
Ever tapped that heart button on someone else’s post and had a fleeting thought: “Hey, what’s the average Instagram likes for my posts?” or think, what happens if your Instagram posts don’t get the likes they should? It feels like throwing a party, and nobody shows up, right?
Well, the truth is, in the dazzling world of Instagram, likes aren’t just numbers; they represent visibility, engagement, and, ultimately, success. So, if you want to know “How Many Likes Are Enough on Instagram?” follow me because we have a lot of fascinating stuff for you!
Average Instagram Engagement (What’s Normal? + Growth Strategies)
You might be surprised, but the Instagram likes per post isn’t a fixed figure that applies to all accounts. This number varies significantly depending on many factors, from the number of followers to the type of content you post and even the industry you operate in. Let’s take a closer look at this:

1. Based on the Follower Count
Naturally, the more followers an account has, the higher the potential for their posts to receive more likes. However, this isn’t a linear relationship. An account with 1,000 followers might have much higher engagement than one with 10,000.
According to various studies, the interaction rate is usually higher for smaller accounts. We need to consider these categories to understand how many likes a post typically receives on Instagram.
- Accounts with fewer than 1,000 followers: Might have an average engagement rate of 5% to 10%.
- Accounts with 1,000 to 10,000 followers: This rate typically ranges from 2.5% to 5%.
- Accounts with 10,000 to 100,000 followers: The Reach & interaction combo rate usually decreases to between 1.5% and 2.5%.
- Accounts with more than 100,000 followers: Achieving a Follower involvement rate above 1% is considered a success for these accounts.
So, if your account is new, don’t worry about the low number of likes. What’s important is to have a good Audience connection. To better understand the Instagram engagement average at these levels, remember that the quality of community participation is more important than the quantity.

2. Based on Content Type
The type of content you post also significantly impacts the average Instagram likes you receive. For example:
- Personal photos and selfies: Usually have high engagement, especially if they convey a sense of intimacy and close connection with the audience.
- Videos: Engaging and entertaining videos can get a lot of likes and comments, especially if they are short and captivating.
- Reels: Due to Instagram’s algorithm heavily favoring this format, it can significantly increase the chances of your content being seen and liked.
- Educational and informative posts: These types of posts might receive fewer likes, but they often get valuable comments and saves, indicating deeper engagement from the audience.
- Promotional and sales posts: These posts usually have the lowest number of likes unless they are very creative and well-designed.
3. Based on Industry and Niche
The industry and niche in which you operate also influence the average likes of followers. For example, fashion, beauty, and travel accounts typically receive more likes than accounts related to specialized industries or B2B. According to some statistics, Typical Instagram post-performance in these industries is usually higher.
- Fashion and beauty niches: Might have an average engagement rate of 3% to 6%.
- Travel and tourism niches: Experience a similar audience response rate.
- Food and beverage niches: Due to their visual appeal and ease of sharing, they often have high Interaction.
- Business and technology niches Usually have lower engagement rates, but the quality of Follower involvement (targeted comments and questions) might be higher.
So, remember that comparing your account to huge accounts or those in completely different niches isn’t fair. Try to measure your performance over time and compare yourself with similar accounts in your field.

Top 8 Ways to Increase Likes on Your Posts
Now that you understand the Instagram engagement rate is a floating figure, you’re curious how to increase your posts’ likes. You just need to be patient and try different strategies:
1. Produce High-Quality and Engaging Content
This is the most critical and fundamental step. Create content that is valuable, entertaining, or informative for your audience. Use high-quality photos and videos, write captivating captions, and try to tell stories.
2. Use Relevant Hashtags
Hashtags act like keywords and help your posts reach a wider audience interested in similar topics. Use a mix of general, specific, and niche hashtags. Research and see what hashtags your audience uses.
3. Engage with Your Audience
The average Instagram likes to depend on responding to comments and DMs, asking questions, creating polls, and generally trying to build two-way communication with your followers. When your audience feels valued, they are likelier to like and interact with your posts.
4. Post at Optimal Times
Analyze and see when your audience is most active. Posting at these times can increase the chances of your content being seen and liked. Considering the Instagram algorithm 2025, optimal timing will likely play a significant role.

5. Utilize Stories and Reels
Stories and Reels offer great opportunities to interact more with your audience and attract likes to your main posts. You can use Stories to promote your new posts or share engaging behind-the-scenes content in the form of Reels.
6. Collaborate with Other Accounts
Collaborating with similar accounts in your niche can help new audiences see your account and gain more likes. You can create joint content or promote each other’s accounts.
7. Run Contests and Challenges
Contests and challenges are a great way to increase engagement and gain new likes and followers. Ask your audience to like your posts, tag their friends, or create content related to your challenge.
8. Analyze and Review Performance
Regularly review your account’s statistics and analytics. See which posts received the most likes and engagement and try to identify patterns of success. Instagram metrics explained will help you better understand this data.

The Importance of Likes for Instagram Account Promotion
You might think that a like is just an insignificant number, but in reality, likes play a crucial role in your success on Instagram:
- Indicate popularity and content appeal
- Influence the Instagram algorithm
- Increase social credibility
- Attract sponsorships and collaborations (Benchmark Instagram likes help businesses evaluate your account’s worth)
- Create motivation and a sense of success
To better understand your account’s performance, paying attention to Engagement benchmarks within your industry is essential.
Ultimately, remember that Instagram post visibility largely depends on your post reaction levels, and Understanding Instagram analytics is key to improving it. Likes by follower count is a fundamental aspect of this analysis.
In Conclusion
Remember that the Average Instagram likes is a moving target and depends on various factors. Instead of focusing solely on the number of likes, try to create valuable and engaging content, interact with your audience, and build a loyal community for yourself. The likes will follow!
Now it’s your turn! Tell us, what experiences have you had with increasing likes on Instagram? What tricks have worked for you: “How many likes are enough on Instagram?”
How many likes is normal on Instagram?
It depends on your follower count, but typically 1.5% interaction (likes per follower) is average.
Is 1000 likes on Instagram good?
Yes, 1000 likes are considered very good, especially for accounts under 10k followers.
Does Instagram pay for 1k likes?
No, Instagram doesn’t pay for likes directly. Earnings come from brand deals or monetized content.
How many likes is considered a lot on Instagram?
Over 10,000 likes is a lot, especially for non-celebrities or smaller creators.
What are the most liked Instagram posts?
Currently, posts like Lionel Messi’s World Cup photos and the ‘egg’ post have over 50 million likes.
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