Instagram Reels continue to dominate the short-form video landscape. With billions of views daily, Reels offer content creators, influencers, and businesses a golden opportunity to go viral, gain followers, and boost brand visibility. But even the best videos need one secret weapon to truly take off: hashtags.
If you’re wondering what are the best hashtags for Instagram Reels in 2025, you’re in the right place. This comprehensive guide will break down the top-performing hashtags by category, tips for using them effectively, and how to create a winning hashtag strategy to grow your reach.
Why Are Hashtags Important on Instagram Reels?
Hashtags are how Instagram organizes and categorizes content. When used strategically, they help your content:
- Reach a wider audience
- Get featured on Explore pages
- Increase engagement (likes, comments, shares)
- Attract followers in your niche
- Boost your chances of going viral
Instagram allows up to 30 hashtags per post. For Reels, it’s ideal to use 10–15 highly targeted hashtags for optimal performance.
Best Hashtags for Instagram Reels in 2025 (General)
These are popular, trending, and evergreen hashtags that work across most content types:
- #Reels
- #ReelsInstagram
- #InstaReel
- #ReelItFeelIt
- #ExplorePage
- #ViralReels
- #ReelTrend
- #IGReels
- #ReelDaily
- #InstagramReels2025
🔥 SEO Tip: Include the keyword “best hashtags for Instagram reels” in your post captions, blogs, and even your video titles to increase visibility.
Best Trending Hashtags for Reels (2025)
These hashtags are hot and trending right now. Use them while they’re still on the rise.
- #ReelsViral2025
- #TrendingNow
- #HotOnReels
- #ViralContent
- #TrendingAudio
- #2025Reels
- #WatchThis
- #CreatorsToWatch
- #NowTrending
- #PopularReels
Pro Tip: Combine 2–3 trending hashtags with niche-specific ones to reach both broad and targeted audiences.
Hashtags for Reels to Go Viral
If your goal is to get your Reel in front of as many people as possible, try these viral-focused tags:
- #ReelsForYou
- #ReelsOfInstagram
- #ReelViral
- #MakeItViral
- #ViralChallenge
- #FYP (For You Page)
- #ExploreReels
- #ReelItUp
- #ViralHit
- #BoostReel
Best Hashtags for Instagram Reels by Niche
Tailor your hashtag strategy to your niche for more relevant reach and higher engagement.
🎵 Music / Dance
- #DanceReels
- #MusicLover
- #ReelsDance
- #BeatDrop
- #CoverSong
- #DanceChallenge
- #LipSyncReel
- #FeelTheBeat
- #MusicianReel
- #SongVibes
💄 Beauty & Makeup
- #BeautyReels
- #MakeupReel
- #GlowUp
- #BeautyHack
- #MUAReels
- #SkincareRoutine
- #MakeupTutorial
- #ReelTransformation
- #BeforeAndAfter
- #GRWM (Get Ready With Me)
💪 Fitness & Wellness
- #FitnessReels
- #WorkoutRoutine
- #HealthyLifestyle
- #GymLife
- #HomeWorkout
- #FitReels
- #FitnessMotivation
- #ReelWorkout
- #FitnessJourney
- #GetFitWithMe
🍝 Food & Cooking
- #FoodieReel
- #CookingReels
- #RecipeOfTheDay
- #TastyReel
- #QuickRecipe
- #FoodReel
- #CookWithMe
- #KitchenVibes
- #YummyReels
- #EasyMeal
📍Travel & Adventure
- #TravelReels
- #Wanderlust
- #ExploreMore
- #TravelVibes
- #AdventureTime
- #RoamTheWorld
- #Travel2025
- #HiddenGems
- #JetSetGo
- #BucketListTravel
👕 Fashion & Style
- #FashionReels
- #OOTDReel (Outfit of the Day)
- #StyleInspo
- #TrendAlert
- #LookBook
- #ReelFashion
- #FashionTips
- #StreetStyle
- #StyleOnPoint
- #ClosetGoals
😂 Funny & Comedy
- #FunnyReels
- #LaughOutLoud
- #ComedyClip
- #RelatableReels
- #MemesDaily
- #ReelComedy
- #LOLReels
- #SkitsReel
- #ComedyKing
- #MakeMeLaugh
🧠 Educational / How-to
- #LearnOnReels
- #DidYouKnow
- #TipsAndTricks
- #QuickFacts
- #LifeHack
- #HowToReel
- #EducationalContent
- #KnowledgeDrop
- #ReelTips
- #SmartLearning
🐾 Pets & Animals
- #PetReels
- #CuteAnimals
- #PuppyReel
- #CatLover
- #DogReels
- #AnimalVideos
- #PetLoversClub
- #FurryFriends
- #PetOfTheDay
- #ReelPets
How to Choose the Right Hashtags for Your Reels
Here’s how to create a winning hashtag combo:
1. Mix High, Medium, and Low Competition Tags
- High: Over 1M posts (#Reels)
- Medium: 100k–1M posts (#DanceReels)
- Low: Under 100k posts (#DanceTips2025)
This increases visibility across different audiences and keeps your content discoverable over time.
2. Use Niche-Specific Tags
Generic tags bring mass reach, but niche hashtags bring targeted followers who care about your content.
Example: Instead of only #Fitness, use #FitnessForMoms or #HIITWorkoutAtHome
3. Create a Custom Branded Hashtag
For businesses or personal brands, use a unique hashtag like #ReelsByJessica or #CookWithCarlos to build brand recall.
4. Use Hashtag Research Tools
Use tools like:
- Instagram search bar (auto-suggestions show real-time trends)
- Hashtagify
- RiteTag
- Flick.tech
5. Analyze What’s Working
Track Reels insights and analytics to see which hashtags bring in the most reach and engagement. Double down on those.
Instagram Reels Hashtag Best Practices (2025)
- ✅ Use 10–15 relevant hashtags per Reel
- ✅ Mix trending, niche, and branded hashtags
- ✅ Place hashtags in the caption, not the comments
- ✅ Avoid banned or spammy hashtags
- ✅ Refresh your hashtag set regularly (don’t copy-paste the same set for every post)
- ✅ Combine with relevant audio trends for extra reach
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- ❌ Using only generic hashtags (#love, #fun, #cool)
- ❌ Stuffing all 30 hashtags without relevance
- ❌ Ignoring your Reels analytics
- ❌ Using hashtags unrelated to the video content
- ❌ Copying hashtags from other creators without testing
Conclusion
Using the best hashtags for Instagram Reels in 2025 is one of the easiest and most effective ways to grow your audience organically. The right mix of trending, niche, and branded hashtags can give your Reels the visibility they need to go viral.
Start by experimenting with different combinations, track your results, and refine your strategy based on what resonates with your audience. With consistency and creativity, your Reels can go from average to algorithm gold.
Bonus: Tools to Help You Discover Reels Hashtags
- Flick.tech – AI-driven hashtag suggestions
- Hashtagify.me – Keyword and popularity tracking
- Display Purposes – Suggests clean, relevant hashtags
- Meta Business Suite – Analyze Reel performance by hashtags
FAQs
Q1. How many hashtags should I use on Instagram Reels?
Ideally 10–15. Too many can seem spammy, too few may limit your reach.
Q2. Should I put hashtags in the caption or comment?
Instagram Reels favor hashtags in the caption for better discoverability.
Q3. Do hashtags still work in 2025?
Absolutely! They’re still one of the best ways to get discovered organically.
Q4. Can I use the same hashtags every time?
No. Reuse some core ones, but rotate niche and trending hashtags for best results.