You've crafted Instagram posts with stunning visuals, clever captions, and vibes that scream 'double-tap worthy'. Yet, there’s a sneaky little detail that might be keeping your posts from appearing on everyone's feed.

Hashtags. 

The thing is, creators have mixed feelings about it — some believe it’s a dated strategy, while others realize the Instagram algorithm’s intricacies and the impact of using the right hashtags. 

The truth? Data reveals that people are more likely to engage with posts that include hashtags, especially in video content. So, if you create Instagram Reels or any other type of video content on the platform, you’re better off using hashtags than avoiding them to gain that extra boost of reach and engagement.

In this guide, we’ll share the best hashtags for Instagram Reels. Or, if you’re strapped for time, head over to a hashtag generator to get the best hashtags for your Instagram Reels right away. 

Jump to a specific section: 

• Best Hashtags for Instagram Reels: General
• Best Hashtags for Instagram Reels: Food and Lifestyle
• Best Hashtags for Instagram Reels: Travel
• Best Hashtags for Instagram Reels: Fashion
• Best Hashtags for Instagram Reels: Fitness
• Best Hashtags for Instagram Reels: Health and Wellness
• Best Hashtags for Instagram Reels: Gaming
• Best Hashtags for Instagram Reels: Movies and Shows

Best Hashtags for Instagram Reels

To make it easier for you, we’ve compiled a list of the best hashtags for Instagram Reels across various categories. But before we dive into more specific, niche hashtags, here are some generic hashtags for Instagram Reels that are must-haves for your content: 

[#TOC1]Best Hashtags for Instagram Reels: General[#TOC1]

To maximize your reach on Instagram, use generic reels hashtags that are broadly applicable and widely searched. These tags help your content be discovered by diverse Instagram users scrolling through their explore feed or searching for the latest trends. 

Here’s a list of hashtags for Instagram Reels:

1. #Trending

2. #ForYouPage

3. #Instareels

4. #Likeforlikes

5. #Explore

6. #reelsVideo

7. #reelsInstagram

8. #InstaDaily

9. #CreatorsOfInstagram

10. #InstaGood

11. #SmallBusiness 

12. #InstagramMarketing

13. #FunnyVideos

14. #Photooftheday 

15. #Picoftheday 

16. #Like4Like

[#TOC2]Best Hashtags for Instagram Reels: Food and Lifestyle[#TOC2]

Whether you’re a bakery connoisseur who wants to share their own version of Cedric Grolet’s incredibly aesthetic desserts, or a lifestyle vlogger like Michelle Reed who captures the regular moments of their daily lives, using hashtags is important. It’s a small yet powerful tactic that can help you reach more people and build a loyal community.

Food and lifestyle reels hashtags should highlight the style and theme of your content, whether it’s everyday meals or a run to the nearby grocery store:

17. #Foodie

18. #LifestyleBlogger

19. #HomeChef

20. #LifestyleVlogger

21. #MealPrep

22. #HealthyLiving

23. #MinimalistHome

24. #FoodBlogger

25. #DailyVlogs

26. #FoodLover

27. #HealthyFood 

[#TOC3]Best Hashtags for Instagram Reels: Travel[#TOC3]

Travel content remains incredibly popular, engaging audiences with beautiful destinations and cultural experiences. 

Whether you want to share a local hike you took last weekend or your Europe travel recommendations with your Instagram audience, here are some of the most trending reels hashtags you can use for your travel content: 

28. #TravelGram

29. #Travelreels

30. #HiddenGems

31. #TravelBlogger

32. #VacationVibes

33. #TravelTips

34. #InstaTravel

35. #TravelPhotography

36. #Traveling

37. #TravelBug

[#TOC4]Best Hashtags for Instagram Reels: Fashion[#TOC4]

Recording a reaction video on the Met Gala? Or sharing your capsule wardrobe that saves you space in a minimalist home? Or maybe you want to share your quick, “Get ready with me” videos. 

Whatever fashion advice or experiment you want to share with your followers, it’s important to use the right hashtags. They can put your content on the “fashion map” of Instagram and help fashion enthusiasts interested in current trends and personal style advice find you.

Consider using these trending #tag for Instagram Reels for your fashion posts:

38. #FashionStyle

39. #OOTD

40. #StyleInspiration

41. #OutfitIdeas

42. #WhatIWore

43. #OutfitInspo

44. #GRWM

45. #FashionBlogger

46. #LookBook

47. #OutfitGoals

[#TOC5]Best Hashtags for Instagram Reels: Fitness[#TOC5]

Fitness reels can range from workout tutorials, and fitness challenges, to more niche content such as Hot Yoga or Orange Theory. 

Using hashtags that are particular to your content style and fitness niche will help you reach your target audience and build a community over time. For instance, Lauren Flymen has built a community of 2.2M followers with her rope-jumping Instagram Reels. The editing on her reels is on-point, she uses catchy audio, and her quality game is top-notch. 

What more could you do as a fitness creator? Consider adding these popular fitness hashtags in the mix to increase the reach of your Instagram Reels: 

48. #FitnessMotivation

49. #WorkoutOfTheDay

50. #GetStrong

51. #FitnessJourney

52. #GymLife

53. #FitFam

54. #PersonalTrainer

55. #HealthyLifestyle

56. #ExerciseTime

57. #Gains

[#TOC6]Best Hashtags for Instagram Reels: Health and Wellness[#TOC6]

Health and wellness is an incredibly versatile niche with people sharing Instagram Reels on wildly different topics. Think content around mental health, physical health, emotional well-being, psychological advice, and others. 

In a way, it’s sort of an overlapping niche between fitness, lifestyle, and food. That’s why, it’s important to identify what category within this niche your Instagram Reels resonate with most, and then use relevant hashtags. 

Here are some of the best hashtags for Instagram Reels around health and wellness: 

58. #WellnessJourney

59. #MindBodySoul

60. #HealthyChoices

61. #SelfCare

61. #MentalHealthAwareness

63. #HolisticHealth

64. #HealthTips

65. #NaturalWellness

66. #LifeBalance

67. #HealthyMindAndBody

[#TOC7]Best Hashtags for Instagram Reels: Gaming[#TOC7]

Playing The Last of Us Part II Remastered or Mortal Kombat 1 on your PS5? Or maybe you’re a Twitch streamer who loves playing Minecraft. Either way, you can use Instagram as a discovery channel to drive potential subscribers to your primary social media streaming account. 

By sharing highlights, game strategies, or even funny glitches, you not only increase your visibility but also share a glimpse into your gaming personality. This helps attract viewers who are likely to enjoy your content style and may follow you back to other platforms where you stream more extensively. 

Here are some best hashtags for Instagram Reels around gaming: 

68. #GamerLife

69. #GameOn

70. #VideoGames

71. #GamingCommunity

72. #PlayStation

73. #Xbox

74. #PCGaming

75. #MobileGaming

76. #Gameplay

77. #GamerGuy

[#TOC8]Best Hashtags for Instagram Reels: Movies and Shows[#TOC8]

It has become second nature to get inspiration from Instagram Reels — be it for food, fashion, travel, or even movies and shows to watch. 

So, whether you want to share recommendations with your audience, or give a review on your recent watch, make sure you use these hashtags for your Instagram Reels:  

78. #MovieNight

79. #FilmBuff

80. #TVShows

81. #CinemaLovers

82. #SeriesAddict

83. #BingeWatching

84. #Filmography

85. #ClassicMovies

86. #UpcomingMovies

87. #MovieReview

Tips for Finding and Using Hashtags for Instagram Reels

Finding the perfect Instagram Reels hashtags doesn't have to be complicated. Here are some straightforward tips to boost your visibility and connect with your audience more effectively:

See What’s Trending to Discover Popular Instagram Hashtags

Keep your content fresh and engaging by tapping into current trends. Here’s a simple way to catch up:

• Hit the magnifying glass icon to jump to the Explore page in your Instagram account. 
• Type a basic hashtag related to your niche in the search bar.
• Switch over to the Tags tab to see a list of hot hashtags that fit your theme.
• For instance, if you’re into fitness, you might start with something like Home Workout and discover related, trending tags like #FitnessMotivation or #NoExcuses.

Another way to discover popular Instagram hashtags is by doing a competitor analysis. Look at reels from popular creators in your niche and note the hashtags they use. This can give you ideas on what's working in your specific area of interest. 

Speak to Your Followers

Your followers are your best critics as well as fans. Chat with them. Ask what they love about your reels or what new content they’re hoping to see. 

For example, if you’re a Korean cooking enthusiast like @AhnestKitchen, asking your followers can lead to using more targeted hashtags like #EasyRecipes or #CultureRecipe. Or, if you're just starting, try sparking your own trend with a unique branded hashtag. 

Here are some ways you can collect hashtag ideas from your followers: 

• Polls and Questions: use Instagram Stories to ask your followers about their preferences. For example, if you're a travel blogger, ask whether they prefer beach destinations or city breaks, then use targeted hashtags like #BeachLife or #CityAdventures based on the feedback.
• Community Hashtags: encourage your followers to use a specific hashtag when they try your tips or recipes. If you’re a food blogger like @SmoothItFreshly, you could promote #SmoothiewithMia to track who’s making smoothies along with you.
• Feedback Loop: regularly review the comments on your reels to see if followers suggest or use specific hashtags. This can be a goldmine for tailored content ideas.

Look Beyond Instagram

Think about what’s buzzing outside Instagram. Maybe there's a viral challenge on TikTok or a hot discussion on Reddit that can inspire your next reel. 

• Cross-Platform Trends: check out trending topics on TikTok or Twitter that align with your Instagram content. If a particular challenge or meme is gaining traction, incorporate related hashtags like #BottleCapChallenge or #MemeCulture into your reels.
• Industry Forums: platforms like Reddit or specialized forums can be excellent for finding niche-specific hashtags. For instance, if you're into gaming, look for threads discussing the latest games and see what hashtags gamers are using, such as #GamersOfInstagram or #RetroGaming.

Use Hashtags Smartly

More isn’t always better. Especially when it comes to hashtags, stuffing your captions with them is no surefire way to get more eyeballs on your content. On the contrary, Instagram may penalize your content and mark it as spam if you overuse hashtags. 

The question then becomes how many hashtags are enough hashtags? 

So, essentially, there’s no one-size-fits-app answer to the quantity of hashtags you should use. A report by HubSpot and Mention found Instagram posts that used over 11 hashtags performed the best in terms of engagement, followed by those that used 4. Another report by Later said using 20 hashtags receives the highest average reach rate. 

Our advice? You do you. Instagram allows adding up to 30 hashtags in posts. Conduct your own experiments and remember these things to use hashtags smartly: 

• Relevance is Key: always choose hashtags that are directly relevant to the content of your reel. If you’re posting about fashion tips, hashtags like #OOTD or #GRWM can be more effective than more generic ones like #likeforlikes. 
• Balanced Approach: combine high-traffic, general hashtags with more specific ones to reach both broad and niche audiences. For example, mix #Fitness with #YogaForBeginners if your reel is about starting yoga.
• Create A/B Tests: run a basic A/B test to analyze what works best for you. Publish two variants of the same content: some text
  • Variant A: use this post to test a smaller number of hashtags. For example, if you're a travel blogger, you might use 5 carefully selected travel hashtags like #TravelGram, #travelvlogger #weekendtrip #travelerlife #traveltips.  
  • Variant B: use this post to test a larger number of hashtags. Add a mix of generic and niche-specific hashtags. Think covering bases from #travel to #hikesinUtah or #HiddenCaliforniaTreks. 

Generate the Best Instagram Hashtags for Your Reels

Finding the right Instagram hashtags for reels can make a significant difference in their reach and engagement. By keeping up with trends, engaging with your audience, exploring other platforms, and using A/B testing, you can refine your hashtag strategy for optimal results.

For an effortless way to discover the perfect hashtags, try VEED's Instagram Hashtag Generator. It's simple to use — just enter a keyword related to your content, and VEED will generate a list of relevant, trending hashtags to help your reels gain more visibility and attract the right audience.