Best Times To Post On Facebook 2024: Boost Your Likes And Shares!

In the fast-paced world of social media, timing can make all the difference between a post that goes viral and one that gets lost in the noise. As we step into 2024, knowing the best times to post on Facebook has never been more crucial for maximizing engagement. Whether you’re a brand looking to boost visibility or a content creator aiming to connect with your audience, this guide will reveal the ultimate posting times that can elevate your Facebook strategy to new heights. Let’s explore with System SocialZ how to determine the best time to post on Facebook through the article below.

When is the best time to post on Facebook?

• Mondays from 9 a.m. to noon  
• Tuesdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 5 p.m.  
• Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 5 p.m.  
• Thursdays from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 5 p.m.  
• Fridays from 9 to 11 a.m.  

The best times to post on Facebook are Mondays through Thursdays. Sundays, however, are the least effective day for posting. 

With 3.1 billion active users each month, Facebook remains the top platform for marketers, with 90% of them utilizing it. The platform continues to significantly influence both consumers and businesses. Much like last year, the best times for engagement are mid-mornings during weekdays, aligning with standard business hours.

For the best results, aim to post between 9 a.m. and early afternoon, generally before 2 p.m., from Monday to Friday. Why? Many people take quick breaks throughout the day to check Facebook, making this period ideal for higher engagement.

A solid Facebook marketing strategy helps businesses connect with their audience, whether it’s to promote products or offer exclusive deals. Remember, both how often you post and the quality of your content are key to driving engagement.

What are the best days and times to post on Facebook?

• Best times to post on Facebook on Mondays

The best time to post on Facebook on Mondays is between 9 a.m. and noon. While engagement remains steady from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., the highest activity typically occurs just before lunchtime.

• Best times to post on Facebook on Tuesdays

  

The ideal time to post on Tuesdays is between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m., with another peak around 5 p.m. Although engagement is strong throughout the workday, these hours often generate the most interaction.

• Best times to post on Facebook on Wednesdays

Wednesdays are one of the busiest days on Facebook. The best times to post are from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., with a secondary peak at 5 p.m., making it a prime day for content sharing.

• Best times to post on Facebook on Thursdays

Similar to Wednesdays, Thursdays see the highest engagement between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m., with another surge in activity around 5 p.m., ensuring strong performance for posts during these hours.

• Best times to post on Facebook on Fridays

On Fridays, the most effective time to post is between 9 and 11 a.m. Users begin shifting into weekend mode, but engagement remains consistent throughout the day, especially during these morning hours.

• Best times to post on Facebook on Saturdays

Saturdays experience lower engagement overall, but the best time to post on Facebook is between 8 and 11 a.m. After this, activity declines for the remainder of the day, as weekends tend to be quieter.

• Best times to post on Facebook on Sundays

  

For Sundays, the optimal time to post is from 9 to 11 a.m. Like Saturdays, Sundays see reduced engagement compared to weekdays, with activity dropping throughout the rest of the day.

Why is there no Universal Time to Post on Facebook?

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer to the best times to post on Facebook. Every audience is unique, and what works for one marketer might not work for another. If your target audience follows a non-traditional schedule, such as not working the typical 10 to 6 hours, posting during standard times may not yield the best results.

A study by CoSchedule illustrates this point, showing how businesses can see varying engagement rates depending on when they post. 

You can experiment with suggested posting times to see if they align with your audience’s habits, but there’s another issue: the sheer volume of content competing for attention. Statistics show that over 2.7 trillion posts have been made on Facebook.

According to Facebook’s business blog, each time a person logs in, they could see about 1,600 potential stories in their news feed, with the number reaching up to 15,300 for users with lots of friends and page likes.

If everyone followed the same best times to post Facebook, this could lead to intense competition during peak hours, which might reduce engagement instead of boosting it.

So, while general guidelines for the best times to post on Facebook are a helpful starting point, you may need to go beyond them to stand out.

What affects the best time to post on Facebook?

Every business will experience its own unique fluctuations when determining the best times to post on Facebook. Here are some key factors to keep in mind when planning your content schedule:

Your Unique Audience

Audience behavior plays a critical role in identifying the best posting times. Consider the following factors:

• Work Schedule: If your audience primarily works 10 to 6, they might be more active on Facebook in the evenings. Stay-at-home parents, on the other hand, may browse Facebook throughout the day.
• Age: Different age demographics use Facebook in different ways. For example, while Millennials make up a large portion of users, teens from lower-income backgrounds might be more active than their higher-income peers.
• Work Patterns: Professionals could be engaging on Facebook during their commutes, lunch breaks, or in the evening, whereas people with more flexible schedules may be active at any time during the day.
• Location: It’s essential to align posting times with your audience’s time zones. If your business has a global reach, consider scheduling posts to cover multiple time zones effectively.

Your Industry 

Peak engagement times can vary greatly depending on the industry. To find the best times to post on Facebook, analyze your competitors:

• Identify Competitors: Focus on those with similar audiences and business offerings.
• Track Posting Times: Monitor when they are posting throughout the week.
• Measure Engagement: Observe how much engagement their posts receive.
• Identify Patterns: Look for trends in when they post and the corresponding engagement rates.

Updates to the Facebook Algorithm  

Facebook’s algorithm is constantly evolving, and it impacts when your posts get seen. Key factors include:

• Source of the Post: Content from friends, pages, and businesses that users frequently interact with is prioritized.
• Type of Content: Your interaction history affects the type of posts you see more frequently.
• Likelihood of Engagement: The algorithm predicts engagement based on past behavior and content relevance.
• Potential for Meaningful Interactions: Content likely to spark conversations or interactions is ranked higher.

Geographical Trends and Events  

Local events, holidays, and even weather can affect when your audience engages with Facebook:

Local Events: Major events like sports games or festivals can increase Facebook activity.

Seasonal Changes: During holidays, users might be more active searching for gifts or deals, but may also spend more time offline with family.Local events, holidays, and even weather conditions can influence when your audience is active on Facebook:

• Local Events: Big events like sports games or festivals can lead to a spike in Facebook activity.
• Seasonal Changes: During holidays, people might be more active searching for gifts or deals, but they could also spend more time offline with family.

By taking these factors into account, you can identify the best times to post on Facebook for maximum engagement.

What are the best times to post on Facebook for each industry?

Keep in mind that while we aim to pinpoint the best times to post on Facebook, our insights are based on the data available to us. Your industry is just one of many factors that influence the success of your social posts. Use this industry-specific data as a guide for your publishing schedule, and experiment with different posting times to find what works best for your audience.

Best times to post on Facebook for hospitals & healthcare

Most weekdays between 9 a.m. and 8 p.m., with peak times being:

• Tuesdays from 5 to 7 p.m.
• Wednesdays at 5 p.m.
• Thursdays at 10 a.m. and 5 p.m.

Best Days to Post: Tuesdays through Thursdays  

Worst Day to Post:  Sundays  

Hospitals, clinics, and healthcare providers utilize social media not only for managing healthcare crises but also for educating the public, easing patients’ concerns about visits and appointments, promoting programs for future physicians, and reinforcing their role in the community.

This year, the best times to post on Facebook for healthcare organizations have become more refined. Peak engagement occurs around 9 a.m. on weekdays, but optimal posting times are on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays at 5 p.m.

Best times to post on Facebook for restaurants

• Mondays at 11 a.m.
• Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Wednesdays from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Fridays at 11 a.m.

Best Days to Post: Most weekdays, especially Tuesdays and Wednesdays  

Worst Day to Post: Sundays  

With the rise in online orders and delivery service apps, restaurants have found new ways to engage with their audiences. This year, restaurants have seen nearly double the engagement on Facebook compared to last year.

For the food and beverage industry, engagement is generally consistent from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on most days, particularly on weekdays. However, the best times to post are around lunchtime: Mondays at 11 a.m., Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Wednesdays from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., and Fridays at 11 a.m.

Each social network offers unique opportunities for businesses to connect with customers. Tailoring promotions and updates for each platform will help keep your restaurant top-of-mind for potential patrons.

Best times to post on Facebook for schools & education

• Mondays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Fridays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Saturdays from 9 to 11 a.m. and 5 p.m.
• Sundays at 9 a.m.

Best Days to Post: All weekdays, especially Wednesdays through Fridays  

Worst Day to Post: Sundays  

Universities, colleges, and schools have seen a notable increase in engagement on Facebook compared to last year. Many institutions manage multiple social profiles to effectively target different audiences at optimal times.

The best times for schools and educational institutions to post on Facebook align with traditional workweek hours, from Monday to Friday between 9 or 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. However, weekends also show promising engagement: Saturdays from 9 to 11 a.m. and 5 p.m., and Sundays at 9 a.m. 

A well-rounded social media strategy for schools should cater to various needs, from engaging with current and prospective students to maintaining overall brand presence.

Best times to post on Facebook for travel & hospitality

• Mondays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Saturdays from 8 to 11 a.m.
• Sundays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Best Days to Post: Tuesdays through Thursdays  

Worst Day to Post: Fridays  

The travel and hospitality industries have experienced a notable shift in Facebook engagement patterns. As the travel sector continues to rebound post-pandemic, businesses in this field have adjusted their strategies and seen increased engagement throughout most of the day.

The prime times for travel and hospitality brands to post on Facebook are: Mondays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and Tuesdays through Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Weekends also show substantial engagement, with Saturdays from 8 to 11 a.m. and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Overall, travel and hospitality brands see significant engagement around midday nearly every day of the week, as users plan their weekend getaways and travel arrangements.

How to find your own best times to post on social media with Insights

While it might be tempting to rely solely on peak engagement times, it’s crucial to supplement this information with your own Facebook Insights analysis. You could discover that your audience has different activity patterns. 

To identify your best times to post on Facebook, follow these steps using Facebook Insights:

1. Log in to your Facebook Page account, either on mobile or desktop (not your personal profile).
2. On desktop, click your profile photo in the top right corner; on mobile, tap the three horizontal lines and choose “Professional Dashboard.”
3. To check posts from a specific time frame:

•  On desktop, navigate to “Content.”
•  On mobile, go to “Insights.”

4. To locate the posts with the highest engagement on desktop:

•   Adjust the time span to the last 90, 60, 28, or 7 days.
•    Set the filter to “Engagement” to list top posts in order of interaction.

5. On mobile, tap “See All” next to “Performance,” then choose “Engagement.”

• Scroll to “Recent Content” and tap “See All.”
• Filter by date range and “Engagement.”

By reviewing your top-performing posts, you’ll start to notice trends related to the days, times, and content types (like text, images, or videos) that perform best. This approach will help you refine your strategy to match your audience’s behavior and discover the best times to post on Facebook.

Why does timing matter when posting on Facebook?

Think of scheduling your posts like organizing an event. If you host it in the middle of the night, you’re likely to have fewer attendees compared to holding it during the day or evening when people are more active and engaged. 

Similarly, your social media engagement depends on when your target audience is online. If they aren’t active, they can’t interact with your content. 

So, what are the best times to post on Facebook? In theory, it’s straightforward: the best times to post on Facebook are when the majority of your followers are online. This ensures that your posts are seen and engaged with, which helps Facebook’s algorithm extend the reach of your content.

In practice, however, it’s more complex. Your audience’s activity times may differ from those of other brands’ audiences. Factors like time zones and varying online behaviors during weekdays versus weekends can add to the complexity.

Consider these key points:

• Facebook remains the most popular social network worldwide.
• The average Facebook Page posts about five times per day.
• Users spend close to 21 hours a month on Facebook.
• Millennials represent nearly half of Facebook’s user base.
• Only 18% of teens use Facebook daily.

Fortunately, there are great tools available to help you pinpoint the best times to post on Facebook for your specific page.

Best Time To Post On Facebook FAQs

What are the best times to post on Facebook for maximum exposure?

The optimal times to post on Facebook for maximum visibility are 9:00 AM, 7:00 AM, and 10:00 AM.

What Time Is Facebook Most Active?

Our research shows that Facebook users are most likely to engage with content posted between 7:00 AM and 10:00 AM.

Is it better to post in the morning or evening based on the best times to post on Facebook?

Our findings suggest that posting on Facebook in the morning, between 7:00 AM and 10:00 AM, yields better results.

What’s The Best Day To Post On Facebook?

Friday is the optimal day for posting on Facebook.

How Do I Get More Facebook Likes?

Our research identifies the best times to post on Facebook as those when engagement—such as likes, comments, and shares—is at its peak. To maximize likes and interactions, focus on posting high-quality content at 9:00 AM, 7:00 AM, or 10:00 AM.

Do hashtags do anything on Facebook?

While Facebook hasn’t embraced hashtags as extensively as newer social platforms, they still hold value. You can use the search bar to find posts with specific hashtags, though the functionality isn’t perfect. Marketers often maintain consistency by using the same branded hashtags across their Facebook pages as they do on other platforms. It’s advisable to limit hashtags to one or two per post, as research indicates that using just one hashtag tends to yield the best engagement.

How can I tell if my posts align with the best times to post on Facebook and are being seen?

While it’s impossible to determine exactly who sees your posts, you can gather general insights from your Facebook Insights page. This tool provides data on your page, posts, and videos over the past 28 days, offering key metrics on performance. You can analyze which posts received particularly strong or weak responses. Metrics like Post Reach reveal essential statistics, including impressions, engaged users, consumption rates, and video views.

When are the worst times to post on Facebook?

This article highlights that the optimal time to post on Facebook is during weekdays, especially on Wednesdays. Surprisingly, posts tend to get the most engagement during traditional working hours and around break times. Conversely, Sundays generally see lower engagement. However, educational brands often perform better on weekends, with Sprout Social noting that Saturday at 5 PM is a peak time for this sector.

Conclusion

Understanding the optimal best times to post on Facebook is crucial for maximizing engagement and reaching your audience effectively. As we’ve explored in this article, the best posting times can vary by industry, audience behavior, and even specific days of the week.

By leveraging insights from System SocialZ and aligning your posting schedule with peak engagement period – whether it’s weekdays for most sectors or weekends for specific industries like education – you can enhance your social media strategy and drive better results. Keep experimenting with your posting times, use data to refine your approach, and remember that staying adaptable is key to navigating the ever-evolving landscape of social media.