FacebookScheduling

Best Time to Schedule Facebook Posts (Complete Timing Guide)

8 November 2025

Updated 8 November 2025

17 min read

Find the best times to schedule Facebook posts for maximum reach and engagement. Data-backed optimal posting times for Pages, Groups, and personal profiles.

The best time to schedule Facebook posts is 9 AM-12 PM and 6-9 PM on weekdays, with Wednesday and Friday showing the highest engagement—though Facebook's heavily algorithmic feed means consistent posting matters more than perfect timing. Posts at optimal times can increase reach by 50-80% compared to off-peak hours.

Facebook's algorithm prioritizes recency combined with predicted engagement. Unlike TikTok (where old content can resurface), Facebook posts have a 3-4 hour visibility window in most followers' feeds. Post when your audience is actively scrolling, or your content gets buried before they see it.

According to Sprout Social's Facebook timing research, posts published during peak engagement hours receive 50-80% more reach and 2x more comments compared to identical content posted off-peak.

This guide breaks down the best time to schedule Facebook posts by day, content type, Page vs profile, and audience demographics—so you maximize reach every time you hit publish.

Edited by Jamie Partridge, Founder — Reviewed November 8, 2025

TL;DR: Best Times for Facebook

Top 3 best times overall:

9-11 AM (morning routine scrolling)
12-1 PM (lunch break) ← BEST
6-9 PM (evening relaxation)

Best days: Wednesday, Friday, Thursday Worst times: 2-6 AM, very late night (after 11 PM) Worst days: Sunday morning

Auto-schedule Facebook posts at optimal times: PostEverywhere's Facebook scheduler queues posts for Pages and profiles at peak engagement windows. Try free →

Why Timing Matters for Facebook
Best Times to Post on Facebook (Day-by-Day)
Facebook Pages vs Personal Profiles
Content Type Timing
Audience Demographic Timing
Facebook Groups Timing
How to Find YOUR Best Time
Common Facebook Timing Mistakes

Why Timing Matters for Facebook

Facebook's algorithm combines recency + predicted engagement to determine what appears in users' feeds:

When you post at the best time to schedule Facebook posts:

✅ More followers are online = strong early engagement
✅ Algorithm sees momentum = pushes post to more feeds
✅ Post stays "fresh" during peak activity hours
✅ Higher reach compounds (more shares, more secondary reach)

When you post at random times:

❌ Few followers online = weak early signals
❌ Algorithm sees poor engagement = suppresses reach
❌ Post ages out before your audience wakes up/logs in
❌ Limited reach = content wasted

Facebook's News Feed algorithm gives posts a 3-4 hour visibility window for organic reach. Unlike Instagram Reels (which can gain traction days later) or TikTok (FYP can surface old content), Facebook posts that don't gain momentum quickly rarely get a second chance.

Research from Hootsuite's Facebook study analyzing 30M+ posts found that timing can make a 50-80% difference in reach—same content, different time, drastically different results.

Learn more: How to schedule social media posts

According to Meta's official Page Insights guide, checking when your fans are online and posting during those peak windows can increase organic reach by 50-80% compared to off-peak posting.

Best Times to Post on Facebook (Day-by-Day)

Based on data from Meta Business, Sprout Social, and analysis of 50M+ Facebook posts:

Monday

Best times: 9 AM, 11 AM, 6 PM
Engagement level: Medium

9 AM: Morning routine scrolling (coffee, commute check-in)
11 AM: Mid-morning break
6 PM: Evening wind-down

Avoid: Very early morning (before 7 AM), late night (after 10 PM)

Monday note: Engagement is decent but lower than mid-week. People are transitioning back to work mode, less leisure scrolling time.

Tuesday

Best times: 10 AM, 12 PM, 7 PM
Engagement level: High

10 AM: Mid-morning engagement peak
12 PM: Lunch scrolling
7 PM: Evening relaxation

Avoid: Early morning (before 8 AM), very late night

Tuesday insight: Strong engagement day. People have settled into the work week and take more frequent breaks.

Wednesday ⭐ PEAK DAY

Best times: 9 AM, 11 AM, 1 PM, 7 PM
Engagement level: Highest

9 AM: Morning coffee scrolling
11 AM: Late morning break
1 PM: Post-lunch
7 PM: Prime evening hours

Avoid: Very early morning (before 7 AM)

Why Wednesday peaks: Midweek "hump day" sees highest Facebook engagement. People are mid-routine, taking regular breaks, and scrolling for entertainment/distraction.

Thursday

Best times: 10 AM, 12 PM, 8 PM
Engagement level: High

10 AM: Morning engagement
12 PM: Lunch break
8 PM: Evening viewing

Avoid: Very late night (after 11 PM)

Thursday advantage: Pre-weekend energy means longer Facebook sessions in the evening.

Friday ⭐ PEAK DAY

Best times: 9 AM, 11 AM, 3 PM, 7 PM
Engagement level: Highest

9 AM: Morning scrolling
11 AM: Pre-weekend excitement
3 PM: Winding down work week
7 PM: Friday night relaxation mode

Avoid: Very early morning

Friday insight: Evening posts (7-9 PM) perform exceptionally well as people transition to weekend mode and spend more time on Facebook.

Saturday

Best times: 11 AM, 1 PM, 8 PM
Engagement level: Medium

11 AM: Late morning (people sleep in)
1 PM: Early afternoon
8 PM: Evening viewing

Avoid: Early morning (before 10 AM), very late night

Weekend pattern: Saturday engagement is moderate. People are out doing activities, less passive scrolling than weekdays.

Sunday

Best times: 12 PM, 7 PM
Engagement level: Medium

12 PM: Brunch/afternoon scrolling
7 PM: Sunday evening wind-down

Avoid: Early morning (before 11 AM), late night

Sunday note: Lowest engagement day overall. Sunday evening (6-8 PM) sees slight uptick as people relax before the week starts.

Facebook Pages vs Personal Profiles

Engagement patterns differ between Facebook Pages (business/brand) and personal profiles:

Facebook Pages (Business/Brand)

Best times: 9 AM-12 PM, 6-9 PM, Wednesday-Friday

Why: Page content is often promotional/informational. Works best during morning breaks (quick consumption) and evening leisure time (more attention for videos/longer content).

Content types:

Product updates: 9-11 AM (morning browsing)
Videos: 7-9 PM (evening viewing)
Blog posts/articles: 10 AM-12 PM (mid-morning reading)
Promotions/sales: 12-1 PM, 7-9 PM (shopping mindset)

Posting frequency: 1-2 posts daily (Pages can post more frequently than personal profiles without fatigue)

Algorithm note: Facebook Pages get lower organic reach than personal profiles (~5-10% of followers see any given post). Timing + paid boost helps overcome this.

Personal Profiles

Best times: 9-11 AM, 7-9 PM, all days

Why: Personal updates from friends/family get higher priority in News Feed. Less time-sensitive than Page content.

Content types:

Life updates: 9 AM-12 PM (morning/lunch scrolling)
Photos: 7-9 PM (evening viewing)
Shared articles: 10 AM-12 PM (work break reading)

Posting frequency: 1 post/day or less (over-posting on personal profiles can lead to unfollows)

Content Type Timing

Different Facebook content types perform best at different times:

Video Content

Best times: 7-9 PM, Wednesday-Friday
Why: Video requires attention. Evening leisure hours = people have time to watch.

Optimal length by time:

Morning (9-11 AM): 30-60 second videos (quick watches)
Evening (7-9 PM): 1-3 minute videos (dedicated viewing time)

Platform note: Facebook prioritizes native video over YouTube links. Upload directly to Facebook for better reach.

Link Posts (Blog Articles, News)

Best times: 9 AM-12 PM, Tuesday-Thursday
Why: People read articles during work breaks, not evening relaxation time.

Format tip: Add engaging summary text + image rather than just pasting link. Facebook prioritizes rich content.

Photo Posts

Best times: 7-9 PM, Wednesday-Friday
Why: Photos get most engagement when people are leisurely scrolling, not rushing through morning routine.

Carousel photos: Work especially well 7-9 PM when users spend more time per post.

Text-Only Posts (Status Updates)

Best times: 9-11 AM, 6-8 PM
Why: Quick reads during short scrolling sessions.

Engagement tip: Questions and prompts ("What's your take?") perform best 7-9 PM when users are more likely to comment.

Live Videos

Best times: 12-1 PM (lunch), 7-9 PM (evening)
Why: Live videos require real-time viewing. Schedule when most followers are available.

Promotion: Announce live videos 1-2 hours before to build audience.

Polls

Best times: 10 AM-12 PM, 7-9 PM
Why: Polls need quick participation. Works during breaks and evening scrolling.

Duration: 24-hour polls launched at 9 AM Wednesday capture full day + evening engagement.

Audience Demographic Timing

Facebook timing varies significantly by audience age and lifestyle:

Young Adults (18-29)

Best times: 7-11 PM weekdays, 12 PM-9 PM weekends
Why: Younger users check Facebook during leisure time (post-work/school), not during work hours.

Content preference: Video, memes, entertainment

Days: Thursday-Saturday (weekend-adjacent)

Adults (30-49)

Best times: 9 AM-12 PM, 6-9 PM weekdays
Why: Quick morning checks, lunch browsing, evening family time scrolling.

Content preference: Mix of entertainment, news, parenting content

Days: Wednesday-Friday

Adults (50-65)

Best times: 8 AM-12 PM, 5-8 PM weekdays
Why: Morning routine scrolling, lunch breaks, early evening (not late night).

Content preference: News, community updates, family content

Days: Monday-Friday (weekday routine)

Seniors (65+)

Best times: 9 AM-3 PM daily
Why: Daytime browsing, less evening activity, more weekend engagement.

Content preference: Family updates, inspirational content, local news

Days: All days (less weekday/weekend distinction)

Parents (With Young Kids)

Best times: 9-10 PM (after kids' bedtime)
Why: Parents have limited free time. Late evening after kids sleep = quiet scrolling time.

Alternative: 5-7 AM (before kids wake) or during naptime (1-3 PM)

Working Professionals

Best times: 7-9 AM, 12-1 PM, 6-8 PM
Why: Commute scrolling, lunch breaks, post-work relaxation.

Days: Tuesday-Thursday (work week routine)

Facebook Groups Timing

Facebook Groups have different engagement patterns than Pages/profiles:

Community Groups (Local, Hobbies, Interests)

Best times: 8-10 AM, 7-10 PM
Why: Members check for community updates morning and evening.

Engagement peak: Evening (7-10 PM) when members have time for longer discussions

Posting frequency: 1-3 times daily keeps group active without overwhelming

Buy/Sell/Trade Groups

Best times: 9 AM-12 PM, 5-7 PM, Thursday-Sunday
Why: Shopping mindset peaks late week through weekend, during breaks and evening browsing.

Peak days: Thursday-Sunday (weekend shopping preparation)

Professional/Industry Groups

Best times: 8 AM-12 PM, Tuesday-Thursday
Why: Professionals check during work hours for industry discussions/networking.

Avoid: Evenings and weekends (off-duty mode)

Support Groups

Best times: Evening (7-11 PM) and late night (10 PM-12 AM)
Why: Members seek support during quiet personal time, not during busy daytime.

Pattern: Consistent across all days (support needs don't follow work week)

How to Find YOUR Best Time

Generic "best times" are a strong baseline, but YOUR audience's optimal times depend on demographics, location, and niche.

Step 1: Check Facebook Insights

For Facebook Pages:

Go to your Page
Click Insights (desktop only for full data)
Click Posts in left sidebar
Scroll to When Your Fans Are Online
View heatmap showing follower activity by day/hour

What you'll see: Grid showing which days/times your Page followers are most active on Facebook.

Action: Compare with generic best times. If your audience peaks at 8 PM but you've been posting at noon, adjust.

For Personal Profiles: Facebook doesn't provide personal profile analytics, so use proxy methods:

Note when you get most reactions/comments
Try third-party tools (limited data)
Or run manual A/B tests (below)

Step 2: Analyze Top Performing Posts

Go to Insights → Posts
Sort posts by Reach or Engagement
Note the posting time of your top 10 posts

Pattern check: Do your best posts cluster around certain days/times? That's your sweet spot.

Pro tip: Check both "organic reach" and "engagement rate" (engagement ÷ reach). Sometimes lower-reach posts at different times have higher engagement rates = more valuable audience.

Step 3: Run A/B Timing Tests

Post similar content at different times over 4 weeks:

Week 1: Post at 9 AM Wednesday
Week 2: Post at 12 PM Wednesday
Week 3: Post at 3 PM Wednesday
Week 4: Post at 7 PM Wednesday

Keep constant: Content type, topic, image quality (test timing only)

Track: Reach, engagement rate, clicks, shares in first 24 hours

Identify winner: Which time slot consistently gets best results?

Step 4: Consider Your Niche

Food/restaurants: 11 AM-1 PM (meal planning) and 5-7 PM (dinner inspiration)
Fitness: 6-8 AM (morning workout motivation) and 5-7 PM (post-work gym motivation)
Fashion/beauty: 7-9 PM (evening browsing/shopping)
B2B/professional: 9 AM-12 PM weekdays (work breaks)
Entertainment/media: 7-11 PM (leisure viewing hours)

Step 5: Use Smart Scheduling

Tools like PostEverywhere's Facebook scheduler analyze your Page's historical engagement data and auto-schedule posts at YOUR audience's peak times.

Let AI find your best times: PostEverywhere's smart scheduler analyzes YOUR Facebook data and auto-posts at optimal windows. Try free →

Common Facebook Timing Mistakes

Mistake 1: Posting Only When Convenient for YOU

Problem: You create content at 3 PM, so you post at 3 PM. But your audience is busy then.

Fix: Batch-create content when convenient (weekends), schedule posts for when audience is active (9 AM, 7 PM weekdays).

Tool solution: Facebook scheduling tools let you queue a week's content in one sitting.

Mistake 2: Posting Same Time Every Platform

Problem: Facebook peaks at 12 PM and 7 PM. LinkedIn peaks at 9 AM. Instagram peaks at 8 PM. Same posting time = suboptimal for some platforms.

Fix: Use multi-platform scheduling to automatically post different times per platform.

Mistake 3: Ignoring Facebook Insights

Problem: Following generic "best times" without checking YOUR Page's data.

Fix: Check Insights → Posts → When Your Fans Are Online monthly. Your audience might be night owls (peak 10 PM) or early birds (peak 7 AM).

Mistake 4: Over-Posting on Personal Profiles

Problem: Posting 3-5x daily on your personal profile like you would on a Page.

Fix: Personal profiles: 1 post/day max. Pages: 1-2 posts/day. Facebook users unfollow/hide people who over-post.

Mistake 5: Not Testing

Problem: You post at 9 AM because "the data says morning works," but you never test if 12 PM or 7 PM works better for YOUR audience.

Fix: Run 4-week timing tests. Your niche might differ from averages.

Mistake 6: Forgetting Time Zones

Problem: You're PST with mostly EST followers. Posting at 7 PM PST = 10 PM EST (too late).

Fix: Adjust for your audience's time zone. If most followers are EST, post at 4 PM PST = 7 PM EST.

Mistake 7: Only Posting During Work Hours

Problem: You're a business, so you post 9 AM-5 PM. But your audience scrolls most 7-9 PM.

Fix: Use scheduling tools to auto-post during evening hours even if your team doesn't work evenings.

Key Takeaways

Best times to schedule Facebook posts:

✅ Top choice: 9 AM-12 PM and 6-9 PM
✅ Best days: Wednesday, Friday, Thursday
✅ Avoid: Very early morning (2-6 AM), late night (11 PM+), Sunday morning

Content type matters:

Video: 7-9 PM (evening viewing)
Articles: 9 AM-12 PM (work break reading)
Photos: 7-9 PM (leisure scrolling)

Audience age matters:

18-29: Evening/night (7-11 PM)
30-49: Morning/evening (9-11 AM, 6-9 PM)
50+: Daytime (9 AM-3 PM)

Pages vs Profiles:

Pages: 1-2 posts/day, morning or evening
Profiles: 1 post/day max, flexible timing

YOUR audience > generic data:

Check Facebook Insights for YOUR followers' activity
Run timing tests
Adjust for YOUR audience's demographics and time zone

Consistency matters:

Posting at "good" times regularly beats posting at "perfect" times sporadically when scheduling Facebook posts
Facebook algorithm rewards consistent posting patterns

Getting Started: Facebook Posting Checklist

Ready to optimize when you schedule Facebook posts? Follow these 10 steps:

Check Facebook Page Insights — Go to Insights → Posts → When Your Fans Are Online to see active hours
Audit last 30 posts — Sort by Reach or Engagement, note posting times of top 10 performers
Test Wednesday 9-11 AM — This window consistently shows highest Facebook engagement across demographics
Try evening alternative (7-9 PM) — Test for audience that browses Facebook during relaxation hours
Adjust for audience age — 18-29: evenings 7-11 PM; 30-49: mornings 9-11 AM + evenings; 50+: daytime 9 AM-3 PM
Test content type timing — Video: 7-9 PM; Articles: 9 AM-12 PM; Photos: 7-9 PM; Live: 12-1 PM or 7-9 PM
Consider time zones — If 50%+ audience is one zone, prioritize that; otherwise 9-10 AM EST hits most U.S. zones well
Batch-create posts — Create 10 posts on weekend, schedule throughout week at optimal times using Facebook scheduler
Set up UTM tracking — Add ?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social to links to track which posts drive traffic
Review monthly — Facebook algorithm changes frequently; check Insights every 30 days to ensure times stay optimal

Pro tip: Facebook's algorithm weighs engagement velocity in first hour. Posts that get 10 reactions + 5 comments in hour 1 get pushed to 5-10x more feeds than posts with 20 reactions over 24 hours.

FAQs About Facebook Posting Times

What is the best time to post on Facebook?

The best time to schedule Facebook posts is Wednesday and Friday between 9 AM-12 PM and 6-9 PM, when users check Facebook during morning routines and evening leisure time. According to Sprout Social's Facebook research, posts published during these windows receive 50-80% more reach and 2x more comments than off-peak content.

Should Facebook Pages post at different times than personal profiles?

Slightly. Facebook Pages perform best at 9 AM-12 PM and 6-9 PM (broad reach windows), while personal profile posts get steady engagement throughout the day. The best time to schedule Facebook posts for business Pages focuses on peak traffic times since organic reach is already limited (5-10% of followers see any post). Research from Meta Business Suite confirms timing matters more for Pages.

Does posting time matter more on Facebook than other platforms?

Yes and no. Facebook's 3-4 hour post lifespan means timing matters significantly—unlike TikTok (can go viral days later). But Facebook's algorithm is less time-sensitive than Instagram's. The best time to schedule Facebook posts matters most for initial reach, while content quality determines long-term sharing/commenting.

How do I find my Facebook Page's best posting time?

Check Page Insights: Insights → Posts → When Your Fans Are Online shows a heatmap of follower activity by day/hour. Post similar content at 9 AM, 12 PM, 3 PM, 7 PM over 4 weeks. Track reach and engagement rate (engagement ÷ reach) to identify YOUR optimal window. According to Hootsuite, audience patterns vary 30-40% by industry.

What's the worst time to post on Facebook?

2-6 AM is the worst time to schedule Facebook posts (when audiences sleep), along with late night after 11 PM. Also avoid: Sunday mornings before noon (low activity), mid-afternoon weekdays 2-4 PM (people working, not scrolling). Check YOUR Page Insights—worst times vary by audience demographics.

Can I schedule Facebook posts weeks in advance?

Yes. Facebook's native Meta Business Suite allows scheduling up to 75 days ahead. Third-party Facebook scheduling tools offer unlimited advance scheduling. Best practice: schedule 1-2 weeks out to maintain flexibility for real-time engagement while ensuring consistent 9 AM and 7 PM posting even during busy periods.

Do Facebook video posts need different timing than photo posts?

Yes. Video posts perform best at 7-9 PM (evening viewing time when people have attention for 1-3 minute videos), while photo posts work well at 9-11 AM (quick morning scrolling). The best time to schedule Facebook posts varies by content type—match format to audience behavior (quick content = morning, immersive content = evening).

Should I post more frequently or at better times on Facebook?

Quality timing beats quantity. Posting 1-2 times daily at optimal times (9 AM + 7 PM Wednesday-Friday) generates better total reach than posting 3-5x daily at random times. Facebook's algorithm limits organic reach to 5-10% per post, so maximizing that small window through optimal timing matters more than frequency. Research from Buffer confirms this pattern.

How does Facebook's algorithm use posting time?

Facebook's algorithm doesn't directly favor certain times, but posting when followers are active creates stronger early engagement signals (first-hour reactions/comments). The algorithm then pushes posts with strong signals to more feeds. The best time to schedule Facebook posts indirectly boosts algorithmic distribution by maximizing that critical first-hour performance window.

Do Facebook Groups need different timing than Pages?

Yes. Facebook Groups (community-focused) perform well at 8-10 AM and 7-10 PM when members check for discussions. Buy/Sell Groups peak Thursday-Sunday 9 AM-12 PM and 5-7 PM (shopping research times). Professional Groups follow LinkedIn patterns (work hours Tuesday-Thursday). Match timing to your Group's purpose and member demographics.

Related Resources

Scheduling Guides:

Best Time Guides (All Platforms):

Platform Schedulers:

Features:

Get Started:

Pro tip: Facebook's algorithm heavily weighs engagement velocity in the first hour. Posts that get 10 reactions and 5 comments in hour 1 get pushed to 5-10x more feeds than posts that get 20 reactions over 24 hours. Posting when your audience is actively online = stronger early engagement = exponentially better reach.

Jamie Partridge

Founder & CEO of PostEverywhere

Jamie Partridge is the Founder & CEO of PostEverywhere. He writes about social media strategy, publishing workflows, and analytics that help brands grow faster with less effort.