Hashtags help make your social media content easier to find and can do wonders for increasing the reach and popularity of your content. Instagram Reels are a staple feature of the platform. Therefore, pairing it with hashtags, another core feature, is necessary to take your content to the next level.
In this article, we’re going to share 80 Instagram Reels hashtag ideas to help you go viral. If you want to get more views, likes, comments, shares, and followers on Instagram Reels, these Instagram Reels hashtag ideas will get you there. Not convinced? Let’s take a look at the benefits of using hashtags.
Best Instagram Reels Hashtags:
What Are the Benefits of Using Hashtags?
Hashtags are a great way to expand your reach and increase engagement on social media platforms like TikTok, Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. Here are some of the key benefits you’ll get from using hashtags in your social media marketing strategy.
Engagement
Hashtags are the easiest way to get your content in front of the people looking for it. Adding hashtags to your posts lets you join in the conversation that’s going on for a certain topic and the people searching for or following the hashtags you use will have the chance to see your content. When you increase your reach, engagement is likely to follow.
Brand Awareness/Brand Affinity
Hashtags can also be useful for increasing brand awareness and brand affinity. Many businesses use branded hashtags to promote their business. These can be very helpful in driving traffic to your content and increasing engagement—particularly if you use branded hashtags to create fun challenges.
When it comes to branded hashtags, there's no better example to mention than Nike's #JustDoIt hashtag. Used on everything from fitness reels to memes, their hashtag has more than 20 million posts on Instagram.
Brand Values
You can use hashtags to communicate your brand’s values and show support for social issues you’re passionate about. This shows your followers that you’re more than just a brand and younger audiences are especially happy to know that they’re supporting businesses that support the issues they care about, too.
Target Audience
Hashtags can help your target audience find you on social media and help you get your content in front of the right people. Users can search and follow hashtags that they’re interested in. When you use those hashtags, the users interested in those hashtags have a much better chance of finding your content.
What Is Instagram Reels?
Instagram Reels is a new feature offered by Instagram that’s intended to be used as a TikTok alternative. Like TikTok, Instagram Reels are used to create short-form video content set to music or other sounds. Instagram Reels can be shared to creators’ Stories, the Reels tab on their profile, and, if their profile is public, on the Explore Feed. Creators can add hashtags to their Instagram Reels to increase the likelihood that the right viewers will find their way to the right content.
This Instagram feature is perfect for Instagram influencers who already have a following on the platform and don’t want to have to build their following again on TikTok. Plus, with TikTok’s banning in India and its uncertain future in the United States, it’s possible that TikTok might not be an option for creators in those countries anyway.
How to Create an Instagram Reel
Creating and sharing Instagram Reels is easy. Here’s how to do it:
1. Record and Edit Your Video
In the Instagram app, open the camera and choose the Reels option.
From there, you can choose your background sound or music before recording your video. You can record your own sound with your video or use a sound from the Instagram library. If you use original audio, other users will be able to add that sound to their own videos using the Use Audio option. Alternatively, you could create better Reels by using ready-made templates.
Now it’s time to record your video and add effects. You can even speed up or slow down your video for added effect. Instagram Reels also has a timer so you can record your reels hands-free if you want.
Before moving on, think about the caption and hashtags you want to include with your video. It’s important to use hashtags on your reels to make them easier to find. Add relevant hashtags to your video, and include a mix of trending hashtags and niche hashtags that match your reel’s content. If you’re not sure what hashtags to include, keep reading! We’ll be sharing a list of Instagram Reels hashtag ideas that are sure to get your content seen.
2. Share
Once you’ve created your Instagram Reels video, you’re ready to share it with the world. Instagram Reels has several sharing options: creators can share reels on Instagram’s Explore Feed, the Reels Feed, on Instagram Stories, and via Direct Message. You can even add reels to your Instagram profile as Highlights that stay available on your profile. You also have the option to tag friends in your Instagram Reels, too.
For the best visibility, you should set your account to “Public” and post your Instagram Reels on your Reels Feed. Instagram wants this newest feature to be a success so reels published on Instagram are getting a boost in organic reach. And, the Instagram Explore Feed also shows reels.
We recommend using a combination of effects, music, and hashtags in your reels to get the maximum reach from your videos. Instagram users can search for new reels using hashtags, songs, or effects, so as more ways you can get your video viewed, the better!
3. Watch
After your video has been uploaded, it will be available for you and your followers to view. If your Instagram account is public, your Instagram Reels will be shared on the Explore Feed where it is available for viewing by all Instagram users. And, of course, your video will be accessible from searches for the effect, sounds, hashtags, and more used to categorize it.
Why Use Instagram Reels Hashtags?
We’ve already covered some of the benefits of using hashtags, but you may be wondering why it’s so important to use them in your Instagram Reels content.
To start with, hashtags can help you group content. These could be either general hashtags that are used by many Instagram users or niche and brand-specific hashtags. This type of hashtag can help increase interest in your content as well as group a specific product or campaign together.
Hashtags can also be used to increase your following on Instagram, as we mentioned earlier. But there’s no real benefit to your brand if you’re filling your follower rolls with people who aren’t actually interested in your brand, products, and services. When you use the right hashtags on your Instagram Reels content, your posts will be discoverable by users who have similar interests as you, and who are more likely to be interested in buying your products and services. Even if they don’t end up following you, getting your content viewed puts you on their radar so they’re more likely to recall your brand when they see your content again.
Instagram has over a billion active monthly users. With so many users on the platform, the likelihood of your content getting in front of the right people by chance is pretty slim. However, hashtags help Instagram organize and collect your posts, increasing the odds that your content gets in front of the people who want to see it.
80 Top Instagram Reels Hashtags
As you’ve learned by now, hashtags make it a lot easier for viewers to find your content on social media. Here are 80 of the top Instagram Reels hashtags you can use to help you go viral.
- #reels
- #reelsvideo
- #reelsinstagram
- #reelsindia
- #holareels
- #reelsbrasil
- #reelsteady
- #instagramreels
- #reelsinsta
- #instareels
- #reelsofinstagram
- #fashion
- #music
- #bhfyp
- #disney
- #littlestoriesofmylife
- #tiktokindia
- #videoftheday
- #foryoupage
- #fyp
- #reelsviral
- #instagood
- #instadaily
- #explorepage
- #viralvideos
- #igaddict
- #instafamous
- #reelvideo
- #newreel
- #videooftheday
- #love
- #viral
- #trending
- #foryou
- #reelitfeelit
- #explore
- #like4like
- #likeforlike
- #firstreel
- #newsfeed
- #bestreels
- #instamoment
- #challenge
- #trendingreels
- #igreels
- #reelsforyou
- #outfitoftheday
- #reelseat
- #reelsportswear
- #reelshutter
- #outfitinspiration
- #streetwearstyle
- #instafeeds
- #indianreels
- #bantiktokindia
- #viralreels
- #quarentenachallenge
- #reelsmemes
- #botaodabelezachallenge
- #tiktokbrasil
- #bestvideos
- #trendingvideo
- #reelinstagram
- #trendingposts
- #videosinstagram
- #instagramreelsindia
- #tiktokbanindia
- #indiatiktok
- #shimanoreels
- #nature
- #style
- #marketing
- #makeup
- #beauty
- #funny
- #travel
- #follow4follow
- #picoftheday
- #instamood
Use the Right Hashtags for Your Brand
If you want to use hashtags to make your content stand out, you’ll need to really take the time to find and use the right hashtags for your brand. This means you need to find balance in the hashtags you choose for your content. Using the most popular Instagram hashtags might seem like a good way to get your content found, but the popular hashtags are typically popular because more people use them. It’s a lot harder to get found in a sea of 1 billion posts than it is in 10,000 posts.
We recommend using standard SEO best practices when choosing hashtags for your Instagram Reels content. Similar to trying to rank on search engines, Instagram creators tend to have an easier time getting eyes on their content when they use targeted hashtags like #nycbookstore instead of #books.
That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t include the more popular hashtags; you absolutely should! It just means that you should focus first on hashtags that have smaller followings and usage while still including the more generic hashtags, too. You can also use hashtags meant to apply to a specific type of post. This could result in hashtags for your NYC bookstore being “#nycbookstore,” “#books,” and “#reeloftheday.”
Ideally, you should use our Instagram Hashtag Generator to find some amazing options that you can adjust for use on your Instagram Reels content.
How to Find the Best Instagram Reels Hashtag Ideas
In addition to our Instagram Hashtag Generator, here are four key ways to find Instagram Reels hashtag ideas to make your content pop.
Search
To find the best Instagram Reels hashtags to use, you can start by tapping the magnifying glass icon at the bottom of the screen. This will bring up the search function as well as show you popular videos and trends on Instagram.
You can tap the topics at the top of the screen to see videos for those specific themes. Or, enter a keyword in the search bar at the top of the screen to look for hashtags, users, sounds, and more to guide your hashtag choices. Using our bookstore example from earlier, we’ll search for “books” and see what comes up.
In the search results, you’ll see tabs for:
- For you: This shows the top results for your search term and may be different based on your app use.
- Accounts: This shows the most relevant accounts based on your search.
- Reels: This displays popular short video clips related to your search term.
- Audio: This section provides access to audio tracks and sounds related to your search.
- Tags: This shows the most relevant and popular hashtags based on your search term.
Competitor Research
Another way to find the top Instagram Reels hashtag ideas is by identifying the most popular Instagram influencers and brands on the platform. This is an even better method of finding hashtag ideas if you look for the influencers or brands you want to be competitive against. Once you find them, take a look at their videos. What hashtags are they using? How are they using them? Anything you can find out about your competitors in your industry or niche will help you.
For example, the Beauty brand Sephora tends to use branded hashtags in their Reels videos.
Using branded hashtags not only increases brand awareness but also allows Sephora to get to know its community better. By clicking on the hashtag, they can see everyone who creates content around their brand, which also allows them the opportunity to collaborate with some of the community.
Other Social Networks
A hashtag that’s trending on TikTok, Triller, or in regular Instagram posts and stories but hasn’t made its way to Instagram Reels is a brilliant way to skyrocket to the top of the trending list. Along with our Instagram hashtag generator we shared earlier, you can also use our TikTok hashtag generator to get some ideas, or just search for popular hashtags right from those platforms.
Social Listening
Social listening and social media monitoring are vital if you want to get valuable information about what your target audience wants from your brand or how they feel about your brand. What’s great about social listening tools is that the data can be applied to hashtags, too.
These tools analyze social media data to identify trending topics and conversations, helping you find related hashtags. They also segment data based on audience interests and behaviors, tailoring your hashtag strategy.
For example, Sprout Social’s hashtag tracking tool can help you discover which hashtags work best for your social media strategy. Sprout allows you to track the most-used and top hashtags, providing insights into which hashtags garner the most engagement. This information can be incorporated into your publishing strategy for increased reach. Additionally, you can add key hashtags to your Instagram Reels to see how they’re being used, ensuring you engage in important conversations relevant to your brand.
Source: Sprout Social
Best Practices for Using Instagram Reels Hashtags
Using hashtags on Instagram Reels is crucial for maximizing your reach and engagement. To get the most out of your hashtags, follow these best practices:
Mix Popular and Niche Hashtags
While popular hashtags can help you reach a broader audience, niche hashtags are essential for targeting a specific group of users who are more likely to be interested in your content. Use a combination of both to balance reach and relevance. For instance, if you're posting a fashion Reel, you might use broad hashtags like #fashion and #style, along with more specific ones like #vintagefashion or #sustainablefashion.
Limit the Number of Hashtags
Though Instagram allows you to use up to 30 hashtags per post, it’s best to limit your hashtags to around 5-10 for each Reel. Using too many hashtags can look spammy and detract from your content. Focus on the most relevant and high-performing hashtags to keep your post clean and effective.
Use Hashtags in Captions and Comments
You can place hashtags in your captions or in the first comment of your post. Both methods are effective, but using them in comments can keep your captions looking neat and focused. Decide what works best for your brand’s aesthetic and engagement strategy.
Again, if we look at Sephora's IG Reel hashtag strategy, we can actually see that they add branded hashtags in the first comment. Here's another example of their strategy at work.
Create and Use Branded Hashtags
Creating a unique branded hashtag can help promote your business and encourage user-generated content. Encourage your followers to use your branded hashtag in their posts to increase brand visibility and create a sense of community around your brand. Yet again, Nike’s #JustDoIt slogan is a perfect example of how a simple branded hashtag can drive millions of posts back to your brand.
Update Your Hashtags Regularly
Trends on social media change rapidly, and what’s popular today might not be tomorrow. Regularly update your hashtag strategy to include new trending hashtags and remove those that are no longer relevant. This keeps your content fresh and ensures it continues to reach the right audience.
Analyze Hashtag Performance
Use Instagram Insights to track how well your hashtags are performing. Look at metrics such as reach, impressions, and engagement to see which hashtags are driving the most traffic to your Reels. This data can help you refine your hashtag strategy over time and make more informed decisions.
Instagram Reels Hashtag Ideas to Make Your Content Stand Out
Instagram Reels is the latest in a line of features and apps that are incredibly useful for getting and keeping customer attention so you can grow your reach on social media. Using the Instagram Reels hashtag ideas we’ve included here, along with the hashtags you find during your research, will help you increase your views fast.
