Morning, noon, or late at night—what’s the best time to post on social media, all right?
That’s a question social media creators and marketers have pondered since social networks became a thing AND perhaps you landed here in search of that answer.
Timing is crucial in any campaign and social media is no exception. Over 5 billion people are actively using social media. Knowing the right time when your target audience is most likely to engage can be a game changer.
Every platform has its own unique user behavior.
So we’re gonna check out all of them and give you the most recent data insights for 2024.
If you don’t like lengthy articles, check out the overview here:
Platform | Best Days to Post | Best Time to Post on Monday | Best Time to Post on Tuesday | Best Time to Post on Wednesday | Best Time to Post on Thursday | Best Time to Post on Friday | Best Time to Post on Weekends | Worst Days to Post | Worst Times to Post |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Overall Social Media | Friday | 11 am to 12 pm | 10 am to 2 pm, 3 pm to 4 pm | 9 am to 3 pm | 9 am to 2 pm | 10 am to 11 am | 12 pm, 7 pm, 8 pm on Saturdays & 8 am, 11 am, 4 pm on Sundays | Saturday and Sunday | Between 2 AM and 5 AM, when most users are asleep |
Weekdays | 9-11AM | 9AM-2PM | 9AM-2PM | 8-11AM | 9-11AM | 9-10AM | Saturday and Sunday | 2:00 AM to 5:00 AM | |
Wednesday | 9-11AM | 9AM-12PM | 9-11AM, 4PM | 9-11AM, 2PM | 9-11AM | 11AM | Saturday and Sunday | 1:00 AM to 4:00 AM | |
Monday | 10-11AM | 10AM-12PM | 9-10AM, 12-1PM | 10AM | 10AM | N/A | Saturday and Sunday | 10:00 PM to 11:00 PM and 4:00 AM | |
X | Monday, Wednesday | 9-11AM | 9-11AM | 9-11AM | 9AM-12PM | 11AM-12PM | N/A | Saturday and Sunday | 2:00 AM to 3:00 AM and 5:00 AM |
TikTok | Tuesday, Saturday | 2-4PM | 2-5PM | 9-11AM, 2-5PM | 9-11AM, 2-5PM | 4-5PM | 9AM, 1PM | Saturday and Sunday | 2:00 AM – 5:00 AM |
Saturday, Sunday | 10:00 AM | 12:00 PM | 10:00 AM | 6:00 PM | 12:00 PM | 1:00 PM | Saturday and Sunday | 12:00 AM | |
Threads | Thursday, Friday | 12:00 PM—1:00 PM | 8:00 AM—10:00 AM | 1:00 PM | 12:00 PM | 2:00 PM—3:00 PM | 10:00 AM—12:00 PM | Saturday and Sunday | Around 6:00 PM |
Best Day-Wise Times to Post on Social Media (Ranked best to Worst)
Day | Best Time to Post | Why |
---|---|---|
Friday | 10 am to 11 am | People are winding down the workweek and are more likely to engage with social content |
Wednesday | 9 am to 3 pm | Midweek productivity allows for higher engagement during this time |
Monday | 11 am to 12 pm | People are settling into their workweek, checking emails, and taking brief breaks |
Sunday | 8 am, 11 am, 4 pm | Although engagement is lower, these times see the most activity from the remaining active users |
Thursday | 9 am to 2 pm | People are either getting started or wrapping up work tasks by this time |
Tuesday | 10 am to 2 pm, 3 pm to 4 pm | People are deeply immersed in their work and take short breaks during these hours |
Saturday | 12 pm, 7 pm, 8 pm | People are enjoying leisurely activities, making them more likely to engage with content |
Best Time to Post on Facebook
Owned by Mark Elliot Zuckerberg (did you know his full name?), Facebook remains a dominant social media platform with 3.07 billion users worldwide.
In 2024, Facebook continues to thrive despite some setbacks.. Research shows the best times to publish on Facebook are:
Key Posting Times for Each Day of the Week
To get more likes and engagement on Facebook, stick to these key times:
- Monday: 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM
- Tuesday: 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM and 5:00 PM
- Wednesday: 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM
- Thursday: 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM and 5:00 PM
- Friday: 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM
- Saturday: 7:00 AM (ideal for early weekend activity)
- Sunday: 5:00 AM to 7:00 AM
By Industry
The best posting time on Facebook can also vary depending on the industry you are targeting. Here are some suggestions based on sectors:
- Business-to-Business (B2B): Afternoon posts work well as people take breaks, typically around 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM
- Business-to-Consumer (B2C): Early mornings before work and lunchtime (12:00 PM – 1:00 PM) are optimal
- Healthcare: Morning posts perform best, especially before professionals begin their shifts
- Software: Late mornings and early afternoons are most effective when professionals take short breaks
Worst Times to Post on Facebook
Avoid posting in the late night or very early morning hours. The worst times include:
- 2:00 AM to 5:00 AM, when most users are asleep
- Sundays, as engagement drops significantly over the weekend when users are more focused on family and personal time
Summary
- Best times: 7:00 PM, 7:00 AM, and 3:15 PM.
- Worst times: 2:00 AM, 3:00 AM, and 12:00 AM.
- Best days: Friday, Wednesday, and Monday.
- Worst days: Saturday and Sunday.
Some Other Key Facebook Insights for 2024:
- Image posts generate the highest engagement.
- Link posts have the lowest engagement.
- Over 80% of Facebook users access the app via their phones, so mobile-friendly posts are essential.
Best Time to Post on Instagram
With 2 billion active monthly users, Instagram is a crucial platform for both marketers and businesses looking to engage their audience through visual contents. Whether you’re aiming to build a personal brand or drive business sales, the timing of your Instagram posts plays a significant role.
Based on recent data, here are the best times to post on Instagram:
- Mondays: 9 AM – 12 PM
- Tuesdays: 9 AM – 12 PM
- Wednesdays: 5 AM, 9 AM, and 4 PM
- Thursdays: 2 PM
- Fridays: 10 AM – 12 PM and 5 – 6 PM
- Saturday: 7 AM – 11 AM
- Sundays: 10 – 11 AM
Best Days to Post on Instagram
- Wednesdays, Fridays, and Tuesdays are generally the best days to post for higher engagement.
- Weekends and Mondays tend to be slower, but mornings can still offer some engagement opportunities, especially if your target audience enjoys weekend leisure scrolling.
Worst Times to Post on Instagram
While there are many optimal times to post, we recommend avoiding certain hours, such as:
- Late night (1:00 AM to 4:00 AM) when most users are asleep.
- Mondays and Sundays tend to have the least engagement.
Best Time to Post on Instagram by Industry
- Business-to-Business (B2B): 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM (around lunchtime and early evening) and 6:00 PM can help capture B2B followers
- Business-to-Consumer (B2C): 7:00 AM and 8:00 PM are optimal for engaging B2C followers
- Healthcare: Morning to early afternoon is best to capture the attention of healthcare professionals
- Software: Before and after work and during lunch breaks are ideal for reaching the software industry audience
Key Instagram Insights
- Carousel posts generate the highest engagement
- Tagging products can boost sales by 37% on Instagram
- Business accounts average 1.55 posts per day, often leading with visuals
- 130 million Instagram users click on shopping posts monthly
- 51% of American users check Instagram at least once per day.
- 35% check it more than once per day.
- India has the most number of Instagram users, nearly 262.9 million
Pro Tips:
Instagram’s algorithm prioritizes recency. It shows newer posts higher up in users’ feeds.
Best Time to Post on LinkedIn
LinkedIn remains one of the leading platforms for professional networking and B2B marketing with 1 billion users worldwide.
For businesses and professionals alike, knowing the optimal times to publish on LinkedIn can significantly impact your content’s reach and engagement.
LinkedIn users are most active during regular business hours. The best times to post on LinkedIn in 2024 are:
When to Post on LinkedIn in 2024
- Tuesdays and Wednesdays: 10 AM – 12 PM
- Thursdays: 10 AM
- Fridays: 7 AM – 9 PM
- Weekends: Engagement tends to drop significantly on Saturdays and Sundays, but you can still catch some users around 10 AM
Best Days to Post on LinkedIn
- Tuesday, Thursday, and Wednesday are the best days to post on LinkedIn for maximum engagement
- Sunday, Saturday, and Monday tend to have lower engagement rates, as weekends see less professional activity
Worst Times to Post on LinkedIn
- Late nights and early mornings: 10:00 PM to 11:00 PM and 4:00 AM, when professionals are generally busy or offline
Best Time to Post on LinkedIn by Industry
- Business-to-Business (B2B): Similar to other platforms, B2B audiences are most active during business hours—before and after work, or during lunch breaks
- Business-to-Consumer (B2C): LinkedIn is more B2B-focused, but you can still reach B2C audiences during lunchtime
- Healthcare: Mid-morning and early afternoon posts tend to perform best
- Software: During lunch breaks or before/after work
Key LinkedIn Stats to Remember
- Ranked #1 trusted platform by brands
- 78% of LinkedIn users are outside of the U.S.
- Videos tend to perform better in the afternoon, while written posts are more successful earlier in the day
- 40% of LinkedIn visitors engage with a business page organically every week
- 82% of B2B marketers report success with their LinkedIn marketing efforts
Pro Tips:
- Variety: Publish a mix of written content in the mornings and more engaging formats like videos in the afternoon
- Professional tone: LinkedIn content tends to focus on professional thought-leadership, industry news, and career growth
- Time zone awareness: Post based on your target audience’s time zone. For example, if you’re targeting the U.S. and U.K., schedule posts in their morning time to reach both markets.
Best Time to Post on X (FKA Twitter)
With 500 million users worldwide, X remains a powerful platform for real-time conversations, breaking news, and engagement.
Despite recent changes in leadership (Elon Musk’s take over in October, 2022) and platform policies, X continues to serve as a hub for discussions around trending topics, customer service, and brand visibility.
Optimal Times to Post on X in 2024
- Mondays and Tuesdays: 10 AM to 1 PM
- Wednesdays: 9 AM – 11 AM
- Fridays: 12 PM
Best Days to Post on X
- Wednesday, Friday, and Thursday consistently perform best for engagement.
Worst Times to Post on X
- 2:00 AM to 3:00 AM, and 5:00 AM see the least amount of user activity
- Weekends, particularly Sundays, are the worst days to post
Best Time to Post on X by Industry
- Business-to-Business (B2B): Early morning (before 9 AM) and late afternoon are the best times, as professionals tend to scroll through X before or after work and during lunch breaks
- Business-to-Consumer (B2C): Both morning and evening slots work well for B2C audiences as they browse X during downtime
- Healthcare: Early morning and late evening posts perform best
- Software: Midday posts (10 AM to 2 PM) tend to get the best results
Key Takeaways
- X has 250 million daily visitors
- 23% of Americans get their news from X
- 80% of user sessions involve watching video content
- Early mornings perform best for readable content, while afternoons see higher engagement for interactive or multimedia content
Pro Tips:
X’s algorithm gives priority to recency and trending topics. This means aligning your content with timely events like award shows, sports events, or global news can boost engagement.
Best time to post on TikTok
Number of users worldwide: 1.6 billion
TikTok is more popular among the younger generation with 1.6 billion active users worldwide. Its algorithm is unique, and the optimal posting times may differ from other platforms due to its user base.
Best Posting Times on TikTok in 2024
- Monday: 3 PM
- Tuesday: 3 PM – 5 PM
- Wednesday: 9 AM – 11 AM and 3 PM
- Thursday: 9 AM – 11 AM, 2 PM – 6 PM
- Friday: 12 PM, 4 PM – 6 PM
- Saturday and Sunday: 9 AM – 1 PM
Best Days to Post on TikTok
- Wednesdays and Thursdays are the best for maximum engagement
- Weekends, particularly Sundays, tend to have the lowest engagement rates
Worst Times to Post on TikTok
- 2:00 AM – 5:00 AM throughout the week
Best Times to Post on TikTok by Industry
- Business-to-Business (B2B): B2B users are most active later in the day after work, 9 PM to 11 PM weekdays and during late mornings on the weekends.
- Business-to-Consumer (B2C): B2C audiences, including retail and consumer goods, typically engage during afternoon hours
- Beauty and Fashion: Afternoon posts (around 3 PM) work best, particularly on weekdays
- Food and Art: Mid-morning to early afternoon is optimal
- Home Interior: Late afternoons and evenings tend to perform well
- Mobile and Accessories: Videos work best, especially in the afternoon, on Thursdays
Key TikTok Stats to Remember
- TikTok is the fastest-growing platform for product discovery
- TikTok sees the most engagement during late afternoons and evenings
- 53% of TikTok users come to the platform for funny content
- TikTok is the #1 most downloaded app in more than 40 countries
- Over 76% of U.S. users aged 18-24 are active on TikTok, with 70% of teens using the app
- Average user spends 23 hours per month on TikTok
Pro Tips
- TikTok’s algorithm can take a bit of time to push videos into users’ feeds. Unlike other platforms, TikTok videos can take 24 hours to be fully distributed across feeds. So post earlier than your desired time
- TikTok heavily prioritizes trends and keywords. Incorporating trending hashtags and relevant keywords can help push videos into more feeds
Best time to post on Pinterest
Pinterest continues to be a versatile and popular platform for reaching a visuals-driven audience segment. With over 500 million users worldwide, Pinterest users primarily use the platform for inspiration, planning, and discovery of new ideas.
Best Posting Times on Pinterest in 2024
- Monday: 10:00 AM
- Tuesday: 12:00 PM
- Wednesday: 10:00 AM
- Thursday: 6:00 PM
- Friday: 12:00 PM
- Saturday: 1:00 PM
- Sunday: 4:00 PM
Best Days to Post on Pinterest
- Fridays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays are the best days to post for high engagement
Worst Days to Post on Pinterest
- Sundays and Saturdays tend to see the least engagement
Best Times to Post on Pinterest by Industry
- Business-to-Business (B2B): Posting around 10 AM to noon and 2 PM to 4 PM during the weekdays works best for B2B contents
- Business-to-Consumer (B2C): Posting between 8 PM and 11 PM on weekdays and from 8 AM to 11 AM during weekends work well for B2C content
- Health: People tend to be more active during morning and evening non-working hours for mental health and wellness
- Travel: Travel content performs best in the evenings when users are more relaxed and looking for leisure
- Beauty: Mornings are ideal for the beauty category as users search for inspiration to kick start their day
- Food & Beverage: Around 5:00 PM is prime time for food content, as users look for dinner recipe inspirations
Key Pinterest Stats to Remember
- Pinterest is the 15th largest social media platform in the world
- 85% of users use Pinterest to plan new projects
- It’s a powerful discovery tool for DIY, recipes, fashion, and beauty category
- Prioritize keywords in captions and descriptions to rank higher in searches
- The top U.S. Pinterest searches in 2024 include nails, dinner ideas, and hairstyles
Pro Tips:
Unlike platforms driven by algorithms designed for constant scrolling, Pinterest functions as a visual search engine, where SEO plays a significant role in content visibility. Optimize your captions with relevant keywords to increase your content’s discoverability.
Best Time to Post on Threads
Threads is a relatively new platform (July, 2023) launched by Instagram where you can check public conversations and share opinions. So far it has amassed 15.36 million active users globally
Similar to Instagram and Facebook, Threads’ algorithm favors posts that users are likely to engage with, based on their account activity.
Threads offers a chronological view but many users stick to the algorithm-based feed, meaning it’s critical to post at times when your audience is most active.
While the user data is limited, here is what found:
When to Post on Threads
- Monday: 12.00 PM—1.00 PM
- Tuesday: 8.00 AM—10.00 AM
- Wednesday: 1.00 PM
- Thursday: 12.00 PM
- Friday: 2.00 PM—3.00 PM
- Saturday: 10.00 AM—12.00 PM
- Sunday: 2.00 PM & 9.00 PM
What we know so far is that Threads’ algorithm mirrors Instagram and Facebook, ranking content based on:
- Previous user interactions such as likes and engagement
- The algorithm predicts the likelihood of interaction
- Overall popularity
Quick Tips for Posting on Threads
- Spark discussions in the comments
- Post content that aligns with audience’s interests and past interactions
- India leads with the most Threads users
- Users spend an average of 6 minutes per day on Threads
What Factors Affect the Best Time to Post on Social Media
Finding that “perfect time” to post on social media is influenced by several factors, and there isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach. Below, we’ll explore the key elements that can help you determine the best time to post on social media.
1. Know Your Target Audience
Your audience’s behavior significantly impacts their interaction with the contents and thus dictates the best posting times.
A travel vlogger’s target audience is different from a school supplies company’s audience and won’t have the same optimal publishing time.
Use social platform analytics to gather insights on the audiences’ age, location, and interests.
Younger audiences, for example, are more likely to be online later in the day, while older demographics tend to check social media in the morning.
2. Analyze Your Best-Performing Posts
Look at your most successful posts to identify patterns. Gather data on:
- Time and day of posting
- Engagement rates (likes, comments, shares)
- Reach and impressions
These trends will help you identify patterns you can replicate for success.
3. Time Zones
Does your audience live across different time zones?
If so, you’ll need to keep this in mind when scheduling posts and publishing according to the time zone of your primary audience.
4. Keep Up With Trends
Social media usage and trends are constantly changing.
New trends influence when people check their feeds and how they engage, especially around major events, holidays, or even viral trends.
Stay current with these shifts and stay relevant.
5. A/B Testing
To truly understand what times work best, run experiments with A/B testing. Post contents on different days at different time to gauge which performs better.
Once you identify the best performing time slot, leverage that timing.
6. Monitor Competitors
Did your competitor’s post do better?
Perhaps they have figured the best time for the target audience.
Analyze what’s working (or not working) for them, when your competitors are posting and which posts gain the most engagement.
7. Use Platform Analytics
Each platform provides audience insights tools which help you see when your followers are most engaged.
Posting when they are actively scrolling through their feed increases the chances of them seeing your content.
8. Use Social Media Management Tools
There are many social media scheduling tools like Hootsuite, Sprout Social and Zoho Social that make it easy to track audience behavior and refine your posting schedule.
9. Consider Industry-Specific Trends
Different industries experience peak engagement at different times. For instance, the healthcare industry tends to have better engagement in the mornings while evenings and weekends are the prime times for entertainment content consumption.
FAQs
Why Does the Time I Post on Social Media Matter?
Timing your posts correctly on social media can significantly affect your engagement and visibility. By optimally timing your contents publishing, you can
- Reach more audience
- Drive sales
- Compete effectively
- Gain followers
- Understand demand
How Often Should I Post on Social Media?
The ideal posting frequency depends on the platform:
- LinkedIn: Post 1-3 times a week
- Instagram: 3-7 times per week.
- Facebook: 2-5 times a week
- TikTok: 2-5 times a week
- YouTube: Twice a week for shorter videos and 2-3 times a month for longer videos
- X: 1-5 Tweets a day
Does it matter what time you tweet?
Yes, it makes a significant difference! X’s (formerly Twitter) reverse-chronological feeds mean that newer tweets get seen first.
Is Monday a bad time to post on Instagram?
Monday mornings seem to have lower engagement compared to other weekdays.
What is the right time to post articles or ads on LinkedIn?
Generally, the best time to post on LinkedIn is between 10 AM and 12 PM. LinkedIn is used mostly by professionals during work hours to seek inspiration, news, and insights. Here is a breakdown:
- Tuesdays and Wednesdays: 10 AM – 12 PM
- Thursdays: 10 AM
- Fridays: 7 AM – 9 PM
- Weekends: Engagement tends to drop significantly on Saturdays and Sundays, but you can still catch some users around 10 AM
Is it better to post in the morning or at night on Facebook?
Late morning and early evening posts tend to perform better. Facebook user activity generally peaks in the morning.
When are the worst times to share on social media?
The worst time is early morning, specifically between 2:00 AM and 5:00 AM, when users are less active.
Is it better to post in the afternoon or evening?
Both times work well, as users are typically winding down from work and resort to social media for break.
Is posting at night better?
While early evening can be effective, late-night posting (after 11 PM) generally results in lower engagement as most users are offline.
Do late night posts get fewer likes?
Posts made between 11 PM and 3 AM tend to receive the least engagement as most users log out to sleep at the time.
What time are people most active on social media?
Between 9 AM and 10 AM during weekdays and between 5 PM to 8 PM in the early evenings.
What are the best days to post on social media?
Following are the best days to post on social media, ranked best to worst:
- Friday
- Wednesday
- Monday
- Sunday
- Thursday
- Tuesday
- Saturday
What time are people most active on Reddit?
While the best time for Reddit activity varies by community, late afternoon and early evening (5 PM to 7 PM) tend to see higher engagement.