Like most millennials, I consider myself an Instagram native. I’ve used the platform for both my work and personal life for what feels like a lifetime, and in doing so, I’ve had to come up with thousands of Instagram post captions.
And, after putting different approaches and trends to the test throughout the years, I have a solid idea of what works and what doesn’t. But more importantly, I understand how difficult it is to write a caption from scratch — one that conveys exactly what you want in a way that compels your audience.
That‘s why I compiled some of the best Instagram captions for every type of brand and post I’ve seen. Whether you want to sound cool, make a funny quip, or come across as cute, you’ll find something to use or reference to get your creative juices flowing. But first, let’s go over recent data and how that might factor into the way you create captions.
Table of Contents
- Data-Backed Instagram Caption Strategies
- Instagram Captions for Business
- Personal Captions for Instagram
- Song Lyrics for Instagram Captions
- Holiday Instagram Captions
- Seasonal Instagram Captions
- Selfie Instagram Captions
- Baddie Instagram Captions
- Travel & Vacation Instagram Captions
- Birthday Instagram Captions
- Prom Instagram Captions
- Graduation Instagram Captions
- Food Instagram Captions
- Pet & Dog Instagram Captions
- Features of Good Instagram Captions
Data-Backed Instagram Caption Strategies
I’ve seen plenty of marketers struggle with their captions. In fact, out of the 697 marketers recently surveyed by HubSpot for our Instagram Engagement Report, 23% stated creating relevant and engaging captions was one of the biggest challenges for their brand.
With that in mind, I turned some of my takeaways from HubSpot’s survey into quick, actionable strategies you should keep in mind while creating captions in 2024. Here’s the breakdown:
Use captions that evoke an emotional response.
Up to 58% of marketers agreed that emotional resonance enhances user engagement, and they even put it above technical aspects like visual editing and effective hashtag use.
A good way to put this to practice is creating unique posts with bright, appealing visuals and short, snappy captions that are unique, relatable, or funny to resonate emotionally with your audience.
Play around with caption length.
HubSpot found captions between 1 and 20 characters were the most engaging. And although the engagement dropped the longer they got after that, the trend reversed the closer posts got to the character limit (2,200).
The takeaway? Either keep it brief and fun, or share what’s been sitting in the depths of your mind, and don’t hold back.
Capitalize on the content Instagram users want to see.
Marketers also agree that content showcasing brand products and services (37%), funny content (34%), and relatable content (28%) are the three top-performing content types in their Instagram marketing strategy.
The key to ensuring that’s the case is taking advantage of elements like captions to infuse your brand’s unique personality into the content. After all, there’s a reason why these are also the most memorable content types for consumers.
Use at least an average of 7 hashtags for your posts.
Hashtags are still important. Marketers surveyed by HubSpot believe that hashtags have a tangible impact on comments (51%), impressions (47%), likes (46%), and shares (32%).
But what’s the right number? Well, 11 or more hashtags perform best, followed closely by posts with four or fewer hashtags. Posts with 6–10 hashtags only performed slightly worse than the previous two, so anything in between is a good compromise if you’re having a hard time finding relevant hashtags for your posts.
Use emojis sparingly.
HubSpot found the sweet spot is 6–10 emojis. That said, posts with zero to five emojis performed similarly in terms of engagement. However, unless the goal of your post is coming across as spammy or chaotic, you want to be careful about your emoji usage.
I recommend erring on the side of caution. I might add an emoji to the occasional post when I believe it’ll make the caption more expressive, but I try not to let them overwhelm my captions.
Leverage image posts to engage users with your captions.
Image posts continue to be the best way to grab your audience’s attention. Marketers agree that when image posts connect, they get the most comments (29%) and a significant amount of likes (28%), which is why they devote up to 67% of their context mix to them.
And that makes sense — it’s one of the easier content types to produce, so I suggest using them frequently as part of your strategy. Just note that doesn’t mean you should ignore video or reels. Although, in most cases, the content in these formats does the talking, you can also enhance their impact with unique captions.
That said, the more posts you craft, the more captions you’ll need. So, without further ado, here are a ton of captions to help inspire your Instagram posting efforts!
Instagram Captions for Business
Your Instagram business account is one of the best places to showcase your brand personality while still delivering business updates in an engaging way. You can use the captions below for most social media content ideas, but feel free to customize them depending on your specific post.
Business Instagram Captions
In my experience, captions humanize your business way more than your average paid ad. Your business Instagram captions are an opportunity to give your brand some personality while getting the word out about your product or service offering.
Here are some of our go-to captions that prospects and customers will love.
- Good evening, [city]! We’re in town for [event] at Booth [#]. Stop by and say hi!
- “If you‘re offered a seat on a rocket ship, don’t ask what seat. Just get on.” — Sheryl Sandberg, COO of Facebook
- Our [#]-person squad completed the [road race name]! And we did it all for the post-run sneaker selfie. 👟
- We got product in the pipeline … check back for an exciting announcement on [date]!
- Diversity isn‘t a recruitment metric — it’s an ingredient for success. At [company], we thrive on the unique backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives of our people.
- Spot the CEO. 😉
- Keep going.
- At [company name], our best asset is our people.
- We had a great time with our customers at [meeting/event]! @[client/partner], you guys rock.
- Thrilled to have [customer] at our office today! Come back any time. 😊
- [Company name] is off for [holiday]! We hope you all have a safe long weekend.
- Big things have small beginnings. [Company]’s HQ began right here.
- “It is better to fail in originality than to succeed in imitation.” — Herman Melville
- How many [company name] employees does it take to spell “TEAM”?
- Want to work with these awesome people, working on a lot of awesome things? We’re hiring! Click the link in our bio to see our current openings.
- Check, check, one, two … is this thing on? [Company name] is now on Instagram! Follow us to learn about our culture, product, and (awesome) people.
- Tired of [customer pain point]? We’ve got good news. Click the link in our bio to learn about [product]’s latest feature.
- [Company] presents our latest product — made with love just for you. ❤️ Link in bio to learn more.
- Stop wasting time with [customer pain point]. Our [product] will help you achieve [X] more efficiently — just ask our current customers. Check out our latest case study here: [Link]
- Handmade in [location] and delivered to your door. That’s the [Company] promise.
- When life gives you lemons, you make lemonade. When [company name] gives you [type of product], you make money.
Small Business Captions
Running a small business? You can use a friendlier tone in your Instagram posts, emphasizing your products’ better quality and advertising the benefits of purchasing from local or small businesses. I’ve found the best way to advertise for small businesses is by focusing on handmade or locally sourced products in particular.
- Made with love and care in [city]. Order yours online.
- Every order and customer means the world to us — thank you for your support!
- The best things start small and simple. Learn about our process at the link in bio.
- We put our heart and soul into every product we create, and we hope you can taste the difference.
- Join our revolution — we promise it’s worth the buzz.
- Shop small, save big.
- Passion fuels our business, creativity drives our journey.
- Small business, big heart.
- From our small business to your doorstep, delivered with ♥.
- Handcrafted perfection.
- Shop small, support your local economy.
- Shop local, feel good.
- Quality > quantity.
- Treat yourself with a [product/service] made just for you.
- Create connections and spread joy. Come in today to experience the [business name] difference.
Coming Soon Captions for Instagram
If you have something new coming down the line, why not generate some buzz with a series of Instagram posts? Here are some captions to get the conversation going and increase anticipation for new products, releases, or business expansions.
- Mark your calendars. Something amazing is coming your way on [date].
- The countdown is on.
- Stay tuned for something special.
- Join us on our mission to make a difference starting from [date].
- You won’t want to miss this. We partnered with [company] to bring you the latest in [industry].
- Get ready to meet our latest creation.
- The wait is almost over. Launching on [date].
- We’ve got something incredible in the works, and we can’t wait to share more with you.
- No need for binoculars. Something big is on the horizon.
- We‘re brewing up something exciting, and we can’t wait for you to be a part of it.
- Something special is in the works — can you guess what it is?
- We’ve been keeping a little secret from you … Stay tuned.
- A new adventure is about to begin. New [city] location opening on [date].
- Keep your eyes peeled for our big announcement on [date].
- Can’t wait to share our latest project with you. Sign up on our website for updates.
Catchy Instagram Captions for Business
Showcase your brand personality a little more with a catchy caption or saying. A catchy caption can convey your brand ethos, your entrepreneurial spirit, or your company values. The below options can effectively be used for business updates or news.
- We’re here to make a difference, not just a profit.
- No matter how small, every success counts.
- Good things come to those who hustle.
- Expect the unexpected.
- Small business, big heart.
- Keeping it simple with our latest launch.
- Service is not just a transaction, it’s an experience.
- It’s never too late to start — just do it.
- Believe in your dreams, and the rest will fall into place.
- Make waves in your business, or get lost in the sea of competition.
- Whatever you do, do it with all your heart.
- Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it’s the courage to continue that counts.
- Creating experiences, one [product] at a time.
- Small things can make a big difference in a business.
- Find your happy place here.
Business Meeting Captions for Instagram
Feel like a business meeting isn’t Instagram-worthy? Think again. I find posting about my meetings a great opportunity to showcase HubSpot’s company culture. It can also show my followers just how hard I’m working to make better content for them. Here are a few of my favorite business meeting captions that you can customize.
- Generating our next big idea with the brightest minds we know. P.S. We’re hiring!
- When we come together, we achieve great things.
- Collaboration is the key to success.
- The only way to do great work is to love what you do.
- Meetings that matter, for a purpose that counts.
- In the right company, your ideas will flourish.
- Everything is possible when you have the right people in the room.
- There’s no substitute for hard work and determination.
- When passion meets purpose, great things happen.
- We believe there are no bad ideas. We love facing challenges head-on.
- The best ideas come to life in a room full of great minds.
- Surround yourself with positive people who lift you higher.
- We may have different perspectives, but we’re working towards a common goal.
- Even a ten-minute business meeting can be the key to unlocking limitless possibilities.
- We work hard, we play hard, and we achieve great things together.
Quote Instagram Captions
When I can’t quite find the right words, there’s always a quote out there to help me convey that idea instead. Using quotes for your Instagram caption is a great way to evoke and share your emotions. Quotes can propel people to think more open-mindedly, and optimistically — or even motivate them to do something great. Below is a list of some of our favorites.
- “The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.” — Nelson Mandela
- “Always remember that you are absolutely unique. Just like everyone else.” — Margaret Mead
- “You change the world by being yourself.” — Yoko Ono
- “In the end, it‘s not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in your years.” — Abraham Lincoln
- “What I know for sure is that speaking your truth is the most powerful tool we all have.” — Oprah Winfrey
- “The purpose of our lives is to be happy.” — Dalai Lama
- “You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.” — Mae West
- “Live in the sunshine, swim the sea, drink the wild air.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson
- “I would rather die of passion than of boredom.” — Vincent van Gogh
- “Success isn’t about the end result, it’s about what you learn along the way.” — Vera Wang
- “It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop.” — Confucius
- “Everything you’ve ever wanted is on the other side of fear.” — George Addair
- “You become what you believe.” — Oprah Winfrey
- “Believe you can and you’re halfway there.” — Theodore Roosevelt
- “The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing.” — Walt Disney
- “Love the life you live. Live the life you love.” — Bob Marley
- “My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style.” — Maya Angelou
- “Embrace what makes you unique, even if it makes others uncomfortable.” — Janelle Monae
- “Success is a collection of problems solved.” — I.M. Pei
- “To be beautiful means to be yourself. You don’t need to be accepted by others. You need to accept yourself.” — Thich Nhat Hanh
- “In a gentle way, you can shake the world.” — Gandhi
- “I dream. Sometimes I think that’s the only right thing to do.” — Haruki Murakami
- “We become what we think about.” — Earl Nightingale
- “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.” — Winston Churchill
- “You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.” — C.S. Lewis
- “If you are depressed you are living in the past. If you are anxious you are living in the future. If you are at peace you are living in the present.” — Lao Tzu
- “Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving.” — Albert Einstein
- “If you are working on something that you really care about, you don’t have to be pushed. The vision pulls you.” — Steve Jobs
- “Security is mostly a superstition. Life is either a daring adventure or nothing.” — Helen Keller
- “Stay true to yourself and never let what somebody else says distract you from your goals.” — Michelle Obama
Personal Captions for Instagram
If you’re looking for Instagram captions for your personal Instagram profile, we’ve got you covered. The good news? The captions below are also a great option for businesses with a more casual or personable brand voice.
Short Instagram Captions
A picture is already worth a thousand words — there’s no need to go on and on in your captions. I always make sure I’m choosing the best photo or video from a set so it can speak for itself. Take the captions below and change them to suit your exact post. It may be enough to tag someone who’s in the photo, give credit if you’re reposting, or prompt people to check out your bio.
- @[account]
- Credit: @[account]
- This week’s photo dump.
- Photo dump sacrifice for the algorithm god.
- Scroll →More info in bio.
- Link in bio.
- Sneak peek →
- [Product] in production at our factories.
- @[account] x @[account]. Coming soon.
- Loading …
- [The most dominant color in your post, i.e., “Red,” “Blue,” etc.]
- [Hashtag relevant to your post]
- [Emoji relevant to your post]
- [Relevant word 1] + [Relevant word 2]
- Happy [weekday]! [hashtag]
- Happy [holiday of the day]!
- [hashtag]Image Source
- You can find me at [place you most often frequent].
- In [place where the photo was taken].
- An ode to [item in the image or video].
- Thinking about [relevant word].
- Weekend.
- [Month].
- 2:38 pm. [Or time when the photo was taken]
- Time passing.
- From the archives.
- Mentally here.
- Couldn’t pick one.
- That’s all for now.
- I can’t. I simply cannot. [Emoji]
- Sunset.
- Spring.
- Summer.
- Winter.
- Fall.
- Midnight.
- Immediately yes.
- Immediately no.
- Say more.
- Say less.
- Mood.
- My go-to.
- My favorite hour.
- Taking it slow.
- Grateful.
- Once upon a time …
- We/I/You/@[account] know(s) what’s up.
- The only thing stopping you is you.
- Good food, good mood.
- And the boredom award goes to …
- My life, my rules. At least 62% of the time.
- We’re all still healing.
- Be the type of person you want to meet.
- It starts with you.
- Call it what you want.
- I’ve never been a fan of change, but I’d follow you anywhere.
Funny Instagram Captions
We don’t always have to take social media so seriously, so explore some funny Instagram captions for your upcoming posts.
Instagram can be a tool to convey aesthetic picture-taking or stoic model shoots, and it can also be a fun place to share laughs or lighthearted content. Sharing a funny caption can boost your page’s personality and potentially brighten someone else’s day. I hope the following captions make you crack a smile.
- Glitch in the matrix.
- My favorite exercise is a cross between a lunge and a crunch … I call it lunch.
- I need a six-month holiday twice a year.
- We tried to be normal once. Worst two minutes of our lives!
- There are 16-year-olds competing at the Olympics, and some of us (me) still push on “pull” doors.
- That awkward moment when you‘re wearing Nike’s and you can’t do it.
- I’m just a girl, standing in front of a salad, asking it to be a cupcake.
- What if we told you … you can eat without posting it on Instagram?
- I know the voices in my head aren’t real, but sometimes their ideas are just too good to ignore.
- We don‘t know what’s tighter: Our jeans or our company culture.
- Friday … Our second-favorite F word.
- We don‘t care what people think of us. Unless they’re our customers. We definitely care what customers think of us.
- All you need is love … and investors. All you need is love and investors.
- Hi, we’re [company name]. We build amazing apps and eat amazing apps.
- They say, “Do what you love and money will come to you.” Let’s see what happens. I just ordered tamales.
- My favorite subject in school was recess.
- No thoughts, brain empty, just tacos and cats.
- [Food item] so good it’s got me weak in the knees.
- The best part about waking up is going to sleep eighteen hours later.
- For legal reasons, this is not a joke.
- The older you get, the better you get, unless you’re a banana.
- Bring the alcohol! Because no great story started with someone eating a salad.
- Don’t worry, if plan A fails. There are 25 more letters in the alphabet.
- If you’re not supposed to eat at night, why is there a light bulb in the refrigerator?
- First rule of Sundays: If you can’t reach it from your couch, you don’t need it.
- If you fall, I will be there. Signed, Floor.
- The first thing I do after coming to work is log off.
- I used to think I was indecisive, but now I am not so sure.
- Friends buy you lunch. Best friends eat your lunch.
- Darn it, just accidentally had another thought again.
- My goal this weekend is to move … just enough so people don’t think I’m dead.
- You think nothing is impossible? Try getting me out of bed before 12 PM.
- Looking at these pictures won‘t fix all your problems, but it’s a good start.
- My sauce is too hot. That‘s why you’ll never ketchup.
- Google Maps said it’s MY TURN.
- I got my haters seasick, they see me and get sick.
- If there would be an award for being lazy, I would send someone to pick it up for me.
Clever Instagram Captions
Trying to come up with some clever IG captions on your own can be a lot of work, so I’ve done it for you. Below, I’ve compiled a list of my favorite clever Instagram captions for all your witty caption needs.
- Patience — what you have when there are too many witnesses.
- Maybe she‘s born with it, maybe it’s the Clarendon filter.
- “Life is short.” False — it’s the longest thing you do.
- Happy Sunday! There may be no excuse for laziness, but I’m still looking.
- Rejection is just redirection.
- Better an “oops” than a “what if.”
- Anyone looking for a heart? Selling mine for $2. (Used, good condition)
- The world is changed by your example, not your opinion.
- Seven billion smiles, and these are my favorite.
- Stop working hard and start working smart.
- I found your nose. It was in my business.
- Imposter syndrome is just a byproduct of success.
- Life is simple. It’s just not easy.
- There’s a big difference between being alive and living.
- The best times begin at the end of your comfort zone. So you can catch me on the opposite end of the end of my comfort zone.
- When nothing goes right, go left.
- “Success is making those who believed in you look brilliant.” — Dharmesh Shah
- “If you can’t convince them, confuse them.” — Harry Truman
- The world changes by your example, not your opinion. So get acting right.
- It’s always a good idea to be on the right side of history.
- When you learn, teach. When you get, give.
- Don’t quit your daydream.
- Legend has it that if you look hard enough you’ll see the weekend approaching!
- It’s time to make new memories. But first, five tequila shots.
- I’m on a seafood diet. I see food, I eat it.
- Sorry I didn’t get back to your text. I was too busy converting oxygen into CO2.
- Living on Earth is expensive, but it does include a free trip around the sun.
- “Arguing with a fool proves there are two.” — Doris M. Smith
- Well, enough about me. Let’s talk about you. What do you think about me?
- We’re all one more minute closer to dying. What’s one more shot going to do?
- There’s a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. If you find it, let me know so I can get some.
Cute Instagram Captions
If there’s one thing people on the internet love to see — it’s anything and everything that falls into the category of cute. Whether you’re posting your adorable pet, your significant other, or a picnic by the park, I’ve got all the cute Instagram captions that you need to complement them.
- Through all seasons and through all time.
- Don’t give up on your dreams. Keep sleeping.
- My fav sound is you snoring next to me.
- Here’s to a hundred more years with you.
- Happiness is watching you do what you love 💗 Hopefully that’s me.
- I like you more than [food]. And I looove [food].
- Wearing a onesie to bed just in case my SO steals the covers again.
- Cuddle time with the pup 💞
- Just showing off my [item] a little. Be jealous.
- Always wear cute pajamas to bed; you never know who you’ll meet in your dreams.
- You got me like 🥴️
- I’d move to [state] for you. And I hate [state].
- 🥺️👉👈
- I have no idea what I was doing before you came around. Sleeping, probably.
- No one can touch my books or my tacos 😤
- Not me standing there like🧍
- Don’t mind me while I drink my tea 🍵
- Did someone say [something you like]? 🏃💨
- They say elephants have a perfect memory. So do I when it comes to you.
- My pup is the salsa to my whole enchilada.
- I hate it when I’m singing a song, and the artist gets the words wrong.
- MY HEART
- Being an adult is like folding a fitted sheet. No one really knows how.
- Here’s a🥇for being the cutest human to walk this Earth.
- Me before you:🌱 Me after you: 🌻
- 🤟
- Just got that Friday feeling.
- Are you a timekeeper? ‘Cause time slows down when I’m with you.
- I can’t see heaven being much better than this.
- I‘m not lazy. I’m on energy-saving mode.
- My pillow is my best friend (sorry, [best friend’s name])
- A day doing [activity] is a day well-spent.
- I don‘t know who’s cuter, me or my reflection?
- Being a full-time angel is so exhausting.
- With you, everything is twice the fun and half the trouble.
- Sweeter than a cupcake.
- Put me on your wishlist.
Wedding Instagram Captions
If you’re getting married, congratulations! Now, it’s time to post your gorgeous wedding photos, but what do you put in the caption? Here are a few ideas to help you get started.
- The start of forever.
- Worth the wait.
- Finally found my happily ever after.
- You’re my best friend — here’s to many, many more years.
- I never want to stop making memories with you.
- I promise to love, honor, and cherish you forever.
- I never knew true happiness until I met you.
- Forever and always, I choose you.
- Our beginning.
- Life is an adventure, and I can’t wait to embark on this one with you.
- And so the adventure begins …
- Together is a wonderful place to be.
- Today, I marry my soulmate, my partner in life, and my best friend.
- From this moment on, everything changes.
- All I need is you (and some cake). Here’s to forever.
Couple Instagram Captions
If you’ve yet to tie the knot with your partner, you should still share all the love. Here are some of our favorite couple Instagram captions to pair with the perfect picture.
- Forever and always.
- 💞💞💞
- Together we make the perfect team.
- Two hearts. One tray of tacos.
- I never want to stop making memories with you.
- You stole my heart, but I’ll let you keep it.
- You’re my favorite notification.
- The good things in life are even better with you.
- Billions of humans, and you’re my favorite.
- Some things just get better with age. Like us.
- It‘s not about finding the person you can live with, it’s about finding the person you can’t live without.
- The exception to every rule.
- After all these years, it’s still you.
- I don‘t need a filter when I’m with you.
- Tried and true.
Friends Instagram Captions
Posting a photo or reel with friends? Pair it with the perfect caption to express your love for your closest confidantes.
- Good friends, great memories.
- Besties.
- Friends who laugh together, stay together.
- Friendship isn‘t a big thing. It’s a million little things.
- In the cookie of life, friends are the chocolate chips.
- My sunshine on a rainy day.
- Friends are the family we choose for ourselves.
- Laughter is the sound of friendship.
- Together, we can conquer anything.
- The three musketeers.
- Sun? What sun? You guys make every day a little brighter.
- You bring out the best in me. 💞
- Making life a little sweeter with my girls.
- Like we were never apart.
- Inseparable.
Sassy Instagram Captions
Your Instagram posts are your way to express yourself, so if you’re bold, sassy, and not afraid to show it — let your caption do the talking.
- For those that want to give their Instagram posts some more pizzazz, try throwing in one of these sassy captions.
- Alexa, let them know I don’t give a —
- What’s a queen without her king? Historically speaking, more powerful.
- Be a little more you, and a lot less them.
- We‘re an acquired taste. If you don’t like us, acquire some taste.
- Well-behaved people don’t make it into history books.
- Be sunshine mixed with a little hurricane.
- We got 99 problems, but an awesome marketing team ain’t one.
- Sometimes, you just need to do a thing called “what you want.”
- You can’t do epic stuff with bad people. And we got the best in the biz.
- It‘s not called being bossy. It’s called having leadership skills.
- You did not wake up today to be mediocre.
- You‘re italic. I’m in bold.
- A bad attitude is like a flat tire. You can’t go anywhere until you change it.
- We’re entrepreneurs. They call us dreamers, but we’re the ones who never sleep.
- All of us have the capacity to light up a room. Some when they enter, others when they leave it.
- Brains are awesome. I wish everybody would have one.
- Common sense is like deodorant. The people who need it most never use it.
- You see that? That’s my patience leaving.
- I’ll have you know, I’ve completed plenty of marathons. [Show 1], [Show 2], and [Show 3], to name a few.
- Everyone has that one annoying friend. If you don’t have one, then it’s probably you.
- Above: A photo of me pretending to be listening.
- Oh, you sent me an email? Expect a response in approximately never.
- Everyone is entitled to be stupid, but some abuse the privilege.
- If you like me, raise your hand. If not, then raise your standard.
- If you don’t succeed the first time, then burn all the evidence you tried.
- Underestimate me. That’ll be fun.
- I like my coffee how I like myself: Dark, bitter, and too hot for you.
- We move regardless.
- People say I act like I don‘t care. It’s not an act.
- They say good things take time … that‘s why I’m always late.
- Focused. Intelligent. Motivated. Oh, and cute.
- “The question isn’t who is going to let me: it’s who is going to stop me.” -Ayn Rand
- It‘s okay if you don’t like me. Not everyone has good taste.
- I’m a work of art, showing you the art or working.
- I only show up wearing my best, and you shouldn’t expect less.
- You couldn’t even outshine my shadow.
- Please don‘t call me. I’m out of your range.
- If you‘re sleeping on me, I hope you’re tossing and turning.
Song Lyrics for Instagram Captions
People of all different backgrounds can relate to music. Beyond the different chords and melodies are lyrics that tell a story, echo a feeling, or inspire others.
To convey the message or emotion you want in your Instagram caption, use one of these iconic song lyrics.
- “I‘m gonna live like tomorrow doesn’t exist.” — Sia, “Chandelier”
- “I live for the nights that I can‘t remember, with the people that I won’t forget.” — Drake, “Show Me a Good Time”
- “I hope you never lose your sense of wonder.” — Lee Ann Womack, “I Hope You Dance”
- “You may say I‘m a dreamer, but I’m not the only one.” — John Lennon, “Imagine”
- “If you give, you begin to live.” — Dave Matthews Band, “You Might Die Trying”
- “Outlining my findings, using life as a stencil.” — Kero One, “In All the Wrong Places”
- “Feeling good living better.” — Drake, “Over My Dead Body”
- “Say oh, got this feeling that you can’t fight, like this city is on fire tonight.” — OneRepublic, “Good Life”
- “Time makes you bolder.” — Fleetwood Mac, “Landslide”
- “If I fail, if I succeed, at least I’ll live as I believe.” — Whitney Houston, “The Greatest Love of All”
- “The rest of the world was in black and white, but we were in screaming color.” — Taylor Swift, “Out of the Woods”
- “Lightning strikes every time she moves.” — Calvin Harris, “This Is What You Came For”
- “We aren’t ever getting older.” — Chainsmokers, “Closer”
- “Sing with me, sing for the years, sing for the laughter, sing for the tears.” — Aerosmith, “Dream On”
- “Life is good.” — Future & Drake, “Life is Good”
- “Life without dreaming is a life without meaning.” – Wale, “Aston Martin Music”
- “But like the sun, know you know I find my way back ‘round.” — J. Cole, “Crooked Smile”
- “I will overcome any hurdle or obstacle that’s in my path.” — OutKast, “Knowing”
- “I’m way up, I feel blessed.” — Drake, “Blessings”
- “Eat, sleep, and breathe it. Rehearse and repeat it.” — Dua Lipa, “New Rules”
- “I‘d rather be dry but at least I’m alive. Rain on me.” — Lady Gaga, “Rain On Me”
- “And I know that I gotta be above it now. And I know that I can’t let them bring me down.” — Tame Impala, “Be Above It”
- “I‘m on the pursuit of happiness and I know everything that shine ain’t always gonna be gold, hey, I‘ll be fine once I get it, yeah, I’ll be good.” — Kid Cudi, “Pursuit of Happiness (Nightmare)”
- “There’s much more to life than dyin’ over your past mistakes and people who threw dirt on your name.” — Lil Nas X, “Sun Goes Down”
- “They say the loudest in the room is weak, that’s what they assume, but I disagree.” — Tyler the Creator, “911/Mr. Lonely”
- “You don‘t have to be like everybody else, you don’t have to fit into the norm, you are not here to conform.” — Marina, “Ancient Dreams in a Modern Land”
- “Throw me in the fire, baby, I’ll survive.” — BROCKHAMPTON, “RENTAL”
- “When you being real, you ain‘t worried ’bout who fake.” — Megan Thee Stallion, “Money Good”
- “We‘re so young, boy, we ain’t got nothin’ to lose.” — Doja Cat, “Kiss Me More”
- “If someone talked to you the way you do to you, I’d put their teeth through. Love Yourself!” — IDLES, “Television”
Holiday Instagram Captions
Around the holidays, I want to post and share the memories I’ve made throughout the years. No matter which one you’re celebrating, take some inspiration from our favorite Instagram captions and spread some holiday cheer.
New Year’s Instagram Captions
- “Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any other.” — Abraham Lincoln
- Didn’t make it to midnight.
- Resolutions are made to be broken.
- Ringing in the new year — like a bell.
- “Tomorrow is the first blank page of a 365-page book. Write a good one.” — Brad Paisley
- New year, same me.
- Time to show off my bubbly personality.
- Any excuse to wear glitter.
- Starting off the year on the right foot.
- There are 12 months ahead of us to make a difference.
- Day 1 of 365
- Sip, sip, hooray!
- All you need is a fresh start.
- Save water, drink champagne.
- The best has yet to come.
Valentine’s Day Instagram Captions
- Roses are red. Violets are blue. Consider this post my Valentine to you.
- Don‘t tell me you love me. Tell me you’re outside with pizza.
- All I need is you. (And maybe wine + chocolate too.)
- Cupid called, he wants his arrow back.
- 99% of my socks are single, and you don’t see them crying about it.
- I will do anything for love. Except that. And that. Or that.
- I followed my heart, and it led me to the fridge.
- Look at us. Hey. Look at us. Who woulda thought? Not me!
- In love with my best friend.
- I’m better when I’m with you.
Halloween Instagram Captions
- Creepin’ it real.
- I brake for Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups.
- Oh my gourd, Becky, look at her bat.
- You’re just my (blood) type.
- How to eat candy corn: don’t.
- #squadghouls
- Double, double toil and trouble; Fire burn and cauldron bubble.
- Driving me batty.
- “Scary hours.” — Drake
- Resting Witch Face
Thanksgiving Instagram Captions
- I’m wearing my elastic pants.
- “For those of you who cannot be with family this Thanksgiving, please resist the urge to brag.” — Andy Borowitz
- On a veggie diet this Thanksgiving: Carrot cake and pumpkin pie.
- “Be thankful for what you have; you‘ll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don’t have, you will never, ever have enough.” — Oprah Winfrey
- I think, therefore I cran.
- Bad day to be a turkey.
- Need fuel for Black Friday.
- “Okay, guys. I have exactly 28 minutes before I have to baste again.” — Monica
- Grateful. Thankful. Blessed.
- Who made the potato salad?
- There’s always something to be thankful for.
- To-do list: eat, drink, nap.
- I only have pies for you.
- Gobble ’til you wobble.
- Love at first bite.
Christmas & Hanukkah Instagram Captions
- You sleigh me.
- Fa la la la llama.
- “O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree, your ornaments are history.” — The Cat
- “It‘s not what’s under the Christmas tree that matters. It‘s who’s around it.” — Charles M. Schulz
- Dear Santa, let’s not talk about this.
- Rebel Without a Claus
- Doesn‘t Santa have anything better to do than watch us while we’re sleeping?
- All I want for Christmas is you (and wine would be nice).
- Say it ain’t snow.
- Drop it like a top.
- Wishing you a latke love this Hanukkah.
- I want to eat eight latkes for the calories of one.
- One little candle can light up an entire room.
- Keep calm and spin that dreidel.
- Deck the halls with matzo balls!
- It’s Christmas time, and I’m the gift.
- The best gift is to be present with the ones you love.
- Baby, it’s cold outside.
- Merry everything, and happy always.
- Treat yo’ elf.
Seasonal Instagram Captions
As the seasons come and go, why not share your joy for the next one on your Instagram? Whether you love the sunshine in the summer or snowfall in the winter, you can share that excitement with others.
Ring in the new season with some of these witty, seasonal captions.
Spring Instagram Captions
- Hello, spring!
- “And I think to myself, what a wonderful world.” — Louis Armstrong
- April showers bring May flowers.
- I think I just experienced all the seasons in a single day.
- I love allergy season, said no one ever.
- Currently soaking up the sun and smelling the roses. Please leave a message after the beep.
- I owe a lot to the inventor of flip-flops.
- “Here comes the sun, and I say … It’s all right.” — The Beatles
- “Warm winds in the springtime.” — SZA, “Warm Winds”
- Springing into the new season.
Summer Instagram Captions
- “Live in the sunshine. Swim in the sea. Drink in the wild air.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson
- Life’s a beach.
- School‘s out, sun’s out, guns out.
- “A little bit of summer is what the whole year is all about.” — John Mayer
- 90% happy, 10% burnt.
- Girls just want to have sun.
- “Summer lovin‘ had me a blast, summer lovin’ happened so fast.” — Grease
- Happiness is a cold popsicle.
- Life is better by the pool.
- “Summertime and the livin’ is easy.” — Ella Fitzgerald, “Summertime”
- “Here comes the sun, and I say … It’s all right.” — The Beatles, “Here Comes the Sun”
- Tans, tans, tans across the board.
Fall Instagram Captions
- My favorite color is October.
- “Wild is the music of autumnal winds amongst the faded woods.” — William Wordsworth
- My favorite kind of weather.
- It’s never too early for pumpkin spice.
- Meet me in the corn maze.
- Crisp air. Apple cider. Flaming foliage.
- Pumpkin spice and everything nice.
- “Anyone who thinks fallen leaves are dead has never watched them dancing on a windy day.” — Shira Tamir
- Leaves are falling, and autumn is calling.
- “Days in the sun and nights in the rain. Summer is over, simple and plain.” — Drake & Majid Jordan, “Summer’s Over”
- Falling never felt so good.
- Painted in the colors of fall.
- Sweater weather.
- Even the leaves fall for you.
- Channel the flannel.
Winter Instagram Captions
- “In the depths of winter, I finally learned that within me there lay an invincible summer.” — Albert Camus
- If it‘s snowing, I’m not going.
- Cozy nights. Good books. Hot chocolate.
- Do you want to build a snowman?
- Running on caffeine and holiday cheer.
- “Winter is not a season; it’s a celebration.” — Anamika Mishra
- Merry and brrrrrrright.
- Having snow much fun.
- ‘Tis the season to be freezin’.
- “Timb’ laces get tighter and parka hoods flip up.” — Drake, “Come Winter”
Selfie Instagram Captions
Selfies are a celebration of something unique, beautiful, and full of life — you! So, when you share your next selfie, complement it with one of our favorite selfie Instagram captions.
- Golden hour.
- Me, myself, and I.
- Be yourself, there’s no one better.
- It’s the happiness for me.
- Smile! The happiness is right under your nose.
- My favorite filter is reality.
- Self-care selfie!
- Conquer the world one smile at a time.
- It’s a great day to have a great day.
- The greatest gift you can give someone is a smile.
- Self-love is the best love.
- The only rose that blooms in winter.
- “But she looked powerful. She wore the sun like a shiny pin on the side of her hair.” — Lilian Li
- I don’t need a hairstylist. My pillow gives me a new hairstyle every morning.
- All-natural.
- No filter.
- Morning hair, don’t care.
- Quick #OOTD
- Anything but basic.
- Welcome [age]!
- Hard to be down to earth when you look out of this world.
- Looking like I don’t know how to lose.
- Beautiful from halo to toe.
- I’m ready for my close-up.
Baddie Instagram Captions
That OOTD or travel photo with beautiful lighting, impeccable attire, and je ne sais quoi makes a great addition to your Instagram feed. Here are some captions to convey “baddie” energy.
- She who dares, wins.
- Don’t let anyone dim your shine.
- Stay focused, stay fierce.
- I‘m not bossy. I’m the boss.
- I‘m not always right, but I’m never wrong.
- Chasing my dreams in Chanel.
- Not afraid to break the rules.
- Be the girl that decided to go for it.
- I refuse to be anything less.
- Confidence isn’t walking into a room thinking you’re better than anyone. It’s just walking in and not having to compare yourself to anyone at all.
- A perfect work-in-progress.
- Improvement is a journey.
- My standards are high because I know my worth.
- Some girls are just born with glitter in their veins.
- I am not a one in a million kind of girl. I am a once in a lifetime kind of woman.
Travel & Vacation Instagram Captions
When you want to treat yourself, a vacation is always a great reward. It’s a chance to experience different cultures, food, music, and scenery.
When I’m out exploring the world, I try to share some of my favorite travel moments with these awesome Instagram captions.
- Majestic moments in [place].
- A chance to get away from the everyday.
- Work. Save. Travel. Repeat.
- Staycation loading …
- Collect the moments, not the materials.
- Another destination off the bucket list.
- An adventure to fill the soul.
- The scenic route is always better.
- I need a six-month vacation, twice a year.
- Be back never.
- Catch flights, not feelings.
- Always take the scenic route.
- I‘ve never met a vacation I didn’t like.
- An adventure a day keeps the doctor away.
- Travel is an investment in yourself.
- Some call it vacation, I call it heaven.
- “I hate traveling.” said no traveler ever.
- If you need me, call me on my shell phone.
- I can sea clearly now.
- Happiness comes in waves.
- A change in latitude helps my attitude.
Beach Instagram Captions
- Enjoying the waves.
- Sandy toes, sun-kissed nose.
- Pure, sunburned happiness.
- Life’s a 🏖️.
- No worries. No thoughts.
- There’s nothing more healing than the sound of the ocean.
- My happy place.
- Time at the beach is never wasted.
- Live in the sunshine, swim in the sea, drink in the wild air.
- See ya when I’m back on Earth. ✌️
- The beach is always a good idea.
- Paradise found.
- Agenda today: Do nothing. Get sunburnt.
- The beach: Where doing absolutely nothing, is doing everything.
- Life is too short. Go on that beach vacation.
Birthday Instagram Captions
- Another year wiser.
- A whole year older and still young at heart.
- [Age].
- Celebrating another spin around the sun.
- A new year of life, a new chapter to write.
- Growing old is mandatory, but growing up is optional.
- Here’s to one more year of blessings and adventures.
- Happy day of emergence to me.
- Here’s to another year of making memories together.
- Age is just a number. It’s the memories that count.
- Another year to shine bright.
- Celebrating a day filled with love, laughter, and of course, cake!
- [Previous age], you were good to me. Now it’s time for another year of shenanigans.
- Cheers to one more year on this planet called Earth.
- Another year more grateful.
Prom Instagram Captions
- A night to remember.
- Dancing the night away with my favorite people.
- Memories to last a lifetime.
- Tonight, we’re young.
- Ready to have the time of our lives.
- Prom photo dump.
- Prom [current year].
- Let prom night begin!
- The night is young, and so are we.
- Feeling like a prince/princess tonight.
- Started from the bottom, now we’re all fancy and stuff.
- Prom ✨
- Here’s to a night of memories we’ll cherish forever.
- Who needs a limo?
- Let the party begin!
Graduation Instagram Captions
- The tassel was worth the hassle.
- The beginning of a new adventure.
- Today is the first day of the rest of our lives.
- I feel like I was in ninth grade JUST yesterday?
- Keeping it on 💯
- Onward and upward.
- Class of [year], can’t believe we did it!
- It‘s not the end, it’s just the beginning.
- [Class year] is the best class, no 🧢
- Cheers to new beginnings, and to ending what we started.
- The future belongs to those who believe.
- The best is yet to come.
- Ready to seize the world.
- Look back on your accomplishments with pride, and look forward to the future with excitement.
- We did it — it’s time to celebrate!
Food Instagram Captions
- Good food, good life.
- Eating may be a necessity, but cooking is an art.
- Life is short. Eat dessert first.
- Food is not just fuel. It’s information. It talks to your DNA and tells it what to do. So … you’d better bet I’m gonna eat.
- Food is love made visible.
- Good food with even better people.
- Eating my favorite with my favorites.
- The only thing better than talking about food is eating it.
- @[restaurant]
- A night of [food item]: the ultimate stress reliever.
- Nothing more romantic than eating [food item] and [food item] in sweatpants with crumbs on our chests.
- My favorite hole-in-the wall place.
- Good food equals good mood.
- A party without cake is just a meeting.
- Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food. Anyway, who wants fries?
Pet & Dog Instagram Captions
- My heart is full of paw prints.
- Who needs a therapist when you have a dog?
- Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole.
- Life is too short to not have a dog.
- #1 family member (sorry, mom).
- I woof you more than words can express.
- Every day is an adventure with my four-legged buddy.
- The best kind of love.
- Adopt, don’t shop.
- Everything’s better with your little paws by my side.
- My [pet] is the king/queen of my heart.
- The only thing better than coming home after a long day is being greeted by you.
- My dog is smarter than most politicians.
- The best things in life are furry and have four legs.
- I didn’t choose the dog life. The dog life chose me.
Features of Good Instagram Captions
Want to write a caption from scratch? I totally get it. If you’re anything like me, you take about four minutes to choose a filter for your Instagram photo and about four hours to decide on a caption.
Worst of all, after much creative effort and advice from friends, I’m usually barely able to write a caption that goes beyond, “Had a fun day with friends!” And I’m a writer — go figure.
The point is that writing a good caption is hard. Whether you create one from scratch or choose a pre-written one, it should fulfill a few requirements.
Your caption must be on brand.
Whether your Insta page is personal or for your business, your captions should be on brand, or reflect your personality and brand identity.
I think Lisa Vetrone, account director at Scenario Communications, a public relations and communications company, best describes the struggle when she says, “If someone was scrolling through their feed and saw this post without seeing the handle, would they know the caption was coming from YOUR brand?”
Your captions should encapsulate the nature of your Instagram’s branding and tone of voice. For example, if your page is based on self-love, you should use captions that are friendly in tone. Use inclusive language to make people feel good when they scroll through your Instagram profile.
Your caption should be simple.
Instagram captions can fit up to 2,200 characters, but you don‘t have to use all of them for your caption to be considered a good one. I also want to keep your audience’s attention enough to read it to finish.
Most of the time, I try to keep my captions clear, short, and simple for easy readability. I often have a few go-to emojis and phrases that will fit on any phone screen.
The exception to this is if you’re making posts that champion storytelling or other lengthy formats. Ultimately, it comes down to what your audience is looking for.
Your caption should be memorable.
While your Instagram caption doesn‘t have to be a profound piece of literature, it shouldn’t put your reader to sleep, either. Depending on the type of post you’re sharing, you can make it hilarious, thought-provoking, inspiring, or anything you want it to be.
Here’s one example from HubSpot with the caption “You can’t spell ‘CRM’ without ‘R’”:
I can’t stress enough how important a good caption is. They can help you generate more engagement and turn your followers into customers.
Want more inspiration? Check out our Instagram page to see how we incorporate fun, witty, and engaging captions into our social media content.
How to Make Engaging IG Captions
Instagram captions can definitely be used strategically, and in many cases help personal or business pages to increase engagement on the platform — and here’s how.
1. Ask your followers questions.
When I need to increase engagement from my followers, I simply ask them for their opinions, recommendations, or even personal stories to make my page more interactive.
For example, if I were running an Instagram page for fashion, I’d ask my followers to comment under my newest post about their favorite designers, collections, or trends buzzing in the industry.
Similarly, if I’m promoting a new product or feature, I’ll ask my followers to chime in on what they’d like to see, a problem they need solved or even ask for a product review or Lindsey Chastain, founder and CEO at the Writing Detective, recommends only “having a call to action for a purchase in 20% of captions or no more than once a week” to avoid making your followers feel like you’re only there to sell.
3. Incorporate relevant hashtags.
I can use up to a maximum of hashtags on a typical Instagram post, which gives me a lot of possibilities to attract viewers based on my topic, location, industry, product, or service.
However, while you can likely find that many relevant hashtags for a post, I usually don’t use that many. I just choose the ones I find essential or even come up with my own personally branded one.
Take this example of a collab we did with farbsy. We’ve got six hashtags going, all of which help our audience understand the post better. That gives us a better chance at reaching an audience interested in #workfromhome content who might not be our typical followers.
4. Use AI to your advantage.
I’ve been using AI to help me with my caption writing for a while now. It’s so easy to just type in a prompt, link your account, and watch the magic happen. Whether writing comes naturally to you or not, you can use these tools to help you overcome writer’s block.
I really like how HubSpot’s AI caption generator lets you see a preview of your post first. Plus, it lets me make captions for Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and X (formerly Twitter) simultaneously, meaning I can use one prompt for multiple platforms.
5. Make it authentic.
People are tired of polished, perfect posts. Instead, I’ve found users responding to more natural captions that don’t try to gloss over the reality of the situation.
Take it from Cyrus Mohseni, vice president of strategy and growth at First Team Real Estate, who says, “Ultimately, Instagram is a platform for storytelling — personal journeys will not only grow your following but also build a community around your brand. Always shoot for captions that invite interaction, be it through questions, direct calls to action, or simply creating relatable content.”
For example, we started a series of behind-the-scenes “Life of a social media manager” posts in April. The credits roll, showing all the different roles a social media manager has to fill, from content writer to data analyst to customer service rep. But the joke’s on them — our manager has to fill all of those roles.
I love this post because we aren’t trying to pretend social media managers have an easy job — quite the opposite. You’ll need to try out a mixture of techniques, but ultimately, they should all align with your brand.
6. Let your pictures do the talking.
At the end of the day, my pictures are the real stars in my Instagram posts. I don’t want my captions to overshadow my images. Take Netflix, for example.
Netflix often posts about upcoming releases and popular shows on Instagram, but they let their images and videos cover most of the info. The above post manages to highlight six different movies, but their caption is simply “frfr 💔.”
Their caption quickly expresses that these shows are great for anyone looking for a sad romantic movie to watch.
Capture the Feeling with an Instagram Caption
I completely agree with the old saying that an image is worth 1,000 words, but a well-written caption doesn’t hurt. These days, your Instagram caption can make just as much of a statement as the image.
For all of the occasions that are worthy of a post to your feed, use one of the quotes from this list and customize it to make it your own. And if you need more help while brainstorming captions for your post, don’t forget you can use HubSpot’s AI Social Media Caption Generator to work on your ideas!
