How many hashtags can you use on Instagram?
The short answer
Five. Instagram now caps posts and Reels at five hashtags. Instagram chief Adam Mosseri said hashtags help with search but "don't increase your reach," so pick a few that describe the post instead of stuffing the caption.
Platform rule vs. our recommendation
Platform rule: up to five hashtags per post or Reel. Instagram announced the change in December 2025 and said it would roll out gradually. Its stated reason is that fewer, more targeted tags work better than long lists of generic ones.
Garnet's practical recommendation: treat hashtags like labels, not a reach button. Use them to say what the video is and where it is. The video itself has to do the work of holding people.
How we'd pick five for a dealership Reel
Steven Wilson has spent the past ten years working in marketing and social media in the car business. Here's a simple way to fill five slots on a vehicle Reel (a hypothetical example, not a client's post):
- The make and model, like the vehicle in the video.
- The body style, such as truck or SUV.
- The town, like Livingston.
- The region, like East Texas.
- The dealership's own tag, if it uses one.
Same idea on other apps
YouTube treats hashtags differently. See whether hashtags help YouTube Shorts get more views.
For businesses around Livingston
A local tag only helps if the video is clearly local too: your lot, your street, your people. See how we work with businesses in Livingston, TX.
Want help planning posts that people actually watch? Talk to Garnet.