If you’re serious about getting your content seen on Instagram, hashtags for Instagram Reels are still one of the most effective tools you can use.

Reels are designed to reach beyond your follower list. With the right hashtags, you help the algorithm surface your videos to a wider audience.

In this article, you’ll learn:

• Why hashtags for Instagram Reels are essential for discoverability
• How many hashtags to use
• Where to place hashtags
• And how to build a strategy that organically grows reach.

After reading this article, you’ll know exactly how to make hashtags work harder for your Reels and get your brand discovered by new audiences.

TL;DR: How to use hashtags for Instagram Reels

• You’re only allowed up to 5 hashtags on Instagram for any content type, including Reels (since December 2025, and this is still in effect now, and looking unlikely to change).
• With those 5, you’ve got to go niche, make sure they’re relevant, and don’t bother with ones that reach millions because they could harm your brand.
• Use your social media management software to find, create, and schedule the best ones for your Instagram strategy.
• Used strategically and carefully, hashtags on Instagram reels can help your content surface in front of the right audience at the right time, turning casual scrollers into followers and followers into customers.

Do hashtags still matter for Instagram reels in 2026?

Hashtags are one of the simplest ways to make your Reels more discoverable. When you add a hashtag, you’re attaching your content to a searchable topic.

This means your video doesn’t just appear to people who follow you. It also shows up in hashtag feeds and Explore pages, where new audiences can find it.

Hashtags play a direct role in how Instagram’s algorithm categorises content. Think of them as labels the platform uses to decide what your Reel is about and who might want to see it.

Add relevant hashtags, and Instagram can push your video to users who’ve interacted with or followed similar topics. For brands and creators, this is what makes hashtags such a powerful growth tool: they connect your content to people who are actively interested in that niche.

Used correctly, hashtags can help your Reels surface in front of the right audience at the right time, turning casual scrollers into followers and followers into customers.

How many hashtags should you use on Instagram reels?

It used to be possible to use up to 30 hashtags. But those days have gone. Since December 2025, the official Instagram Creators account recommends using a maximum of three to five relevant hashtags (3-5).

We’ve checked everywhere, and nowhere contradicts Instagram’s new (and unchanged) stance on hashtags: 5 is all we’re getting.

What does this mean for your Instagram Reels hashtag strategy?

• Go niche (broad hashtags that aren’t relevant to your posts or audience could harm your reach)
• Use a free Instagram hashtag generator and AI social media tools to come up with variations on hashtags that could/should work
• Look at what competitors and creators are doing with hashtags
• Look at which hashtags are trending in your sector and niche
• Be selective and careful with the hashtags you use (avoid #Reels, #Explore, and similar because Instagram says these could “hurt your content's performance”)
• Test what works, then keep using relevant hashtags across every Instagram content format (Reels, Posts, Stories, etc.)

Across all tests, remember that in general, relevance beats volume. A curated mix of niche, branded, and trending Instagram Reels hashtags will always outperform a generic list.

Mastering Instagram Reels in 2025: Tips, Tools, and Strategy

Read the guide

Creating a winning hashtag strategy for your Reels

Getting the most out of hashtags primarily comes down to strategy.

The right mix can improve your chances of appearing in searches, trending feeds, and in front of users who actually care about your niche. Here’s how to approach yours.

Understand your audience and niche

Start by gaining a true understanding of your audience. What are they interested in, and what words or phrases are they likely to search?

A fitness coach, for example, will get more traction with #HIITWorkout than a generic #Fitness tag. Look at competitors' accounts, study what followers engage with, and create a list of hashtags that reflect your community.

Mix popular, branded, and niche hashtags

When putting together your plan, you don’t need to think “How many hashtags on Instagram Reels?” Focus on creating a strong set using three types of tags.

• Popular: High-volume tags like #CoffeeLovers can expand reach to a broad audience.
• Niche: Mid-volume, specific tags like #LatteArt connect with communities already engaged with the topic.
• Branded: Custom hashtags like #[YourBrand]Moments build recognition and invite UGC.

The sweet spot is combining all three. Popular tags get you visibility, niche tags keep your content relevant, and branded tags give your audience something to rally around.

Research the best hashtags for Instagram reels

Don’t guess. Check the numbers, so make use of your analytics to track your social media performance.

Use Instagram search to see how many posts use a hashtag. Aim for a “sweet spot” between 10k and 200k posts: active enough to matter, but not so big that your Reel vanishes in seconds.

For fresh ideas, try Instagram’s related hashtags or a generator tool to uncover variations your competitors might miss.

Test and refine regularly

Hashtags aren’t static. Review Instagram Insights to see which ones drive reach and engagement, then swap out underperformers. Treat them as a test-and-learn exercise: your best mix this month won’t necessarily be the same next season.

Where should you place hashtags on Instagram reels?

When it comes to placement, you’ve got two main options: in the caption or in the first comment.

• Caption placement keeps everything in one place. Hashtags in your caption are indexed immediately, which helps your Reel appear in hashtag feeds and search results. This is the best choice if discoverability is your main goal.
  
• First comment placement can make your captions look cleaner and less cluttered. Many creators prefer this for aesthetic reasons, especially when writing longer captions.

In terms of Instagram Reels SEO, the difference can be hard to tell. As a rule of thumb: if you want to maximise reach, put your hashtags in the caption. If visual style matters more for your brand voice, you can test the first comments.

However, Instagram’s algorithm considers multiple factors, not just placement, so monitor performance in your analytics to see what works best for you.

5 Instagram hashtag best practices in 2026

Hashtags are only part of the equation. To give your Reels the best chance of being discovered, you need to combine them with other SEO/GEO-friendly practices (GEO: Generative Engine Optimisation).

Implement these five tactics to improve performance.

#1 Write keyword-rich captions

Instagram reads your captions to help decide what your content is about. Use keywords your audience is actually searching for, but keep it natural.

For example, a café could write, “Celebrate National Coffee Day with our new latte art specials” instead of stuffing “coffee” into every line. Clear, relevant keywords improve Instagram content discoverability without hurting readability.

A boutique hotel could use something like the following: “Enjoy a calm-cation and experience the JOMO (the joy of missing out) at our luxury, peaceful, boutique hotel on a Greek Island, with an award-winning spa”

5 hashtags to go with this could be: #CalmCation #PeacefulHoliday #GreekIsland #SpaBreak #JOMO

#2 Add relevant keywords in alt text

Alt text was designed for accessibility, but it also helps Instagram categorise your content. When you upload a Reel, tap “Advanced Settings”, then “Write Alt Text”, and describe what’s happening in the video.

Adding keywords here (e.g., “Barista pouring a latte with heart-shaped art”) provides another SEO (and now, GEO) signal while keeping it accessible to screen readers.

#3 Leverage on-screen text and video subtitles

Instagram can scan on-screen text and captions. Adding titles, keywords, or subtitles to your videos makes your Reels more searchable and improves accessibility.

A fitness Reel titled “5-Minute HIIT Warmup” on-screen is more likely to reach people searching for short workouts.

#4 Use trending audio

Reels using popular audio clips often get a lift in visibility. When a sound is trending, Instagram is more likely to push content using it onto the Explore page or Reels tab. Keep an eye on the audio that’s gaining traction in your niche, and test it with your content to boost reach.

#5 Ensure consistent posting and high-quality content

The algorithm rewards consistency. Posting regularly and focusing on originality signals to Instagram that your account is active and worth promoting.

Combine that with clear visuals, strong storytelling, and niche hashtags for Reels, and you should see an uptick in engagement, which in turn improves discoverability.

Make use of your social media holiday calendar, to use highly-relevant hashtags for your brand and the time of year.

Mistakes to avoid when using hashtags on Instagram reels

Hashtags can drive serious reach, but the wrong approach can do more harm than good. Here are some pitfalls to steer clear of.

• Hashtag stuffing: You can’t use more than 5 hashtags, so it forces you to be specific. Stick to relevant, high-quality tags.
• Irrelevant tags: Using popular hashtags that don’t match your Reel may bring quick views, but not the right audience, and it weakens your credibility.
• Banned or flagged hashtags: Certain tags are restricted due to misuse. Adding them can limit visibility or trigger shadowbans, so always double-check before posting.

Keep your hashtags intentional and clean, and they’ll work harder to put your Reels in front of the right people.

How Sendible can help with hashtags for Instagram Reels

Building the right hashtag approach is only half the battle. You also need the tools to put it into practice. That’s where Sendible makes the process easier:

• AI Assist helps generate fresh hashtag ideas and captions when you’re short on time.
• Custom Tags let you save your go-to hashtag groups and drop them into posts in seconds.
• Collaboration tools keep your team aligned, so everyone can suggest, review, and approve content in one place.
• Content Library stores your best-performing hashtags, visuals, and templates for quick reuse.
• Analytics show you which hashtags are driving reach and engagement, so you can refine your strategy with confidence.

With these tools, managing hashtags for Instagram Reels becomes part of a repeatable workflow.