In 2024, with more than 530 million active users, X (formerly Twitter) continues to be a dynamic platform for engagement and communication. Identifying the best times to post on Twitter can greatly improve your social media strategy. By examining user behavior and current trends, we offer data-driven insights to help your tweets connect with the right audience at the most effective times.
Why Timing Your Tweets Matters
With recent updates to Twitter’s algorithm, the chronological feed has regained importance, making post timing more critical than ever.
Since 2016, Twitter has used an engagement-based feed, prioritizing popular posts over a time-based order. However, in response to user feedback, X now offers a toggle between “Top-ranked posts” and “Latest posts,” allowing users to switch to a reverse-chronological feed with a single click.
Many people overlook how crucial it is to tweet at the right time of day. When you put thought into what you’re posting, it’s natural to want that content to gain as much engagement as possible. To maximize your tweet’s reach, it’s essential that it’s seen by a wide audience. Knowing when your followers are most active allows you to post during peak times, increasing the chances of higher visibility and engagement.
So, what does this mean? In a reverse-chronological feed, users see posts as they’re shared, but recent updates soon replace them at the top. For this reason, posting when your audience is most active can significantly improve your tweet’s reach and engagement.
Insights from top social media marketing firms support this approach:
- G2 Learning Hub recommends weekdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., with peak engagement at 3 p.m. on Fridays;
- TrackMaven finds Thursday to be the most effective day for posting;
- HubSpot identifies the best times as 8-10 a.m. and 6-9 p.m;
- Metricool favors the 3-4 p.m. slot;
- Hootsuite highlights weekdays between 7:00 and 10:00 a.m. PST as peak times;
- Sprout Social recommends Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., and Fridays from 9 a.m. to noon;
- Social Pilot suggests posting on Monday and Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and Wednesday from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m;
- HowSociable suggests that 9-10 a.m. is ideal, with Friday as the top day.
To make the most of your Twitter experience, especially if you’re just starting out, explore this guide on how to use Twitter for beginners for practical tips and best practices.
Optimal Times to Post on X
The ideal time to post on Twitter, or X, is at 11 a.m. on Mondays and Fridays, with tweets posted at these times showing the highest engagement rates.
Tweeting at 11 a.m. on most weekdays consistently generates strong engagement, which aligns with the habits of many users. Statista data reveals that nearly 40% of X users are aged 25 to 34, who often check the app during lunch breaks or free moments in their day.
Engagement typically rises from early morning and peaks around midday, then gradually decreases as the workday wraps up around 5 p.m.
Other time slots can also yield positive results and are worth incorporating into your social media schedule. Twitter stands out from other platforms by attracting both night owls and early risers. Tweets posted at midnight on Sunday, Thursday, and Friday often perform well, and Monday at 4 a.m. is also a high-engagement time.
Let’s explore the best times to tweet in more detail.
Best Times to Post on X by Day
Use this schedule to plan your tweets for optimal engagement throughout the week.
- Monday: 4 a.m., 11 a.m., 4 p.m;
- Tuesday: 9 a.m., 11 a.m., 4 p.m;
- Wednesday: 12 p.m., 3 p.m., 4 p.m;
- Thursday: 12 a.m., 10 a.m., 11 a.m;
- Friday: 12 a.m., 11 a.m., 1 p.m;
- Saturday: 8 p.m., 9 p.m., 10 p.m;
- Sunday: 12 a.m., 3 p.m., 7 p.m.
Monday
The top time to post on Monday is 11 a.m., which tends to drive high engagement throughout the week. Other peak times include early morning at 4 a.m. and late afternoon at 4 p.m.
Recommended time: 12 p.m.
Tuesday
For Tuesday, the best time to tweet is 11 a.m. Additional time slots that perform well are 9 a.m. and 4 p.m.
Recommended time: 11 a.m.
Wednesday
Midday at 12 p.m. is ideal for posting on Wednesday, with other effective times at 3 p.m. and 4 p.m.
Recommended time: 12 p.m.
Thursday
On Thursday, midnight and 12 p.m. yield high engagement. For those who prefer daytime posting, 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. are also strong options.
Recommended time: 12 p.m.
Friday
The optimal time to post on Friday is 11 a.m., one of the best overall times for engagement. Additional times to consider are 12 a.m. and 1 p.m.
Recommended time: 11 a.m.
Saturday
On Saturday, peak posting times are between 8 p.m. and 10 p.m., with 10 p.m. showing the highest engagement. However, Saturday generally sees lower activity compared to weekdays.
Recommended time: 10 p.m.
Sunday
For Sunday, the best time to post is 7 p.m. Midnight and 3 p.m. are also effective, though they offer slightly less engagement.
Recommended time: 7 p.m.
Best Posting Times on Twitter by Industry
Finding the best times to post on X varies by industry, and while there’s no one-size-fits-all answer, current data offers valuable guidance. Factors like target audience, business goals, and content type all influence post performance.
Use this industry-specific data as a starting point to shape your posting schedule, and consider running tests to find your optimal times.
Ideal Times to Post for Hospitals & Healthcare
- Mondays at 11 a.m;
- Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and at 2 p.m;
- Thursdays from 10 a.m. to noon;
- Best Days: Wednesdays and Thursdays;
- Worst Day: Sundays.
Hospitals, clinics, and healthcare providers use social media for a variety of purposes beyond managing healthcare crises. Social media serves as a platform for educating the public, helping patients feel more at ease with healthcare visits and appointments, promoting programs for aspiring healthcare professionals, and reinforcing their role as pillars in the community.
Data shows that engagement for healthcare-related content typically begins around 9 a.m. and continues through the workday until about 5 p.m., with the most effective posting times being Mondays at 11 a.m., and Wednesdays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. By posting during these peak hours, hospitals and healthcare organizations can maximize their reach and connect more effectively with their audience.
Ideal Times to Post for Restaurants
- Wednesdays from noon to 3 p.m;
- Thursdays at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m;
- Best Days: Wednesdays and Thursdays;
- Worst Day: Sundays.
Over the past few years, the rise in online ordering and delivery apps has transformed how restaurants engage with their audience on social media. As a result, restaurants have seen more than double the engagement on X compared to previous years. Factors like the target audience and business goals influence how restaurants connect with their followers, often through unique promotions or timely updates.
Restaurants within the food and beverage industry find that most engagement occurs around lunch hours on weekdays. The best times to post on X for restaurants are typically during Wednesdays and Thursdays, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., when activity is highest among their audience. Posting at these times can help restaurants maximize visibility and engagement with customers.
Ideal Times to Post for Schools & Education
- Saturdays from 1 to 8 p.m;
- Best Day: Saturdays;
- Worst Day: Fridays.
Universities, higher education institutions, and schools have experienced a notable increase in engagement on X over the past year. Many institutions maintain multiple social profiles—such as those for specific colleges, athletics, or academic departments—to effectively reach distinct audiences and share tailored content at optimal times.
Compared to previous data, engagement for schools has shifted slightly later in the day. While engagement used to begin as early as 5 a.m., above-average activity now typically starts around 11 a.m. on weekdays. However, the most active and engaging period remains on Saturdays from 1 to 8 p.m.
A social media strategy for educational institutions must serve multiple purposes, from showcasing student life and school events to updating the community and engaging with current, prospective, and past students. By targeting these high-engagement times, schools can strengthen their online presence and better connect with their audience.
Ideal Times to Post for Travel & Hospitality
- Thursdays from 1 to 3 p.m;
- Fridays at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m;
- Sundays at 10 a.m. and noon;
- Best Days: Thursdays, Fridays, and Sundays;
- Worst Day: Tuesdays.
The travel and hospitality industries have seen a significant increase in engagement on X compared to the previous year. As the demand for travel has surged post-pandemic, many businesses in this sector have adjusted their strategies, leading to consistent engagement throughout the day.
While the best posting times for travel and hospitality may appear somewhat spread out, they align closely with typical business hours. For optimal results, the most effective times to post on X are Thursdays from 1 to 3 p.m., Fridays at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., and Sundays at 10 a.m. and noon. Posting during these windows allows travel and hospitality brands to reach a wider audience and engage more effectively.
Determining Your Optimal Times to Post on Twitter
For social marketers, using data to plan content can make posting strategies more effective. As platforms and audience behaviors shift, staying aware of new content formats and trends may help reach audiences in new ways, uncovering unexpected segments or personas.
Using Analytics to Find Your Best Posting Times on X
While general peak times are a helpful guide, combining this information with your own analytics on X can yield more precise results. Analyzing your specific audience’s activity may reveal that they engage at different times than the general trends suggest.
To identify the best times for your posts using X’s native analytics on desktop, follow these steps:
- Log in to Twitter, go to the homepage, and select “More”;
- Click on “Analytics” to access the Twitter analytics dashboard, where you can review an overview of your profile and posts.
By tailoring your posting schedule to your audience’s habits, you can boost engagement and connect with your followers at the most effective times.
Boost Engagement with Real-Time Monitoring
To take your engagement strategy even further, consider using a monitoring tool like Twilert. With automated alerts, Twilert helps you capture conversations about your brand or topics of interest, even when users forget to tag you or make typos. This allows you to quickly respond and capitalize on new opportunities, ensuring you’re part of the conversation whenever your audience is active.
Optimizing Twitter Post Timing for Maximum Engagement
To maximize visibility on X, posting at optimal times is essential for effective social media marketing. Consistency and strategic timing can greatly enhance the reach and impact of your tweets.
Here’s how to determine the best times to post:
- Identify Peak Time Slots: X users are more active at certain times, making these ideal windows for posting. However, these peak times vary based on your target audience, so consider their habits when scheduling tweets;
- Use Twitter Management Tools: Tools like Twilert and TweetDeck (now X Pro) provide comprehensive X monitoring and go beyond scheduling by offering insights into tweet performance. Analyzing this data helps you align posts with high-engagement periods, ensuring your content reaches more viewers effectively;
- Adjust Based on Your Business Needs: Tailor your posting strategy to your business type and goals. Use Twitter insights to evaluate engagement rates and fine-tune your posting schedule for optimal results;
- Maintain a Balanced Posting Frequency: While timing is crucial, frequency also matters. Avoid overloading or neglecting your audience. Aim to post at least once or twice daily to keep your content fresh and engaging.
Incorporating social monitoring tools into your strategy can help you stay up-to-date with relevant conversations, ensuring you never miss key engagement opportunities
By fine-tuning your timing and frequency, you can enhance your Twitter presence and maintain a stronger connection with your audience.
Best and Worst Days to Post on X
The top day for engagement on Twitter is Monday, with Friday following closely behind, and Tuesday in third place. Wednesday and Thursday also show strong engagement but slightly lower than the top days.
On the other hand, Saturday is the least effective day to post on X, with Sunday performing only slightly better. Although some times on Sunday may still yield decent engagement, overall, it’s generally more effective to focus your posting schedule on weekdays.
Most Effective Content Types to Post on Twitter
Video consistently ranks as the most engaging content format on social media, and X is no exception. This trend is likely to grow as X expands its video capabilities under new leadership.
In 2023, X introduced enhanced video options, including live streams and video downloads for X Premium subscribers. They’re even launching exclusive video content, with new shows hosted by well-known figures like a former CNN journalist, a politician, and a sports radio host.
Text-only tweets remain highly effective for engagement, coming in just behind video. In contrast, retweets, links, and images tend to generate lower engagement compared to video and text-only posts.
Final Thoughts
Using optimal posting times in your Twitter strategy can significantly improve engagement, visibility, and audience connection. By aligning your tweets with peak activity hours, you increase the chances of reaching more followers and generating higher interaction. Whether your goal is to build a personal brand or expand your business, these data-driven insights can help ensure your posts stand out in a busy feed, maximizing the impact of each tweet.
