Instagram Reel hashtags: Boost your Reel engagement

Instagram Reels are the new normal. According to WSJ report in 2024, users spent over 17.6 million hours watching Reels daily in 2022. Creators and brands can leverage Instagram videos by highlighting Instagram Reels hashtags, analytics, and ideas.

It’s no surprise that Instagram is the favorite social media network of millennials and Gen Zers. Features like Stories, Live, and Reels resonate with younger audiences more than others.

Top brands and social media influencers are crushing it on this platform, which inspires content creators to milk every Instagram growth strategy to turn things around.

Let’s crack this topic open.

What are Instagram Reel hashtags and why do they matter?

Instagram is one of the Meta-owned social media platforms with over 2 billion monthly active users worldwide. Since Reels are vertical videos on Instagram, every aspect of this feature is worth understanding.

Instagram Reels hashtags are the keywords preceded by the hash signs for categorizing and tracking Instagram content. Reel hashtags allow users to discover and consume relevant video content on Instagram.

Related Read: How to create hashtags using AI

Take a look at some four benefits of Instagram Reels hashtags to comprehend why they matter on the platform:

1. Help make content discoverable

First things first, hashtags extend your content’s reach by making it discoverable on the platform – Instagram Reel hashtags are no different.

Ultimately, they work more like tags, so they tie similar content under the same hashtag. The only caveat is that such posts must be using the same hashtag.

Here’s an example: Autofest used fewer but relevant hashtags as they know such hashtags can make their Reel discoverable on Instagram.

2. Add relevance to the captions

Instagram allows the use of hashtags in captions, comments, and searches. One of the benefits of Instagram Reels hashtags is that they bring relevance to the content.

It’s no secret that inserting relevant hashtags in captions or comments helps the Instagram platform identify, rank, and recommend pictures and videos on the platform.

For instance, Potatologics used relevant hashtags to make its Instagram post pop on the platform. 

3. Make descriptions more scannable

Besides adding to the comments or titles, hashtags are used in the captions or descriptions of the social media content. The purpose of using them is to explain what the content is all about.

Adding relevant, meaningful hashtags to the Instagram reel captions or descriptions enables the audience to scan the text more easily. So, Reel hashtags provide convenience in content consumption.

Example: Huaweiekit has used a hashtag in their caption, which makes their caption more scannable and attractive.

4. Improve content visibility in the search

One of the biggest benefits of using the Reels hashtags is that they improve Reels’ visibility in the Instagram search. Many people use hashtags while searching for specific content on all social media platforms, especially Instagram.

While hashtags may not make your Instagram post go viral, they could help improve post reach and visibility.

So, that’s why it’s vital to use fewer, relevant hashtags when publishing Instagram Reels.

Here are the posts ranking on top in Instagram search for the hashtag #cybermondaysale:

So, hashtags can turn things around for your Instagram Reels if done right. 

Best Instagram Reel hashtags for 2025

Instagram Reel hashtags are available for almost every major niche, but the competition may vary from niche to niche. However, hunting down the best Instagram Reel hashtags to use in your Reel videos is vital.

The ideal percentage of using hashtags on Instagram is 50% low, 30% medium, and 20% high competition hashtags. Usually, the shorter the hashtag, the higher the competition.

Let’s take a look at some of the popular Reels hashtags across multiple niches:

Trending hashtags

Trending hashtags are pretty much the common hashtags used by every type of Instagram account, regardless of their niche. Here’s the combination of different trending hashtags for Instagram Reels:

• #reelsinstagram
• #instagram
• #viral
• #trending
• #explorepage
• #instagood
• #fyp
• #reelsvideo
• #trendingreels
• #foryou
• #instadaily
• #followforfollowback
• #viralreels
• #instagramreels
• #instareels
• #likeforlikes

Niche-specific hashtags

Every niche has a different set of hashtags that are worth using. For instance, social media marketing niche has certain Reel hashtags that make a huge difference. Let’s take a look at them:

• #socialmediamarketing
• #socialmediamarketingtips
• #socialmediamarketingstrategy
• #socialmediamarketing101
• #socialmediamanagement
• #digitalmarketing
• #socialmedia
• #contentmarketing
• #onlinemarketing
• #socialmediamanager
• #marketingstrategy
• #graphicdesign
• #smallbusiness
• #instagrammarketing
• #b2cmarketing
• #b2bmarketing

Community hashtags

Following are the Instagram Reel hashtags that might come in handy when posting content around specific groups or communities:

• #communityhashtag
• #instagramhashtags
• #instagramstrategy
• #community
• #nonprofit
• #crossfit
• #giveback
• #collaboration
• #runningcommunity
• #photobugcommunity
• #beautycommunity
• #yogacommunity
• #hijaberscommunity
• #wwcommunity
• #wlscommunity
• #bookcommunity
• #contentcreator
• #contentcreation
• #onlinebusiness

Ecommerce hashtags

Let’s take a look at some of the popular ecommerce-related Reels hashtags:

• #ecommercewebsite
• #onlineshop
• #ecommercebusiness
• #ecommercetips
• #ecommercestore
• #ecommercephotography
• #ecommercemarketing
• #wordpress
• #dropshipping
• #websitedesign
• #shopify
• #ecommercedevelopment
• #ecommercesolutions
• #instaecommerce
• #ecommerceplatform
• #ecommerceentrepreneur
• #onlineshopping
• #shoppingonline

Business hashtags

Business hashtags are widely used by many businesses, brands, agencies, and organizations. These types of Instagram Reel hashtags are generic and can be used for all types of businesses:

• #emailmarketing
• #entrepreneur
• #motivation
• #entrepreneur
• #marketing
• #mindset
• #entrepreneurship
• #smallbusiness
• #startup
• #onlinebusiness
• #investing
• #b2bmarketing
• #b2bsales
• #businessgrowth
• #businessowner

Branded hashtags

Branded hashtags are the specific hashtags on social media that contain a brand or product name. The audience may not be huge for every branded hashtag, but these hashtags are used by loyal customers or engaged audiences on social media. Let’s take a sneak peek at some branded hashtags:

• #shopifyseller
• #shopifyexperts
• #shopifystore
• #shopifydropshipping
• #notiontemplate
• #notionapp
• #notiontips
• #notiontemplates
• #wordpresstheme
• #wordpressblogger
• #wordpressthemes
• #woocommerce
• #wordpressblog
• #wordpressdeveloper
• #webdeveloper
• #wordpresswebsite
• #wordpressdesign

Seasonal/Event hashtags

Seasonal or event-based hashtags are prevalent on social media. Users try to use seasonal hashtags when they’re relevant, and that’s the smart thing to do. Here are some of the seasonal hashtag examples:

• #spookyseason
• #spooky
• #halloweencostume
• #halloweendecor
• #happyhalloween
• #trickortreat
• #halloweenmakeup
• #blackfriday
• #blackfridaysale
• #blackfridaydeals
• #cybermonday
• #blackweek
• #thanksgiving
• #blackfridayshopping
• #blackfridaysales
• #shopsmall
• #explorepage
• #giftideas

So these are some of the top Reels hashtags users must keep an eye on when creating, publishing, or discovering Instagram Reels content.

How to research and find the best hashtags for your Reels

Before we jump on the bandwagon to grab a bunch of popular Instagram Reel hashtags to use in the content, it’s essential to do some due diligence on the type of hashtags to utilize in the Reels.

Simply put, a Reel about social media marketing doesn’t need hashtags related to e-commerce when the Reel doesn’t have anything to do with e-commerce.

Hunting for the best Reels hashtags is no easy game. One has to sharpen the social media marketing skills to pull this off. Allow us to share some of the best techniques to discover attention-stealing hashtags for Reels:

Spy on competitors to see what hashtags they’re using

First things first, you must be aware of what your competitors are up to. Spying on their Reels hashtags strategy is crucial to identifying, and choosing the appropriate Instagram hashtags.

Utilize the Explore page to find your competitors, see what type of Reel content they’re putting, and what kind of hashtags they’re adding to their Instagram Reels.

Use the Instagram analytics tools to find the high-demand hashtags

Eliminate the guesswork from your Instagram Reels hashtag research and utilize the available resources at your disposal. The Reels hashtags strategy would immensely improve once you apply multiple tactics to find better hashtags.

One of the things you can use to find the best Reels hashtags is the hashtags analysis tools. Not only do they analyze hashtags, but they also help discover untapped hashtags for you.

For instance, ContentStudio has a free Instagram competitor analytics tool that goes deep and discovers a lot of comparison data between two Business accounts.

Some of the well-known reel hashtag discovery and competition analysis tools are mentioned below:

• ContentStudio
• Flick
• Metricool
• Minter.io
• Instagram Insights
• InsTrack

Capitalize on the AI-powered hashtag generators

Using AI doesn’t only mean asking ChatGPT for suggestions or creating AI-powered tools to create images. There are AI-based hashtags available now to take your hashtag generation to the next level.

ContentStudio has a powerful hashtag feature called AI Hashtag Generator that allows users to quickly create relevant, effective hashtags for social media content.

To use the AI Hashtag Generator, it requires at least 100 characters long description in the Post Composer section to be able to analyze it and generate hashtag suggestions.

Furthermore, there is a free Instagram Hashtag Generator built by ContentStudio to get Instagram hashtag ideas.

Utilize the Instagram search to hunt for the hashtags

Like the Instagram Explore page showcasing trending and recommended content, Instagram Search is another important resource for finding relevant hashtags.

To find the hashtags, go to the Explore page and type in the “keyword” or “# + keyword,” and you’ll start to see the hashtag recommendations (even before hitting the search button).

Interestingly, Instagram search doesn’t only help you discover hashtags, but it also gives you a hint about how many posts have recently used this hashtag.

Analyze your niche to identify the potential hashtags

Don’t just rely on a specific source to find the best hashtags. Instead, try to dig deeper into your niche to see the potential topics, ideas, and keywords that could be used as Reels hashtags.

For instance, Google Trends can be yet another important source for finding niche topics, ideas, and hashtags:

Sure, it’s best to only use the existing, popular hashtags to get some traction, but don’t shy away from testing lesser-known, relevant hashtags for a change.

So, these are some tactics to apply to find the best Reels hashtags for boosting engagement and the number of followers.

Best practices for using hashtags on Instagram Reels

Putting out Instagram Reels without adding a decent caption or completely ignoring hashtags won’t help the cause. Here are a few best practices for using hashtags on Instagram Reels:

1. Avoid using short, generic hashtags

Short and generic hashtags are highly competitive and unlikely to make your content stand out regardless of the niche. The primary reason why short hashtags don’t work is they are overused, which makes them highly competitive.

In other words, your Reels will likely get buried in the hundreds of thousands of similar posts. Instead, focus on more specific and slightly longer hashtags relevant to your topic. Ensure that most of these hashtags exist and are being used on Instagram.

For instance, take a look at this Instagram account:

This Instagram Reel could have much better hashtags. So, try using slightly bigger yet meaningful hashtags.

2. Discover niche hashtags to include

Hunt down the most niche hashtags in your industry and double-check to ensure that these hashtags are relevant and less competitive. 

The reason why it’s beneficial to find niche hashtags is that these types of hashtags target a specific segment of the audience interested in a particular topic. Plus, such market segments usually have lower competition and better engagement rates.

Here’s a good example:

Don’t sleep on the hashtag research; keep an eye on the hashtags used by similar creators or communities to connect with the right audience.

3. Don’t bombard Reel captions with hashtags

Any part of the Instagram Reel that gives a spammy vibe is a red flag. Be careful when writing lengthy captions, hefty comments, and bulky hashtags.

Avoiding overloading your Reel captions with hashtags can make them look cluttered and unprofessional. The ideal number for Reel hashtags is between 5 to 10 highly relevant hashtags. Focus on quality more than quantity when choosing hashtags.

Dr. Sethi knows how to use fewer, relevant hashtags in Reels. Check out this example:

4. Add a small percentage of branded hashtags

There is no right or wrong way of creating a combination of Instagram Reels hashtags. However, most social media influencers pay attention to adding at least a couple of branded hashtags on Instagram.

Branded hashtags help build your brand identity and make your content easily discoverable. Use a mix of one or two branded hashtags alongside niche ones. These can include your business name, tagline, or a campaign-specific phrase.

The team at SharkTank Pakistan knows how to use the branded hashtags on Instagram:

5. Organise your Instagram hashtags for later use

Finding the right set of Instagram for each campaign or occasion isn’t easy. Therefore, saving the hashtag sets for different types of Instagram content would be smart.

Use any note-taking app to save your hashtags if you like to manage things manually. 

If you’re a ContentStudio user, you can save your hashtags for later use. It allows users to group the hashtags on themes, target audiences, or campaigns. Users can quickly access the hashtags the next time they need to use the same hashtags.

Conclusion

Instagram Reel hashtags are not rocket science. Discovering and utilizing medium to low-competition hashtags just takes a little effort.

Newbie users make the common mistake of using generic, short hashtags, which is a no-go. Instead, find a combination of five to ten less competitive, relevant hashtags to stand out from the crowd.

One of the secrets of pulling this “Instagram Reel hashtag” thing off is to be well aware of the certain audience traits of your industry, such as behaviors, likes and dislikes, and struggles/pain points. Not only should users create Reels around those topics, but they should also use them in the hashtags.

FAQs

Let’s shed some light on the commonly asked questions about Instagram Reel hashtags:

How do hashtags help in making Reels go viral?

Since hashtags tag Reels with similar content being shared using the same hashtags, it allows the Reels to get discovered. Most Reels go viral due to the topic, creativity, keyword targeting, and hashtag selection.

How many hashtags should I use on Instagram Reels for maximum reach?

It’s best to use 5 to 10 hashtags in Instagram Reels. Some users use between 20 to 30, but it’s entirely up to every individual user. Make sure that your Instagram caption doesn’t look crowded or spammy.

What are other tips to make Reels go viral besides hashtags?

Instagram is a visual platform, so ensure you provide the audience a pleasant, creative, and appealing experience. Don’t neglect the topics and keywords either; selecting the niche topics is necessary to attract your target audience. Furthermore, Reels are usually 15 to 60-second videos (but you can upload up to 60-minute-long videos), so try to captivate the audience in your Reels as soon as possible.

Can reels go viral without hashtags?

Reels can certainly go viral without hashtags. Several factors come into play, for instance, the engagement rate of an influencer is likely to be higher than a newbie. Therefore, when an influencer shares a Reel, this person is likely to get better clickability, comments, shares, and likes than the newbie. So, engagement metrics determine how popular a Reel video gets over the next few days, weeks, and months.

What is the best hashtag for reels?

Every niche has different hashtags. To find the best hashtags for your niche, it’s important to research industry-related topics, products, services, customer queries, audience pain points, and FAQs. It’ll help you discover the best Reel hashtags for your niche.