping on trending topics can boost visibility and engagement.
- Use relevant hashtags strategically to increase discoverability.
- Monitor industry trends to create timely, relevant content.
Encourage audience participation
- Ask questions, run polls, and create interactive content to encourage conversations.
- Use calls-to-action (CTAs) to encourage likes, shares, and comments.
- Engage with user-generated content (UGC) to strengthen community relationships.
Now that you know the best days and times to post on social media, start brainstorming on the actual content you’ll distribute. Wondering what to post next? Get inspired with our list of 33 social media post ideas.
