instagram-content-calendar.xlsx
A weekly content calendar tuned for Instagram - with optimal US posting windows, every post type (Feed, Carousel, Reel, Story, Live), and a status tracker that keeps the week honest.
A three-sheet Excel template built for the rhythm of Instagram: three posting windows per day, dropdowns for the five Instagram post types, content pillars to rotate through, and a status column that shows you at a glance what's idea / drafted / scheduled / posted / analysed.
Optimal posting times are baked in based on US audience data for 2026 - you'll start with the right defaults and tune them once you have your own Instagram Insights data.
| Day | Time (EST) | Type | Content idea / hook | Pillar | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tue | 8:00 AM (Morning commute) | Reel | 3 things I wish I knew when I started [topic] | Educational | Posted |
| 12:00 PM (Lunch break) | Carousel | The 7-step framework for [topic] | Educational | Scheduled | |
| 8:00 PM (Evening) | Story | Behind-the-scenes of today's shoot | Behind-the-scenes | Idea | |
| Wed | 8:00 AM (Morning commute) | Reel | Hot take: why [common belief] is backwards | Educational | Scheduled |
| 12:00 PM (Lunch break) | Feed post | Quote graphic that ties into this week's theme | Inspirational / story | Idea | |
| 8:00 PM (Evening) | Story | Poll: which topic should I cover next? | Community / engagement | Idea |