Best Times to Post on Facebook in 2026
Best Times to Post on Facebook in 2026
The best times to post on Facebook are Tuesday through Thursday, 9-11 AM for maximum reach, with a secondary peak at 12-1 PM (lunch hour). Evening posts (7-9 PM) work well for entertainment and video content. Weekends see lower overall activity, though Saturday morning can work for lifestyle content.
These are starting points. Your Page Insights show exactly when your followers are active.
Why Posting Time Matters on Facebook
Facebook's algorithm prioritizes posts that generate immediate engagement. When you post while your audience is online and actively scrolling, you're more likely to get early likes, comments, and shares—which signals to the algorithm that your content is worth showing to more people.
Post at 3 AM when nobody's awake? Your content gets buried before most followers ever see it.
Best Times by Day
Monday
| Time | Performance |
|---|---|
| 8-9 AM | Moderate — people starting the week |
| 12-1 PM | Good — lunch break scrolling |
| 7-9 PM | Moderate — evening wind-down |
Monday mornings are busy as people catch up from the weekend. Engagement picks up by lunch.
Tuesday-Thursday (Peak Days)
| Time | Performance |
|---|---|
| 9-11 AM | Excellent — peak work-break scrolling |
| 12-1 PM | Excellent — lunch hour |
| 1-4 PM | Good — afternoon productivity slump |
| 7-9 PM | Good — evening relaxation |
Mid-week consistently outperforms other days. People are settled into routines and more likely to browse.
Friday
| Time | Performance |
|---|---|
| 9-11 AM | Good — still in work mode |
| 12-2 PM | Moderate — transitioning to weekend |
| Evening | Lower — many have plans |
Friday energy is high but attention scatters as people shift to weekend mode.
Saturday
| Time | Performance |
|---|---|
| 9-11 AM | Moderate — leisurely morning |
| Afternoon | Lower — out and about |
| Evening | Variable — depends on audience |
Saturday morning catches people in relaxed browsing mode. Works well for lifestyle, local business, and weekend-activity content.
Sunday
| Time | Performance |
|---|---|
| 10 AM - 12 PM | Moderate — lazy morning scrolling |
| 7-9 PM | Good — preparing for the week |
Sunday evening sees a pickup as people settle in before Monday.
Quick Reference Table
| Day | Best Times | Content Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 12-1 PM | News, week-ahead content |
| Tuesday | 9-11 AM, 12-1 PM | Educational, business |
| Wednesday | 9-11 AM, 12-1 PM | Peak day—your best content |
| Thursday | 9-11 AM, 1-4 PM | Promotional, engagement |
| Friday | 9 AM - 12 PM | Light, weekend preview |
| Saturday | 9-11 AM | Lifestyle, local, events |
| Sunday | 7-9 PM | Week-ahead, inspiration |
Timing by Content Type
Different content performs better at different times:
| Content Type | Best Time | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Business updates | 9-11 AM weekdays | Professional mindset |
| Educational | 12-1 PM | Lunch-break learning |
| Entertainment | 7-9 PM | Relaxation mode |
| Video/Reels | Evening, weekends | More time to watch |
| Local business | Weekend mornings | Planning mode |
| News/trending | 8-10 AM | Morning information check |
Industry Variations
Your audience's habits depend on your industry:
B2B / Professional Services
| Best Times | Why |
|---|---|
| 9-10 AM, Tuesday-Thursday | Professionals starting their day |
| 12-1 PM | Lunch break industry catch-up |
Retail / E-commerce
| Best Times | Why |
|---|---|
| 12-1 PM | Lunch break shopping |
| 7-9 PM | Evening browsing |
| Weekend mornings | Leisure shopping mode |
Restaurants / Local Business
| Best Times | Why |
|---|---|
| 11 AM - 1 PM | Lunch decision time |
| 4-6 PM | Dinner planning |
| Saturday morning | Weekend outing planning |
Entertainment / Media
| Best Times | Why |
|---|---|
| 7-9 PM | Prime leisure time |
| Weekend afternoons | Extended consumption |
Finding Your Best Times
Generic advice is a starting point. Your Page Insights provide the real answer.
Check Your Analytics
- Go to Facebook Business Suite or Page Insights
- Navigate to Insights → Audience
- Find When Your Fans Are Online
- See exactly which days and hours your followers are active
This data is more valuable than any general recommendation.
Test and Measure
Run a simple experiment:
- Post at 3 different times for 2 weeks (similar content quality)
- Track reach and engagement for each time slot
- Identify patterns
- Adjust your schedule accordingly
Time Zone Considerations
If your audience spans time zones:
- Identify your largest audience segment
- Optimize for that primary time zone
- Consider posting twice daily to catch different regions
Posting Frequency
More isn't always better. Facebook's algorithm can limit how many of your posts appear in any user's feed.
Recommended frequency:
| Account Type | Posts Per Day |
|---|---|
| Business Page | 1-2 |
| Personal Brand | 1 |
| Media/News | 3-5 |
| Local Business | 1 |
Quality signals:
- Posts that get engagement
- Posts people don't hide or report
- Posts people spend time viewing
One excellent post beats three mediocre ones.
Facebook Reels Timing
Facebook Reels have slightly different dynamics:
- Algorithm gives longer discovery window — Reels can gain traction days after posting
- Evening performs well — Users have more time for video
- Weekend afternoons work — Extended leisure browsing
For Reels, initial timing matters less than for feed posts. Focus on content quality first.
Common Timing Mistakes
Posting When Convenient, Not When Optimal
Your schedule isn't your audience's schedule. Use scheduling tools to post at optimal times even when you're not available.
Ignoring Your Analytics
General recommendations are averages. Your specific audience may behave differently. Trust your data.
Posting Too Often
Multiple posts per day can cannibalize each other's reach. The algorithm may not show all of them. Space posts at least 4-6 hours apart.
Inconsistency
Jumping between times prevents you from building audience habits and getting clean performance data.
Making It Sustainable
The best posting time is one you can consistently hit.
Practical approaches:
- Batch and schedule — Create content in sessions, schedule for optimal times
- Use scheduling tools — Post at 9 AM without being at your desk
- Build a content calendar — Plan ahead so you're never scrambling
Consistency over perfection. Regular posting at good times beats occasional posting at perfect times.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the single best time to post on Facebook?
Tuesday through Thursday between 9-11 AM typically sees the highest engagement across most audiences. This window captures people during work breaks when they're most likely to be scrolling. However, your specific audience may differ—always check your Page Insights for when your followers are most active.
Should I post on Facebook on weekends?
Weekend engagement is lower overall, but certain content works well. Saturday morning (9-11 AM) can perform for leisure, lifestyle, and local business content when people are in relaxed planning mode. Sunday evening (7-9 PM) sees a pickup as people prepare for the week. Test with your specific audience.
Does posting time affect Facebook Reels differently?
Reels follow similar patterns but have slightly longer discovery windows since Facebook actively pushes them to non-followers. This means initial timing matters somewhat less—a Reel can gain traction days after posting. Evening posts (7-9 PM) often perform well for video content when users have more viewing time.
How many times per day should I post on Facebook?
1-2 posts per day maximum for most business pages. More frequent posting can cannibalize your own reach (algorithm may not show all posts) and fatigue your audience. Focus on quality over quantity. One post that sparks engagement beats three that get ignored.
Ready to post at optimal times without being glued to Facebook? Posta helps you schedule your Facebook content in advance, post at the best times for your audience, and track what's working—all from one dashboard.