SEO
Social Media Image Size Guide For All Platforms (2023)
If you’re not using social media to grow your brand awareness, improve brand sentiment, and build a community of loyal followers, you should be.
With more social platforms popping up every month, there are more ways than ever to connect with your customers and prospects via engaging content.
But before you start posting at will, it’s important to note that no two social platforms have the exact same rules for image sizes.
We’ve put together a comprehensive guide on how to size social media images for the social networks that matter.
Let’s get into it.
Social Media Image Size Cheat Sheet
| Profile Photo | 320 x 320 px | 196 x 196 px | 400 x 400 px | 400 x 400 px |
| Cover Photo | N/A | 851 x 315 px | 1128 x 1191 px | 1500 x 500 px |
| Landscape | 1080 x 566 px | 1200 x 630 px | 1200 x 627 px | 1600 x 900 px |
| Portrait | 1080 x 1350 px | 1080 x 1350 px | 1080 x 1350 px | 1080 x 1350 px |
| Square | 1080 x 1080 px | 1080 x 1080 px | 1080 x 1080 px | 1080 x 1080 px |
Facebook Image Sizes
As the largest social network in the world, Facebook has proven itself to be a powerful mechanism for connecting with today’s consumers.
It’s also a highly visual channel where images can be used to both present your brand and engage in authentic storytelling.
From how you present your company’s profile to the types of images you share to your feed and your Facebook Stories, ensuring your images are up to spec is key.
Facebook Profile Photo
- Recommended image size: 196 x 196 pixels.
Your Facebook profile picture will be cropped to appear as a circle, so make sure to keep your photo’s subject or logo within “safe zones” so nothing gets cropped out.
Display size differs depending on the device:
- For desktop, it displays at 176 x 176 pixels.
- For smartphones, it displays at 196 x 196 pixels.
- For most feature phones, it displays at 36 x 36 pixels.
If your profile photo features a logo or text, a PNG file might give you the best results.
Facebook Cover Photo
You have more room to get creative with your cover photo, as it’s much larger than your profile picture. But that also means you need the resolution right, or your image might appear stretched.
- Recommended image size: It must be a minimum of 400 pixels wide and 150 pixels tall, though we recommend an image that’s 851 x 315 pixels for the best results.
Display size differs depending on the device:
- For desktop, it displays at 820 x 312 pixels.
- For smartphones, it displays at 640 x 360 pixels.
Your cover photo will load fastest as an sRGB JPG file that’s less than 100 kilobytes.
Like with your Facebook profile photo, you’ll likely get better results using a PNG file if your cover photo features a logo or text.
Facebook Shared Image
- Recommended image size: 1200 x 630 pixels.
While the landscape format above is the recommended image size, you can also post in other image orientations:
- Square: 1080 x 1080 pixels.
- Portrait: 1080 x 1350 pixels.
Facebook Stories
- Recommended image size: 1080 x 1920 pixels.
- Facebook Stories are vertical image features (much like Instagram Stories) with an aspect ratio of 9:16.
- Focus on keeping any text or important information in the center of your image, so that any other elements won’t cover it.
Read more about Facebook marketing.
Instagram Image Sizes
Probably the most visual social network of them all, Instagram is beloved by brands and consumers alike.
The very nature of the platform – which centers around sharing photos and videos – has made it extremely popular for visual storytelling, and its reputation for pioneering new features (like Instagram Stories) has cemented it as a space to watch.
Creating a polished profile is the first step to succeeding on Instagram. From there, you’ll want to experiment with different post types – such as Instagram Stories, Instagram Reels, and even photo carousels – to see what your audience finds most engaging.
Instagram Profile Photo
- Recommended image size: 320 x 320 pixels is the right size to ensure your photo shows up well (even though it displays at 110 x 110 pixels on mobile).
Like with Facebook, your Instagram profile picture will appear as a circle, so be mindful of what will get cropped out of the edges.
Unlike some platforms, your followers can’t click to expand your Instagram profile image, so make sure it can be clearly seen as it is.
Instagram Feed Posts
When sharing a photo to your Instagram feed, you have several different orientation options to choose from.
The best choice will depend on the content itself – but always keep in mind that you should optimize for a mobile-first audience.
Recommended image sizes:
- Portrait: 1080 x 1350 pixels with an aspect ratio of 4:5.
- Square: 1080 x 1080 pixels with an aspect ratio of 1:1.
- Landscape: 1080 x 566 pixels with an aspect ratio of 1.91:1.
- Instagram supports image aspect ratios between 1.91:1 and 4:5.
For best results, Instagram recommends uploading images with a width of 1080 pixels and a height of between 566 and 1350 pixels, depending on the aspect ratio you’re looking for. If you share a photo at a lower resolution than that, Instagram will enlarge it. Similarly, if you share a photo at a higher resolution, it will be cropped.
- Once posted to Instagram, your photo will display as a 161 x 161 pixels thumbnail on your profile.
- You can also post an Instagram Carousel of up to 10 images.
Instagram Stories
Instagram stories are ephemeral, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t put effort into uploading photos your viewers will love.
- Recommended image size: 1080 x 1920 pixels.
- With a minimum resolution of 600 x 1067 pixels, it’s a good rule of thumb to keep your images above these numbers.
- Instagram Stories is a vertical image format, so your photos will appear in a 9:16 aspect ratio.
- There’s a maximum file size of 4 GB for Instagram Stories.
Instagram Reels
Reels have the same sizing and dimensions as Instagram Stories.
- Recommended image size: 1080 x 1920 pixels, with an aspect ratio of 9:16.
- Your Reels will be cropped down to a 1:1 square image on your profile feed, and a 4:5 portrait in the home feed.
- Therefore, you should be mindful to place any text or important visuals in the center “safe zone” of your video.
Read more about Instagram marketing.
Twitter Image Sizes
Twitter is a platform of short, succinct tweets – but it’s also about images!
Adding photos and videos to your tweets can be a great way to provide your audience with additional content or tell a deeper story – and often, this can make for more engaging content.
Like with other platforms, using imagery to create a profile that visually reflects your brand will also aid in fostering brand recognition with Twitter users.
Twitter Profile Photo
- Recommended image size: 400 x 400 pixels.
- Minimum image size: 200 x 200 pixels
The maximum file size for profile photos on Twitter is 2 MB, so make sure your image doesn’t exceed this.
Don’t forget that your profile photo will be circular, as with many other social media platforms.
Twitter Cover Photo
- Recommended image size: 1500 x 500 pixels.
- The maximum size for header photos on Twitter is 5 MB, though GIFs can be up to 15 MB if you use the website.
- The file types that Twitter support are JPEG, GIF, and PNG. It does not accept BMP, TIFF, or other formats.
Aim to get as close to the recommended image size as possible here in order to minimize the likelihood that your header photo will appear blurred or stretched.
Be mindful that your header will appear differently depending on the device on which it is viewed, so it helps to take a look on both desktop and mobile after you’ve uploaded yours.
Twitter In-Stream Images
- Recommended image size: 1600 x 900 pixels with a 16:9 aspect ratio.
- Twitter will automatically crop in-feed images to 500 x 335 px, where users can then click to expand to 1600 x 900.
While 1600 x 900px is the ideal size to ensure that nothing is cropped out of your picture in the in-feed preview, you can also upload in different resolutions:
- Square: 1080 x 1080 pixels
- Portrait: 1080 x 1350 pixels.
Aspect ratios will be optimized differently depending on the device. Twitter recommends using 2:1 or 1:1 on desktop or 2:1, 3:4, 5:4, or 16:9 on mobile.
Other factors you should consider for Twitter in-stream photos:
- The maximum image size is 5 MB.
- Twitter accepts GIF, JPEG, and PNG files.
- It does not accept BMP, TIFF, or other file formats.
- You can post up to four images per post, but doing this will alter how they are displayed and their aspect ratio.
Read more about Twitter marketing.
LinkedIn Image Sizes
LinkedIn has cornered the market as the go-to social media network for professional networking.
But it’s more than just a place for recruiters and job seekers to connect; it’s a space where businesses and individuals can build their brands, share their stories, and connect with like-minded people.
Uploading high-quality images, both in your profile elements and in the content you share, is paramount in presenting professionally on LinkedIn – so make sure you adhere to recommended sizing.
LinkedIn Personal Page
- Recommended profile photo size: A minimum of 400 x 400 pixels.
- Recommended cover photo size: 1,584 x 396 pixels.
LinkedIn Company Profile Photo
- Recommended image size: 400 x 400 pixels.
- Photos must be an absolute minimum of 268 x 268 pixels.
- On LinkedIn, your profile photo will appear as a square with a 1:1 aspect ratio.
- Maximum file size of 4 MB.
- LinkedIn accepts JPEG, GIF, and PNG file types.
LinkedIn Company Cover Photo
- Recommended image size: 1128 x 191 pixels.
- Be sure to max out your resolution here so your image isn’t blurry – and bear in mind that it will appear slightly differently on various devices.
- Be aware that your company logo will overlap your cover photo in the lower left corner.
LinkedIn Post Image Size
- Recommended image size: 1200 x 627 pixels.
- LinkedIn defaults to a 1.91.1 ratio for image posts and link posts.
You can also upload images in other dimensions, such as:
- Square: 1080 x 1080 pixels.
- Portrait: 1080 x 1350 pixels.
Read more about LinkedIn marketing.
TikTok Image Sizes
TikTok has quickly risen among the ranks as one of the most popular video-sharing social media apps.
While it goes without saying that you should understand the correct sizing for any videos you upload to TikTok, it’s also important to know the right sizing for other content elements on the platform – such as your profile photo, and any carousel images you might want to post.
Getting these right will lead to more engagement with your target audience.
TikTok Profile Photo
- Recommended image size: 200 x 200 pixels.
- The minimum size for a TikTok profile photo is 20 x 20 pixels, but adhering to the recommended sizing above will give you the best results.
TikTok Video Size
- Recommended video size: 1080 x 1920 pixels.
- 9:16 is the ideal aspect ratio for TikTok videos.
- Maximum video length of 3 minutes.
TikTok Carousel Image Size
- Recommended image size: 1080 x 1920 pixels.
For best results, you should aim for a 9:16 or 1:1 aspect ratio for TikTok carousels, but uploading images with a 4:5 ratio is also possible.
Read more about TikTok marketing.
Pinterest Image Sizes
Visuals are core to the Pinterest platform, as it’s primarily a place for users to discover things – from recipes to home decor ideas and more.
For brands, Pinterest is a great place to connect with your ideal audience through content that inspires them and catches their eye. It’s also a powerful tool for sharing your products and encouraging people who were previously unaware of your brand to become customers.
So, naturally, you want to make sure your Pinterest images are top-notch.
Pinterest Profile Photo
- Recommended image size: 165 x 165 pixels.
- Like other platforms, your Pinterest profile photo will appear as a circle – so keep that in mind when choosing an image.
- Your profile will display differently on different areas of the site:
- On the home page, it displays at 165 x 165 pixels.
- On the rest of Pinterest, it displays at 32 x 32 pixels.
- The maximum file size is 10 MB.
- You can use a JPG or PNG file type for your profile photo.
Pinterest Cover Photo
- Recommended image size: 800 x 450 pixels.
Pinterest Pin Image
- Recommended image size: 1000 x 1500 pixels for a vertical image.
- Pinterest recommends using an image aspect ratio of 2:3 for your Pin images to give your audience the best experience.
- Pins will appear on the feed and boards with a width of 236 pixels.
- The maximum file size is 20 MB.
Pinterest Board Display Image
- Recommended image size: 222 x 150 pixels.
- The smaller thumbnail size here will be 55 x 55 pixels.
Other Pinterest Image Sizes
- For Story Pins, the recommended image size is 1080 x 1920 pixels.
- For Carousel Pins, the company recommends sizing of 1000 x 1500 pixels (portrait) or 1000 x 1000 pixels (square) and an aspect ratio of 1:1 or 2:3. You can include up to five images.
- Videos on Pinterest can be a maximum of 15 minutes and should utilize the same recommended sizing and aspect ratios as Carousel Pins above.
Read more about Pinterest marketing.
YouTube Image Sizes
As the world’s leading video-sharing platform, YouTube has become a staple platform for social media users.
And while uploading exceptional videos is the goal, there are also other ways you can set yourself up for success on YouTube – such as in your public-facing profile.
YouTube Profile Photo
- Recommended image size: 800 x 800 pixels.
- This photo will display at 98 x 98 pixels.
- Ensure your photo content is centered so nothing is cropped out.
YouTube Profile Banner Photo
- Recommended image size: 2560 x 1440 pixels, with a 16:9 aspect ratio.
- The minimum size YouTube will accept for your cover photo is 2048 x 1152 pixels.
- Make sure your text and logos are within the ‘safe zone’ of 1235 x 338 pixels.
- The maximum file size is 6 MB.
YouTube Thumbnail Photo
- Recommended image size: 1280 x 720 pixels, with a minimum width of 640 pixels.
YouTube Video Size
- Recommended video size: A minimum dimension of 1280 x 720 pixels, with a 16:9 aspect ratio.
Read more about YouTube marketing.
Snapchat Image Sizes
The leader in ephemeral content, Snapchat is still popular among younger social users.
The app focuses heavily on vertical image content in a 9:16 aspect ratio, and you’ll find that reflected across several of its features.
Snapchat Ads Image
- Recommended image size: A minimum of 1080 x 1920 pixels, with a 9:16 aspect ratio.
- The maximum file size is 5 MB.
- Accepted file types are PNG or JPEG.
Snapchat Geofilter
- Recommended image size: A minimum of 1080 x 1920 pixels, with a 9:16 aspect ratio.
- The maximum file size is 5 MB.
Read more about Snapchat marketing.
Why Resize Your Images For Every Social Media Channel?
Social media is a competitive space, with many brands and creators vying for audiences’ attention.
To pique the interest of social users, it’s crucial to put your best foot forward in your content – and that means sharing visuals tailored to that platform’s specifications.
If you don’t resize your images to meet the requirements of each channel, they may end up looking pixelated, stretched, awkwardly cropped, or just plain low-quality, which won’t encourage people to engage with your content.
Beyond that, each platform’s algorithm will typically reward you for posting optimized and engaging content, which will help it gain even more traction.
How To Resize Images For Social Media
Looking to resize images for social but don’t know where to start? Here are a few common tools you can use:
In Conclusion
Sizing your images correctly for all your social profiles is a simple step to ensure you optimize your social media presence.
Now that you have all the necessary details on recommended sizing across each platform and the right tools to help you edit your photos, nothing should stop you from sharing high-quality content on social media!
The next step is figuring out exactly what stories you want to tell and how to provide valuable and engaging content to your audience.
Good luck!
More Resources:
Featured Image: Roman Samborskyi/Shutterstock
SEO
OpenAI Investigates ‘Lazy’ GPT-4 Complaints On Google Reviews, X
OpenAI, the company that launched ChatGPT a little over a year ago, has recently taken to social media to address concerns regarding the “lazy” performance of GPT-4 on social media and Google Reviews.
This move comes after growing user feedback online, which even includes a one-star review on the company’s Google Reviews.
OpenAI Gives Insight Into Training Chat Models, Performance Evaluations, And A/B Testing
OpenAI, through its @ChatGPTapp Twitter account, detailed the complexities involved in training chat models.
Screenshot from X, December 2023The organization highlighted that the process is not a “clean industrial process” and that variations in training runs can lead to noticeable differences in the AI’s personality, creative style, and political bias.
Thorough AI model testing includes offline evaluation metrics and online A/B tests. The final decision to release a new model is based on a data-driven approach to improve the “real” user experience.
OpenAI’s Google Review Score Affected By GPT-4 Performance, Billing Issues
This explanation comes after weeks of user feedback about GPT-4 becoming worse on social media networks like X.
Idk if anyone else has noticed this, but GPT-4 Turbo performance is significantly worse than GPT-4 standard.
I know it’s in preview right now but it’s significantly worse.
— Max Weinbach (@MaxWinebach) November 8, 2023
There has been discussion if GPT-4 has become “lazy” recently. My anecdotal testing suggests it may be true.
I repeated a sequence of old analyses I did with Code Interpreter. GPT-4 still knows what to do, but keeps telling me to do the work. One step is now many & some are odd. pic.twitter.com/OhGAMtd3Zq
— Ethan Mollick (@emollick) November 28, 2023
Complaints also appeared in OpenAI’s community forums.
Screenshot from OpenAI, December 2023The experience led one user to leave a one-star rating for OpenAI via Google Reviews. Other complaints regarded accounts, billing, and the artificial nature of AI.
Screenshot from Google Reviews, December 2023A recent user on Product Hunt gave OpenAI a rating that also appears to be related to GPT-4 worsening.
Screenshot from Product Hunt, December 2023GPT-4 isn’t the only issue that local reviewers complain about. On Yelp, OpenAI has a one-star rating for ChatGPT 3.5 performance.
OpenAI is now only 3.8 stars on Google Maps and a dismal 1 star on Yelp!
GPT-4’s degradation has really hurt their rating. Hope the business survives.https://t.co/RF8uJH1WQ5 pic.twitter.com/OghAZLCiVu
— Nate Chan (@nathanwchan) December 9, 2023
The complaint:
Screenshot from Yelp, December 2023In related OpenAI news, the review with the most likes aligns with recent rumors about a volatile workplace, alleging that OpenAI is a “Cutthroat environment. Not friendly. Toxic workers.”
Screenshot from Google Reviews, December 2023The reviews voted the most helpful on Glassdoor about OpenAI suggested that employee frustration and product development issues stem from the company’s shift in focus on profits.
Screenshots from Glassdoor, December 2023This incident provides a unique outlook on how customer and employee experiences can impact any business through local reviews and business ratings platforms.
Screenshot from Google, December 2023Google SGE Highlights Positive Google Reviews
In addition to occasional complaints, Google reviewers acknowledged the revolutionary impact of OpenAI’s technology on various fields.
The most positive review mentions about the company appear in Google SGE (Search Generative Experience).
Screenshot from Google SGE, December 2023Conclusion
OpenAI’s recent insights into training chat models and response to public feedback about GPT-4 performance illustrate AI technology’s dynamic and evolving nature and its impact on those who depend on the AI platform.
Especially the people who just received an invitation to join ChatGPT Plus after being waitlisted while OpenAI paused new subscriptions and upgrades. Or those developing GPTs for the upcoming GPT Store launch.
As AI advances, professionals in these fields must remain agile, informed, and responsive to technological developments and the public’s reception of these advancements.
Featured image: Tada Images/Shutterstock
SEO
ChatGPT Plus Upgrades Paused; Waitlisted Users Receive Invites
ChatGPT Plus subscriptions and upgrades remain paused after a surge in demand for new features created outages.
Some users who signed up for the waitlist have received invites to join ChatGPT Plus.
This has resulted in a few shares of the link that is accessible for everyone. For now.
Found a hack to skip chatGPT plus wait list.
Follow the steps
– login to ChatGPT
– now if you click on upgrade
– Signup for waitlist(may not be necessary)
– now change the URL to https://t.co/4izOdNzarG
– Wallah you are in for payment #ChatGPT4 #hack #GPT4 #GPTPlus pic.twitter.com/J1GizlrOAx— Ashish Mohite is building Notionpack Capture (@_ashishmohite) December 8, 2023
RELATED: GPT Store Set To Launch In 2024 After ‘Unexpected’ Delays
In addition to the invites, signs that more people are getting access to GPTs include an introductory screen popping up on free ChatGPT accounts.
Screenshot from ChatGPT, December 2023Unfortunately, they still aren’t accessible without a Plus subscription.
Screenshot from ChatGPT, December 2023You can sign up for the waitlist by clicking on the option to upgrade in the left sidebar of ChatGPT on a desktop browser.
Screenshot from ChatGPT, December 2023OpenAI also suggests ChatGPT Enterprise for those who need more capabilities, as outlined in the pricing plans below.
Screenshot from OpenAI, December 2023Why Are ChatGPT Plus Subscriptions Paused?
According to a post on X by OpenAI’s CEO Sam Altman, the recent surge in usage following the DevDay developers conference has led to capacity challenges, resulting in the decision to pause ChatGPT Plus signups.
we are pausing new ChatGPT Plus sign-ups for a bit 🙁
the surge in usage post devday has exceeded our capacity and we want to make sure everyone has a great experience.
you can still sign-up to be notified within the app when subs reopen.
— Sam Altman (@sama) November 15, 2023
The decision to pause new ChatGPT signups follows a week where OpenAI services – including ChatGPT and the API – experienced a series of outages related to high-demand and DDoS attacks.
Demand for ChatGPT Plus resulted in eBay listings supposedly offering one or more months of the premium subscription.
chatgpt plus accounts selling ebay for a premium 🫡🇺🇸 https://t.co/VdN8tuexKM pic.twitter.com/W522NGHsRV
— surya (@sdand) November 15, 2023
When Will ChatGPT Plus Subscriptions Resume?
So far, we don’t have any official word on when ChatGPT Plus subscriptions will resume. We know the GPT Store is set to open early next year after recent boardroom drama led to “unexpected delays.”
Therefore, we hope that OpenAI will onboard waitlisted users in time to try out all of the GPTs created by OpenAI and community builders.
What Are GPTs?
GPTs allow users to create one or more personalized ChatGPT experiences based on a specific set of instructions, knowledge files, and actions.
Search marketers with ChatGPT Plus can try GPTs for helpful content assessment and learning SEO.
Two SEO GPTs I’ve created for assessment + learning 👀👇
1. Content Helpfulness and Quality SEO Analyzer: Assess a page content helpfulness, relevance, and quality for your targeted query based on Google’s guidelines vs your competitors and get tips: https://t.co/LsoP2UhF4N pic.twitter.com/O77MHiqwOq
— Aleyda Solis 🕊️ (@aleyda) November 12, 2023
2. The https://t.co/IFmKxxVDpW SEO Teacher: A friendly SEO expert teacher who will help you to learn SEO using reliable https://t.co/sCZ03C7fzq resources: https://t.co/UrMPUYwblH
I hope they’re helpful 🙌🤩
PS: Love how GPT opens up to SO much opportunity 🤯 pic.twitter.com/yqKozcZTDc
— Aleyda Solis 🕊️ (@aleyda) November 12, 2023
There are also GPTs for analyzing Google Search Console data.
oh wow. I think this GPT works.
Export data from GSC comparing keyword rankings before and after an update and upload it to ChatGPT and it will spit out this scatter plot for you.
It’s an easy way to see if most of your keyword declined or improved.
This site was impacted by… pic.twitter.com/wFGSnonqoZ
— Marie Haynes (@Marie_Haynes) November 9, 2023
And GPTs that will let you chat with analytics data from 20 platforms, including Google Ads, GA4, and Facebook.
Google search has indexed hundreds of public GPTs. According to an alleged list of GPT statistics in a GitHub repository, DALL-E, the top GPT from OpenAI, has received 5,620,981 visits since its launch last month. Included in the top 20 GPTs is Canva, with 291,349 views.
Weighing The Benefits Of The Pause
Ideally, this means that developers working on building GPTs and using the API should encounter fewer issues (like being unable to save GPT drafts).
But it could also mean a temporary decrease in new users of GPTs since they are only available to Plus subscribers – including the ones I tested for learning about ranking factors and gaining insights on E-E-A-T from Google’s Search Quality Rater Guidelines.
Screenshot from ChatGPT, November 2023Featured image: Robert Way/Shutterstock
SEO
The Best Times To Post On Social Media In 2024
Marketers worldwide know the importance of having a solid social media marketing strategy – and a key part of this is finding the best times to post on social media.
The old adage ‘timing is everything’ holds especially true in the world of social media, where the difference between a post that fades into obscurity and one that goes viral can often be just a matter of when it was shared.
With an always-growing array of social platforms hosting billions of users worldwide, it has never been more challenging to stand above the noise and make your voice heard on social.
To determine the best times to post on social media in 2024, we reviewed original data from leading social media management tools.
It’s important to note that the data from these sources present a variety of findings and suggestions, which underscore the fact that social media is an ever-evolving landscape. The most crucial thing is understanding the behavior of your own target audience.
Let’s dive in.
The Best Times To Post On Social Media
| Source | Day Of Week | Time To Post |
| Sprout Social | Tuesday and Wednesday | 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. Local |
| Hootsuite | Monday | 12 p.m. EST |
| CoSchedule | Friday, Wednesday, and Monday (in that order) | 7 p.m. Local |
- Best times to post on social media: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.
- Best days to post on social media: Monday and Wednesday.
- Worst days to post on social media: Saturday and Sunday.
Determining an ideal time for posting on social media in general is complicated, as each platform is different, with unique users, features, and communities.
When deciding which social media platforms to focus on, you should think carefully about your brand’s target audience and overarching goals.
If you’re looking to reach a network of professionals, LinkedIn might be a good fit; if your brand is hoping to speak to Gen Z consumers, you might consider TikTok or Snapchat.
This explains why – when analyzing data from Sprout Social, Hootsuite, and CoSchedule on the best overall times to post on social media – we can draw some similarities but also see a variety of recommendations.
Weekdays emerge as a clear winner. CoSchedule and Sprout Social both highlight Wednesday as a good day, with Hootsuite and CoSchedule also highlighting Mondays as a strong day for engagement.
The most common time range among the sources is in the morning to mid-afternoon, with CoSchedule providing some very specific suggestions for post-timing.
Both CoSchedule and Sprout Social agree on avoiding Saturdays and Sundays.
The Best Times To Post On Facebook
| Source | Day Of Week | Time To Post |
| Sprout Social | Monday to Thursday | 8 a.m. – 1 p.m. Local |
| Hootsuite | Monday and Tuesday | 1 p.m. EST |
| CoSchedule | Friday, Wednesday, and Monday (in that order) | 9 a.m. Local |
- Best times to post on Facebook: 8 a.m. – 1 p.m.
- Best days to post on Facebook: Weekdays.
- Worst day to post on Facebook: Sunday.
Facebook remains the most used social media platform in the world, with the largest advertising market share (16%).
While it’s experienced a shift in user demographics over recent years – now catering to older users – its popularity continues to climb, and its potential as a brand marketing tool cannot be disputed.
Regarding the best times to post on Facebook, all of our sources agree that weekdays are best. Sprout Social, Hootsuite, and CoSchdule all name Monday as a great day to engage on Facebook, along with calling out various other days of the week.
There is a general consensus that Sundays should be avoided.
The sources vary in their suggestions for optimal time slots, but generally speaking, early to mid-morning seems to be the most popular selection.
The Best Times To Post On YouTube
| Source | Day Of Week | Time To Post |
| SocialPilot | Sunday | 2-4 p.m. EST |
| HubSpot | Friday and Saturday | 6-9 p.m. Local |
- Best times to post on YouTube: 2-4 p.m. on weekdays and 9-11 a.m. on weekends.
- Best days to post on YouTube: Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
- Worst day to post on YouTube: Tuesday.
As the second most visited site in the world and the second most used social platform globally, YouTube offers an unparalleled opportunity for brands and individuals to connect with audiences through video.
And with its continued expansion – by introducing features like YouTube Shorts, initiatives like expanding the ways creators can get paid on the platform, and its increasing popularity as a search engine – the platform shows no signs of slowing.
YouTube is no longer just a video-sharing site; it’s a robust marketing tool that empowers businesses to raise brand awareness and drive meaningful engagement.
Finding recent data on the best times to post on YouTube proved harder than for some other channels, so these recommendations should be taken with a grain of salt.
While HubSpot suggests Friday and Saturday are the strongest days to publish on YouTube, SocialPilot specifically calls out Sunday as the most engaging day – so it’s worth experimenting with all three.
SocialPilot doesn’t specifically name the worst day, but according to HubSpot, you’d be wise to steer clear of Tuesday.
Both sources suggest the afternoon as an effective time for posting during the week. SocialPilot specifies that publishing in the mornings on weekends (9-11 a.m.) is effective, so this is important to bear in mind.
The Best Times To Post On Instagram
| Source | Day Of Week | Time To Post |
| Sprout Social | Tuesday and Wednesday | 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Local |
| Hootsuite | Wednesday | 2 p.m. EST |
| HubSpot | Saturday | 6-9 p.m. Local |
| CoSchedule | Wednesday, Friday, and Tuesday (in that order) |
9 a.m. Local |
| Later | Monday | 4 a.m. Local |
- Best times to post on Instagram: 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- Best day to post on Instagram: Wednesday.
- Worst day to post on Instagram: Sunday.
From its origins as a photo-sharing platform, Instagram has evolved into one of the most popular social media networks in the world – and an indispensable marketing tool.
With billions of users – 90% of whom are following at least one business – Instagram has become a powerful engine for ecommerce, brand awareness, and community-building.
As a leader in the social media space, Instagram constantly provides new formats and features for users to try out – from Reels to Stories, user quizzes and polls, and more.
We consulted a handful of sources to determine the top posting times for Instagram and came away with a mixed bag of answers.
Wednesday appears to take the cake as the most consistently recommended day, with CoSchedule, Sprout Social, and Hootsuite all suggesting it.
Generally, our sources seem to lean towards weekdays as being strongest for Instagram engagement – with the exception of HubSpot, which recommends Saturday.
In terms of timing, the morning to midday hours seem to be your best bet, especially around 8 a.m. through 1 p.m. HubSpot and Later provide times that significantly differ from other sources, which suggests that effectiveness can vary based on audience and content type.
The Best Times To Post On TikTok
| Source | Day Of Week | Time To Post |
| Sprout Social | Tuesday and Wednesday | 2-6 p.m. Local |
| Hootsuite | Thursday | 10 p.m. EST |
| SocialPilot | Tuesday and Thursday | 2 a.m. and 9 a.m. EST |
| HubSpot | Friday | 6-9 p.m. Local |
- Best time to post on TikTok: Inconclusive.
- Best day to post on TikTok: Tuesday.
- Worst day to post on TikTok: Inconclusive.
While it’s a relative newcomer to the fold, TikTok has quickly become one of the most beloved social platforms worldwide – and is drawing brands in increasing numbers.
With the average user spending nearly 54 minutes on the app daily, it’s hard to beat the hold that TikTok has among audiences. By optimizing your presence there, you can stand to generate some impressive returns on your marketing efforts.
So, what’s the best time to post on TikTok? The jury is out on this one – and it may take extra experimentation on your part to find the sweet spot that engages your audience.
Tuesday seems to rise to the top among the sources we consulted, with Wednesdays and Thursdays also getting recommendations. Generally speaking, it looks like midweek is a good time to test out your TikTok content, but there are plenty of discrepancies in the data.
While HubSpot named Friday as the best day, it also highlighted that Saturdays and Thursdays are strong for B2B brands, and Saturdays and Sundays work well for B2C brands.
Sprout Social found Sunday to be the worst performing day, while Monday and Tuesday are the worst days, according to HubSpot.
We also find a mix of recommended time slots, from early morning to mid-afternoon and also evening being suggested.
The Best Times To Post On Snapchat
Snapchat, the pioneer of ephemeral social media content (and the inspiration behind Instagram Stories), provides unique opportunities to reach younger demographics.
It differs from other platforms in how it works and the type of content that engages there. Snapchat typically centers around showcasing real-time experiences and authentic behind-the-scenes content versus polished marketing content.
This makes Snapchat an advantageous yet often underutilized tool in digital marketing. But it should not be overlooked, especially given that the platform continues to innovate.
While we have seen 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. cited as the best times to post on Snapchat in various secondary sources around the internet, we have found no recent original data to either confirm or refute this.
Given this, we would recommend testing out different times and days based on the behaviors and lifestyles of your target audience and then iterating based on your results (which is what you should be doing across the board, regardless!)
The Best Times To Post On Pinterest
| Source | Day Of Week | Time To Post |
| Sprout Social | Wednesday to Friday | 1-3 p.m. Local |
| HubSpot | Friday | 3-6 p.m. Local |
| CoSchedule | Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday (in that order) |
8 p.m. Local |
- Best times to post on Pinterest: 3-6 p.m.
- Best day to post on Pinterest: Friday.
- Worst day to post on Pinterest: Sunday.
Pinterest, once thought of as a simple inspiration board-style site, has today become a crucial player in the world of ecommerce.
Businesses can leverage Pinterest to showcase their products and drive conversions, but also to grow and expand brand awareness and sentiment.
Success on Pinterest can be found through sharing brand-specific imagery, optimizing for mobile, and appealing to your audience’s sense of aspiration and inspiration.
Friday, alongside other weekdays, is consistently mentioned as a strong day among our sources. On the other end, Sunday is commonly named as the least effective day for posting on Pinterest.
When it comes to the most fruitful posting time on the platform, it appears that the late afternoon to early evening, specifically around 3-6 p.m., is optimal for best engagement.
The Best Times To Post On X (Twitter)
| Source | Day Of Week | Time To Post |
| Sprout Social | Tuesday to Thursday | 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. Local |
| Hootsuite | Monday and Wednesday | 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. EST |
| CoSchedule | Wednesday, Tuesday, and Friday (in that order) | 9 a.m. Local |
| HubSpot | Friday and Wednesday (in that order) | 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Local |
- Best times to post on X (Twitter): 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
- Best days to post on X (Twitter): Wednesday and Friday.
- Worst day to post on X (Twitter): Sunday.
X (formerly known as Twitter) has long been a place for marketers to connect and engage with their audience, join trending conversations, and build community.
The real-time nature of X (Twitter) differentiates it from other social platforms and allows for spur-of-the-moment and reactionary marketing moves. And with CEO Elon Musk’s big plans for the app, it’s undoubtedly a space to watch.
When looking for the top days to post among the sources we consulted, Wednesday and Friday are most often mentioned – with Sprout Social specifying Tuesday through Thursday.
Hootsuite nominates Monday and Wednesday as the top days, proving that weekdays reign supreme on X (Twitter).
Like many other platforms, Sunday seems to be the least effective day for post-engagement.
Looking for the best times to post on X (Twitter)?
Late morning, from around 9 a.m. to noon, seems to be the most recommended time – though, as always, this will differ based on your specific audience and the type of content you are sharing.
We always recommend testing and experimenting to see what works for you.
The Best Times To Post On LinkedIn
| Source | Day Of Week | Time To Post |
| Sprout Social | Tuesday to Thursday | 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. Local |
| Hootsuite | Monday | 4 p.m. EST |
| CoSchedule | Thursday, Tuesday, and Wednesday (in that order) | 10 a.m. Local |
| HubSpot | Monday, Wednesday, and Tuesday (in that order) | 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. Local |
- Best times to post on LinkedIn: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
- Best days to post on LinkedIn: Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.
- Worst days to post on LinkedIn: Weekends.
Though first and foremost a platform for professionals, LinkedIn has picked up steam in recent years, becoming a hub of engagement and a frontrunner among social media networks.
It’s also an essential tool for businesses that want to reach business executives and decision-makers, as well as potential candidates.
Done right, LinkedIn content can go a long way in building a public perception of your brand and providing deep value to your target audience.
Digging into the data, we can see that weekdays provide the biggest opportunities for engagement on LinkedIn, which is hardly surprising. Tuesdays through Thursdays are often mentioned as the top days, with Mondays also highlighted by Hootsuite and HubSpot.
All of our sources agree that weekends are less effective for LinkedIn posts.
If you’re searching for the right time, you might try your hand at posting from late morning to mid-afternoon, based on what these sources discovered.
But (and not to sound like a broken record) your results may differ based on your brand, niche, target audience, and content.
What Is The Best Time For You To Post On Social Media?
Finding the best times to post on social media requires a delicate blend of testing, experimentation, and personal analytics.
And it never hurts to start your journey with industry insights like the ones we’ve covered in this article.
By aligning your content strategy with your target audience and trying out different posting strategies – taking into account these recommended time slots – you will be able to determine what works best for you and significantly enhance your social media presence and engagement.
Sources of data, November 2023.
All data above was taken from the sources below.
Each platform conducted its own extensive research, analyzing millions of posts across various social networks to find the times when users are most engaged.
Sources:
- Sprout Social analyzed nearly 2 billion engagements across 400,000 social profiles.
- Hootsuite analyzed thousands of social media posts using an audience of 8 million followers. For its Instagram updates, it analyzed over 30,000 posts.
- CoSchedule analyzed more than 35 million posts from more than 30,000 organizations.
- SocialPilot studied over 50,000 YouTube accounts and over 50,000 TikTok accounts to compile its data.
- Later analyzed over 11 million Instagram posts.
- HubSpot surveyed over 1,000 global marketers to discern the best times to post on social media. For its Instagram-specific data, it partnered with Mention to analyze over 37 million posts.
More resources:
Featured Image: Kaspars Grinvalds/Shutterstock
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