Most marketers realize the day and time you post on social media influences the potential reach and interaction you have with audiences. However, few in the industry seem to agree on exactly when that optimal date/time is.

Findings by social media analytics company Sprout Social, which looked at engagement patterns across different social platforms (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter), discovered that the consistently best times to post on social media were Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays between 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. (ET).

When it comes to Facebook, which remains the largest social site and the platform used most by marketers, Tuesdays through Fridays are the best days to post. Given Facebook’s global reach, very early mornings—around 4 a.m. (ET)—is the optimal time, as are Tuesdays between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. (ET).

Sprout Social - Facebook Engagement

On Instagram, the best days to post are Tuesdays and Wednesdays and the best time is mid-mornings (11 a.m.) to 1 p.m. (ET).

Tuesdays and Wednesdays yield the best results for Twitter, especially before 10 a.m. ET.

Wednesdays and Thursdays are the best days for posting to LinkedIn, typically between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. (ET).

The Sprout report also found that the optimal times for posting to social media have changed in recent years, especially in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. Very early mornings have overtaken mid-morning as the best times to post to Facebook, according to the report, midday engagement during the weekdays has become denser on Instagram and Twitter’s peak times for engagement have become far more concentrated during mid-mornings and middays throughout the week.

Sprout’s findings were based on an analysis of more than 30,000 Sprout users.