Best Times to Run Instagram Ads for US-Based Brands

Best Times to Run Instagram Ads (USA – 2025 Updated)

✅ Weekdays (Monday to Friday)

• Best windows:

  • 8:00 AM – 10:00 AM: Morning scroll during commutes and coffee time.

  • 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM: Lunch break — peak mobile activity.

  • 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM: Evening wind-down; ideal for shopping & lifestyle ads.

✅ Weekends (Saturday & Sunday)

• Best windows:

  • 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM: Late morning browsing and casual scrolling.

  • 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM: High engagement, especially for ecommerce, fashion, food, and entertainment.

📊 US Audience Behavior Insights

• Most active days: Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday.

• Lowest-performing times: Early mornings (before 6 AM) and work-heavy hours (3–5 PM on weekdays).

• Tip: Always adjust for your audience’s timezone (EST, PST, etc.) if you’re targeting specific US regions.

💡 Tips to Maximize Instagram Ad Results

1. Use Automated Placement but Schedule Your Budget Smartly.

2. Run A/B tests to compare performance between time blocks.

3. Use insights from Meta Ads Manager to track your highest engagement windows.

4. Layer audience targeting with interest + behavior filters for better performance.

📌 Real Example

We ran an ad for a US-based jewelry brand with the same creative at two time slots:

• 9 AM (PST): CTR – 2.4%, ROAS – 3.1x

• 3 PM (PST): CTR – 1.1%, ROAS – 1.4x

Result: The morning slot delivered double the results at a 23% lower CPC.