Instagram Hashtags Guide to Gain Followers [+ Trending Ideas for 2026]

Key Takeaways

1. Hashtags organize content and boost discovery, helping posts reach audiences beyond followers.
2. Use up to 30 relevant hashtags per post, balancing popular, niche, and trending ones for optimal reach.
3. Placement in captions, comments, or Stories affects engagement and visibility—experiment to see what works best.
4. Regularly update your hashtag sets using tools like Inflact or Toolzu to stay aligned with 2026 trends and maximize growth.

In the vast realm of social media, Instagram reigns supreme, constantly evolving and shaping the digital landscape. Among its myriad features, hashtags stand out as vital tools for users seeking visibility and engagement. This guide delves into the intricacies of hashtags, exploring their significance, functionality, optimal usage, and quantity. Furthermore, it offers a list of the most popular hashtags in 2025 that you can use to go viral and gain followers. Additionally, it categorizes top Instagram hashtags, facilitating targeted content promotion. Moreover, the guide introduces the most used Instagram hashtag generators to simplify research and selection. Let’s dive in.

What Are Hashtags on Instagram?

Hashtags are the digital signposts of social media, guiding users to content that aligns with their interests in the vast sea of posts. On Instagram, these markers, identified by the hash sign (#) preceding words or phrases, play a pivotal role in categorizing content and enhancing its discoverability. They serve as powerful tools for organizing and curating the platform’s vast array of visuals and narratives.

What sets hashtags apart is their universality; they are accessible to all users, allowing anyone to create and contribute to the discourse. This democratic feature empowers individuals to shape conversations, promote causes, and express themselves, fostering a diverse and inclusive social media environment.

How Do Hashtags Work on Instagram?

Hashtags act as gateways to a vast world of content, enabling users to explore and engage with posts beyond their immediate network. By including them in their posts or Stories, users effectively categorize their content under specific topics or themes. This categorization enables Instagram’s algorithm to index the post and display it in the respective hashtag’s feed.

When users click on a hashtag, it directs them to a dedicated page displaying all public posts tagged with that specific hashtag. This clickable element appears in comments, captions, or Stories, serving as a marker for curated content. This page serves as a curated stream of related content, allowing users to delve into posts, interact with creators, and discover new accounts.

Moreover, Instagram’s algorithm takes into account hashtag usage when determining the relevance and visibility of posts, further emphasizing the importance of strategic hashtag selection. Ultimately, these elements play a pivotal role in facilitating content discovery, fostering engagement, and expanding one’s reach within the Instagram community.

Where to Put Hashtags on Instagram?

Strategic placement of these markers is crucial for maximizing their effectiveness and ensuring optimal engagement with your content. Here’s a breakdown of the primary locations where to put hashtags:

• within the caption itself: You can seamlessly integrate them into your caption to provide context or add emphasis to specific keywords or themes. Ensure they blend naturally with the text and don’t disrupt the readability of your message;
• end of caption: Adding hashtags at the end of your caption is a popular practice among platform users. After composing your caption, simply add a line break or a series of dots to separate the caption from hashtags. This method keeps your caption clean and uncluttered while still allowing your post to be discoverable via relevant hashtags;
• comment section: Alternatively, you can place them in the comment section of your post. After publishing your post, immediately comment on it with your chosen hashtags. This approach keeps your caption concise and visually appealing while still harnessing the power of these markers for increased visibility;
• Instagram Stories: Hashtags can also be used to expand the reach of your Stories. You can add them directly to your Story using the text or sticker feature. When users search for or follow a hashtag you’ve used in your Story, it could show up in that hashtag’s Story feed, boosting its visibility.

Experiment with different placement options to determine what works best for your brand or account. Remember to strike a balance between visibility and aesthetics to ensure your content resonates with your audience while maximizing its discoverability through these digital markers.

How Many Hashtags Can You Use on Instagram?

You may ask, “How many hashtags should I use?” Instagram allows up to 30 markers per post, but exceeding this allowed limit will prevent your comment from posting. Besides, the best way to get it right is to experiment with different quantities to discover the optimal balance for your posts, prioritizing relevance and authenticity. Focus on selecting a mix of highly relevant markers that are most searched, niche, and trending. This strategy can boost the discoverability of your posts and attract targeted engagement from users with shared interests.

50 Most Popular Instagram Hashtags in 2025

In 2025, discover how the biggest brands are leveraging the most followed and most viewed hashtags to enhance their online presence and engage with their target audience. These markers boast immense popularity, gathering billions (B) and millions (M) of views:

These options represent the pulse of the platform, encompassing a diverse array of interests and passions.

Understanding the good time to post on Instagram is crucial for engagement. Analyze insights to find your audience’s peak activity periods. For influencers, having a personal blog adds credibility and expands reach beyond social media platforms. Integrating your Instagram content with influencers’ blogs creates a cohesive brand presence. Additionally, use cute Instagram stickers to inject charm into your posts.

Top Instagram Hashtags by Category

Ensuring effective usage of hashtags is crucial to avoid the regret of realizing you’ve forgotten to include them after posting. Below, you’ll find categorized lists of top hashtags by industry or event. Selecting the appropriate category types is the first step in developing a robust hashtag strategy for growth.

Best Hashtags for Likes and Followers

Use the following 10 hashtags in your posts for likes and followers to significantly enhance visibility and interaction:

• #likes
• #followforfollowback
• #likeforlikes
• #love
• #like
• #follow
• #instagram
• #instagood
• #followme
• #photooftheday

These markers are often utilized by new Instagram accounts seeking reciprocal likes and follows.

Best Hashtags for Instagram Reels

When it comes to Instagram Reels, the right markers can make all the difference:

• #reels
• #reelsvideo
• #reelsinsta
• #holareels
• #reelsbrasil
• #reelsinstagram
• #reelsindia
• #reelsteady
• #instagramreels
• #instareels

These carefully curated hashtags increase engagement and visibility for your Reels.

Best Hashtags for Photographers

For photographers looking to enhance their visibility and reach on Instagram, the following digital markers are tailored to amplify your photography posts:

• #photography
• #model
• #photoshoot
• #photooftheday
• #beauty
• #photographer
• #photo
• #picoftheday
• #portrait
• #travelphotography

With these strategic hashtags, witness your artistry gaining recognition and appreciation on the platform.

Best Hashtags for Real Estate

For real estate professionals seeking to maximize visibility and engagement on Instagram, these curated hashtags elevate your real estate posts:

• #realestate
• #realestateagent
• #newhome
• #dreamhome
• #property
• #realtor
• #homeforsale
• #househunting
• #investmentproperty
• #luxuryrealestate

These are widely used by real estate professionals and enthusiasts alike to showcase properties, connect with potential buyers, and stay updated on industry trends. 

Best Hashtags for Clothing Brands

For clothing brands aiming to enhance their presence and engagement on Instagram, the following hashtags attract fashion-forward audiences:

• #fashion
• #ootd
• #clothing
• #style
• #fashionista
• #ootdshare
• #fashionstyle
• #streetwear
• #instafashion
• #outfitinspiration

These options cover a broad spectrum of fashion-related content and are widely used by users interested in clothing, trends, and style.

Best Hashtags for Small Business

For small businesses striving to increase their visibility and reach on Instagram, the following markers amplify your presence and attract potential customers:

• #smallbusiness
• #supportlocal
• #localbusiness
• #supportsmallbusiness
• #shoplocal
• #shopsmall
• #handmade
• #smallbusinessowner
• #entrepreneur
• #businessowner

Incorporating these hashtags into your posts can help you connect with a broader audience, showcase your products or services, and foster engagement with your brand.

Best Hashtags for Artists on Instagram

Artists looking to amplify their presence and share their creative vision on Instagram can leverage these best markers to elevate their artworks’ visibility:

• #artforsale
• #artdaily
• #artoftheday
• #artgallery
• #artistsofinstagram
• #modernart
• #artwork
• #artlife
• #artistsoninstagram
• #artist

Using them in your posts can increase the visibility of your artwork and attract fellow artists, art enthusiasts, and potential buyers to your profile.

Best Hashtags for Travel

Eager adventurers and travel enthusiasts can maximize their Instagram visibility with these carefully curated options:

• #travel
• #vacation
• #travelgram
• #travelphotography
• #instatravel
• #traveladdict
• #travellife
• #exploremore
• #travelinspiration
• #worldtravel

Incorporating them into your posts can help your travel photos and Stories reach a broader audience and connect with fellow travelers around the world.

Best Hashtags for Fitness

For fitness enthusiasts and professionals looking to share workouts, progress, and motivation on Instagram, here are the 10 best hashtags:

• #fitness
• #gym
• #fitnessmotivation
• #motivation
• #workout
• #training
• #healthyliving
• #fitlife
• #fitnesslifestyle
• #fitnessaddict

Using them in your posts can help your fitness content reach a larger audience and connect with others who share similar health and wellness goals. 

Best Hashtags for Motivation

Harness the power of motivation and inspiration with these carefully curated markers:

• #motivation
• #fitnessmotivation
• #gymmotivation
• #positivemindset
• #selfdiscipline
• #mindset
• #success
• #motivationalquotes
• #happiness
• #inspiration

Placing them properly in your posts can spread positivity and uplift your audience, encouraging them to strive for their goals and dreams.

Most Used Instagram Hashtags Generators

Discovering the perfect hashtags for your Instagram posts, whether they’re funny or hottest, is simplified with these top generators. From famous art and fashion to fitness and travel, they offer a vibrant array of hashtags. You’ll find options for photography, pets, cats, weddings, gyms, dogs, fitness goals, delicious food, festive holidays like Halloween and Christmas, motivation for artists and makeup enthusiasts, music inspiration, birthday celebrations, bodybuilding progress, and the beauty of nature. Here are the most popular generators.

Are Hashtags Important on Instagram?

Hashtags matter greatly. They play an important role in maximizing the reach and engagement of your content on Instagram. They serve as powerful tools for categorization, discovery, and audience targeting. By strategically incorporating relevant markers into your posts, you increase the likelihood of reaching users beyond your immediate followers, expanding your audience and amplifying visibility. Moreover, hashtags facilitate community engagement by connecting users with shared interests and preferences. They enable users to explore content related to specific topics, trends, or industries, fostering interaction and dialogue within the Instagram community.

Create Your Effective Instagram Hashtag Strategy Today

Crafting a successful Instagram presence today hinges on a well-thought-out hashtag strategy. By leveraging the right mix of options, you can amplify your content, connect with your audience, and propel your profile to new heights. With the knowledge gained from this guide on Instagram hashtags, start curating your marker arsenal and watch your Instagram journey flourish. Remember, consistency, relevance, and experimentation are key. Embrace the power of hashtags, and let them drive your social media success forward.