What is a good engagement rate on Instagram in 2026?
In 2026, a good Instagram engagement rate is 1.5–3% for accounts over 100K followers, 3–6% for 10K–100K, and 6%+ for accounts under 10K. Anything above 5% at 100K+ is elite and commands premium sponsorship rates. Reels engagement runs 2–4× higher than static feed posts.
Instagram engagement rate benchmarks (2026)
| Follower tier | Good | Elite |
|---|---|---|
| Under 10K (nano) | 6–10% | 12%+ |
| 10K–100K (micro) | 3–6% | 8%+ |
| 100K–1M (mid/macro) | 1.5–3% | 5%+ |
| 1M+ (mega) | 1–2% | 3%+ |
Context
Engagement rate = (likes + comments + saves + shares) / follower count for a given post. It declines with follower count because larger accounts inevitably accumulate inactive followers. Reels rewrote the benchmarks — Reels views inflate the denominator, so many creators now report engagement as a percentage of reach, not follower count.
Methodology
Compiled from public influencer marketing reports (2025–2026), cross-referenced with sponsorship deal disclosures where creators shared their rate + engagement together.
Model your own numbers
Related reading
Last updated 2026-07-10.