25+ Instagram Hashtags Statistics to Boost Your Reach in [2025]
Posts with hashtags see 12.6% more engagement, and using 9–11 can boost reach by 79.5%. Learn the best length, placement, and strategies to stand out in a feed of 95M daily uploads.
Instagram hashtags continue to be a game-changer in 2025, but how effective are they in increasing engagement?
Data shows that posts with at least one hashtag receive 12.6% more engagement than those without, while using 9-11 hashtags can increase reach by nearly 79.5%. Despite Instagram’s evolving algorithm, 60% of users still discover new accounts through hashtags, which make them a crucial tool for visibility.
With over 95 million photos and videos uploaded daily, competition for engagement is fierce. The key to success lies in understanding the optimal number, placement, and type of hashtags that drive the most interactions.
In this report, we break down the latest statistics, trends, and best practices to help you maximize your hashtag strategy on Instagram in 2025. Let’s dig in!
Key Instagram hashtags stats
- Hashtags placed in the caption boost reach by 36% for small accounts, whereas large accounts see a 15.9% increase when using the first comment.
- Branded hashtags now account for 70% of all hashtags used on Instagram.
- Hashtags between 21-24 characters long perform 20% better than shorter ones.
- Over 60% of users find new content and accounts through hashtags.
- Generic hashtags like #love and #instagood have over 1 billion posts.
- The Instagram algorithm now prioritizes content quality over hashtag usage. So, relevancy is more important than volume.
Optimal number of hashtags per post
Instagram allows up to 30 hashtags per post, but the platform recommends using 3-5 hashtags for the best results. How many hashtags do you put on your posts?
Posts with exactly 9 hashtags receive 28% more engagement compared to those with fewer or more.
Only 17% of brands use more than 10 hashtags, despite data showing higher engagement.
Hashtag engagement statistics
Posts with at least one hashtag experience a 29% increase in interactions for accounts with under 1,000 followers.
For business accounts, hashtags can boost reach by up to 50%.
It is important to note that the most engaged-with posts tend to have between 9 and 11 hashtags.
What is the ideal character length of hashtags?
Hashtags between 21 and 24 characters perform 20% better than shorter ones.
Short, generic hashtags like #love or #food are overly saturated, which makes it harder to rank in search results.
Caption vs. comment placement for hashtags
Did you know that placing hashtags in captions increases reach by 36% for accounts with fewer than 5,000 followers?
While the larger accounts (100,000+ followers) see a 15.9% increase in reach when placing hashtags in the first comment instead of the caption.
Popular branded hashtags and their usage
Branded hashtags account for 70% of all hashtags used on Instagram.
Nike's #JustDoIt has been used over 22 million times.
Coca-Cola’s #ShareACoke campaign led to a 4.7% increase in sales during its initial launch.
Most popular hashtags in 2025
#love remains the most-used hashtag on Instagram, which appears in over 2.1 billion posts.
#instagood and #fashion each have over 1 billion uses.
Niche hashtags like #FitnessMotivation (120M posts) and #TechTrends (30M posts) continue to gain popularity.
Below we have curated a table of the most popular Instagram hashtags in 2025 along with their total number of uses for you:
| Hashtag | Total Uses (2025) |
|---|---|
| #love | 2.1 billion+ |
| #instagood | 1.5 billion+ |
| #fashion | 1.2 billion+ |
| #photooftheday | 1 billion+ |
| #beautiful | 900 million+ |
| #tbt | 750 million+ |
| #fitness | 650 million+ |
| #foodporn | 500 million+ |
| #TravelPhotography | 200 million+ |
| #FitnessMotivation | 120 million+ |
| #TechTrends | 30 million+ |
Do hashtags still matter in 2025?
Absolutely! Data suggests that 60% of Instagram users still discover new accounts through hashtags.
Instagram's algorithm now prioritizes content quality and user behavior over hashtag metadata.
Curious about Instagram’s impact on online shopping? Our detailed guide on Instagram Shopping Statistics explores key trends and insights.
Wrapping up
Hashtags continue to be a powerful tool for increasing reach, engagement, and brand visibility on Instagram in 2025. Though, simply adding hashtags is not enough—the key lies in strategic usage, relevance, and placement.
By implementing the right mix of hashtags, optimizing their placement, and ensuring they align with your content, you can maximize your Instagram growth and engagement this year.
FAQs
Using 3-5 relevant hashtags is recommended by Instagram, but posts with 9-11 hashtags tend to perform best in terms of engagement.
For accounts with fewer than 5,000 followers, hashtags in captions boost reach by 36%. For accounts with over 100,000 followers, placing them in the first comment increases reach by 15.9%.
The best hashtags are specific to your niche and not overly saturated. While #love has over 2 billion posts, a more targeted hashtag like #TravelTips (20M posts) can give you better engagement.
Yes. Branded hashtags make up 70% of all hashtags on Instagram. Campaigns like #ShareACoke and #MyCalvins have led to significant brand engagement.
While hashtags still play a role, Instagram’s algorithm prioritizes content quality, engagement rates, and user behavior over the number of hashtags used.
Sources
- Search Logistics. Hashtag statistics you should know
- Snappa. Marketer’s Instagram Hashtag Guide
- Later. Top Instagram Analytics Tool to Grow Your Business
- Social Insider. Instagram Benchmarks 2025: Key Insights
- Sprout Social. Your Complete Guide to Hashtag Analytics
- Analyzify. Guide To Best Times To Post On Instagram In 2025
Manisha is a Data-Driven Marketing Expert who turns numbers into narratives and ad clicks into conversions. With a passion for performance marketing and a sharp eye for analytics, she helps brands cut through the noise and maximize their impact in the digital space.
Leszek is the Digital Growth Manager at Feedink & Cropink, specializing in organic growth for eCommerce and SaaS companies. His background includes roles at Poland's largest accommodation portal and FT1000 companies, with his work featured in Forbes, Inc., Business Insider, Fast Company, Entrepreneur, BBC, and TechRepublic.
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