Timing matters on LinkedIn. Posting when your audience is most active can double or triple your engagement. Here's everything you need to know about when to publish for maximum reach.
The Best Times to Post on LinkedIn (2025 Data)
🏆 Overall Best Times (All Industries)
- Tuesday - Thursday: 8-10 AM and 12-1 PM (local time)
- Wednesday: Consistently the highest engagement day
- Avoid: Weekends, Monday mornings, Friday afternoons
Posting Times by Time Zone
United States (EST/PST)
| Time (EST) | Time (PST) | Performance | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8-10 AM | 5-7 AM | Excellent | Morning coffee scroll |
| 12-1 PM | 9-10 AM | Excellent | Lunch break browsing |
| 5-6 PM | 2-3 PM | Good | End of workday |
| 7-8 AM | 4-5 AM | Moderate | Early commute |
| After 8 PM | After 5 PM | Poor | Personal time |
Europe (CET/GMT)
| Time (CET) | Time (GMT) | Performance | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9-11 AM | 8-10 AM | Excellent | Mid-morning productivity dip |
| 1-2 PM | 12-1 PM | Excellent | After lunch check-in |
| 5-6 PM | 4-5 PM | Good | Workday wrap-up |
Best Days of the Week
Ranked by Engagement
- Wednesday - Peak engagement, highest reach (100% baseline)
- Tuesday - Strong performance (95% of Wednesday)
- Thursday - Solid engagement (90% of Wednesday)
- Monday - Moderate, but competitive (75% of Wednesday)
- Friday - Declining engagement afternoon (60% of Wednesday)
- Saturday - Low professional audience (30% of Wednesday)
- Sunday - Lowest engagement (25% of Wednesday)
💡 Weekend Strategy
While weekends have lower overall engagement, they also have less competition. If your audience includes entrepreneurs and solopreneurs who work weekends, Sunday evening (6-8 PM) can be surprisingly effective.
Timing by Industry
B2B Tech & SaaS
- Best: Tuesday-Thursday, 8-10 AM
- Worst: Weekends
- Note: This audience is highly active during work hours
Marketing & Creative
- Best: Wednesday, 12-1 PM
- Worst: Monday morning
- Note: Lunch breaks see high engagement for inspiration-seeking
Finance & Consulting
- Best: Tuesday-Wednesday, 7-8 AM
- Worst: Friday afternoon
- Note: Early risers, check LinkedIn before meetings start
Healthcare & Education
- Best: Wednesday, 7-8 AM or 5-6 PM
- Worst: Weekdays 9 AM-3 PM (busy with patients/students)
- Note: Active outside direct work hours
Entrepreneurs & Solopreneurs
- Best: Sunday 6-8 PM, Tuesday-Thursday 8-10 AM
- Worst: Friday-Saturday
- Note: Sunday evening planning + weekday mornings
Global Audience Strategy
If you have a global audience, here's how to maximize reach:
Option 1: Sweet Spot Timing
Post at times that overlap multiple time zones:
- 9 AM EST = 2 PM London = 6 AM LA (catches US East, Europe, US West)
- 1 PM EST = 6 PM London = 10 AM LA (catches US East afternoon, Europe evening, US West morning)
Option 2: Post Twice
Share the same content at different times (24+ hours apart):
- Post 1: Tuesday 9 AM EST (for US East + Europe)
- Post 2: Wednesday 9 AM PST (for US West + Asia-Pacific)
Option 3: Regional Content
Create region-specific content for peak times in each zone
The 1-Hour Engagement Rule
🚨 Critical: Timing is only half the equation
You must be available for the first hour after posting to engage with comments. Posting at 8 AM when you have back-to-back meetings defeats the purpose. Choose times when you can actively respond.
How to Find YOUR Best Time
Generic advice is a starting point. Here's how to discover your audience's unique patterns:
Step 1: Test 4 Different Times (2 Weeks)
- Week 1: Tuesday 9 AM, Wednesday 12 PM
- Week 2: Tuesday 12 PM, Wednesday 9 AM
- Track: Impressions, engagement rate, comments
Step 2: Check LinkedIn Analytics
- Go to your profile → Analytics → Visitor metrics
- Check "When your followers are online"
- Look for peaks in activity
Step 3: Survey Your Audience
- Post a poll: "When do you scroll LinkedIn?"
- Options: Morning coffee / Lunch break / Evening / Random
- Use results to guide timing
Step 4: Double Down on Winners
- Identify your top 2 performing times
- Make these your consistent posting schedule
- Retest quarterly as audience evolves
Factors More Important Than Timing
Don't let timing obsession distract from what really matters:
- Content Quality - Great content at 9 PM beats mediocre content at 9 AM
- Hook Strength - First 2 lines determine if people stop scrolling
- Your Engagement - Responding to comments in first hour matters more than posting time
- Consistency - Posting regularly beats posting at "perfect" times sporadically
- Value Delivery - Actionable insights beat perfectly-timed fluff
✅ The Real Secret
The best time to post is when YOU can dedicate the next hour to engaging with your audience. Timing without engagement is like planting seeds and never watering them.
Advanced Timing Strategies
1. The Serial Poster Strategy
Post 3-5 times per week at the SAME time. This trains:
- Your audience to expect your content
- The algorithm to recognize your pattern
- Yourself to build a sustainable habit
2. The Contrarian Approach
If you're in a crowded niche, consider posting when others don't:
- Sunday 7 PM (less competition)
- Friday 3 PM (audience seeking distraction)
- Monday 7 AM (eager early-week crowd)
3. The Event Hijacker
Post immediately after major industry events:
- Conference keynotes
- Product launches
- Industry news breaks
People are actively discussing - ride the wave.
4. The Multi-Format Mix
Different formats perform better at different times:
- Text posts: Morning (8-10 AM)
- Carousels: Lunch (12-1 PM) - people have time to swipe
- Videos: Evening (5-6 PM) - commute time
Quick Reference: Best Times Cheat Sheet
🕐 Copy & Save This
- 🏆 Best Overall: Tuesday-Thursday, 8-10 AM or 12-1 PM (local)
- 🥈 Good Alternative: Wednesday, 5-6 PM
- ⚠️ Avoid: Weekends, Monday morning, Friday 3+ PM
- 🎯 Global Audience: 9 AM EST or 1 PM EST
- 🔄 Consistency Wins: Same time weekly > perfect time inconsistently
- ⏰ Golden Rule: Post when you can engage for the next hour
Common Timing Mistakes to Avoid
Mistake 1: Posting and Ghosting
Posting at peak time then disappearing. The algorithm rewards engagement, not just timing.
Mistake 2: Following US Times Blindly
If your audience is in Europe, US peak times are terrible for you. Know your audience.
Mistake 3: Perfectionism Paralysis
Waiting for the "perfect" time and never posting. Done beats perfect.
Mistake 4: Ignoring Your Analytics
Generic advice is a starting point. Your specific audience might behave differently.
Mistake 5: Timing Over Quality
Rushing to post at 9 AM with mediocre content. Quality matters more than timing.
Ready to Optimize Your Posting Schedule?
Use our LinkedIn Post Formatter to prepare your content in advance, then schedule it for your optimal times. Check out our LinkedIn Algorithm Guide to understand how timing fits into the bigger picture.
Disclaimer: Best posting times are based on industry research and data analysis as of 2025. Your specific audience behavior may vary. Always test and optimize based on your own analytics. This information is provided as-is for educational purposes.