The best time to post on social media in 2025

The quick answer

To get the most engagement, you need to know the best time to post on social media. Here are the top recommendations for 2025:

1. The overall best time to post across all social media networks is 8:00 AM on Wednesdays.
2. For Facebook, aim for 9:00 AM on Tuesdays to catch the morning audience.
3. For Instagram, post between 3:00 PM and 9:00 PM on Mondays as users unwind.
4. For LinkedIn, post very early from 4:00 AM to 6:00 AM on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

Understanding the 2025 social media data

These posting times are powerful starting points for your social media strategy. The recommendations are based on research into when users are most active and engaged on each platform.

All times are listed in your local timezone. This means you should post at 9:00 AM in your target audience's region, not just your own. These insights come from analysis detailed in the original article from Hootsuite, which aggregates performance data across platforms.

Use these times to build a baseline schedule. Then, test and adjust based on your own audience's behavior for the best results.

Best posting times by social media platform

Different platforms attract different user habits. A professional checking LinkedIn in the morning behaves differently than someone scrolling TikTok at night. Here is the breakdown for each major network.

Facebook: Best posting time is 9:00 AM Tuesday

Facebook engagement is highest in the morning. People often check their feeds before starting the workday.

• Best Day and Time: Tuesday at 9:00 AM
• Good Times Generally: 9:00 AM every day of the week

The 9:00 AM slot is consistent for engagement from Monday through Sunday. This makes scheduling straightforward if you want to maintain a daily presence.

Instagram: Best posting times are 3:00 PM to 9:00 PM Monday

Instagram is a visual platform people use during their personal time. Engagement peaks in the afternoon and evening.

• Best Day and Time: Monday from 3:00 PM to 9:00 PM

Focus your Instagram efforts on the hours when users are finished with work or school. This is when they are most likely to browse, like, and comment on content.

X (Twitter): Best posting times are mid-mornings

X is a fast-paced, news-driven platform. Users check it for headlines and updates, especially during work hours.

• Best Days and Times: Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM
• Other Strong Times: Monday and Tuesday at 10:00 AM, Saturday from 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM, and Sunday from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM

Mid-morning on weekdays is the sweet spot to catch professionals looking for breaking news and industry conversation.

LinkedIn: Best posting times are 4:00 AM to 6:00 AM

LinkedIn is a professional network where users are active before the workday begins. Very early morning posts perform best.

• Best Days and Times: Tuesday and Wednesday from 4:00 AM to 6:00 AM

Posting before dawn catches professionals in focused work mode, as they check for industry news before their daily schedule fills up.

TikTok: Best posting time is 7:00 AM to 11:00 AM Thursday

TikTok engagement is strong in the morning. Users often scroll during commutes or before starting their day.

• Best Day and Time: Thursday from 7:00 AM to 11:00 AM

Capitalize on these morning hours to capture attention on TikTok when users are looking for entertainment and fresh content.

Threads: Best posting times vary by day

Threads is a conversational platform, and its peak times are spread throughout the week. This gives you flexibility in scheduling.

• Monday: 9:00 AM
• Tuesday: 8:00 AM
• Wednesday: 12:00 PM
• Thursday: 9:00 AM
• Friday: 2:00 PM
• Saturday: 12:00 PM
• Sunday: 1:00 PM

These varied times reflect different daily rhythms, from early-week work check-ins to weekend midday scrolls.

Pinterest: Best posting time is 12:00 PM Friday

Pinterest is a platform for planning and inspiration. Users are most active as they prepare for the weekend.

• Best Day and Time: Friday at 12:00 PM

Posting midday on Friday helps you connect with users as they search for weekend projects, recipes, and ideas.

How to create your 2025 social media schedule

Knowing the best times to post is the first step. Turning that knowledge into a consistent, effective plan is next. Follow this process to build a schedule that works.

Step 1: Choose your primary platforms

Do not try to be everywhere at once. Spreading yourself too thin ensures mediocre results across the board. Instead, focus your energy on the 2 or 3 platforms where your target audience is most active.

If you sell to other businesses, LinkedIn is essential. If you have a highly visual product, Instagram and Pinterest should be your priority. Focus creates impact.

Step 2: Map the recommended times to your calendar

Create a simple weekly calendar. Block out the optimal posting times for your chosen platforms. This visual guide will become the foundation of your content plan.

For example, if you choose Facebook and LinkedIn, your calendar might show a post at 4:00 AM on Tuesday for LinkedIn and another at 9:00 AM on Tuesday for Facebook.

Step 3: Define your content pillars

You need to know what to post. Define 3 to 5 content pillars or themes that are relevant to your audience and aligned with your business goals. These could be topics like "Industry Tips," "Behind the Scenes," "Product Features," or "Customer Success."

This structure ensures your posts are valuable and consistent. An effective social plan is part of a larger strategy built on high-quality seo content that educates and attracts customers.

Step 4: Schedule everything in advance

Consistency is critical for social media growth. Use a scheduling tool to plan and automate your posts for the week or month ahead. This frees you from the pressure of posting live every day.

A pro tip is to post slightly off the hour, such as at 9:05 AM or 8:55 AM. This can help you avoid the rush of every other brand posting exactly on the hour. For businesses that need a comprehensive strategy, fully managed social media management handles all content creation and scheduling for you.

Verify your results: Test and measure your schedule

The recommended times are a starting point, not a permanent rule. Your specific audience may have unique habits. You must test and measure to find what truly works for your brand.

Check your platform analytics

Every major social media platform offers built-in analytics. Tools like Instagram Insights and Facebook Business Suite show you exactly when your followers are most active online.

Navigate to the "Audience" or "Insights" tab in your professional dashboard. Look for a chart that shows follower activity by day and hour. Compare this data to the general recommendations and adjust your schedule accordingly.

Run A/B tests on your posting times

To confirm your best times, run simple tests. Post similar content at different times and compare the performance. For example, post an industry tip on Tuesday at 9:00 AM and another similar tip on Wednesday at 4:00 PM.

After a few weeks, compare the reach, likes, comments, and shares for each time slot. The data will show you which time generates more engagement from your audience.

Turn social media traffic into business results

Getting likes and shares is good. Getting customers is better. Your social media activity must connect directly to your business goals.

The ultimate goal of social media is to drive qualified traffic to a place where you can make a conversion. Whether it’s a lead form, a product page, or a services inquiry, your posts should guide users to take the next step.

Ensure that all your effort leads back to a high-performing website. Traffic is wasted if your site is slow, confusing, or fails to convert visitors. Your digital presence must be a complete system, from social post to final sale, with powerful websites built to rank and designed to convert.