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The Best Times to Post on Every Social Media Platform (According to Data)
In today’s fast‑paced digital world, timing is everything. Every second, millions of posts are published across social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, X and TikTok. Cutting through the noise is no longer just about what you post, it’s about when you post it.
Understanding when your audience is most active can make the difference between being seen and being scrolled past. For businesses serious about maximising their reach, engagement, and lead generation, getting the timing right is critical.
At Thunderbolt, a leading agency for social media marketing in Surrey, we’ve helped countless businesses achieve remarkable results by mastering the art of perfectly‑timed content. Here, our team explores the best times to post on each major social media platform, based on the latest data, and shows how expert social media management can ensure you reach the right people at the right moment. If you want your posts to work harder for your business, read on.
Table of Contents
Why Timing Matters in Social Media Marketing
Algorithms on platforms like Instagram, Facebook and X favour fresh content, yet even the best posts can go unseen if published at the wrong time. Posting during high‑traffic periods can improve reach and engagement dramatically. But to make smart decisions, you need both data and a tailored strategy. That’s where expert social media management comes in.
Instagram: Prime Time is Afternoon to Early Evening
What the Data Shows
Sprout Social’s 2025 data highlights that the best time to post on Instagram in the UK is on a Sunday between 4pm and 8pm. In contrast, Saturdays are the worst day to post. During the working week, engagement is generally the highest in the evenings, after 5pm.
Research from Buffer, who analysed over 2 million international social posts, suggests posting slightly earlier on weekdays, at about 3pm, and they recommend 6pm on weekends.
Why It Matters
As of mid-2024, Instagram’s algorithm prioritises views across all content types. Posting at the right time means your posts are fresh and likely to be seen when your followers start to scroll.
Our Take
At Thunderbolt, our Instagram strategies for Surrey‑based brands often feature Reels and carousel posts scheduled for the early evening. This timing consistently leads to higher likes, comments, and shares compared to random posting times.
Facebook: Lean Into the Morning Boom
Industry Benchmarks
Lifewire reports that on Facebook, mornings (especially weekdays between 10 am and 12 pm) deliver the most engagement. Hootsuite recommends posting slightly earlier for the best results, specifically at 9 am on Tuesdays.
Real‑World Insight
Lunchtime browsing habits make 10 am–1 pm a powerful window for reach, especially when paired with social ads and shareable content.
Recommendation
For local businesses in Surrey, we advise scheduling Facebook posts for 9–10 am on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Thunderbolt’s campaigns blend curated content with timely posting to ensure maximum exposure, often outperforming national averages.
LinkedIn: The Early‑Bird Window
Data‑Backed Timing
Although conventional wisdom would suggest that LinkedIn users would typically check in just before or during their working day, Sprout Social research finds a different sweet spot. Specifically, UK LinkedIn posts tend to get the most engagement in the afternoons from Monday to Thursday. Although weekends are much less popular, if you do want to post on Saturday or Sunday, between 9am and 10am is likely to be the best option.
Strategy Advice
For B2B clients in Surrey, Thunderbolt schedules thought‑leadership posts to reach executives during the typical workday’s afternoon slump. This small optimisation often yields significantly higher click‑through and connection rates.
X (Formerly Twitter): Late‑Morning to Early‑Afternoon Chat
Timing Gold
Sprout Social’s research shows engagement highest between 9 am and 2 pm from Tuesday to Thursday Social Media Today. Hootsuite adds that 9–11 am mid‑week is consistently strong.
Why It Works
X moves fast, with breaking news, trending topics, and conversation threads peaking mid‑morning to early afternoon, so that’s when users are most receptive.
Thunderbolt Tip
We recommend posting news updates, blog links or promotional content on X around 10 am midweek. Combined with local hashtags (#SurreySmallBiz), it gives a timely boost to reach and engagement.
TikTok: Mid‑Morning Midweek Magic
Data Insights
TikTok performs best on Wednesdays between 2 pm and 5 pm. However, Hootsuite’s data suggests Thursday mornings between 7 am–11am are ideal.
Content Considerations
TikTok’s algorithm rewards timely, highly engaging video, especially when served to users during browsing breaks or commutes.
Our Recommendation
Thunderbolt’s video team in Surrey finds that the best times to post TikToks depend largely on your audience and their habits. Using insights from your existing audience, combined with information from the data, we plan weekly content calendars around peak moments to drive the most views possible.
Pinterest: Lunchtime Inspiration
What the Numbers Say
Social Media Today notes that although timing may be less important on Pinterest, due to the nature of the content, users tend to see the most response to posts between 1 pm and 2 pm on every day of the week. Hootsuite also highlights Fridays at 12 pm as top time, especially for visual discovery.
Ideal Content Fit
Pinterest works best for “planning moments” like lunch breaks, mood boards, weekend projects—so midday posts resonate.
Tactical Tip
If your business uses Pinterest (for services like interior design, events, or retail), we suggest creating pins at 12 pm on Fridays to maximise engagement and repin rate.
Threads: Catch the Commuter Wave
Emerging Platform, Early Stats
Hootsuite identifies Tuesday at 8 am PST as a peak time; other strong slots include Monday and Thursday mornings.
Morning Rule of Thumb
Threads reflects the morning scroll habit; consider posting between 7 am–9 am to reach early risers.
Surrey‑Focus
For local businesses exploring Threads, we recommend trial campaigns around 7–8 am midweek to evaluate traction. As your social media management partner, Thunderbolt can adapt these strategies as the format evolves.
Putting It All Together: The Thunderbolt Advantage
- Data‑led strategy
We blend global insights with localised testing for UK and Surrey audiences, ensuring your brand posts at peak times across platforms. - Full‑service social media management
We handle content creation, scheduling, optimisation and analytics, freeing you to concentrate on your core business. - Hyper‑local relevance
With a team that lives and works in the locally, our campaigns reflect the Surrey community, so your posts resonate with local customers. - Transparent reporting
With monthly reporting and progress meetings, you can track the uplift in engagement directly tied to our timing strategy.
Why Partner with a Surrey-Based Agency
Many businesses attempt DIY posting, but results often plateau. At Thunderbolt, our era‑across experience in social media marketing in Surrey ensures:
- Precise scheduling tailored to local audiences
- A/B testing for post timing and format
- Consistent growth in followers, leads, and conversions
The work we do for our clients isn’t guesswork, it’s strategic, data‑backed social media management that delivers real results.
Getting Started: A Tailored Plan for Your Business
- Free audit
We analyse your current posting schedule then recommendation timings and content for your niche. - Content calendar
We craft a calendar optimised by platform and peak times, infused with local flair. - Ongoing optimisation
Monthly reviews allow us to refine timing, formats and platform mix to maximise ROI.
If you’re serious about scaling your online presence, we’d love to chat. As a leading partner in social media marketing in Surrey, Thunderbolt delivers social results through data‑driven timing and reliable delivery.
Need Help with Your Social Media Management?
Timing isn’t everything, but it’s close when it comes to social media marketing in Surrey. As a general rule, the best times to post across different social platforms are:
- Instagram: 3 pm – 6pm Mon–Thu, Sunday evening
- Facebook: 9 am–12 pm Tue–Wed
- LinkedIn: 7 am–9 am Tue–Thu
- X: 9 am–2 pm Tue–Thu
- TikTok: 10 am–11 am Thu or mid‑week afternoons
- Pinterest: 12 pm Fri
- Threads: 7 am–9 am mid‑week
These data‑backed windows give your content the best chance. If you don’t post at the right time, someone else will. With Thunderbolt’s social media management expertise, your posts will reach the right eyes. Ready to elevate your game? Reach out to Surrey’s trusted partner for social success today.