How to Choose Hashtags for Instagram and TikTok
How many hashtags to use, where to put them and how to pick relevant ones for Reels and TikTok. Plus a free generator to build your list in seconds.
Quick answer: use 5 to 15 relevant hashtags, mix broad and specific ones, and put them at the end of the caption or in the first comment. Build your list with the Hashtag Generator.
How many hashtags?
- Instagram: the limit is 30, but 5 to 15 relevant tags usually work better than 30 random ones.
- TikTok: 3 to 5 relevant tags in the caption is enough.
- YouTube Shorts: 2 to 3 tags, with the most important in the title or description.
A simple mix
- 1-2 broad tags with huge audiences (for example #reels).
- 3-5 niche tags about your topic (for example #streetfood).
- 2-3 specific tags about your exact post or place (for example #lahorefood).
- 1 branded tag of your own.
Very broad tags have millions of posts, so your post disappears fast. Specific tags put you in front of people who actually want that topic.
Build your list in 3 steps
- Open the Hashtag Generator.
- Type your topic words, separated by commas.
- Pick a niche, then tap Copy all.
The generator combines your words with popular tags for the niche. It does not show live trends, so check the app's search to see which tags are active today.
Tips
- Keep every tag relevant to the post. Unrelated tags can hurt reach.
- Do not repeat the same 30 tags on every post; change them.
- Check the character count of your caption with the Word Counter: Instagram captions allow 2,200 characters (see character limits).
- Stylish text for your bio: Fancy Text Generator.
Related
Save Reels for inspiration: how to download Instagram Reels. Checking how well your posts do: what is a good engagement rate?