In the changing Instagram marketing landscape, hashtags are still a crucial element. “If you ever wondered, ‘How many hashtags should I use on Instagram?, you’re not alone. It’s a question that comes up again and again among influencers, marketers and entrepreneurs wishing to better their engagement and outreach. Though Instagram enables you to use up to 30 hashtags per post, that doesn’t mean you are always better off using the maximum number.
In this guide, we will discuss the perfect amount of hashtags, tips to find the right ones, and ways for you to grow your account naturally. By the time you’re done reading, you won’t be second-guessing your hashtag strategy.
Why Hashtags Matter in 2025
Hashtags are not mere trendy symbols — they’re the keys to discoverability. They offer a way to classify content, and extract and reward associated users. When deployed effectively, they boost the visibility of your content, foster more interactions, and ensure it helps to attract the right kind of audience.
But hashtags continue to be a strong signal that Instagram’s algorithm takes when categorizing a post. Whether you’re sharing in your feed, your Reels or your Stories, the hashtags you use dictate who finds your photos and how many likes they receive.
So, How Many Hashtags Should I Use On Instagram?
The quick answer: 3 to 11 hashtags per post seems to be the sweet spot in 2025.
You can get up to 30 but it’s not necessarily more always better. In reality, research, and expert advice indicate the use of too many hashtags can make you look spammy and can hurt your engagement. Instagram’s own @creators account suggests to use 3 to 5 well-researched hashtags per post.
So, when you are wondering, “How many hashtags should I use on Instagram?,quality, not quantity - minded. Less is often more, and a few well-chosen hashtags can easily beat a mountain of generic ones.
What If You Use Too Many Hashtags?
You may be thinking, “The more hashtags, the more visibility. SADLY, that is not always the case.
Posting 20+ hashtags in every post could alert the platform to spam behavior. Rather than getting reach, your post may be shadowbanned, meaning that it’s invisible to non-followers. Plus, jam-packed hashtags in a caption can bombard your followers and overshadow your message.
Simply put, the less the better — as long as you’re using the proper types.
Best Ways of Using Hashtags in 2025
To ensure you get the most out of your Instagram hashtag strategy, keep the following tips in mind:
- Use a Mix of Hashtag Types
- Diversify your hashtags. Combine:
- Broad hashtags (#Fitness)
- Niche ones (#VeganFitnessTips)
- The official hashtags (#NikeRunning)
- Community Hashtags: #InstaWriters
This approach broadens your reach while maintaining focus on content.
Avoid Banned Hashtags
Always check your hashtags before posting. Your post might earn you visibility, but using a banned hashtag won’t. Even the seemingly innocuous ones like #humpday have found their way onto Instagram’s black list.
Place Hashtags Strategically
- You can insert hashtags:
- Within your caption
- At the end of your caption
- In the first comment
All worthy, though, by slotting them in the first comment, you often keep the caption cleaner and more engaging.”
Rotate Hashtags Regularly
Instagram can punish you for using too many of the same hashtags. Test coming up with 3–5 hashtag sets you can cycle through depending on the post. This approach keeps your plan relatively fresh, preventing spam filters from flagging your newsletter.
How Many Hashtags Should I Use(with or without #emoji) On Instagram Stories and Reels?
Unlike feed posts, which are limited to 30 hashtags, you can add up to 10 hashtags in your Stories, and in Reels you can add up to 30, also in line with the limit on feed posts. But again: just because some is good, doesn’t mean more is better.
For Stories, keep it to 3–5 focused hashtags. You can shrink them, so they blend in to your background or tuck them behind stickers if they’re marring your shot with too many icons. On Reels, 5 to 10 hashtags typically strike a balance between discoverability and engagement.
So when you say, “How many hashtags should I use on Instagram? for Stories or Reels — the answers are moderation and relevance.
Where to Find The Best hashtags for Your Content
If you need the results, you have to step up the hashtag game, as well as to utilize high-performance hashtags that match well to your niche. Here’s how to discover them:
Study your competition: Check out what top accounts in your industry are doing well.
Search with Instagram’s search bar: Enter a hashtag you think you might want to use and see related suggestions and post counts.
Hashtagify, Flick, or All Hashtag: With tools that analyze and rank hashtags by popularity, difficulty and relevance.
Keep an eye on your analytics: Refer to Instagram Insights to see which hashtags are triggering the most engagement.
In time, you’ll compile a custom hashtag bank that is tailored to your brand and people you’re reaching out to.
How Many Hashtags to Use On Instagram for Different Goals?
How Many Hashtags Do You Need Your goal, not your finger bacteria, is your hashtag count:
- Goal
- Suggested Hashtag Count
- Strategy
- Boosting Reach
- 5–10
- Leverage trending and niche hashtags
- Increasing Engagement
- 3–7
- Leverage community and branded hashtags
- Promoting a Campaign
- 1–3
- Create branded or campaign hashtag[s]
- Growing Followers
- 5–11
- Blend of trending, niche, and community-centric tags
Then: how many hashtags should I use in Instagram? It varies, depending on what you’re trying to achieve. treat it all to the best of your ability, and adjust your approach accordingly.
Are Hashtag Generators Useful?
Hashtag generators can be useful for novices. They provide quick solutions based on the keywords but don’t copy all of the solutions verbatim. You still need to filter out banned or irrelevant hashtags and see what works for your audience.
Rather than relying on generators exclusively, use them as a jumping-off point. Ultimately, your hashtag strategy will be driven by your own experience, data, and analysis of audience behavior.
Final Thought
So to conclude, how many hashtags should you use on Instagram? Optimally use between 3-11 well-researched, niche relevant hashtags per post.
Instead of chasing numbers, stay focused on being relevant and engaging. Hashtags are not magic spells — they’re tools. Use them judiciously, and they can help increase your Instagram growth drastically. No clutter, always be consistent and track over performance to adjust strategies as required.
Yes, hashtags are still important in 2025, but only when they’re being used strategically. So do the research, test, analyze, and optimize your way to Instagram success.
FAQs
How many hashtags are you allowed per post on Instagram?
You can use a maximum of 30 hashtags per Instagram post. Though not all 30 are ideal to use to ensure maximum performance.
Will using too many hashtags hurt my engagement numbers?
Yes. Too many hashtags could make your post appear spammy and could lower engagement. It’s best to stick with 3 to 11 relevant hashtags.
Do I put my hashtags in my caption or comment?
Either works. Putting hashtags in the first comment, though, keep your caption clean while working just the same.
Do hashtags apply to Instagram Stories and Reels?
Absolutely. You can add up to 10 hashtags in Stories and 30 in Reels, but again, quality over quantity.
Do hashtag generators work?
Hashtag generators can give good suggestions, but always manually vet the results. Stay away from banned or irrelevant hashtags.
What are banned hashtags?
Here are hashtags that Instagram has banned for either inappropriate content or overuse. They can also limit your post’s reach or get you shadowbanned.
How often do I need to rotate my hashtags?
You should rotate your hashtag sets every few posts so that your content is always fresh and you stay away from those nasty flags!