Using popular IG hashtags can get your content in front of millions of viewers – so, it’s important to use the best hashtags for Instagram every time you post!
Did you know that you are allowed to use up to 30 hashtags per post on Instagram? But should you?
Is it better to place your tags in your caption or in your post’s comments?
This guide will cover:
- top Instagram hashtags – 300+ of the Top IG hashtags in various popular niche categories
- how to create a hashtag strategy to grow your following
- how to use an Instagram post scheduler and Tailwind’s hashtag finder tool to grow your audience even faster
I grew a brand new Instagram account to 1,000 followers in less than 28 days – and I didn’t even have a blog yet!
Imagine what you can do to grow your business in just one month with the right tools!
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links meaning that should you make a purchase using one of these links, I could earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.Â
Best Hashtags for Instagram: 300+ Top IG Hashtags for 2021
Who is your audience?
Targeting a specific audience by tagging your content with the right tags is the first step in growing your brand.
You need to know who you are and what you offer. What do you do that separates you from others?
Knowing your audience will help you with engagement interactions like:
- more comments
- more likes
- more impressions
- more saves
- more sales – if you own a business!
If more likes and comments on Instagram is what you’re looking for, keep reading to discover the best Instagram hashtags to grow your Instagram profile for blog and business.
At the end of this article, you’ll also find 300+ of the best:
- Blogger hashtags
- Lifestyle hashtags
- Photography hashtags
- Selfie hashtags
- Travel hashtags
- Fitness hashtags
- Food hashtags
- Baby hashtags
- Kids hashtags
- Mom hashtags
- Family hashtags
- Fashion hashtags
- Beauty hashtags
- Interior design hashtags
- Work hashtags
- Vancouver hashtags (special shoutout to my city!)
- Vancouver mom blogger & Vancouver mom influencers hashtags
Use this list to copy and paste hashtags right to your Instagram captions or the notes app on your phone.
So, let’s get to it and learn how to use the best hashtags on Instagram like a pro!
1. Run a Relevant Instagram Hashtags search
Search Relevant Hashtags to your niche by using Instagram’s Search feature.
Tap the Magnifying Glass at the bottom left of the screen in the Instagram app.
Then, in the next page, tap the search bar at the top of your screen. Select Tags from the available options to begin your search.
For this example, I’m going to search “mamalife“.
The results below include the hashtag I searched for as well as some related results.
Click the hashtag itself to go to another screen where you’ll see Top and Recent Posts (we’ll talk about this later on)Â that it has been tagged in.
To see more related results, click Follow and browse the Related hashtags that appear just below! In this case, there are 10.
Using tags related to your target audience means more potential impressions!
When searching for hashtags on Instagram, you’ll see that the hashtag page is divided into two sections:Â Top Posts and Recent Posts.
Top Posts
This section displays the most popular recent posts that have used the hashtag you searched.
Instagram posts that are shown at the top here generally stay there for quite a bit longer than they do in Recent Posts, where the images are constantly changing. In addition to using great hashtags on Instagram, the images you see here are also usually:
- high quality photos shot using great cameras and accessories
- edited well using a powerful photo editing apps like Lightroom
- posted by users who engages with their audience
If you swipe down to refresh on a hashtag like #momlife in Recent Posts, for example, you can rest assured that other Instagram users have used the same hashtag within the minute.
The higher up and more left your post is, the longer it’ll likely last in the Top Posts section and thus, the more impressions you’ll get on your image or video.
To make it into top posts, you need to receive a fair bit of engagement, ideally, within the first hour after posting!
Recent Posts
Instagram posts that have been submitted to the social media platform most recently appear higher on the list here and are always displayed in this order.
While this is a fantastic means of engaging with accounts (as discussed above), being at the top here is not going to help you grow your following by any means.
Pro Tip: Interact with Recent Posts
One of my strategies for increasing my engagement is interacting with recent posts of a hashtag related to my niche (maybe even one I just used in my own post).
If using this strategy, try to like and comment only on posts that have been uploaded within the last 5-10 minutes!
The more recent the post, the more likely that user is still online using the Instagram app.
Use this same strategy to like and comment on the big players of the Instagram Influencer world and see how many people interact with your posts as a result!
If you haven’t tried it yet, you might also want to see how IGTV can help grow your blog and start engaging with IGTV content to gain potential impressions.
Posting Instagram Stories that perform could benefit from utilizing this Instagram hashtag strategy.
Schedule Like a Pro with Tailwind for Instagram
Tailwind offers the best Instagram scheduler around with this incredible app!
Simply click and drag files from your desktop to schedule them for posting at the right time. Like options? Tailwind shows you between three and five perfect times to post on Instagram.Â
Now, besides posting at the right time, let’s talk about why you’re here – the best Instagram hashtags!
Once you’ve selected an image for posting, you’ll see the Drafts page.Â
Enter a caption.
Now, watch as Tailwind suggests the best hashtags according to what you’ve written! Holy cow!
See how they show you which one are good in light green and the best in dark green? Get Tailwind for Instagram to take the guess work out of searching for the right hashtags!
And the best part is?Â
You can even schedule your hashtags to appear in the first comment of your past instead of the caption – hallelujah!
Here’s a totally free month of Tailwind for Instagram to get you started – no credit card required!
2. Narrow It Down To The Best Instagram Hashtags For Your Profile
Using the most popular hashtags on Instagram, like #happy or #instagood, isn’t going to get your any further on your Instagram for business journey!
While you may see your likes ocassionally inflated, Instagram is about overall engagement rates, which means you need to get users to interact with you; gone are the days of brands working with individuals that get a lot of likes!
With the introduction of bots and apps for getting fake likes and followers, brands, and the marketing agencies who represent them, learned about the sneaky practices some influencers were engaging in and started to seek out more from potential representatives. After all, what good is social media marketing if there is no social aspect involved?
Going back to those two very popular hashtags, consider the fact that #happy and #instagood have 489 million and 909 million Instagram posts, respectively (at the time of writing this), already associated with them.
It’s going to be incredibly difficult to make it into the Top Posts section when you are competing with that many other images and videos!
Niche and number of existing tags must be taken into consideration.
By using hashtags specific to your niche, you are inviting people who are interested in this category to come check out your feed.
Generic hashtags however, are commonly used by self-promotional Instagram users and are also a favourite among spammy bots.
And, I don’t know about you, but I’m disappointed when I see a comment containing three fire emojis or “check out my latest EP” is left in response to my latest post!
A good starting range for your hashtag use size is normally between 100k to 500k, or even 1 million, depending on your current following. But feel free to use a few with less or more associated posts. Mix it up, and see what works for you!
Pro Tip:Â Checkout the top influencers in your niche and see what hashtags they use.
Take a look at their captions first and then their comments. A lot of Instagram influencers, myself included, place additional hashtags in the comments since too many within your caption can look spammy!
3. Use Your Hashtags Effectively
Consider the purpose of a hashtag; they act as a means of classifying images within a search engine.
Tag posts as effectively and authentically as you can!
If you’re looking for contouring and highlighting tips, for instance, you might search: #makeuptutorial
At the time of writing, this tag has been used on over 14.9 million Instagram posts!
Hashtags on Instagram are an essential part of exposure: use the ones that fit your brand and niche to allow potential followers and customers to find you!
Consider the fact that Instagram users can also follow hashtags.
This means you could show up on someone’s feed by using the right ones in your post and of course, you want to make a good first impression, so always post high quality content!
How Many Hashtags Should I Use?
In my personal experience, I’ve found that I have the best engagements rates when using 21-23 hashtags per post!
Not sure why this is but that’s what I’ve come to see!
Another blogger once suggested to me that using between 20-25 hashtags rather than the full 30 that is permitted is ideal in order to avoid being flagged as a spammer on Instagram; I’ve heard similar advice in regards to the number of accounts you are following.
Word on the street is that if you’re following more than 1,000 accounts, you’ll also be flagged as spam and will not make the Suggestions For You feature. Not sure how much truth there is to this but I thought it might be worth mentioning!
I used the maximum 30 hashtags for the longest time but when I had a bit of a slump near the end of last year, I experimented with different techniques to see that this one worked best for me.
Theoretically, using all 30 allowed spots should be the most effective way to get your content seen by the masses. You’ll have more opportunities to show up in Top Posts and Hashtags people are following.
Experiment with the number and type of tags you use and see what works best for you!
Pro Tip 1: Tag Brands and Feature Accounts & Their Hashtags in Posts
This changed my Instagram game dramatically! I’ve received more than a dozen features I’ve started doing this. I even had a few of those brands follow me as a result.
Tagging brands and using their hashtags not only gets you a chance at a feature, it also gives you the chance for their followers to see you in that brand’s recent tags!
For instance, check out @theglitterguide and tag #flashesofdelight for any pretty, feminine photos. Tag @wakupandmakeup and use the hashtag #wakeupandmakeup in your next makeup shot!
Pro Tip 2: Post the Majority of Your Hashtags in the Comments
There are instances when you’ll be collaborating with a brand and they want their hashtags in the caption. However, you can still post the remaining dozen or so in your comments section.
Try doing this with your personal posts too! I like to use a maximum of one to three tags in my post and save the rest for the comments.
I do this by writing my caption, going to my notes app, copying my desired hashtag set, and then posting them in the comments immediately after I’ve posted my image.
If you’d like, you can also break up those comments into two sets!
For example, instead of posting all 20 hashtags into one comment, post 10 in two comments.
I noticed one of the accounts I follow with 390k followers does this and have implemented this strategy myself since November.
So far, I like the results! It’s improved my engagement rate slightly.
4. Keep A Few Sets Of Hashtags In The Notes Section Of Your Phone
Yes, I said sets!
I have four sets on my phone just for the #momblogger niche I fit into.
By keeping a few sets on hand, you’ll be able to copy and paste hashtags from your notes app right into the caption or comments section of your Instagram post. And by having a variety, you’ll be able to mix it up!
Using the same hashtags will result in getting seen by the same audience whereas alternating hashtags gives you a greater chance of more impressions and thus, more potential new followers.
For example, consider making a couple of sets for: Â
- Blogging
- Motherhood
- Beauty
- Travel
Then, whenever you’ve got some new content to post, search your notes app for the right category and choose a set to promote your latest post.
Another strong Instagram post strategy features utilizing an Instagram post checklist – every time you post, do the same 7 steps for maximum reach and engagement!
Pro Tip: Organize your hashtag sets by placing the more generic ones at the start
In cases where you need to drop a few hashtags that don’t suit your upcoming post, it’s easiest to replace them with more suitable ones that have already been grouped together!
For instance, let’s say that you’re using the popular hashtags #joyfulmamas , #momblogger , #motherhoodthroughinstagram , and #letthembelittle as part of one of your Motherhood sets. However, your kids are not in the photo. It’ll then be easier to find and remove #letthembelittle if it’s at the end of your set instead of in the middle!
We’ve all been there and posted a completely irrelevant hashtag for a certain post. But if you can make your life just a tad bit easier by organizing your tags, you’ll save time while hashtagging like a boss!
5. Best Hashtags for Instagram
Below is a list of a few tags I like to use categorized according to the niche they belong in – be sure to copy and paste hashtags to the notes app on your phone and categorize them according to the types of photos you post most often!
There’s even a few just for the Vancouver mom blogger and Vancouver mom influencers community 🙂
My most used sets are definitely mom hashtags and blogger hashtags!
Are you ready to make the jump from Instagram Influencer to blogger? Start a blog today! Learning to build a brand and create a blog is so much easier than you might think and your new blog could be up and running in as little as 15 minutes!Â
Best Instagram Hashtags for 2021
This list of popular hashtags is frequently updated and contains the best hashtags for business owners and bloggers!
Keep scrolling to discover the perfect categories for your next post and be sure to pin all of your favourites for future reference.
Blogger hashtags
#blogger #bloggerlife #ontheblog #theblogissue #blogginggals #bloggergirl #beautyblog #bloggingtips #savvyblogging #bbloggers #fbloggers #lbloggers #bloggersgetsocial #flashesofdelight #lifestyleblog #diyblog #bloggerlife #bloggerstyle #bloggerlife #bloglovin #calledtobecreative #thatsdarling
Beauty blogger hashtags
#beautyguru #beautyblog #instabeauty #bbloggers #bbloggersau #iheartmakeup #wakeupandmakeup #pursuepretty #makeupblogger #beautyblogger #beautycare #makeuplove #makeupbyme #makeupaddict #beautyjunkie #makeupcollection #makeuptalk #makeuplook #makeuplover #makeupdolls #makeuphaul #hairinspiration #hairgoals #makeupflatlay #slaytheflatlay #flatlayaddict #flashesofdelight #nailstagram
Moms with cameras hashtags
#momswithcameras #cameramama #heaventhroughmylens #lifeunplugged #lifeandlens #our_everyday_moments #childofig #documentyourdays #thesincereststoryteller #theheartcaptured #honestlyparents #pixel_kids #shared_joy #motherhoodiscolorful #themommydiary #momazine #illuminatedchildhood
Entrepreneur hashtags
#bossbabe #myownboss #beingboss #goalgetter #calledtobecreative #caffeineandconquer #creativepreneur #creativeatheart #createtocultivate #creativelifehappylife #createyourlife #creativityfound #momboss #girlboss #girlbosslife #bosslady #instagramforbusiness #ladypreneur #liveauthentic #hustle101 #womeninbiz #theimperfectboss #mycreativebiz #communityovercompetition #makersgonnamake #makersmovement #savvybusinessowner #womenwhohustle #womenwithambition #theeverydaygirl #dreamersanddoers #womenwholead
Fashion blogger hashtags
#aboutalook #outfitoftheday #lookbook #styleoftheday #theeverydayproject #chictopia #styleblogger #fashionblogger #fashionbloggers #fashionblog #fashionaddict #fashiondiaries #flashesofdelight #fashionstyle #fblogger #fbloggers #fromwhereistand #ootd #ootdbloggers #ootdmagazine #outfitdiaries #outfitoftheday #styleblog #styleinspo #styleoftheday #whatiwear #styleblog #stylecollective #stylegram #stylediaries #outfitideas #outfitinspiration #whatiwore #whatiworetoday #streetstyleÂ
Family hashtags
#familyfirst #familyforever #familyiseverything #habitandhome #lovemyfam #mytinytribe #nestingly #pocket_sweetness #thefamilynarrative #thepursuitofjoyproject #bedeeplyrooted #holdthemoments #inbeautyandchaos #letthembelittle #nestlingly #our_everyday_moments
Fitness blogger hashtags
#alwaysinbeta #beastmode #bestlifeproject #betterforit #findyourstrong #fitfam #fitfluential #fitlife #fitnessaddict #fitnessforlife #fitnessgoals #fitnessmotivation #fitspiration #fitspo #getfit #getstrong #girlswholift #gymlife #gymmotivation #gymtime#iwill #iworkout #justdoit #liftheavy #maketime #movementculture #nopainnogain #positivemood #strongnotskinny #training #transformationtuesday #weightlifting #workoutday #workoutmotivation #workouttime
Food blog hashtags
#appetitejournal #beautifulcuisines #buzzfeast #cheflife #chefsofinstagram #chefsroll #dailyfoodfeed #delicious #eater #eatfamous #eattheworld #eeeeeats #eatwell #feedfeed #feedyoursoul #food52 #foodaddict #foodbeast #foodgasm #foodgawker #foodgrams #foodiegram #foodielife #foodiesofinstagram #foodlover #foodography #foodpic #foodpics #foodblog #foodblogger #fooddiary #foodforfoodies #foodinsta #foodinstagram #foods4thought #foodphotography #foodoftheday #forkfeed #forkyeah #heresmyfood  #igfoodies #instayum #liveauthentic #onthetable #smartfoodchoices #tastemade #tastingtable #thefeedfeed #thekitchen
Interior design blogger hashtags
#homedecor #interiordecor #homestyle #homebeautiful #interiordesign #homeinspo #myhome #homewares #homeinspiration #interiorandhome #interiorstyling #interiors #homedesign #interiordecoration #flashesofdelight #passion4interior #charminghomes
Baby hashtags
#allnighter #aintwhatitusedtobe #tenfingers #tentoes #happybaby #babyselfie #babyrolls #thighsfordays #holdthemoments #inbeautyandchaos #sleepingbeauty #toocuteforwords #glamourbaby#habitandhome #babyfashion #lookatthatface #sleepinglikeababy #gummygrin #somuchdrool #babiesofinstagram #takemyheartdear #writeyouonmyheartÂ
Kids hashtags
#littlefierceones #clickinmoms #letthembelittle #holdthemoments #inbeautyandchaos #habitandhome #our_everyday_moments #childofig #documentyourdays #thesincereststoryteller #pixel_kids #takemyheartdear #writeyouonmyheart #childrensfashion #childrenswear #kidfashion #kidsstyling #kidswear #kidzstyle #minifashion #minifashionista #ootdkids #stylishkids #superfashionkids #toddlerclothing #toddlerfashion #trendykids #kidfashiontrends #simplychildren
Lifestyle hashtags
#curatedlife #theeverygirl #thatsdarling #thedarlingmovement #thehappynow #livecolorfully #livethelittlethings #holdyourmoments #documentyourdays #pursurepretty #darlingdaily #morningslikethese #petitejoys #bloggerlife #cornersofmyworld #darlingdaily #everysquareastory #flashesofdelight #lifestyleblog #lifestyleblogger #lifestylebloggers #lifestyleinspo #nothingisordinary #personalblog #pursuepretty #lifeunscripted #reclaimthehappy #seeksimplicity #stilllifephotography #stillswithstoriesÂ
Mom blogger hashtags
#mamalife #mom_hub #mommylife #mommybloggers #momblog #momblogger #mommybloggers #motherhoodjourney #beyond_motherhood #legitmomstyle #momswithcameras #joyfulmamas #motherhoodunplugged #motherhoodrising #mommyproblems #motherhoodthroughinstagram #ourtinymoments #uniteinmotherhood #momitforward #candidchildhood #childhoodunplugged #letthembelittle #mommystatus
Photography hashtags
Photographer hashtags
#awesome_photographers #clickmagazine #collectivelycreate #creativeentrepreneur #creativepreneur #dailydoseofcolor #dearphotographer #destinationphotographer #gatheredstyle #icatching #ig_exquisite #ig_great_pics #ig_masterpiece #iglobal_photographers #icatching #ig_exquisite #ig_great_pics #ig_masterpiece #lifeofaphotographer #photographer #photosinbetween #photographylife #photographyeveryday #photographyislife #photographyislifee #photographylover #photographylovers #photographysouls #photooftheday #master_shots #moodygrams​ #shootandshare #shotwithlove #throughthelens #worldbestgram​ #visualscollective
Street Photography hashtags
#aspfeatures #capturestreets #everybodystreet #fromstreetswithlove #hcsc_street #lensculturestreets #lensonstreets #myspc #ourstreets #ourstreets_ #life_is_street #urbanstreetphotography #streetshot #zonestreet #timeless_streets #thestreetphotographyhub #streetphotography #street_photography #street_storytelling #spicollective #storyofthestreets #streetclassics #streetcollectors #streetgrammer #streetlife #streetlife_award #streetmagazine #streetphotographer
Wedding Photographer hashtags
#adventurouswedding #aisleperfect #bridalfashion #bridalparty #bridestory #chasinglight #creativeentrepreneur #destinationwedding #destinationweddingphotographer #engaged #engagementphotographer #engagementsession #fineartphotographer #fineartweddings #gatheredstyle #howheasked #huffpostido #justengaged #loveauthentic #loveintentionally #herecomesthebride #mrandmrs #newlyweds #ohwowyes #soloverly #stylemepretty #thedailywedding #thehappynow #weddingblog #weddingblogger #weddingceremony #weddingchicks #weddingday #weddingdetails #weddingfashion #weddingforward #weddingideas #weddinginspirations #weddinginspo #weddingmoments #weddingphoto #weddingphotographer #weddingphotographers #weddingphotography #weddingplanning #weddingseason #weddingstyle
Selfie hashtags
#letmetakeaselfie #selfie #selfiemania #myselfie #selfiegram #selfieoftheday #selfietime #selfienation #selfielove #selfieholic #selfiemirror #selfiemood #selfiestagram #selfie_time #selfieaddict #selfiepic #selfiesunday #selfie_mania_ #selfiee #outfitselfie #selfieday
Travel blog hashtags
#passionpassport #travelblogger #travelbloggerlife #travelgirlsclub #travelwithme #traveldiaries #letsgosomewhere #visualcrush #finditliveit #sheisnotlost #girlslovetravel #letsgosomewhere #traveldeeper #posttheordinary #chasinglight #takemethere #travelandlife #visualgang #mytinyatlas #girlsborntotravel #sidewalkerdaily #beautifuldestinations #justgoshoot #exploremore #lifewelltravelled #momentslikethese #wearethetravelgirls
Vancouver Mom hashtags
#yvrmom #vancouvermom #vancouverblogger #vancouverfashion #vancitybuzz #vancouver_ig #raincouver #enjoyvancouver #vancouverisawesome #westcoastmama #veryvancouver #ourbc #beyond_motherhood #motherhoodjourney #mommystatus #canadianmom #canadianmoms
Vancouver hashtags
#vancity #veryvancouver #dailyhivevan #vancitybuzz #vancitywild #vanmagram #vancouver_ig #raincouver #vancouverblogger #vancouverfashion #enjoyvancouver #vancouverlife #vancouverisawesome #veryvancouver #ourbc #britishcolumbia #curiocityvan #explorevancouver #vancityfeature #vancityhype #igersvancouver #vancityvibe #vancouvercanada
How will you improve your hashtag strategy this year? Enjoyed the best hashtags for Instagram this year? What are your favourites to use?
Share your thoughts in the comments below!
Ready to double your exposure? Use the following guides to see how I exploded my traffic by using Instagram and Pinterest together!
I’m trying to up my insta game and this was incredibly helpful. Especially keeping the sets of tags in notes. So smart! Thank you for this!
This is great! Some really useful tips here for growing Instagram accounts using hashtags. I tend to find aiming for the lower ones to start with (under 500K) helps a little as on the odd occasion doing this I have landed on the featured page. This gave me a nice spike in followers very quickly….
OMG! The ending is wonderful! Thank you for including the hashtags.