Instagram Engagement Rate Calculator

How Do We Calculate Instagram Engagement Rate?

For the available 2 calculation modes, we are using transparent, standard Instagram engagement rate formulas:

• Engagements counted: likes + comments (we’ll include shares and saves if accessible).
• ER% by Reel views (default in our tool): engagements ÷ video views × 100. Use this for short-form video so you’re comparing like-for-like.
• ER% by followers: engagements ÷ follower count × 100. Best for quick vetting and cross-account comparisons because the denominator is stable.

Check out this IG Reel ER calculation example as a reference:

• An Instagram Reel with 1,200 likes + 80 comments + 50 saves = 1,330 engagements.
• Views for this Reel: 120,000.
• Followers: 50,000.
• The Instagram engagement rate (by views) for this Reel = (1,330 ÷ 120,000) × 100% = 1.10%.
• The Instagram engagement rate (by followers) for this Reel = (1,330 ÷ 50,000) × 100% = 2.66%.

Now, let’s say you would like to check the average engagement rates of multiple reels from an IG influencer, from which you can choose 5 videos or up to 30 videos. The calculation looks like follows:

• 5 Reals with 5,800 likes in total + 650 comments in total + 350 saves in total = 6,800 engagements.
• Total views of these 5 Reels: 650,000.
• Followers: 55,000.
• The average Instagram engagement rate (by views) for this IG influencer in the recent 5 Reels = (6,800 ÷ 650,000) × 100% = 1.04%
• The Instagram engagement rate (by followers) for this IG influencer in the recent 5 Reels = ((6,800 ÷ 5) ÷ 55,000) × 100% = 2.47%

Note that our Instagram engagement rate calculator pulls public interactions we can reliably capture. Thus, stories, DMs, and some saves may not always be available.

Instagram Engagement Rates by Followers or By Views

Use follower-based ER when:

• Comparing influencers with similar audience sizes
• Quick vetting for partnerships
• Assessing overall audience loyalty

Use views-based ER when:

• Analyzing Reels specifically
• Measuring content performance regardless of follower count
• Comparing viral vs. non-viral content

Pro tip: Start with views-based ER for Reels analysis since it reflects actual content reach and engagement quality. Use follower-based ER as a secondary metric for broader account health assessment. This dual approach can give you the complete engagement picture of any Instagram profile.

Why Use Scrumball's Instagram Engagement Calculator?

Scrumball's free Instagram engagement rate calculator gives you better insights than other tools out there. We built it to help brands and marketers figure out which influencers are actually worth working with

• Flexible Post Analysis Range - You can analyze anywhere from 5 to 30 of their recent posts. If you just want a quick look at how they're doing lately, check 5 posts. Want to see if they're consistently good? Look at 30 posts to get the full picture.
• 2 Calculation Modes - We give you engagement rates based on views (which we set as the default) or based on followers. Views work better when you want to see how much people actually watch their stuff. Followers work better when you're comparing different influencers to each other.
• Up-to-Date Numbers - Our tool grabs fresh data straight from Instagram right when you use it. So you're not looking at old stats that might make someone look better or worse than they really are right now.

More Instagram Engagement Insights

In addition to the above, here are more Instagram engagement rate insights to help you better interpret your ER results accurately and set realistic partnership expectations. This is what we found in our comprehensive analysis regarding engagement patterns across industries and content types in 2025.

Industry Performance Varies Dramatically

• Overall average engagement rate on Instagram: 0.67% across all industries
• Top performers: Construction & Manufacturing (4.4%), Professional Services (3.7-3.8%)
• Mid-tier: Technology (3.3%), Government (3.5%), Higher Education (2.99%)
• Struggling sectors: Beauty & Health (0.32%), Fashion (0.36%), Food & Beverage (0.63%)
• Professional services consistently outperform consumer-facing industries due to less market saturation

Engagement Rates by IG Content Format

• Reels: 1.23% engagement - highest performing format, algorithm-favored
• Carousel posts: 0.99% engagement - ideal for educational content
• Static images: 0.70% engagement - traditional but declining performance
• Stories: 0.35% engagement - ephemeral nature limits sustained interaction

Use these benchmarks to contextualize your engagement rate calculations and identify high-performing influencers within your industry vertical and budget range. Access our complete Instagram Engagement Rate Research Report in 2025 for deeper insights into platform trends, geographic variations, and advanced optimization strategies that will elevate your influencer marketing campaigns.

Benefits of Checking an IG Influencer's Engagement Rate before Partnering

Engagement rate is the best way to see if a creator actually influences their audience—not just how many followers they have. Checking this upfront helps you avoid paying too much for fake numbers and work with creators who genuinely connect with their fans. Here are the main benefits of checking an IG influencer's engagement stats before reaching out:

• Avoid Fake Influencers - Engagement rates reveal the truth. When someone has 100k followers but only gets 50 likes per post, something's not right.
• Predict Campaign Success - Creators with steady, high engagement usually deliver better results and give you more bang for your buck.
• Negotiate Fair Prices - Use real-time and solid engagement data to negotiate fair rates with more confidence, instead of just going by follower count.

Most IG influencers with engagement rates between 2%-6% deliver about 3x better results than those accounts with suspiciously low rates from bought followers. Our Instagram engagement rate calculator gives you the info you need to make smart choices and avoid wasting money on partnerships that won't work.

Why IG Engagement Rate Matters More Than Follower Count?

If you’re choosing partners by follower count alone, you’re flying blind. Engagement rate shows how many real people actually interact with a creator’s content—likes, comments, saves, shares—not just how many accounts clicked “follow” years ago. In Instagram influencer marketing, that difference determines whether you buy just attention or solid outcomes.

Here’s the core truth: reach without response doesn’t move the needle. An account with 500K followers and a 0.5% Instagram engagement rate may deliver fewer meaningful actions than a 60K creator with a 4% ER. In general, the smaller creator often drives lower cost per engagement, stronger click-through, and more conversions because their audience is active, not passive.