Instagram Hashtags: 400+ Ideas To Grow Your Instagram (2024) – Shopify

Using relevant, targeted Instagram hashtags helps the Instagram algorithm work for you. When you effectively categorize your content, Instagram can more easily put it in front of the right audiences.

It’s no secret that the right hashtags can supercharge your Instagram marketing efforts. But what makes a hashtag “right” for your brand? And how many should you include?

This article provides a list of trending Instagram hashtags for 2024 and offers tips on selecting the right, most effective hashtags for your posts.

Whether you’re looking to promote your brand or to learn how to make money on Instagram, these tactics are for you. If you’re aiming to build an audience, you might also want to check out our guide on how to get more Instagram followers.

What are Instagram hashtags?

Hashtags are snippets of text created using the “#” symbol. When you add a hashtag like #travel to a post’s caption, it automatically links your content to all other posts using the same hashtag.

Any word or phrase can become a working hashtag by placing “#” in front of it. While you can include numbers in hashtags, spaces and special characters like “&” aren’t allowed. Most Instagram creators use hashtags to join trends and help potential followers discover their content.

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How hashtags work on Instagram

Hashtags function differently across various types of Instagram content. Let’s break it down:

Hashtags on Instagram posts

You can use up to 30 hashtags on each public Instagram post, either in your caption or the first comment. Remember, if your profile is private, your hashtagged posts won’t appear on Discovery pages.

When users click on a hashtag, they’re taken to its discover feed, showcasing all related public content. People often search for hashtags they’re interested in to find new content on Instagram. Users can also follow specific hashtags, ensuring relevant content appears regularly in their feeds.

Hashtags on Instagram Stories

Instagram Stories features a hashtag sticker, allowing you to add functional hashtags to your Stories. When users click these, they’re directed to the hashtag’s feed, just as they would be from a post.

Hashtags on Instagram Reels

For Reels, hashtags function similarly to posts. Include them in your caption or first comment to help the Instagram algorithm categorize your content, increasing its chances of appearing in a user’s Explore feed.

Do hashtags still work on Instagram?

Absolutely. Hashtags remain a valuable tool for growing your Instagram account, though their functionality has evolved in recent years. Effective hashtags today are:

• High-quality: The Instagram algorithm prioritizes engaging content, featuring it more prominently on hashtag and Explore pages. Focus on creating and tagging quality content that keeps users on the platform.

• Additive: As your content gains interactions, the algorithm should recognize and amplify your post. While adding hashtags doesn’t guarantee more views or followers, they can boost the visibility of already well-performing content.

• Helpful: The right hashtags can connect you with your target audience—even those who haven’t discovered you yet. The more accurate your hashtags, the more helpful they’ll be in reaching the right people.

Recognizing their importance, Instagram has expanded hashtag functionality. For instance, brands can now include hashtags in their Instagram bios.

Types of Instagram hashtags

Different hashtags serve various purposes, and a robust strategy incorporates a mix of them. Consider these main types and how they might apply to your business:

Let’s explore each type in more detail:

Branded hashtags

These should appear in your Instagram bio and be unique to your store. Use them to build brand awareness and encourage user-generated content (UGC).

Pro tip: Learn how to get your brand verified on Instagram and use hashtags from your verified account to maximize your reach.

Location-based hashtags

If you use Instagram to sell your products in specific locations, use hashtags like #FloridaLife or #NewYorkDrinks to reach local audiences. Location-based tags can help you connect with users in specific areas.

Community and industry hashtags

Many brands, regardless of size, use hashtags that represent their product or industry. These are often simple and memorable. For example, Adored Vintage regularly includes #clothingboutique, while Beefcake Swimwear uses #inclusiveswimwear.

To find community hashtags in your niche, study popular posts from competitors and note the hashtags they’re using.

Daily hashtags

Popular daily hashtags include #MondayMotivation and #ThrowbackThursday, but there are many more for various challenges, themes, and shared experiences. Discover them by checking tags on posts from specific days or searching the days of the week to see what autofills.

Depending on your niche, you might incorporate outfit photos into your content strategy to leverage #ootd (outfit of the day) or save fun lifestyle content for #SundayFunday.

Entertainment hashtags

These hashtags aim to strengthen relationships with your existing audience rather than grow it. They often relate more to the specific post situation than to the brand itself.

For instance, if you share a behind-the-scenes photo where you accidentally spill a box of packing peanuts, you might humorously tag it #winning.

Mass appeal hashtags

These general hashtags can apply to almost any post. They’re widely used and searched, potentially giving your posts significant reach to established audiences. Examples include #instagood and #lovelife.

Occasion-based hashtags

Use these to relate to your followers’ experiences, like acknowledging a #caseofthemondays or appreciating #summerrain. These timely hashtags can be tied to holidays, seasons, or even times of day. Users often seek out holiday and seasonal content in particular.

Trending hashtags

Trending hashtags surge in popularity due to current events, ad campaigns, or pop culture moments. Like fashion trends and slang, they come and go quickly, so use them promptly or not at all. 

While trending hashtags tied to events like a new iPhone release or election day don’t provide evergreen results, they can yield significant returns when used strategically and timely.

Special event hashtags

Sometimes hashtags can act like beacons, highlighting special events at your store. Hosting a contest? Try #contestalert or #instagiveaway to reach interested users. Similarly, #flashsale and #BOGO can attract bargain hunters and alert followers to online deals.

For new product launches, consider featuring a dedicated hashtag in your bio. When users click it, they’ll find all related posts and stories.

Niche hashtags

Some products cater to audiences with specific interests, reflected in niche hashtags. For example, health-conscious consumers might search for #organic or #eatinggreen. Use these niche-specific hashtags to connect with highly relevant audiences.

Bremont exemplifies this approach. The watch brand uses hashtags like #watchstyle and #watchesofinstagram, knowing these niche tags could help it reach its target audience.

Which types of hashtags should you use?

The types of hashtags you choose should align with your business model and brand voice—not all ecommerce businesses will benefit from every type of hashtag.

For instance, a merchant with national or international reach might not need location-based hashtags. Similarly, a business-to-business (B2B) merchant with a strictly professional tone may not use many entertainment-focused hashtags. That’s perfectly fine. Adopt the hashtags that will resonate best with your brand and your target audience.

Top 50 Instagram hashtags for 2024

While it might be tempting to pack your captions with as many high-volume hashtags as possible, a more strategic approach is to add only relevant ones that allow you to meaningfully contribute to the conversation. With that in mind, let’s explore the most popular Instagram hashtags in 2024:

1. #love (2.1B posts)

2. #instagood (1.8B posts)

3. #instagram (1.4B posts)

4. #fashion (1.1B posts)

5. #photography (1.1B posts)

6. #photooftheday (1B posts)

7. #art (1B posts)

8. #reels (863M posts)

9. #beautiful (850M posts)

10. #nature (829M posts)

11. #viral (774M posts)

12. #travel (756M posts)

13. #picoftheday (735M posts)

14. #happy (722M posts)

15. #instadaily (718M posts)

16. #explore (701M posts)

17. #cute (684M posts)

18. #style (676M posts)

19. #tbt (588M posts)

20. #summer (570M posts)

21. #repost (568M posts)

22. #instalike (561M posts)

23. #beauty (558M posts)

24. #followme (557M posts)

25. #fitness (552M posts)

26. #food (532M posts)

27. #photo (516M posts)

28. #music (480M posts)

29. #like4like (478M posts)

30. #life (465M posts)

31. #me (459M posts)

32. #family (456M posts)

33. #friends (455M posts)

34. #fun (451M posts)

35. #selfie (450M posts)

36. #ootd (446M posts)

37. #smile (445M posts)

38. #girl (431M posts)

39. #makeup (416M posts)

40. #motivation (406M posts)

41. #likeforlikes (396M posts)

42. #dog (386M posts)

43. #design (386M posts)

44. #model (380M posts)

45. #handmade (375M posts)

46. #lifestyle (371M posts)

47. #artist (345M posts)

48. #sunset (338M posts)

49. #dogsofinstagram (326M posts)

50. #likeforlike (325M posts)

Top Instagram hashtag generators

Aiming for the perfect number of hashtags—whether it’s six or 30—can be time-consuming, especially since autocorrect doesn’t fix hashtag spelling mistakes within Instagram. Any social media manager will tell you: It’s not their favorite task.

Fortunately, there are several Instagram hashtag generators and hashtag search engines that can streamline this process. Let’s look at some of the top options:

Best-Hashtags

Best-Hashtags is a straightforward browser-based hashtag research tool. Its algorithm calculates the best Instagram hashtags for your social content based on historical data. Simply type in your desired hashtag, and Best-Hashtags will generate a list of hashtags across different categories, including:

• Top 10 hashtags based on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and TikTok popularity

You can also discover new hashtags on its New Hashtags and Best Hashtags category pages.

SISTRIX

The SISTRIX Instagram Hashtag Generator is another excellent tool for quickly finding effective hashtags. Enter a hashtag or topic, and you’ll see the top 30 hashtags to use. Get more recommendations by searching other hashtag variants related to your main search.

The tool is free for up to 25 queries each day. For more searches, you’ll need to register for a SISTRIX account.

Influencer Marketing Hub

This Instagram hashtag generator takes a unique approach. Instead of searching for hashtags by topic, you upload a photo and Influencer Marketing Hub’s Hashtag Generator suggests hashtags to use. In the following example, we uploaded a surreal artwork to see what hashtags would generate.

You can select up to five keywords. Once selected, the tool reveals the optimal list of hashtags for your post.

Inflact

Inflact is another useful Instagram hashtag tool for tagging your posts or researching popular ideas for Stories and Reels. The easiest way to use the tool is through keywords. For example, if you type “Paris” into the generator, it will reveal a variety of hashtags containing the keyword. Hashtags are categorized by frequent, average, and rare use cases.

Inflact’s AI search tool also reveals organic hashtags or those that are often used together in the same post.

Keyword Tool

Keyword Tool is a paid tool that helps businesses discover keywords across various platforms, including Instagram hashtags. It features geolocation functionality, allowing you to identify popular hashtags trending in your audience’s area.

Pro Tip: Most Instagram hashtag generators are free. If you’re not ready to invest in a dedicated tool for this purpose, a more cost-effective route might be to use a general social media tool. You can maintain a document of different hashtags and use social media scheduling software.

Create posts on your desktop, copying and pasting hashtags or groups of hashtags to the caption as needed. Since these tools can now post directly to Instagram for you, this can save you several steps in your workflow.

When to use Instagram hashtags

Not sure whether to add a hashtag to your latest post? Consider including one or two if you want to do the following: 

Create or join a community

Instagram hashtags allow you to quickly identify and engage with active communities within the app. Join them by creating and tagging relevant content.

You can also use a new hashtag to build engagement around a topic related to your account or business. Promote a unique, accessible hashtag to your followers. Your tag could speak to your product’s aesthetic, such as #cozyhome, or reference a common experience among your audience, like #momlife.

If your hashtag is catchy, followers may start using it in their own posts, creating a collection of user-generated content that fosters community and links back to you.

Target people and groups

Hashtags make it easier to put your content in front of your target audience. Choose tags that are relevant to both your brand and your audience’s interests to increase exposure and reach receptive users.

Katherine Gaskin, creator of The Content Planner, shares her approach on the Shopify Masters podcast: “I like to do all of my research right on Instagram. If I find an influencer or a content creator who I know her followers will like my product, I’ll actually go to her post and look at the hashtags. Then, to validate a hashtag, I’ll click on it and see what number of posts have been shared to that hashtag. If I can get between 10,000 to 200,000 posts, that’s the happy medium. The final thing that I always look for is how often people are posting to the hashtag and if the overall content aligns with the vibe of my brand and resonates with my target audience.”

Track posts and campaigns

Creating a unique hashtag for a post or content collection allows you to easily monitor its progress. You’re not limited to using hashtags on Instagram alone. Consider creating a hashtag for an entire marketing campaign and using it across other social platforms, ads, and even physical marketing materials.

Stay informed

Monitoring hashtags is an effective way to stay on top of industry trends. By following relevant tags, you can see what content resonates with your audience and keep an eye on your competitors’ activities.

Instagram hashtags can help you learn about your audience and the content that appeals to them. Audrey Castonguay of Wholesome Culture tells the Shopify Masters podcast: “Hashtags help me find what people have been putting on their Instagram and what’s being shared on Instagram.” She suggests searching for hashtags relevant to your brand and assessing what your audience is posting. Then, create branded posts in a similar style to those your audience is sharing and engaging with.

While maintaining consistent brand messaging is crucial, it’s also important to adjust your content strategy in response to shifting trends and interests.

Improve post SEO

Adding hashtags to a post’s caption can boost its visibility in Instagram’s internal search engine. By tagging posts with popular or timely search terms, you can gain greater prominence in results, giving your content an extra boost.

According to Instagram, this tactic can be particularly effective for posts that already have significant clicks, likes, or shares.

Tips for using hashtags on Instagram

As you develop and refine your hashtag strategy, keep these tips in mind:

Be mindful of the number of hashtags you use

While Instagram allows up to 30 hashtags per post, the question is whether you should use that many. Instagram’s latest advice is to be selective and use only three to five hashtags per post. However, research indicates that using more hashtags generally leads to higher engagement.

The optimal number of hashtags varies depending on who you ask. Some marketers swear by using just two, while others use all 30. In reality, you can only discover the sweet spot for your audience through testing and analysis.

Scope out X

To find relevant, trending hashtags, social media platform X can be a valuable resource. Its trending topics section shows what people are currently sharing.

Keep in mind that hashtag usage differs between Instagram and X, with X trends more heavily focused on news. Use this for research purposes rather than blindly copying hashtags to Instagram.

Check out your competition

Examining your competition’s Instagram marketing strategy, including their hashtag usage, can provide valuable insights. Look for trends in their hashtag choices—you might discover phrases to add to your own strategy.

Monitor influencers

Influencers, including micro-influencers, have built audiences who actively seek their advice, inspiration, or expertise. These Instagram profiles may have mastered their hashtag game and found high-performing terms. Observe their strategies and consider adapting relevant hashtags for your own use.

Avoid banned hashtags

Instagram regularly “bans” hashtags it detects are frequently used alongside illicit content. While some banned hashtags are unsurprising (like #nasty), others like #fitnessgirls and #tgif might seem innocent. Instagram won’t post new content to a banned hashtag’s feed, and the feed itself might be removed.

Using banned hashtags can lead to your posts being shadowbanned, meaning they may not appear in your followers’ feeds or in searches for other hashtags on your post. Even a single banned hashtag can undermine your entire post’s reach.

To check if a hashtag is banned, simply search for it on Instagram. If it doesn’t appear, it’s likely banned.

Measure your Instagram hashtag strategy

Evaluating the impact of hashtags can be challenging, especially when using groups of them. Here are several ways to measure your strategy’s effectiveness:

• Overall growth: Examine your channel’s overall growth using Instagram’s analytics or more detailed third-party social management platforms.

• Specific metrics: Look for month-to-month increases in impressions, reach, and likes. If you don’t see improvement within a couple of months, consider adjusting your strategy.

• Hashtag popularity: Use Instagram research tools to track your hashtag’s popularity over time. Tools like Keyhole allow you to monitor your branded hashtag and see its reach, impressions, and overall use from other profiles, helping you evaluate how much organic traction your branded hashtag is gaining.

Top Instagram hashtags by category for 2024

Looking for the most popular hashtags currently used by Instagram creators and brands?

Below, you’ll find hundreds of popular hashtags, organized by categories such as industry or event. Choose a relevant category to kickstart your hashtag strategy:

Best hashtags for likes and follows

1. #likes

2. #like

3. #follow

4. #likeforlikes

5. #love

6. #instagood

7. #instagram

8. #followforfollowback

9. #followme

10. #photooftheday

11. #fyp

12. #instalike

13. #photography

14. #l

15. #instadaily

16. #me

17. #picoftheday

18. #beautiful

19. #myself

20. #likeforfollow

21. #fashion

22. #smile

23. #followers

24. #likeforlike

25. #followback

26. #f

27. #followforfollow

28. #comment

29. #likesforlikes

30. #bhfyp

Pro tip: While these hashtags are popular, there’s no guarantee of the quality of followers or likes you’ll receive from using them. Many of these and related tags are typically used by new Instagram accounts looking to trade likes and follows.

Best Instagram Reels hashtags

1. #reels

2. #reelsvideo

3. #reelsinstagram

4. #reelsindia

5. #holareels

6. #reelsbrasil

7. #reelsteady

8. #instagramreels

9. #reelsinsta

10. #instareels

11. #reelsofinstagram

12. #k

13. #music

14. #bhfyp

15. #disney

16. #littlestoriesofmylife

17. #tiktokindia

18. #videoftheday

19. #instareel

20. #foryoupage

21. #fyp

22. #reelsviral

Best fashion and beauty hashtags

1. #fashion

2. #beauty

3. #haul

4. #style

5. #shopping

6. #styleinspo

7. #ootd

8. #outfitoftheday

9. #outfit

10. #whatiwore

11. #shoppingaddict

12. #beautydoesnthavetobepain

13. #currentlywearing

14. #instastyle

15. #lookgoodfeelgood

16. #hippy

17. #fashionblogger

18. #fashionista

19. #fashionstyle

20. #fashionable

21. #fashiongram

22. #fashionblog

23. #fashionaddict

24. #fashionphotography

Best food and beverage hashtags

1. #food

2. #foodporn

3. #foodie

4. #instafood

5. #foodphotography

6. #foodstagram

7. #yummy

8. #yum

9. #instagood

10. #love

11. #foodblogger

12. #foodlover

13. #delicious

14. #homemade

15. #healthyfood

16. #photooftheday

17. #picoftheday

18. #dinner

19. #foodgasm

20. #foodies

21. #tasty

22. #cooking

23. #instadaily

24. #lunch

25. #bhfyp

26. #takeout

27. #restaurant

28. #healthy

Best travel hashtags

1. #travel

2. #nature

3. #photography

4. #travelphotography

5. #photooftheday

6. #instagood

7. #travelgram

8. #picoftheday

9. #photo

10. #beautiful

11. #art

12. #naturephotography

13. #wanderlust

14. #adventure

15. #instatrave

16. #travelblogger

17. #landscape

18. #summer

19. #trip

20. #hike

21. #explore

Best pet hashtags

1. #pet

2. #dog

3. #pets

4. #dogsofinstagram

5. #cute

6. #petsofinstagram

7. #dogs

8. #cat

9. #love

10. #puppy

11. #cats

12. #petstagram

13. #animals

14. #animal

15. #instadog

16. #instagram

17. #dogstagram

18. #doglover

19. #of

20. #catsofinstagram

21. #dogoftheday

22. #doglovers

23. #petlovers

24. #doglife

25. #instapet

26. #catstagram

27. #instagood

28. #cachorro

29. #catlover

Best tech and gadgets hashtags

1. #techie

2. #latesttech

3. #ilovemygadgets

4. #gadgetsgalore

5. #apple

6. #android

7. #applevsandroid

8. #wearabletech

9. #VR

10. #mobile

11. #makinglifeeasier

12. #tech

13. #technology

14. #technews

15. #gadgets

16. #instatech

17. #software

18. #innovation

Best wedding hashtags

1. #wedding

2. #bride

3. #weddingdress

4. #weddingphotography

5. #weddingday

6. #weddinginspiration

7. #makeup

8. #weddingplanner

9. #prewedding

10. #bridal

11. #bridetobe

12. #weddingphotographer

13. #weddings

14. #groom

15. #engagement

16. #party

17. #weddingideas

18. #makeupartist

19. #indianwedding

20. #casamento

Best fitness hashtags

1. #fitness

2. #gym

3. #workout

4. #fitnessmotivation

5. #motivation

6. #fit

7. #bodybuilding

8. #training

9. #health

10. #lifestyle

11. #fitfam

12. #healthylifestyle

13. #sport

14. #healthy

15. #gymlife

16. #life

17. #crossfit

18. #personaltrainer

19. #goals

20. #exercise

21. #muscle

Best holiday hashtags

1. #stockingstuffers

2. #christmasdecor

3. #spookyhalloween

4. #happyhalloween

5. #thanksgivingtable

6. #turkeyorham

7. #valentineformyvalentine

8. #happyfourth

9. #newyearseve

10. #newyearsresolution

11. #holidaycrazy

12. #holidayspirit

13. #kwanza

14. #hanukkahgift

15. #underthetree

Best Instagram contest hashtags

1. #instacontest

2. #instagiveaway

3. #giveaway

4. #sweepstakes

5. #contestalert

6. #contestentry

7. #winit

8. #freebie

9. #winitwednesday

Best photography hashtags

1. #photography

2. #photooftheday

3. #photo

4. #picoftheday

5. #photographer

6. #model

7. #photoshoot

8. #portrait

9. #beauty

10. #travelphotography

11. #canon

12. #selfie

13. #landscape

14. #sunset

15. #fotografia

16. #portraitphotography

17. #photographylovers

18. #artist

19. #nikon

Best B2B hashtags

1. #business

2. #businesstips

3. #marketing

4. #ecommerce

5. #socialmedia

6. #digitalmarketing (28M)

7. #SEO

8. #contentmarketing

9. #marketingstrategy

10. #consulting

11. #workplace

12. #startups

13. #productivity

14. #strategy

15. #sales

Best hashtags for small business

1. #smallbusiness

2. #supportsmallbusiness

3. #handmade

4. #shoplocal

5. #shopsmall

6. #smallbusinessowner

7. #entrepreneur

8. #supportlocal

9. #localbusiness

10. #businessowner

11. #blackownedbusiness

12. #art

13. #explorepage

14. #homedecor

15. #covid

16. #startup

17. #entrepreneurship

18. #womeninbusiness

19. #motivation

20. #success

21. #girlboss

22. #entrepreneurlife

23. #handcrafted

24. #local

25. #smallbiz

26. #homemade

27. #custom

28. #smallbusinesssupport

29. #shopsmallbusiness

30. #handmadewithlove

31. #supportsmallbusinesses

32. #supportlocalbusiness

Best music hashtags

1. #music

2. #hiphop

3. #rap

4. #musician

5. #singer

6. #musica

7. #dj

8. #rock

9. #dance

10. #song

11. #guitar

12. #viral

13. #producer

14. #newmusic

15. #musicvideo

16. #instamusic

17. #livemusic

18. #pop

19. #concert

20. #trap

21. #beats

Best art hashtags

1. #art

2. #artist

3. #drawing

4. #artwork

5. #painting

6. #artistsoninstagram

7. #illustration

8. #digitalart

9. #design

10. #sketch

Best nature hashtags

1. #nature

2. #naturephotography

3. #sunset

4. #flowers

5. #wildlife

6. #mountains

7. #hiking

8. #explore

9. #outdoors

10. #naturelover

11. #beach

12. #forest