Instagram Limits in 2024

Instagram has become a vital part of our online lives, but to keep the platform enjoyable and safe, it has set various limits on user activities. Knowing these restrictions can improve your Instagram experience and help you avoid issues like shadowbanning or account suspension. Here’s what you need to know about Instagram limits in 2024, along with some helpful strategies to navigate the platform as an individual or a brand.

Instagram Posting Limits

While Instagram’s algorithm rewards consistency, over-posting can alienate your audience. Here’s a look at the current Instagram limits for posting.

• Feed Posts: While there’s no official cap, experts recommend posting 1 to 3 times daily. Too many posts might overwhelm your followers, while too few could reduce your visibility.
• Stories: Instagram allows up to 100 Stories per day, with each Story lasting up to 60 seconds. However, shorter Stories—15 to 30 seconds—tend to be more effective at holding attention. Use this feature strategically for better engagement.
• Carousel Posts: You can now upload up to 20 slides in a single Carousel. Each slide should contribute to the overall narrative, ensuring the first slide grabs attention and the remaining slides maintain interest.
• Reels: Reels are among the fastest-growing content formats on the platform. While there’s no official limit, posting 4-7 Reels per week strikes a balance between maintaining relevance and upholding content quality.

Instagram Engagement Limits

Engagement is the heart of Instagram, but excessive activity can accidentally trigger restrictions by seeming too “spammy.” Here’s what you need to know:

• Likes: Users can like up to 1,000 posts per day. If you’re new to the platform, aim for around 20 likes per hour to avoid triggering restrictions.
• Comments: While there’s no official limit, excessive commenting can lead to temporary blocks. Focus on leaving thoughtful, genuine comments rather than aiming for quantity.
• Direct Messages: New accounts typically start with a limit of 20-50 DMs per day, which increases with account age and activity.

Instagram Following Limit

To prevent spam and ensure a quality experience, Instagram caps the total number of accounts you can follow at 7,500. This limit encourages users to follow accounts that genuinely interest them. Regularly reviewing and curating your following list can help you stay connected with content that aligns with your interests while making room for new connections.

When it comes to follow/unfollow actions, users are generally limited to about 150 per day. It’s recommended to pace these actions at around 10 per hour to avoid triggering Instagram’s anti-spam measures.

Instagram Content Limits 

Instagram has expanded its content limits, giving users more room to express themselves:

• Captions: You can write captions of up to 2,200 characters, but for optimal engagement, aim for around 180 characters.
• Comments: Like captions, comments can be up to 2,200 characters long. However, shorter, more concise comments are usually more effective.
• Hashtags: Instagram allows up to 30 hashtags per post, but 5-10 well-chosen, relevant hashtags tend to deliver better results in terms of discovery.
• Mentions: You can tag or mention up to 20 accounts in a post. To maximize impact, ensure the tags are meaningful and relevant.

Instagram Profile Limits

Your Instagram profile is more than just a place for your photo and name—it’s your calling card. To make the most of it, remember these limits and tips:

• Bio: With just 150 characters, your bio should be a succinct yet compelling snapshot of who you are and why people should follow you. Emojis can help add personality while saving space.
• Username: You have up to 30 characters for your username, but shorter names are generally more memorable. Including a relevant keyword can also improve your searchability.
• Links: Instagram now allows up to 5 links in your bio and Stories. Using tools like Metricool SmartLinks can help you manage and track multiple destinations from a single link, making it easier to direct followers to various pages while monitoring performance.

Gretchen Oestreicher , 07 October 2024