Quick Answer: The Instagram following limit in 2026: total cap 7,500 accounts; daily limits are soft (about 100–150/day for established accounts, 50–100 for new, 20–50 for very new).
- Daily: Stay under ~100–150 follows per day (established), ~50–100 (new), ~20–50 (very new). Spread across the day.
- Rules: No bulk follow/unfollow; avoid spikes. New accounts have lower safe limits.
- Safe tips: Space out follows, warm up new accounts, avoid automation. See Instagram Help – How many accounts you can follow.
Instagram Following Limit (2026) – Daily Limits, Rules & Safe Tips
Daily follow limits, 7,500 total cap, and how to avoid action blocks
Discover the Instagram following limit for 2026: daily follow limits, hidden rules, and safe tips to avoid action blocks while growing your account. This guide covers the follow limit per day and total cap. Pair with our Instagram Reel dimensions, best time to post on Instagram, and Instagram Collab Post.
What You'll Find on This Page
If you're looking for Instagram following limit, daily follow limit, or how to avoid action blocks, you're in the right place. This 2026 guide covers:
- What the Instagram following limit is – Total cap (7,500) and soft daily limits.
- Daily follow limits – Safe numbers per day by account age (established, new, very new).
- Rules and hidden limits – Why Instagram may block follow activity and how to stay safe.
- Safe tips – Space out follows, warm up accounts, avoid automation.
- Action block – What it is, how long it lasts, and how to avoid it.
- Quick reference table and FAQ – All following limit info in one place.
Use the table of contents to jump to the section you need. For more growth, see our best time to post on Instagram, Instagram Collab Post, and Instagram Reel length.
What Is the Instagram Following Limit?
The Instagram following limit has two parts. (1) Total cap: Instagram allows a maximum of 7,500 accounts that you can follow. Once you reach 7,500, the follow button stops working until you unfollow some accounts. (2) Daily / rate limits: Instagram does not publish exact numbers, but in practice following too many accounts in a short time (or in a pattern that looks automated) can trigger temporary action blocks. So there are both a hard total cap and soft daily follow limits that you should stay under to grow your account safely.
This guide uses practical safe ranges (e.g. about 100–150 per day for established accounts) based on common reports and Instagram Help – How many accounts you can follow. For content that supports growth, use our Instagram Reels caption generator and best time to post on Instagram.
Daily Follow Limits (2026)
Instagram daily follow limit is not officially stated; these are safe ranges that help avoid action blocks:
- Established accounts (e.g. 6+ months) – About 100–150 follows per day. Spread across the day; avoid doing most of them in one hour.
- New accounts (e.g. 1–6 months) – About 50–100 follows per day. Start on the lower side and increase gradually.
- Very new accounts (e.g. under 1 month) – About 20–50 follows per day. Warm up the account before pushing the limit.
Hourly pacing helps: e.g. about 15–20 per hour for mature accounts, 10–15 for mid-age, 5–10 for very new. Do not follow in bulk. For more reach, pair growth with our Instagram Reel dimensions, Instagram Reel length, and how to repost on Instagram.
Total Following Cap (7,500)
Instagram enforces a total following cap of 7,500 accounts. Once you follow 7,500 accounts, you cannot follow more until you unfollow some. The follow button will not work for new accounts until you are under the cap. This is separate from daily follow limits: even if you stay under 100–150 per day, you still cannot exceed 7,500 total. Plan your follow strategy so you stay under 7,500 if you want to keep adding new accounts without unfollowing first. For content ideas that support growth, see our Instagram caption generator and Instagram Collab Post.
Rules & Hidden Limits
Instagram follow limit rules (in practice): (1) Do not follow (or unfollow) in bulk or in short bursts. (2) Spread activity across the day. (3) New accounts have lower safe daily limits; warm them up. (4) Do not use automation or third-party tools to follow/unfollow; that can trigger action blocks or worse. (5) Sudden spikes in follow activity can be flagged even if you are under a round number like 150/day. Instagram looks at patterns and context. For safe growth, stay within the ranges above and focus on real engagement. Pair with our best time to post on Instagram, Instagram Story dimensions, and Instagram Reels caption generator.
Safe Tips to Avoid Action Blocks
To stay within the Instagram following limit and avoid action blocks while growing your account:
- Stay under daily safe limits – About 100–150/day for established, 50–100 for new, 20–50 for very new.
- Spread follows across the day – Do not do 100 follows in one hour; space them out.
- Warm up new accounts – Start with lower daily numbers and increase over days/weeks.
- Avoid automation – Do not use bots or tools that follow/unfollow for you.
- Mix in other activity – Post, comment, and like; do not only follow.
These safe tips help you avoid temporary blocks and keep your account in good standing. For more tools, see our Instagram Reel dimensions, how to repost on Instagram, and Instagram Collab Post.
What Is an Action Block?
An action block on Instagram is a temporary restriction on certain actions (often follow or unfollow). You may see a message like "You can't follow accounts at the moment." Blocks are usually 24–48 hours for a first or mild violation. Severe or repeated violations can lead to longer blocks or account verification. To avoid action blocks: stay within daily follow limits, do not follow in bulk, and do not use automation. If you are blocked, stop follow/unfollow activity and wait; do not try to bypass the block. For content that supports organic growth, use our Instagram caption generator and best time to post on Instagram.
Quick Reference: Instagram Following Limit (2026)
Use this table for Instagram following limit at a glance:
| Topic | Detail |
|---|---|
| Total cap | 7,500 accounts max that you can follow |
| Daily (established) | ~100–150 follows per day (safe) |
| Daily (new) | ~50–100 per day |
| Daily (very new) | ~20–50 per day |
| Hourly (safe) | ~15–20 (mature), ~10–15 (mid), ~5–10 (new) |
| Action block | Often 24–48 hours; avoid bulk and automation |
This is the Instagram follow limit quick reference for 2026. For more, see our Instagram Reel length, Instagram Collab Post, and best time to post on Instagram.
FAQ: Instagram Following Limit
What is the Instagram following limit?
Instagram does not publish an exact number. In practice there is a total cap of 7,500 accounts you can follow. Daily follow limits are soft: roughly 100–150 per day for established accounts, 50–100 for new, 20–50 for very new. Exceeding safe rates can trigger action blocks.
How many people can I follow on Instagram per day?
Stay under roughly 100–150 follows per day for established accounts, 50–100 for new, and 20–50 for very new. Spread follows across the day. Going much higher can trigger temporary action blocks.
What is the maximum number of accounts I can follow on Instagram?
Instagram enforces a total following cap of 7,500 accounts. Once you reach it, you must unfollow some before you can follow more. The follow button stops working until you are under the cap.
Why did I get an action block on Instagram?
Action blocks often happen when you follow (or unfollow) too many accounts in a short time, or when your pattern looks automated. Stay within daily limits, spread activity across the day, and avoid bulk follow/unfollow. Blocks are usually temporary (e.g. 24–48 hours).
How do I avoid action blocks when following on Instagram?
Follow within safe daily limits (about 100–150 per day for established accounts), spread follows across the day, avoid sudden spikes, and do not use automation. Warm up new accounts with lower daily limits.
Is there an hourly follow limit on Instagram?
Instagram does not state an hourly limit. To stay safe, spread follows: e.g. 15–20 per hour for mature accounts, 10–15 for mid-age, 5–10 for very new. Avoid doing many follows in a single short burst.
Can I follow 7,500 people on Instagram?
Yes, but 7,500 is the maximum total. Once you hit that cap, you cannot follow more until you unfollow some. Stay under 7,500 if you want to add new accounts without unfollowing first.
How long does an Instagram action block last?
Temporary action blocks often last about 24–48 hours. Severe or repeated violations can lead to longer blocks or account verification. Reduce follow/unfollow activity and wait; do not try to bypass the block.