Best Time to Post on LinkedIn in 2026: Data-Backed Guide

Publishing great content on LinkedIn means nothing if nobody sees it. Timing is one of the most controllable variables in your LinkedIn strategy, yet most professionals and brands post whenever they happen to finish writing -- not when their audience is actually online.

In 2026, LinkedIn has over 1.1 billion members, with 310 million monthly active users. The feed is busier than ever. Getting your content in front of decision-makers during their highest-attention windows can double or triple your engagement compared to posting at random. This guide compiles the latest data on optimal LinkedIn posting times, breaks down how timing interacts with the algorithm, and provides a framework for finding your own best posting windows based on your specific audience.

Why Timing Matters More on LinkedIn Than Other Platforms

LinkedIn's algorithm works differently from Instagram, TikTok, or X. Understanding these differences explains why timing has an outsized impact on your LinkedIn performance.

LinkedIn's Feed Is Not Infinite Scroll

Unlike TikTok's For You Page or Instagram's Explore tab, LinkedIn's primary feed is a finite, curated experience. Most users check LinkedIn 2-3 times per day in focused sessions lasting 7-12 minutes each. They scroll through 20-40 posts per session, then leave. If your post does not appear during one of those sessions, it may never be seen.

This makes timing critical. On TikTok, a great video can surface days or weeks after posting. On LinkedIn, 60-70% of your impressions occur within the first 6 hours of publishing. If you post when your audience is asleep or in meetings, you lose the most valuable distribution window.

The First-Hour Engagement Signal

LinkedIn's algorithm evaluates a post's quality primarily through early engagement velocity. Here is how it works:

1. Initial distribution (0-60 minutes): Your post is shown to a small percentage of your connections and followers (typically 5-15%)
2. Engagement scoring (1-3 hours): The algorithm measures likes, comments, shares, and dwell time relative to impressions
3. Expanded distribution (3-8 hours): High-scoring posts get pushed to second and third-degree connections, hashtag feeds, and the wider network
4. Extended life (8-48 hours): Exceptionally high-performing posts continue circulating for 1-2 days

If your post hits the feed when your target audience is actively scrolling, the first-hour engagement signal is strong. If it hits during off-hours, the algorithm receives a weak signal and limits further distribution. The same content can perform 3-5x differently based solely on when it was published.

LinkedIn Is a Professional Platform With Predictable Usage Patterns

Unlike consumer social platforms where usage is spread across all waking hours, LinkedIn usage correlates tightly with the professional workday. People check LinkedIn before work, during transitions between meetings, during lunch, and in the early evening wind-down. This predictability is actually an advantage -- it makes optimal posting times more consistent and actionable.

The Best Times to Post on LinkedIn in 2026: By Day

The following recommendations are based on aggregated engagement data from multiple studies covering millions of LinkedIn posts published in 2024-2026. These represent general patterns -- your specific audience may differ, and we will cover how to find your own optimal times later in this guide.

Monday

Best times: 7:30-8:30 AM, 12:00-1:00 PM, 5:00-6:00 PM

Why it works: Monday mornings see high LinkedIn activity as professionals plan their week and catch up on industry news after the weekend. The lunch window catches mid-day scrollers. The end-of-day slot captures professionals transitioning out of work mode.

What to post: Week-ahead insights, industry news commentary, motivational content that sets the tone for the week.

Caveat: Monday mornings can be cluttered because many schedulers default to Monday. If competition in your niche is high, the 12:00 PM or 5:00 PM slots may yield better visibility.

Tuesday

Best times: 8:00-10:00 AM, 12:00-1:00 PM

Why it works: Tuesday is consistently the highest-engagement day on LinkedIn across all studies. Professionals have settled into their week and are in active work mode. The morning window is broad because engagement stays elevated across the full 8-10 AM range.

What to post: In-depth thought leadership, long-form posts, data-driven content, how-to guides. Tuesday audiences are the most receptive to substantive professional content.

Pro tip: If you only have bandwidth for one high-effort post per week, publish it on Tuesday between 8:00-10:00 AM.

Wednesday

Best times: 8:00-10:00 AM, 12:00 PM, 3:00-4:00 PM

Why it works: Mid-week engagement remains strong. The afternoon window (3:00-4:00 PM) is unique to Wednesday -- professionals often take a mid-week mental break and scroll LinkedIn during the post-lunch productivity dip.

What to post: Case studies, polls, discussion-starter posts, mid-week check-in content.

Thursday

Best times: 8:00-9:00 AM, 1:00-2:00 PM, 5:00-6:00 PM

Why it works: Thursday maintains solid engagement similar to Tuesday and Wednesday. The slightly later lunch-hour window (1:00-2:00 PM versus noon) reflects Thursday scheduling patterns where meetings tend to push later.

What to post: Career advice, professional development, tool and resource recommendations, industry trends.

Friday

Best times: 7:30-9:00 AM, 12:00 PM

Why it works: Friday engagement drops compared to Tuesday-Thursday, but the early morning slot is surprisingly strong. Professionals check LinkedIn first thing before shifting into end-of-week wrap-up mode. After noon, activity drops sharply as people transition mentally toward the weekend.

What to post: Lighter content -- personal stories, lessons learned, career reflections, weekend reading lists. Friday audiences are less receptive to heavy thought leadership and more open to personal and reflective content.

Saturday

Best times: 8:00-11:00 AM (if posting at all)

Why it works: Saturday engagement is 40-60% lower than weekday engagement. However, competition is also dramatically lower -- fewer people post, which means each post gets a larger share of the reduced audience. For some niches, Saturday morning can be surprisingly effective.

What to post: Personal brand content, behind-the-scenes, career stories, inspirational content. Saturday audiences are browsing casually, not in work mode.

Sunday

Best times: 6:00-8:00 PM

Why it works: Sunday evening sees a bump in LinkedIn activity as professionals prepare for the upcoming week. This is the "Sunday scaries" window where people check LinkedIn to feel prepared.

What to post: Week-ahead previews, goal-setting content, industry predictions. Sunday evening posts can gain early momentum that carries into Monday's high-traffic period.

Summary: Best LinkedIn Posting Times at a Glance

Day	Best Time Slot 1	Best Time Slot 2	Best Time Slot 3	Engagement Level
Monday	7:30-8:30 AM	12:00-1:00 PM	5:00-6:00 PM	High
Tuesday	8:00-10:00 AM	12:00-1:00 PM	--	Highest
Wednesday	8:00-10:00 AM	12:00 PM	3:00-4:00 PM	High
Thursday	8:00-9:00 AM	1:00-2:00 PM	5:00-6:00 PM	High
Friday	7:30-9:00 AM	12:00 PM	--	Moderate
Saturday	8:00-11:00 AM	--	--	Low
Sunday	6:00-8:00 PM	--	--	Low-Moderate

All times are in the poster's local time zone. Adjust based on your target audience's time zone, not your own.

B2B vs. B2C: Timing Differences That Matter

LinkedIn is primarily a B2B platform, but B2C brands and recruiters also use it heavily. Timing recommendations differ based on your audience type.

B2B Timing (Targeting Professionals and Decision-Makers)

B2B audiences on LinkedIn are most active during business hours because they are using the platform as part of their professional workflow -- researching vendors, staying current on industry trends, networking with peers.

Peak B2B windows:

• Tuesday through Thursday, 8:00-10:00 AM
• Lunch windows (12:00-1:00 PM) on any weekday
• Late afternoon (4:00-5:00 PM) when decision-makers are wrapping up their day

B2B targeting nuances:

• C-suite executives tend to check LinkedIn earlier (6:30-7:30 AM) and later (8:00-9:00 PM) than mid-level professionals
• Technical roles (engineers, developers) peak later in the morning (9:30-10:30 AM) and during lunch
• Sales professionals are most active between 7:00-8:00 AM (pre-prospecting research) and 4:00-5:00 PM

B2C Timing (Targeting Consumers via LinkedIn)

B2C brands using LinkedIn (common for high-consideration purchases like education, financial services, and luxury goods) should target transitional moments when professionals shift from work mode to personal mode.

Peak B2C windows:

• 12:00-1:00 PM (lunch break browsing)
• 5:00-7:00 PM (post-work transition)
• Saturday 9:00-11:00 AM (casual weekend browsing)
• Sunday 6:00-8:00 PM (week preparation)

Recruiter Timing (Targeting Job Seekers)

Job seekers are most active on LinkedIn during these windows:

• Before work: 6:30-8:00 AM
• Lunch break: 11:30 AM-1:00 PM
• After work: 5:30-7:30 PM
• Sunday evening: 7:00-9:00 PM (highest job-search activity of the week)

If you are posting job listings, employer branding content, or recruitment marketing, target these windows specifically.

Time Zone Strategy for Global Audiences

If your LinkedIn audience spans multiple time zones, timing becomes more complex. Here is how to handle it.

Option 1: Target Your Primary Audience's Time Zone

Identify where 60-70% of your audience is located using LinkedIn Page Analytics (for Company Pages) or by assessing your connection/follower base. Post according to that primary time zone.

Best for: Accounts with a geographically concentrated audience.

Option 2: Post for the Overlap Window

When targeting both US and European audiences, find the time window where both are reasonably active.

The transatlantic sweet spot: 8:00-9:00 AM US Eastern (1:00-2:00 PM GMT / 2:00-3:00 PM CET)

This catches Americans during their morning LinkedIn check and Europeans during their post-lunch browse. It is not perfect for either audience, but it captures both.

The US-APAC sweet spot: 6:00-7:00 PM US Pacific (10:00-11:00 AM AEST next day)

This is harder to optimize since the time gap is larger, but this window catches US professionals in the early evening and Australian professionals during their morning.

Option 3: Post the Same Content Twice

For critical content, publish the same post twice at different times, separated by 8-12 hours. LinkedIn does not penalize duplicate posts from the same account, though this strategy should be used sparingly (once or twice per month for high-priority content).

Option 4: Use Multiple Voices

Have team members in different time zones share related content during their local peak hours. A VP of Marketing in London posts during UK morning hours, while a Director of Sales in New York posts during US morning hours. The combined reach covers both time zones with native timing.

Content Type and Optimal Timing: What to Post When

Different LinkedIn content formats perform best at different times. Matching content type to timing maximizes engagement.

Text Posts (Status Updates)

Best timing: Early morning (7:30-8:30 AM) and lunch (12:00-1:00 PM)

Text posts are quick to consume. They perform best when people are doing fast scrolls -- morning check-ins and lunch breaks. Keep them under 1,300 characters for mobile readability.

Long-Form Articles (LinkedIn Pulse)

Best timing: Tuesday or Wednesday, 9:00-10:00 AM

Articles require time commitment from readers. Post them during mid-morning on high-engagement days when professionals are in deep-work mode and willing to invest 5-10 minutes reading.

Compelling LinkedIn articles start with headlines that promise specific value. Pair strong headlines with mid-morning timing for maximum article engagement.

Document Posts (PDF Carousels)

Best timing: Tuesday-Thursday, 8:00-10:00 AM or 1:00-2:00 PM

Document posts (slideshows uploaded as PDFs) generate high dwell time because users swipe through multiple slides. They perform well during morning hours and early afternoon when engagement is sustained.

Video Posts

Best timing: 12:00-1:00 PM or 5:00-6:00 PM

LinkedIn video performs best during lunch breaks and end-of-day sessions when users have time to watch. Morning audiences are scanning quickly and may skip video content. Video posts benefit from the more relaxed browsing pace of midday and evening.

If you create LinkedIn video content with AdCreate's AI video tools, schedule your videos for these high-attention windows rather than the standard morning slot.

Polls

Best timing: Tuesday-Wednesday, 9:00-11:00 AM

Polls generate engagement through votes and comments. Posting during mid-morning on peak days maximizes the initial vote velocity, which drives algorithmic distribution. Polls stay active for 1-2 weeks, but the first 24 hours of voting determines their reach.

Image Posts and Infographics

Best timing: Any weekday morning (8:00-10:00 AM)

Image posts are visually arresting in the feed, making them effective during fast-scroll morning sessions. Infographics that summarize data or processes get high save and share rates during business hours.

How to Find YOUR Best Posting Time Using LinkedIn Analytics

General data provides a starting framework, but your optimal posting times may differ based on your specific audience. Here is how to use LinkedIn's native analytics to find your ideal windows.

Step 1: Access Your Analytics

For personal profiles: LinkedIn now provides creator analytics for all accounts. Go to your profile, click "Analytics," then "Post impressions" to see individual post performance.

For Company Pages: Navigate to your Page, click "Analytics," then "Content." You can filter by date range and content type.

Step 2: Build a Performance Spreadsheet

For your last 30-50 posts, record:

Post #	Date	Day of Week	Time Published	Impressions	Engagement Rate	Comments	Shares
1	Jan 7	Tuesday	8:15 AM	4,200	5.8%	23	8
2	Jan 8	Wednesday	12:05 PM	3,100	4.2%	14	5
...	...	...	...	...	...	...	...

Step 3: Analyze Patterns

Sort your data by engagement rate and look for patterns:

• Which days consistently produce the highest engagement?
• Which time windows correlate with above-average impressions?
• Are there day-time combinations that outperform (e.g., Tuesday mornings vs. Thursday mornings)?

Step 4: Run Controlled Tests

Publish similar content (same type, similar topic, comparable quality) at different times over 4-6 weeks:

• Week 1-2: Post at 8:00 AM on your best day
• Week 3-4: Post at 12:00 PM on your best day
• Week 5-6: Post at 5:00 PM on your best day

Compare average engagement rates across the time slots. The winning slot becomes your default posting time.

Step 5: Reassess Quarterly

Audience behavior shifts over time. New followers, seasonal changes, and algorithm updates all affect optimal timing. Re-run your analysis every 90 days to stay calibrated.

A well-planned social media content calendar helps you maintain consistent posting at your proven best times without daily decision-making.

How LinkedIn's Algorithm Handles Timing in 2026

LinkedIn's algorithm has evolved significantly. Understanding its current mechanics helps you use timing more strategically.

The Dwell Time Factor

LinkedIn introduced dwell time as a ranking signal in 2020 and has increased its weight every year since. Dwell time measures how long someone pauses on your post in their feed, even if they do not actively engage. Posts that capture attention for 3+ seconds receive a positive signal, while posts scrolled past quickly receive a negative signal.

Timing implication: Post during windows when your audience has time to read and reflect, not during rushed moments. A 7:45 AM post might catch someone in a quick pre-meeting scroll (low dwell time), while a 12:15 PM post catches the same person during a relaxed lunch break (high dwell time).

The Engagement Decay Curve

LinkedIn posts follow a predictable engagement curve:

• Hours 0-2: Initial distribution and early engagement (sets the trajectory)
• Hours 2-6: Peak engagement period (algorithm decides on expanded distribution)
• Hours 6-24: Gradual decline with potential spikes from comments and shares
• Hours 24-48: Long tail -- only for posts that performed exceptionally well
• Beyond 48 hours: Minimal incremental engagement unless the post goes viral

Timing implication: Your posting time should be calibrated so that the 0-6 hour window falls entirely within your audience's active hours. A post published at 10:00 PM means the critical first 6 hours (10 PM to 4 AM) are wasted on sleeping audiences.

The Comment Momentum Effect

LinkedIn's algorithm in 2026 heavily rewards posts with active comment threads. Each new comment re-surfaces the post in the feeds of the commenter's connections. Posts that generate comment chains create self-reinforcing distribution loops.

Timing implication: Post when you can respond to comments within the first hour. Your replies to early comments count as engagement signals AND trigger new distribution to the commenter's network. If you post at 6:00 AM but cannot reply to comments until 10:00 AM, you lose 4 hours of momentum potential.

LinkedIn Posting Frequency: How Often Should You Post?

Timing and frequency work together. Even perfect timing cannot compensate for inconsistent posting.

Recommended Posting Frequency by Account Type

Account Type	Minimum	Optimal	Maximum Effective
Personal brand (individual)	2-3x/week	4-5x/week	1x/day
Company Page (SMB)	3x/week	5x/week	1x/day
Company Page (Enterprise)	5x/week	1-2x/day	2x/day
Thought leader / Creator	5x/week	1x/day	2x/day

The 24-Hour Rule

Avoid publishing more than one post within a 24-hour window on the same personal profile. LinkedIn's algorithm distributes a limited attention budget to each account. Two posts in 24 hours means they compete against each other, cannibalizing both posts' reach. Company Pages can post more frequently because they have a different distribution model.

Consistency Beats Volume

A study of 500 LinkedIn accounts over 12 months found that profiles posting 3 times per week consistently for 52 weeks generated 4.2x more total impressions than profiles posting 7 times per week inconsistently (with gaps and bursts). The algorithm rewards reliable content producers with higher baseline distribution.

LinkedIn Scheduling Tools and Best Practices

Scheduling ensures you hit your optimal times consistently, even when your workday does not align with peak posting windows.

Native LinkedIn Scheduling

LinkedIn offers built-in post scheduling for both personal profiles and Company Pages. Click the clock icon when composing a post to select a future date and time. Native scheduling is free and does not negatively affect reach.

Third-Party Scheduling Tools

For more advanced scheduling:

• Hootsuite: Multi-platform scheduling with LinkedIn analytics
• Buffer: Clean interface, team collaboration features
• Sprout Social: Enterprise-grade with approval workflows
• Later: Visual calendar with drag-and-drop scheduling

Choose a tool that integrates with your overall content calendar workflow.

Scheduling Best Practices

1. Schedule in batches: Plan and schedule a full week of LinkedIn content in one session
2. Leave room for reactive content: Schedule 3-4 posts per week, leaving 1-2 slots for timely reactions to industry news or trending discussions
3. Set comment alerts: When a scheduled post goes live, be ready to respond to comments within 15-30 minutes
4. Avoid round-number times: Instead of scheduling at exactly 8:00 AM, schedule at 8:07 or 8:13 AM. Many users schedule at round numbers, creating micro-competition spikes. Off-round times slightly reduce this competition
5. Queue video content at the right time: If you produce LinkedIn video ads or organic videos with AdCreate's AI tools, schedule them for the lunch and evening windows where video completion rates peak

Building a Comprehensive LinkedIn Strategy Beyond Timing

Timing is a force multiplier, but it does not replace content quality. For a complete approach to LinkedIn marketing, combine optimal posting times with these strategic elements.

Strong Headlines and Hooks

The first two lines of a LinkedIn post (before the "See more" fold) determine whether someone stops scrolling. Proven LinkedIn headline formulas combined with optimal timing create a compounding effect on reach.

Multi-Format Content Strategy

Do not rely on a single content format. Rotate between text posts, document carousels, images, polls, video, and articles. Each format attracts different audience segments and sends different engagement signals to the algorithm.

LinkedIn as a B2B Lead Channel

For B2B marketers, LinkedIn is not just a brand awareness channel -- it is a lead generation engine. Pair consistent posting at optimal times with a LinkedIn marketing strategy designed for B2B lead generation. Timing gets your content seen. Strategy converts viewers into leads.

Repurpose Content Across Formats

AdCreate helps you transform a single message into multiple LinkedIn-ready formats. Create a talking-head video for your Tuesday noon slot, extract a quote graphic for Wednesday morning, and write a text post summarizing the key takeaway for Thursday. One idea, three posts, three optimal time slots.

Common Timing Mistakes to Avoid

Mistake 1: Posting Based on YOUR Schedule, Not Your Audience's

The most common error. You finish writing a post at 3:47 PM on Friday and hit publish immediately. Your audience may have checked out for the week at 2:00 PM. Always schedule posts for peak audience times, regardless of when you create them.

Mistake 2: Ignoring Time Zones

If you are in California targeting East Coast decision-makers, posting at 8:00 AM Pacific means your post arrives at 11:00 AM Eastern -- past the morning peak. Always calibrate to your audience's time zone.

Mistake 3: Following Generic Advice Without Testing

The times in this guide are starting points, not universal truths. An accountant's audience has different LinkedIn habits than a marketing agency's audience. Use the analytics framework in this guide to validate and customize.

Mistake 4: Abandoning a Time Slot After One Bad Post

Single-post performance is noisy. A post can underperform at a great time due to content quality, topic resonance, or random variance. Evaluate timing across 10+ posts before drawing conclusions.

Mistake 5: Not Being Present After Posting

Scheduling a post for 8:00 AM and then not logging into LinkedIn until noon means you miss 4 hours of comment responses. The first hour after publishing is when your replies have the most algorithmic impact. Schedule posts for times when you can actively monitor and engage.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the single best time to post on LinkedIn in 2026?

If you can only remember one time, post on Tuesday between 8:00-10:00 AM in your target audience's time zone. Tuesday consistently ranks as the highest-engagement day across all studies, and the mid-morning window catches professionals who have settled into their workday. However, the true best time depends on your specific audience, industry, and content type. Use LinkedIn Analytics to validate this starting point against your own data.

Should I post on LinkedIn every day?

For personal profiles, 4-5 posts per week is the optimal frequency. Daily posting works for established thought leaders, but most professionals get better results from 4-5 high-quality posts than 7 mediocre ones. For Company Pages, daily posting is appropriate for mid-size and enterprise brands. The key constraint is quality. If posting daily means your content quality drops, reduce frequency and maintain quality.

Does LinkedIn penalize scheduled posts compared to manual posts?

No. LinkedIn's native scheduling feature has no negative impact on distribution. Third-party scheduling tools that use LinkedIn's official API also do not trigger penalties. The myth that scheduled posts get less reach persists but has been debunked by multiple studies. The only scenario where scheduling could indirectly hurt performance is if you schedule posts and then fail to engage with comments promptly after publishing.

How do I determine the best posting time for my specific audience?

Track your post performance over 30-50 posts, recording the day, time, impressions, and engagement rate for each. Look for day-time combinations that consistently produce above-average results. Then run controlled tests by posting similar content at different times over 4-6 weeks. Compare average engagement rates across time slots. Re-evaluate quarterly as your audience composition changes.

Is it better to post in the morning or afternoon on LinkedIn?

Morning posts (8:00-10:00 AM) generally outperform afternoon posts for text content, carousels, and articles because professionals are actively browsing LinkedIn during their morning routine. However, afternoon and evening posts (12:00-1:00 PM, 5:00-6:00 PM) outperform for video content and lighter engagement formats like polls, because users have more time to watch and interact during these relaxed browsing windows.

What about posting on weekends -- is it worth it?

Weekend posting is a niche strategy with trade-offs. LinkedIn engagement drops 40-60% on weekends compared to weekdays. However, competition drops even more, meaning each post faces fewer competitors for feed space. If your content is personal branding, career stories, or lifestyle-adjacent professional content, Saturday morning (8:00-11:00 AM) or Sunday evening (6:00-8:00 PM) can work well. For B2B product marketing and thought leadership, stick to weekdays.

How long does a LinkedIn post stay relevant in the feed?

Most LinkedIn posts receive 80% of their total engagement within the first 24 hours. High-performing posts (top 10% by engagement) can continue circulating for 48-72 hours. Exceptionally viral posts occasionally resurface for up to a week. The critical window is the first 2-6 hours, when the algorithm makes its distribution decision. After 48 hours, even well-performing posts see minimal incremental reach. This is why timing the initial publish to coincide with peak audience activity is so important.

Putting It All Together: Your LinkedIn Posting Schedule

Here is a practical weekly schedule template combining timing, content type, and frequency:

Day	Time	Content Type	Notes
Monday	8:00 AM	Text post: industry insight	Start the week with a strong take
Tuesday	8:30 AM	Document carousel or long article	Peak day, peak format
Wednesday	12:00 PM	Video or image post	Lunch engagement window
Thursday	9:00 AM	Poll or discussion starter	Drive comments for algorithm boost
Friday	8:00 AM	Personal story or lesson learned	Lighter Friday content

Adjust times to your audience's time zone. Leave weekends open for reactive posting if something timely emerges.

LinkedIn rewards professionals and brands who show up consistently at the right moments. Use the data in this guide as your starting framework, validate with your own analytics, and build a posting rhythm that becomes a reliable growth engine for your professional presence.

The best time to post on LinkedIn is when your specific audience is most receptive. The second-best time is Tuesday at 8:30 AM. Start there, measure everything, and refine as you go.