Do Hashtags Work on Instagram Reels?
The short answer, yes.
Instagram has two eras – Before Reels and After Reels. In the “Before Reels” era, hashtags thrived, aesthetic was everything, and influencing wasn’t yet a career choice. In the “After Reels” era, video is king, SEO keywords dominate, and unhinged content is all anyone can talk about.
When we imagine what social media is today, hashtags aren’t one of the defining features anymore. With that, it’s totally understandable that you might be wondering, “do hashtags work on Instagram Reels still?” We won’t leave you questioning any longer. Your answer is on the way! 👇
The Short Answer: Yes, Hashtags Work on Reels
While Instagram Reels have completely changed how we consume content, the old school strategy of hashtags still has value for some businesses. It may not be time to retire them quite yet! But, let’s start with the question at hand: “do hashtags work on Reels”?
THE PROOF: 3 Ways Instagram Encourages Hashtags On Reels 👇
1. The Hashtag Page Has A Separate Tab For Reels
Search for a hashtag right now – literally any hashtag – then notice what you see.
On the main page, you’ll notice Reels everywhere! Compared to the static posts, they take up a lot of visual real estate. Your eye naturally gravitates to the moving content (aka Reels).
Even better? There's a separate Reels tab when you search hashtags, but no separate tab for static posts. That says a lot about Instagram's priorities, don't you think?
Think about it. If Instagram designed the hashtag page to feature Reels, it must be an encouraged strategy.
2. Why Hashtags + Reels = The Perfect Match
"Reels are designed to entertain you. Much like Explore, the majority of what you see is from accounts you don't follow." — Adam Mosseri, Head of Instagram
It’s no secret that Mosseri loves Reels. But, he’s also shared support for hashtags too:
“[Hashtags] help us to understand what a post is about, which means it might be more likely to show up in a place like a hashtag place.”
This quote reveals something very important – the fundamental purpose of Reels aligns perfectly with hashtags. Both Reels and hashtags are designed to help you reach new people beyond your existing audience.
While Adam has also said that hashtags aren’t the primary driver of reach and engagement, they do categorize your content and make it searchable. When you combine strategic hashtags with engaging Reels, you're only increasing your odds of being discovered.
To test this, when two IDENTICAL posts were published–one with hashtags and one without–this is what happened. The post with hashtags had over 6x the number of non-follower reach!
3. Instagram's Algorithm Prioritizes Reels and Search Terms
Instagram's algorithm has been increasingly favoring video content, particularly Reels. (Click here to find other important updates: Don't Miss Instagrams Algorithm Updates)
When someone searches a hashtag, the algorithm doesn't just show them the most recent content—it shows them what it thinks they'll engage with most. And right now, that's often Reels.
Instagram also encourages search terms more and more. While much of your searchability comes from the contents of your Reel and the words in your caption, your hashtags help give context to Instagram as well.
This means your hashtagged Reel has the potential to:
Appear in search results
Show up on the Explore page
Reach the Reels feed of non-followers
But, Should YOU Use Hashtags On Reels?
Just like with regular posts, your Reels hashtag strategy should be tailored to your account size and goals.
The question to “Do hashtags work on Instagram Reels?” is a simple yes. Figuring out whether YOU should be using hashtags is a different conversation.
Here's our quick breakdown based on follower count:
Under 10K Followers
Use 5-10 targeted hashtags on your Reels. Focus on a mix of:
Niche-specific hashtags (moderately competitive)
Location-based hashtags (if relevant)
Content-type hashtags (like #educationalreels)
10K-100K Followers
Use 3-7 carefully selected hashtags. You can include a few more competitive tags as your content has more momentum to compete.
100K+ Followers
0-5 hashtags is sufficient. At this level, your content already has significant reach, and the algorithm favors your content naturally.
Read more on whether or not hashtags are still relevant this year.
What Else Can I Do To Increase Reach?
While hashtags help with discovery, they're just one piece of the Reels puzzle. Here are a few other strategies you can use to increase the reach of your Reels:
1. Trending Audio
Using trending songs and sounds signals relevance to the algorithm and helps categorize your content. No need to choose between audio and hashtags—use both! Just remember to create content for your followers, not the algorithm. If a certain trend or audio doesn’t relate to your target audience, skip it!
Psssst – Don’t know where to start for Trending Reels Audios? Check out our article “24 Trending Reels Audio This Week on Instagram”
2. Strong Hooks
Capture attention in the first 3 seconds—this is even more important than your hashtag selection.
Psssst – Click here to find a list of 60+ Instagram Caption Hooks You Haven’t Tried Yet
3. Ideal Length
Keep your Reels between 7-15 seconds when possible. Shorter Reels tend to get more complete views and replays, signaling quality content to the algorithm.
Pssssst – Click here to read more about The Ideal Reel Length for Instagram Reels
4. SEO Keywords in Caption
Don't just rely on hashtags—incorporate searchable keywords naturally into your caption. Remember, 40% of Gen Z searches on social media instead of Google!
Are Your Hashtags Not Working On Reels?
If you're using hashtags but not seeing results, you might be making one of these common mistakes:
Using banned or restricted hashtags
Selecting overly competitive hashtags
Using irrelevant hashtags that don't match your content
Using the same hashtag set on every Reel (mix it up!)
Having a private account (hashtags only work on public accounts)
Hashtags For Reels Q&A
How many hashtags on Instagram Reels?
The answer isn’t black and white – it depends on the size of your account, your engagement levels, and your goals. But, if we’re just looking at the size of your account, here is our recommendation: 5-10 hashtags on Reels for accounts under 10K followers, 3-7 hashtags for accounts between 10K-100K followers, and 0-5 hashtags for accounts over 100K. While Instagram allows up to 30 hashtags, we've found that strategic selection trumps quantity every time.
What hashtags to use on Instagram Reels?
The best hashtags for Reels combine: niche-specific tags that your target audience follows, specific content-type tags that describe what your Reel offers, a location tag if relevant, and 1-2 trending tags that align with your content. Avoid overly generic tags that are too saturated to provide meaningful reach. For example, #glutenfreepancakerecipe is much better than #breakfast, #yum, or even #glutenfree.
From there, focus on search intent. Ask yourself:
WHO is searching for this hashtag?
WHY are they searching?
WHAT value are they hoping to get?
If you can't confidently answer these questions for a hashtag, it might be best to skip it. Quality over quantity—always.
How does Instagram Reels views work?
Instagram counts a view once your Reel has been watched for at least 3 seconds. However, the algorithm prioritizes Reels that maintain high view duration and completion rates. This means someone watching your entire 15-second Reel carries more algorithmic weight than someone who watches for just 3 seconds.
The algorithm also favors Reels that are shared, saved, or rewatched multiple times, signaling high-quality content. For this reason, we love shorter Reels – it’s a lot easier to get a rewatch!
What gets more views: Reels or posts?
Reels consistently outperform static posts for reach and views. According to Instagram's own data, Reels generate 30% more engagement than standard photo posts. On average, Reels reach 2.54x more users than static posts with the same follower count.
For accounts looking to grow or increase their reach, Reels should be the centerpiece of your content strategy.
For kicks and giggles, here’s how we would rank all the features of Instagram in terms of how well they reach non-followers:
So, Do Hashtags Work on Instagram Reels?
The Bottom Line: Yes, Hashtags Work on Reels
Hashtags absolutely boost Reels discovery—when used strategically. But remember, they're just one tool in your Instagram growth toolkit.
The most successful Reels strategies combine:
Strategic hashtags based on account size
Engaging, high-quality video content
SEO-optimized captions
Trending audio when relevant
Consistent posting schedules
Ready to take your Reels strategy beyond just hashtags? Let's create content that doesn't just get seen—it converts.
Book a Discovery Call with Chelsea, our CEO, and let's craft a Reels strategy tailored to your brand that drives real business results.
READ MORE FROM SCOTT SOCIAL ↓
WRITTEN BY:
Chelsea Evans-Flower
Founder + Social Media Strategist