200+ Viral Hashtags for Instagram Posts and Reels

Instagram hashtags have become a universal language in the ever-evolving world of social media. You can even spot them offline since they are so popular.

Using hashtags on Instagram is not just a fancy way to present your posts but also a part of the algorithm which decides which of them people should see and when. Choosing the right hashtags can significantly boost your visibility, engagement, and discoverability within Instagram's ecosystem.

To make it easier for you to choose the right hashtags, we've gathered the latest insights on viral hashtags and organized them by category for your convenience.

Most popular Instagram hashtags

#love

#instagood

#fashion

#photooftheday

#beautiful

#happy

#art

#friends

#nature

#style

#life

#cute

#amazing

#photography

#summer

#travel

#fitness

#inspiration

#family

#selfie

#fun

#wellness

#music

#adventure

#goals

#health

#happiness

#motivation

#explore

#peace

#smile

#dreams

#focus

#blessed

#loveit

Best hashtags for engagement

Encourage more interactions with these hashtags:

#instadaily

#picoftheday

#tbt

#goodvibesonly

#mindfulness

#positivity

#workhardplayhard

#wanderlust

#fitnessjourney

#success

#dreambig

#smilemore

#repost

#igers

#quoteoftheday

#inspo

#dailyhustle

#gratitude

#creativity

#entrepreneurlife

#lifestyleblogger

#morningvibes

#eveningmood

#selfcare

#weekendgetaway

#joyful

#balance

#bestlife

#kindness

#peacefulmind

Niche-specific hashtags

Fashion

#ootd

#fashionista

#styleinspo

#mensfashion

#womenswear

#streetstyle

#vintagefashion

#minimalistfashion

#ethicalfashion

#highfashion

#sustainablefashion

#runwayready

#luxurystyle

#trendsetter

#casualwear

#eveninggown

#accessorylove

#shoestyle

#wardrobediaries

#boutiquefashion

Fitness

#fitspo

#fitlife

#gymtime

#runnerslife

#healthylifestyle

#cardio

#strengthtraining

#workoutmotivation

#yogainspiration

#bodypositivity

#musclebuilding

#healthyeating

#gymlife

#personaltrainer

#weightlossjourney

#fitmom

#homeworkout

#pilateslife

#stretching

#activewear

Tech

#ai

#blockchain

#futureoftech

#robotics

#programming

#startuplife

#digitalmarketing

#innovationdaily

#codinggoals

#webdevelopment

#cybersecurity

#uxdesign

#datascience

#machinelearning

#techsavvy

#smartdevices

#codinglife

#virtualreality

#cloudcomputing

Travel

#traveladdict

#beachvibes

#campinglife

#cityscapes

#roadtrip

#mountainlife

#oceanvibes

#solotravel

#adventureawaits

#explorerlife

#passportready

#hiddenparadise

#hikingadventures

#luxurytravel

#naturelover

#globetrotter

#sunsetlovers

#nationalparks

#travelblogger

#bucketlistadventures

Seasonal and event hashtags

Winter

#winterwonderland

#snowday

#cozyvibes

#newyear2024

#holidaylights

#winterfashion

#firesidechats

#skiingadventures

#hotchocolateweather

#letitsnow

Spring

#springtime

#bloomingflowers

#eastervibes

#springawakening

#gardenlove

#cherryblossom

#springcleaning

#naturebloom

#springstyle

#freshstart

Summer

#summerfun

#poolday

#beachlife

#vacaymode

#islandvibes

#tropicalparadise

#surfinglife

#summerreads

#summernights

#sunshinevibes

Fall

#autumnvibes

#pumpkinspice

#fallfoliage

#cozysweaters

#halloweenfun

#thankful

#harvestseason

#applepicking

#fallfashion

#goldenhourglow

Events and Causes

#earthday

#mentalhealthawareness

#worldenvironmentday

#pridemonth

#internationalwomensday

#saveourplanet

#doglovers

#volunteerlife

#givebackmore

#supportlocal

Entertainment

#movienight

#behindthescenes

#filmmaking

#livemusic

#playlistoftheday

#kpopfanatics

#standupcomedy

#cinemalife

#popculturebuzz

#albumoftheweek

Parenting

#momlife

#dadsofinstagram

#babiesofinstagram

#parentingjourney

#familyfirst

#toddlermomlife

#raisingkids

#siblingslove

#homeschoolmom

#superdad

DIY and Creativity

#craftylife

#homedecorideas

#diyprojects

#handmadegifts

#woodworkinglove

#gardengoals

#interiordesigntips

#rusticdecor

#paintideas

#artsyvibes

Why Instagram hashtags matter

Instagram hashtags are essentially your content’s search engine. When used correctly, they make your posts discoverable to the right audience, boosting engagement, expanding your reach, and even helping you get featured on the Explore page.

The numbers speak for themselves: posts with at least one hashtag get 12.6% more engagement than posts without any. And with Instagram’s algorithm increasingly prioritizing relevance, choosing the right hashtags is more critical than ever.

How to use hashtags on Instagram

Hashtags are a powerful tool on Instagram, but using them strategically is key. In this section, we’ll explore how to choose the right hashtags, how many to use, and where to place them for maximum impact.

How many hashtags to use on Instagram?

While Instagram allows up to 30 hashtags per post, less is often more. Research shows that engagement tends to peak with 5-15 carefully chosen hashtags. In fact, the official Instagram creator's account recommends using 3-5 hashtags, which has also been proved by this experiment by Hootsuite. 

This sweet spot varies depending on your audience and post type, so test different numbers to find what works best for you.

For example:

Mix popular and niche hashtags

Popular hashtags like #love or #photooftheday are great for visibility but come with intense competition. Balance these with niche hashtags that align closely with your audience, such as #PlantParenthood for gardening enthusiasts or #EcoFashion for sustainable brands.

Here’s a winning formula:

Where should you put hashtags?

You can place hashtags either in the caption or in the first comment. Both options perform similarly in terms of engagement, so it comes down to your preference:

Using hashtags for different types of content

Hashtags aren’t a one-size-fits-all tool – they should be tailored to fit the type of content you’re creating. From Stories and Reels to videos and carousel posts, each format has unique opportunities for engagement.

1. What hashtags to use on Instagram stories?

Stories may disappear after 24 hours, but their impact can be significant, especially when paired with the right hashtags. Instagram allows you to add up to 10 hashtags per Story, which can place your content on hashtag feeds or even the Explore page.

Pro tip:

Use a mix of location-based and event-specific hashtags to capture relevant audiences. For example, a restaurant in New York could use #NYCEats or #NYCEvents to attract locals.

During seasonal sales, brands can use hashtags like #HolidaySale2024 to capitalize on trends.

How to keep it clean:

If you’re worried about cluttering your Story, hide the hashtags behind a sticker or shrink their size to blend with the background.

2. What hashtags to use on Instagram reels?

Reels are Instagram’s engagement powerhouse, and hashtags play a key role in boosting their visibility. Trending hashtags like #ExplorePage or #ReelsInstagram can help your content reach a larger audience.

What works for reels:

Example strategy:

A travel influencer creating a Reel of a mountain hike could use:

The right mix of hashtags ensures your Reel appears in both high-traffic and niche feeds.

3. What hashtags to use on videos and carousel posts?

For longer-form content, like videos and carousel posts, hashtags should focus on specificity. These formats allow you to dive deeper into topics, so your hashtags should match the content’s theme and intent.

Why specificity matters:

Targeted hashtags attract the right audience, improving engagement and encouraging meaningful interactions.

Examples:

A business-focused carousel explaining productivity tips might use hashtags like #EntrepreneurTips or #LeadershipGoals.

A cooking IGTV video could feature hashtags like #EasyRecipes, #HealthyEats, or #DinnerIdeas.

Pro tip:

Don’t be afraid to include niche hashtags that reflect the depth of your content. While broad tags like #Business can drive visibility, niche tags like #StartupMarketing will connect you with more engaged viewers.

By adapting your hashtag strategy to fit Stories, Reels, and long-form content, you can ensure your posts resonate with the right audience.

How to find the trending hashtags for your niche

If you’ve looked through our hand-picked list of hashtags and haven’t found those relevant to your account and niche, you can try using the tools to get more insights on trending hashtags.

Awario

Awario is a powerful tool for tracking and analyzing hashtags on social media platforms like Instagram. It monitors hashtag mentions and uses natural language processing to gauge sentiment – positive, negative, or neutral. 

Awario also helps identify trending hashtags, making it ideal for crafting campaigns or spotting influencers.

All Hashtag

All hashtag is a popular suite of tools that provide useful metrics on popular hashtags that you can rank for. Simply enter your keyword, and the tool will provide the top 30 hashtags related to your phrase:

The HashMe app for iOS

If you prefer mobile apps for hashtag research, try out HashMe - an app that lets you get a list of trending hashtags by entering your keyword or uploading a photo. 

Competitor research

There’s no better way to step up your game than by checking out the strategies your competitors are using to enhance their reach and engagement. Scroll through the most popular posts and see which hashtags your niche competitors are adding to their content.

Hashtags suggested by Instagram

When you start typing a hashtag in the caption or comments, Instagram suggests related tags. These suggestions are aligned with the platform’s algorithm and can help you discover new, relevant hashtags.

Advanced strategies for hashtag growth

If you’ve mastered the basics of hashtags, it’s time to take things to the next level. Advanced hashtag strategies go beyond simply picking popular tags – they focus on building long-term growth, optimizing reach, and fostering meaningful engagement. By combining smart tactics like hashtag ladders, regular rotation, and community involvement, you can unlock the full potential of Instagram hashtags.

1. Hashtag ladder strategy

Not all hashtags are created equal. Broad, high-competition hashtags like #FitLife can expose your content to a large audience, but your post might get buried quickly. On the other hand, niche hashtags like #YogaForBeginners may have fewer followers but provide higher engagement rates within a targeted audience.

How it works:

Combine high-competition and niche hashtags in your posts to increase your chances of visibility. The high-competition tags get you noticed by a broader audience, while the niche ones connect you with an engaged, specific community.

Example:

A travel blogger posting about hiking could use the following:

This strategy ensures your content appeals to mass audiences and niche followers, striking a perfect balance.

2. Hashtag rotation

Using the same set of hashtags repeatedly might seem efficient, but Instagram’s algorithm may view it as spammy behavior, which can reduce your reach over time. Additionally, your audience might grow tired of seeing the same tags on every post.

Why rotation matters:

Regularly refreshing your hashtags keeps your strategy dynamic and allows you to test which tags perform best for different types of content. It also helps you stay up-to-date with evolving trends.

Pro Tip:

Create multiple hashtag groups tailored to different content themes. For example, if you post fitness content, create separate sets for yoga, strength training, and nutrition. Rotate these groups depending on the focus of your post.

3. Engaging with hashtag communities

Some hashtags are more than searchable keywords – they represent vibrant, active communities. For example, hashtags like #VanLife connect nomadic travelers, while #Bookstagram is a hub for book lovers and literary creators.

How to leverage communities:

Example:

A plant enthusiast could actively engage with the #PlantParents community by sharing care tips, commenting on others' plant photos, or hosting Q&A sessions related to gardening.

By using these advanced strategies, you’ll expand your reach and foster deeper connections with your audience, ensuring sustained growth on Instagram. Whether leveraging the ladder strategy, rotating hashtags, or engaging with niche communities, these tactics will set you apart from the crowd.

Common hashtag mistakes to avoid

While hashtags are a powerful tool to boost your visibility, they can backfire if misused. Here’s what you need to know to avoid common hashtag blunders.

1. Overstuffing hashtags

Yes, Instagram allows up to 30 hashtags per post – but that doesn’t mean you should use them all. Adding too many hashtags can make your content look cluttered and spammy, potentially turning off your audience. More importantly, excessive tagging dilutes the focus of your content, confusing the algorithm about what your post is really about.

What to do instead:

Example of overstuffing:

Imagine posting a picture of your morning coffee with hashtags like #catlovers, #travelgoals, #fitnesslife, and #foodporn. While they may be popular, they don’t align with your content and are unlikely to attract the right audience.

A better alternative:

Use hashtags like #CoffeeLovers, #MorningBrew, or #CafeVibes to target coffee enthusiasts specifically.

2. Using banned hashtags

One of the easiest mistakes to make is using banned or restricted hashtags without realizing it. Instagram bans certain hashtags when they’re overused, associated with inappropriate content, or spammed. Posts containing banned hashtags are hidden from searches and the Explore page, effectively reducing your visibility.

How to avoid this:

Example of a banned hashtag:

The hashtag #BeautyBlogger was once a staple for influencers but got banned due to misuse and spam. Similarly, generic tags like #Instagood occasionally face restrictions.

Tip: If you’re unsure about a hashtag, search for it on Instagram. If posts with that tag don’t show up, it’s likely restricted.

3. Ignoring trends

Hashtags are not static – they evolve with trends, seasons, and viral moments. Failing to stay updated with popular and relevant hashtags can make your content seem outdated or irrelevant. 

Using stale hashtags reduces your chances of appearing in trending feeds or connecting with current conversations.

How to stay relevant:

Example of ignoring trends:

Using a generic hashtag like #ThrowbackThursday when the platform is buzzing with #WorldCup2024 might make your post feel out of sync with the current vibe.

Pro tip: Combine trending hashtags with your evergreen ones for maximum engagement. For example, a travel influencer might pair #WinterWanderlust with a seasonal tag like #HolidayGetaway.

Final Thoughts

Getting the hang of Instagram hashtags is a bit of trial and error, but that's part of the fun. Try out different strategies, see what clicks with your audience, and tweak things as you go. Some hashtags will be winners, others not so much – it’s all about finding the right mix that works for your content. Stay flexible, keep experimenting, and you’ll be hashtag-savvy in no time! And while you're perfecting your hashtag game, remember that a winning post combines the right hashtags with compelling captions — explore our viral Instagram caption ideas to make your content truly stand out.