Best Time to Post on Facebook: What Four Studies Found

There's no single best time to post on Facebook, because the big studies don't agree on the hour. Buffer's 14 million posts put Thursday at 9 a.m. first. Hootsuite's study says 5 a.m. on Tuesdays. Sprout Social points to Tuesdays and Wednesdays from noon to 8 p.m., and SocialPilot to weekday mornings into the afternoon. They do agree on one thing. Weekends are the weakest days, with Saturday the worst in Buffer's data.

We read each study through our server on October 23, 2026. Every time below is in your audience's local time.

What do the four studies say?

Study	Sample	Best time
Buffer	14M+ posts	Thursday, 9 a.m.
Hootsuite	1M+ posts	Tuesday, 5 a.m.
Sprout Social	307K profiles	Tue and Wed, noon to 8 p.m.
SocialPilot	50K+ accounts	Weekdays, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Each study's own page, read October 23, 2026: Buffer updated October 12, 2026; Hootsuite November 19, 2025; Sprout Social March 31, 2026; SocialPilot December 14, 2025.

They didn't all measure the same thing. Buffer analyzed "more than 14 million Facebook posts sent via Buffer by businesses, creators, and influencers." Hootsuite worked with a data science agency on "over 1 million social posts," with times "localized across 118 countries." Sprout Social counted "nearly 2 billion engagements across roughly 307,000 social profiles" on six networks, Facebook among them. SocialPilot "studied 50,000+ Facebook accounts and their posts."

Which days are best and worst?

Study	Strongest days	Weakest
Buffer	Thursday, Wednesday	Saturday
Sprout Social	Tuesday, Wednesday	Weekends
Hootsuite	Tuesday	Not stated

Buffer, Sprout Social and Hootsuite pages, read October 23, 2026.

Buffer says "Saturday is the worst day to post on Facebook," and that Sunday "performs slightly better but still trails weekdays." Sprout Social calls weekends "the worst days to post, yielding the lowest engagement across almost all industries." So whatever hour you pick, you're safer on a weekday.

What time of day works best?

The studies split into early and late. Hootsuite found that Facebook activity "peaks" early, between 5 and 8 a.m. Its day-by-day list starts at 5 p.m. on Monday, then 5 or 6 a.m. Tuesday through Saturday, and 8 a.m. on Sunday. Buffer's top slots sit mid-morning, with Thursday at 9 a.m. first. Sprout Social's window runs from noon to 8 p.m. on its best days.

One reason they don't match is who they measured. Buffer and Sprout Social looked at their own customers' accounts, Hootsuite at a cross-industry sample, and SocialPilot at accounts using its tool. A bakery's followers and a gaming page's followers keep very different hours.

How do you find your own best time?

You'll do better with your own numbers. Check your own insights in Meta Business Suite, which can also schedule posts. Pick two or three slots from the studies, post at each for a few weeks, and keep the one that gets the most reach. Our guide on the best time to post on Instagram does the same comparison for Instagram.

Posting at the right time gets a post seen, but it'll still need to be shareable. Our guide on how to make a Facebook post shareable covers the audience setting. If you run a Page, Hclout's free tier gives 20 free Facebook likes on a public post, with no password, on the free page. A short Cloudflare check runs before each claim.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best time to post on Facebook?

It depends on the study. Buffer says Thursday at 9 a.m., Hootsuite says Tuesday at 5 a.m., and Sprout Social says Tuesday and Wednesday from noon to 8 p.m.

What is the best day to post on Facebook?

Midweek. Buffer favors Thursday and Wednesday, and Sprout Social favors Tuesday and Wednesday.

What is the worst time to post on Facebook?

Weekends, by both Buffer and Sprout Social. Buffer names Saturday as the worst day.

When is the best time to post Reels on Facebook?

The studies don't split Reels out on Facebook. Start with the windows above, then test them against your own insights.

Does posting time matter on Facebook?

It matters less than the post itself, but early engagement helps. Sprout Social notes that "recency is your critical trigger for early engagement."

Sources

• Buffer, "The best time to post on Facebook," updated October 12, 2026, read October 23, 2026
• Hootsuite, "Best time to post on Facebook," November 19, 2025, read October 23, 2026
• Sprout Social, "Best times to post on Facebook," March 31, 2026, read October 23, 2026
• SocialPilot, "Best time to post on Facebook," December 14, 2025, read October 23, 2026
• Google Ads Keyword Planner, worldwide, read October 23, 2026