What does "best social media posting times" actually mean?
Best time to post on social media - correctly categorized
When people talk about the best times to post, most people mean:
more reach
more engagement
better visibility
But: Posting times are not a performance lever, but an amplifier. Good content at the wrong time performs worse. Bad content at the perfect time remains bad.
Why posting times are still relevant
Social media posting times & algorithm
Algorithms react sensitively to
early interactions
quick reactions after publication
first signals (likes, comments, clicks)
The posting time therefore influences how many people see your content before the algorithm decides whether it should be displayed further.
Social media posting time analysis - the basic logic
Before we get to platforms, a simple rule:
👉 Post when your target audience is active - not when studies say they are.
Posting times depend on:
Target audience
time zones
platform
Content type
Average values are a guide, not a guarantee.
Social media posting times by platform
Best posting times Instagram
Typical patterns:
weekdays
in the morning (7-9 am)
evenings (6pm - 9pm)
Instagram responds strongly to early engagement. When your target group scrolls, reach and engagement rate increase faster.
👉 Especially relevant for:
Best posting times TikTok
TikTok works differently:
Typical time slots:
Here content performance is more important than timing - but bad times slow down the start.
Best posting times LinkedIn
LinkedIn is strongly tied to working hours:
Visibility drops significantly in the evenings and at weekends - especially in the B2B context.
Best posting times on Facebook
Facebook shows
Typical times:
Without an active community, good timing quickly fizzles out.
Social media posting times overview (simplified)
platform | Typical good times |
Instagram | 7-9 a.m., 6-9 p.m. |
TikTok | 12-14 h, 19-22 h |
LinkedIn | 8-10 a.m. (weekdays) |
Facebook | 9-11 a.m., 6 p.m. |
👉 These are guidelines, not rules.
Posting times & reach: the common misconception
Many people hope:
If I post at the right time, I'll get reach.
In reality:
Posting times help, but they don't save content.
Social media engagement posting times
Engagement occurs more frequently
This explains why:
Breaks
closing time
morning routines
often work better than "random times".
Company vs. creator: Different posting times
Social media posting times companies
Companies often post
This works for LinkedIn - less so for Instagram or TikTok.
Creators are more oriented towards:
How to find your best social media posting times
The only sensible way
Open Insights or Analytics
Check the activity times of your followers
Post content at similar times
Compare reach & engagement
Your own data beats any study.
Typical mistakes with posting times
This leads to false conclusions - despite good data.
FAQ - Frequently asked questions about social media posting times
What are the best social media posting times?
The times when your target group is active.
When should you post on social media?
When early interactions are likely.
Are there universal posting times?
No. Only average values.
Are posting times more important than content?
No. Content beats timing.
How do I find my best times?
Via social media analytics and tests.
Conclusion: Best social media posting times are no secret
The best social media posting times are not a hack, they are:
data-based
Target group-dependent
platform-dependent
Posting times optimize performance - but they don't create relevance.
If your content works, good timing will help. If not, even the perfect time won't help.