Average likes on Instagram
Average likes on Instagram is total likes divided by posts. Check yours alongside comments and size-based engagement.
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What the number means
Instagram accounts under 10,000 followers typically have a median engagement rate of 2.6%, compared with 1.2% for accounts from 10,000 to 50,000. Average likes on Instagram is your total likes divided by posts; this calculator shows that average alongside comments and your follower-based engagement rate.
Enter a public username to see average likes and comments from recent posts. Use the size comparison to put those numbers in context, rather than judging the account by its strongest post.
How it works
- 1
Enter the public Instagram username you want to check.
- 2
The calculator checks likes and comments across up to 24 recent posts.
- 3
Review average likes, average comments, and engagement against your account's size benchmark.
| Followers | Median engagement |
|---|---|
| Under 10,000 | |
| 10,000 to 50,000 | |
| 50,000 to 500,000 | |
| 500,000 to 1 million | |
| 1 million or more |
Average likes on Instagram by follower count
Account size changes the comparison. The Instagram medians below are based on 2025 content. These are likes-plus-comments engagement medians, not likes-only targets. Use them with the engagement rate shown beside your average likes.
Compare your combined average likes and comments with the band matching your current follower count. That gives a smaller creator and a larger account a common basis for comparison instead of judging both by raw likes. The Instagram engagement rate calculator explains this follower-based calculation in more detail.
How to work out average likes on Instagram
Choose the posts you want to measure, add their likes, and divide by the post count. Repeat for comments using exactly the same posts. To calculate follower-based engagement, add those two averages, divide by the profile's follower count, and multiply by 100.
The tool combines recent post formats rather than reporting separate averages for photos and Reels. For a format comparison, group those posts manually and calculate each average separately. In the worked example below, photos and Reels contribute the same total likes, but Reels average more because there are fewer of them.
- Average likes = total likes divided by posts.
- Average comments = total comments divided by posts.
- Engagement rate = average likes plus average comments, divided by followers, multiplied by 100.
Can you check hidden like counts on Instagram?
The calculator uses the like counts available with recent public posts. It cannot reveal unavailable counts or calculate post averages for a private account. If you calculate your own average, use the counts available to you and keep the post selection consistent.
Before comparing a manual result with this tool, check which posts you counted. The tool includes Reels and pinned posts in its averages. A photos-only selection or an all-time average covers different content. Use the free scan to inspect recent posts and compare the strongest posts with the weakest.
Average likes, worked out
A sample account with made-up inputs. Photos and Reels are grouped manually for comparison.
- Photo posts
- 8
- Likes across photo posts
- 960
- Reels
- 4
- Likes across Reels
- 960
- Total posts
- 12
- Total likes
- 1,920
- Total comments
- 120
- Followers
- 10,000
How to work out average likes on Instagram?
Add the likes on your chosen posts, then divide by the number of posts. Use the same selection when calculating average comments. For a useful comparison, record which posts you included and whether you calculated across all formats or separated photos and Reels.
What is a normal like rate on Instagram?
A useful like rate is average likes per post divided by followers, multiplied by 100. Compare accounts with similar follower counts, and include average comments when using the engagement medians in the table above. This calculator shows likes and comments separately before combining them into follower-based engagement.
Is 1% engagement good?
A 1% likes-plus-comments engagement rate is above the median for Instagram accounts with 500,000 followers or more, but below the median for smaller accounts. The medians are 0.7% from 500,000 to 1 million and 0.6% at 1 million or more. Choose the band matching your follower count.
Why is the average lower than my best post?
The average includes every post in the selection, not just the strongest one. A standout post can also raise the average above what many individual posts receive. Check the spread of likes across posts before describing that average as your typical result.
Are saves and shares included?
No, this calculator uses likes and comments only. It displays their averages separately and combines them to calculate engagement relative to followers. Saves, shares, reach, and impressions are not included. When comparing results elsewhere, check that the calculation uses the same interactions and denominator.
Does it need my password?
No, you enter only the public Instagram username, without logging in. Ganicly checks the public profile and recent posts without entering the account. Nothing runs inside your Instagram account, and you do not need to give Ganicly account access.
Can I track average likes over time?
No, the free calculator gives one result and keeps no visitor history. Results for the same username are reused for up to 6 hours, including when you run the free scan. Save the date and figures yourself if you want to compare separate checks.
Same profile, another angle
Instagram engagement rate calculator
Instagram engagement rate is (average likes + average comments) ÷ followers × 100. Compare yours with a size benchmark.
Instagram post performance checker
Instagram post performance includes likes, comments and follows. Find your best posts in Insights, then check how evenly they earn likes.
Best time to post on Instagram
Start with Tuesday afternoons or Wednesday from noon, in your audience's time zone. Compare those windows with your own posts.
Reach people who fit your niche
Use a low likes-per-follower result as a prompt to review your content and audience targeting. Ganicly's Instagram plans bring real followers matched to your niche, countries and similar accounts at a steady daily pace.