Hashtag Density Analyzer
Paste a caption — score its hashtag density against our reference band for Instagram in 2026.
Caption text
Analysis
Hashtag density score
- No hashtags found. Add 5-10 specific tags to land inside the recommended reference band.
Hashtags — the 2025 truth
2018 advice: "use all 30". 2025 advice: 5-10 precision tags. Instagram's 2024 content-tag relevance classifier doesn't just check for "correct tags" — it measures content-category consistency. Putting #fitness on a dance video earns an instant penalty.
The mix that works
- 2-3 large tags (1M+ posts): discoverability
- 4-6 medium tags (50k-500k): competitive reach
- 1-2 narrow tags (5k-50k): hit your target viewer
- 1 branded tag: owned-search SEO
Frequently asked questions
Why not use all 30 hashtags?⌄
Instagram can reduce distribution for posts that pile on off-topic popular tags. A small set of precise, relevant tags (around 5-10) usually performs more naturally than filling all 30 slots.
Caption or first comment?⌄
In 2024 Adam Mosseri (Instagram CEO) explicitly recommended putting tags in the caption. The first-comment approach introduces a 1-3 minute delay and the algorithm's distribution score doesn't start until then.
Should I include my brand hashtag?⌄
Yes — including one branded hashtag (#YourBrand) is the recommended pattern for owned-search discoverability. The tool counts every # tag, branded or not.
Does it support non-Latin tags and emoji?⌄
Yes. #한강, #日本, #피크닉🌸 are all counted accurately via Unicode category matching (\p{L}).
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