When Is The Best Time To Run Ads On Instagram In 2025? Expert Guide

When is the best time to run ads on Instagram in 2025? Your full cheat sheet for max ad performance is here. In today’s article, we’ll reveal the best day and time to post Instagram advertisements! Schedule ads smartly and see your results soar!

Best Day And Time To Run Instagram Ads (2025)

Based on data from previous projects at GDT Agency, we identify the best days and times to run Instagram ads as follows.

Best days to run Instagram ads

• Best days: Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday tend to have the highest engagement rates. Midweek is when users are actively browsing Instagram but are not yet distracted by weekend plans.
• Worst day: Sunday sees fewer interactions as many users disconnect from social media or are focused on personal activities.

Best time to run Instagram ads

The best time slots for Instagram ads vary daily due to differences in user behavior. 

Here’s your cheat sheet for 2025:

The highlighted area is what you should focus on. These are peak times when Instagram users engage with ads the most.

If you have a limited budget, you can schedule ads for these listed times to optimize spending and maximize results.

This approach works best for time-sensitive promotions such as flash sales, Valentine’s Day offers, etc.

Best Time To Run Ads On Instagram By Industry

The best times to run ads also depend on your industry and target audience. 

For example, B2B ads often see a higher engagement rate on weekdays because that’s when target audiences are often online. Meanwhile, ads for food and beverages perform best at mealtimes. 

The table below reveals the best times for Instagram ads by industry:

Consider your industry and target audience to define the optimal times for your campaigns.

Best Time To Boost Ad On Instagram By Format

Another factor that can influence the best time for your Instagram ads is the ad format. Different ad formats work best at different times. 

For instance, Instagram reels ads may work better at night when users scroll to entertain. Shopping ads work best during peak shopping hours.

Let’s break down the best times for different types of ads:

How To Find The Best Time To Run Your Own Instagram Ads?

While those general timing guidelines may be helpful, your own data analysis will ensure the highest possible ad results.

Below are some free tools that can reveal when your audience gets most active.

• Instagram Ad Insights: This built-in tool enables you to evaluate performance metrics inside the Instagram app to find which time slots achieve the best results.

• Meta (Facebook) Pixel: It serves as a tracking tool that delivers conversion metrics through which you can evaluate advertising effectiveness and schedule improvement.
• Google Analytics: Use it to analyze your website traffic and detect when users engage most actively with your content.

These tools are all free and accessible. So ensure you use them to find out the best time to post Instagram ads for your own business.

>>> Explore more: What Are Instagram Unskippable Ads And How To Handle Them?

So, Should You Schedule Ads Or Let Instagram Optimize?

Now that you know the best times to run Instagram ads, you might wonder:

Should I schedule manually or run ads all day and let Instagram optimize them for me?

In my opinion, there is no fixed answer to this question. However, there are some general guidelines you can take note of.

If you are running ads for:

• Time-sensitive promotions (e.g., flash sales, event-based ads, limited-time offers, etc.): You can use scheduling to ensure ads reach the audience at the right moment. 
• Long-term conversions: You can run ads all day and let Instagram optimize your ad delivery automatically using its algorithm.
• Small budget campaigns: Schedule ads to only run at peak hours to maximize ad spend efficiency.

Tip: A/B tests both approaches (with and without scheduling) to find what’s the most effective for your campaigns.

Beyond Timing: Best Practices To Optimize Instagram Ad Performance

While good timing can help you improve ad performance, it’s only one cog in the wheel. 

Here are some practices to optimize your results from Instagram ads.

• Create visual appeal:  Use high-quality appealing images and videos to captivate viewers and achieve better engagement outcomes.
• Use META Conversions API: The META Conversions API allows you to both track and enhance the effectiveness of your ads.
• Go for broad targeting: Let Instagram AI automatically find the best target audience based on your ad content and product. 
• Tailor ad creatives based on target audience: Your ad creatives should contain keywords and images that specifically speak to your potential clients.
• Add captions to video ads: Make sure your video ads are optimized for Instagram users who browse with the sound muted.
• Mind Instagram’s safe zones: Make sure that your text and important elements remain inside the designated display areas to avoid cropping problems when posting ads in different formats and placements.

• Test, track, and optimize ads: Constantly improve your Instagram ads through testing and evaluation of ad metrics to drive better performance.

Tip: Rent Facebook agency ad account to optimize ad metrics like CPC and CPM.

Final Thoughts

This cheat sheet on the best time to run ads on Instagram can be a competitive edge for advertisers who want to make the most of an ad budget. By analyzing your industry, audience, ad format, and past data, you can develop your own timing strategies for explosive outcomes.

Have any questions on this topic? Leave them in the comment section below or contact us today!

Follow if you find it useful