How to Find Trending Hashtags on Instagram

Finding the right hashtags on Instagram often feels like trying to crack a code, but it’s more science than secret. Using the right ones connects your content with the people who are actively looking for it, driving organic reach long after your initial followers have seen your post. This guide breaks down the most effective and repeatable methods for finding trending and relevant hashtags that will actually grow your account.

Why Instagram Hashtags Still Pack a Punch

In a world of ever-changing algorithms, some people wonder if hashtags are still relevant. The answer is a clear yes. Think of them as more than just post decorations, they are a fundamental part of Instagram’s discovery engine. Hashtags categorize your content, making it searchable and helping the platform understand what your post is about. When you use a hashtag like #homemadebread, you’re telling Instagram to show your post to users who have shown interest in or follow that specific tag.

Using them correctly helps you:

• Increase Discoverability: Your content appears on hashtag pages, which are essentially mini-feeds for specific topics, introducing your brand to new audiences.
• Reach Niche Communities: Hyper-relevant hashtags get you in front of a targeted, engaged audience that's more likely to convert into followers and customers.
• Organize Your Content: Creating a unique branded hashtag allows you to collect user-generated content (UGC) and create a portfolio of posts centered around your business.

Ultimately, a strong hashtag strategy is a direct line to audiences who haven't found you yet. It's one of the most powerful organic growth tools available on the platform.

Actionable Methods for Finding the Best Hashtags

Hunting for good hashtags doesn't have to mean endless guessing. The best strategies combine using Instagram's native features with smart observation of what's already working in your space. Here’s a breakdown of the most effective techniques.

1. Use Instagram’s Built-In Search and Discovery Tools

Your first and best resource is the Instagram app itself. The platform wants you to categorize content effectively and provides all the tools you need to find relevant tags right inside its interface.

Start with the Explore Page Search

The simplest method begins with a basic search. Here’s how to do it step-by-step:

1. Tap the magnifying glass icon to go to the Explore Page.
2. In the search bar at the top, type a broad keyword related to your content (e.g., "social media tips").
3. Below the search bar, tap on the "Tags" tab.
4. Instagram will generate a list of hashtags related to your keyword, sorted by the number of posts. You'll see giants like #socialmediatips (millions of posts) alongside more niche options like #socialmediatipsforbusiness (tens of thousands of posts).

This initial list gives you a great starting point, showing you both broad and more specific tags to add to your list.

Follow the "Related Hashtags" Trail

Once you find a promising hashtag, the research shouldn't stop there. Instagram gives you another clue:

When you click on a hashtag page (e.g., you search for and tap on #contentcreation), you’ll see a row of related hashtags suggested by Instagram just below the "Follow" button. For #contentcreation, you might see suggestions like #contentcreator, #digitalcontent, and #videocontent. This is Instagram literally telling you, "People interested in this hashtag are also interested in these." This is an incredibly powerful way to discover adjacent topics and build out a robust and deep list of relevant tags.

2. Analyze Your Competitors and Industry Leaders

You don't need to reinvent the wheel. The top-performing accounts in your niche are already providing a roadmap of what works. Analyzing their hashtag strategy can give you valuable insights into what resonates with your shared target audience.

Identify Who to Watch

Make a list of 5-10 accounts that are a direct competitor or an influencer you admire in your field. These should be accounts that consistently get good engagement. You’re not looking to copy them directly, but to identify patterns.

Check Their High-Performing Posts

Scroll through their recent content and find the posts - especially Reels - with the highest number of views, likes, and comments. What hashtags are they using on that particular content? Pay close attention to a few things:

• Are they using the maximum of 30 hashtags, or just a strategic few?
• Do they put their hashtags in the caption or in the first comment?
• Are they mixing broad tags (like #marketing) with laser-focused ones (like #emailmarketingstrategy)?

Jot down the hashtags that appear repeatedly across their most successful posts. If a particular hashtag is always present when they post about a specific topic, it’s a strong indicator that it’s effective for reaching your target audience.

3. Dig into Niche and Community-Specific Hashtags

It’s tempting to use massive hashtags like #travel (over 600 million posts) or #foodie (over 200 million posts), hoping to catch a piece of that huge traffic. However, your content will likely be buried in seconds. The real power lies in niche hashtags that connect you with a smaller but far more engaged community.

Instead of #fitness, try something more specific to your post, like #garagegymlife or #kettlebellflow. A person searching for these terms has a much higher intent and is more likely to engage with your content.

How to Find Them:

• Think like your customer: What specific terms would your ideal follower search for? If you sell handmade pottery mugs, they might not be searching for #art, but they're definitely looking at #handmademug or #coffeemugcollection.
• Geographic Tags: For local businesses, location-based hashtags are extremely valuable. A bakery in Brooklyn should be using #brooklynbakery or #nyceats, not just #baking.
• Community Tags: Look for hashtags used by affinity groups. For example, #runnersofinstagram is a massive community hub where members share content and support each other. Finding the equivalent for your niche can unlock a deeply loyal audience.

How to Build a Winning Hashtag Strategy

Finding hashtags is only half the battle. Using them effectively is what generates results. A structured approach, combining different types of hashtags, will amplify your reach far more than just throwing 30 random tags on a post.

The Hashtag Ladder Method

The best way to structure your hashtags is to use a balanced mix of different sizes. This strategy helps you compete in smaller ponds where you can rank while also getting some visibility from larger tags. Think of it as a ladder:

• Broad Tags (1-3 hashtags): These tags have over 500,000 posts (e.g., #digitalmarketing). Your visibility here will be short-lived, but they’re good for an initial, quick burst of reach.
• Specific Tags (5-10 hashtags): These have between 50,000 and 500,000 posts (e.g., #socialmediamanagerlife). There’s less competition, and your content has a better chance of being seen by a highly interested audience.
• Niche & Community Tags (10-15 hashtags): These typically have under 50,000 posts (e.g., #saascontentstrategy). This is your sweet spot. It’s much easier to rank in the "Top" posts for these tags, leading to sustained visibility over time.
• Branded Tag (1 hashtag): This is a tag that is unique to your business (e.g., #PostbaseTips). Use it on every post to build an archive of your content and encourage customers to use it when they post about you.

How Many Hashtags and Where to Put Them

The debate over using the maximum of 30 hashtags or a smaller, more curated list of 3-8 tags is ongoing. Instagram's creator account has recently recommended using just a few (3-5) highly relevant tags. Our recommendation? Test, test, test. Start with a larger, well-researched set of 15-20 tags using the ladder method and see how your posts perform. Then, try a smaller batch of 5 ultra-relevant tags and compare the reach and engagement.

As for placement - in the caption or first comment - it makes no functional difference to the algorithm, your post will be discoverable either way. Putting them in the first comment can give your caption a cleaner, less "spammy" look, while keeping them at the very end of your caption ensures they are immediately indexed with your post. It’s purely an aesthetic choice.

Final Thoughts

Finding trending and effective hashtags is a dynamic process of research, observation, and strategic implementation. By using Instagram’s own tools, analyzing what’s working for others, focusing on niche communities, and building a balanced hashtag list, you can turn hashtags into one of your most effective drivers of organic growth and audience connection.

Once you’ve built your powerful hashtag sets, applying them consistently is the key to seeing results without spending hours on it every day. At Postbase, we designed our platform to make this process simple and visual. Our beautifully designed content calendar lets you plan your content and your corresponding hashtags weeks in advance, and our rock-solid scheduler posts everything for you exactly when it's supposed to. It helps you stay organized and get your time back so you can focus on what really matters: creating incredible content.