Finding the right beat times to post can feel like a puzzle. The beat times to post are not the same for every platform. The beat times to post depend on your audience and their habits. The beat times to post can change with trends and seasons. The beat times to post are a key part of any social media plan. Let's dig in to the top 12 beat times to post for different social media platforms in 2025.
1. Facebook Beat Times to Post
Facebook remains a giant in social media with over 3 billion monthly active users. The beat times to post on Facebook have shifted from morning peaks to broader daytime windows.
- Key posting windows:
- Monday to Thursday: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Friday: 9-11 a.m. and 2-4 p.m.
- Saturday: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Sunday: 9-11 a.m. and 3-6 p.m.
According to Sprout Social's 2025 research, Facebook engagement now stretches across the entire workday rather than having concentrated morning peaks.
2. Instagram Best Posting Schedule
Instagram's visual nature makes timing especially important. The platform sees strong engagement from late morning through afternoon on weekdays.
- Optimal posting schedule:
- Tuesday to Thursday: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Monday: 1-2 p.m. and 4-5 p.m.
- Friday: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Sunday: 4 p.m. only
Buffer's analysis of over 2 million posts found that 3 p.m. on Friday consistently gets the highest reach on Instagram.
3. TikTok Peak Engagement Hours
TikTok's entertainment-focused audience shows very different patterns than professional networks. Evening hours dominate for this platform.
- Prime posting hours:
- Monday to Thursday: 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
- Friday: 3 p.m. to 10 p.m.
- Saturday: 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
- Sunday: 8 p.m. only
SocialPilot's research on TikTok timing suggests posting between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. on Tuesday and Thursday works well for many accounts.
4. LinkedIn Professional Posting Times
As a professional network, LinkedIn follows business hours closely. Morning and lunchtime posts perform best.
- Best business hours for posting:
- Tuesday: 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- Wednesday and Thursday: 8 a.m. and noon
- Friday: 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- Monday: 11 a.m. to noon
Hootsuite's comprehensive study found that LinkedIn engagement peaks between 4 a.m. and 6 a.m. on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
5. YouTube Optimal Upload Times
YouTube's longer-form content benefits from different timing strategies. Late afternoon and evening slots work well.
- Recommended upload schedule:
- Wednesday: 4 p.m. (highest average views)
- Tuesday: 6 p.m.
- Friday: Noon to 5 p.m.
- Saturday: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
ExpertMarket's social media timing guide notes that YouTube users are most active between 2-4 p.m. on weekdays and 9-11 a.m. on weekends.
6. X (Twitter) Engagement Windows
X remains the platform for real-time conversations and news. Business hours see the strongest engagement.
- Peak conversation times:
- Tuesday to Friday: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Monday: 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- Saturday: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- Sunday: 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Buffer's analysis of X posting times shows that 9 a.m. on Wednesday delivers the highest engagement, with Tuesday at 8 a.m. close behind.
7. Pinterest Best Pinning Times
Pinterest's search-driven nature means timing works differently. Morning hours consistently perform well.
- Ideal pinning schedule:
- Weekdays: 10 a.m. (consistent peak)
- Tuesday: Additional peak at noon
- Friday: 7 a.m. and 10 a.m.
- Sunday: 7 p.m. only
According to Hootsuite's Pinterest research, the best time to post on Pinterest is 12:00 PM PST on Tuesdays and Fridays.
8. Use Assembo.ai to Plan Your Content Calendar
Assembo.ai helps you visualize and plan your social media content. Create custom backgrounds and see how your posts will look before scheduling.
- Planning benefits:
- Visualize post appearance in different settings
- Plan consistent posting schedules
- Test different content formats
- Coordinate cross-platform campaigns
Tools like Hootsuite's Best Time to Publish feature analyze your audience data to suggest optimal posting times specifically for your brand.
9. Industry-Specific Timing Variations
Different industries see varying engagement patterns. What works for retail may not work for B2B services.
- Industry timing differences:
- Retail: Evenings and weekends
- B2B: Weekday business hours
- Entertainment: Evenings and late nights
- Healthcare: Morning and lunch hours
LinkedIn experts note that posting times should match your specific audience's schedule and habits for best results.
10. Time Zone Considerations
Global audiences require time zone planning. Posting for your local morning might miss international followers.
- Time zone strategies:
- Identify your primary audience locations
- Schedule multiple posts for different zones
- Use analytics to find global peak times
- Consider creating regional accounts
SocialPilot's international timing guide provides specific best times for countries including the UK, Australia, India, and the USA.
11. Testing Your Own Best Times
General guidelines are helpful, but your audience may have unique patterns. Regular testing helps find your perfect schedule.
- Testing methods:
- Use platform analytics to see when your followers are online
- Experiment with posting at different times for two weeks
- Track engagement rates for each time slot
- Adjust your schedule based on results
Sprout Social recommends using their ViralPost® technology to algorithmically determine the best posting times based on your specific account data.
12. Consistency Over Perfect Timing
While timing matters, consistency often outweighs finding the perfect hour. Regular posting builds audience expectations and habits.
- Consistency benefits:
- Builds audience anticipation
- Improves algorithmic favor
- Creates reliable engagement patterns
- Supports brand recognition
As noted by LinkedIn content experts, you'll get better results posting at the same time consistently than randomly testing every time slot without a plan.
Final Thoughts
Finding the beat times to post requires understanding both general patterns and your specific audience. While the data shows clear trends for each platform, your unique followers may have different habits. Use these guidelines as a starting point, then refine based on your analytics. Remember that quality content posted at good times will always outperform poor content posted at perfect times. The beat times to post are about matching your audience's natural rhythms while maintaining consistent, valuable content that keeps them coming back.