function calculateEngagement() {
// Get input values
var followersStr = document.getElementById("followerCount").value;
var likesStr = document.getElementById("avgLikes").value;
var commentsStr = document.getElementById("avgComments").value;
// Parse inputs
var followers = parseFloat(followersStr);
var likes = parseFloat(likesStr);
var comments = parseFloat(commentsStr);
// Validation
if (isNaN(followers) || followers <= 0) {
alert("Please enter a valid number of followers (greater than 0).");
return;
}
if (isNaN(likes)) likes = 0;
if (isNaN(comments)) comments = 0;
// Calculation: ((Likes + Comments) / Followers) * 100
var totalInteractions = likes + comments;
var engagementRate = (totalInteractions / followers) * 100;
// Formatting
var formattedRate = engagementRate.toFixed(2);
// Benchmark Logic
var badgeHTML = "";
var text = "";
// Logic adapted for general influencer standards
if (engagementRate < 1) {
badgeHTML = 'Low Engagement';
text = "This rate is below the industry average. It may indicate a high volume of inactive followers or content that isn't resonating with the audience.";
} else if (engagementRate >= 1 && engagementRate < 3.5) {
badgeHTML = 'Average / Good';
text = "This falls within the standard range for most influencers. The audience is moderately active and interested in the content.";
} else if (engagementRate >= 3.5 && engagementRate < 6) {
badgeHTML = 'High Engagement';
text = "This is a strong engagement rate, indicating a loyal community. This profile likely performs well for influencer marketing campaigns.";
} else {
badgeHTML = 'Excellent / Viral';
text = "Exceptional performance. This profile has a highly dedicated audience or viral content. Verify manually to ensure interactions are authentic.";
}
// Display Results
document.getElementById("engagementResult").innerHTML = formattedRate + "%";
document.getElementById("benchmarkContainer").innerHTML = badgeHTML;
document.getElementById("interpretationText").innerHTML = text;
document.getElementById("result-container").style.display = "block";
}
Understanding the Modash Instagram Engagement Rate Calculator
In the world of influencer marketing, vanity metrics like follower count are no longer the gold standard. Brands and agencies now prioritize Engagement Rate (ER) as the primary KPI for vetting influencers. Whether you are using tools like Modash, HypeAuditor, or this manual calculator, understanding the relationship between followers and interactions is crucial for campaign success.
What is Instagram Engagement Rate?
The Instagram Engagement Rate is a metric that measures how actively involved your audience is with your content. It goes beyond the simple number of people who see your post (reach) and focuses on the number of people who interact with it. High engagement indicates that your content is relevant, compelling, and fosters a community connection.
The standard formula used by most platforms, including Modash, is:
ER = ((Average Likes + Average Comments) / Total Followers) × 100
Why Use a Calculator Instead of Just Looking at Likes?
Looking at raw interaction numbers can be deceiving. A post with 1,000 likes might seem successful, but if the account has 500,000 followers, that represents an engagement rate of only 0.2%, which is extremely poor. Conversely, an account with 2,000 followers receiving 200 likes per post has a 10% engagement rate, indicating a "micro-influencer" with a hyper-active community.
This calculator helps normalize the data, allowing you to compare a macro-influencer with 1 million followers against a nano-influencer with 5,000 followers on an even playing field.
Interpreting the Results: What is a Good Engagement Rate?
Engagement rates typically decline as follower counts increase. It is much harder to maintain a personal connection with 100,000 people than with 1,000. Here are the industry benchmarks widely accepted by platforms like Modash:
Engagement Rate %
Status
Typical Follower Range
Less than 1%
Low
Often seen in celebrities or accounts with fake followers.
1.0% – 3.5%
Average / Good
The standard for macro-influencers and established creators.
3.5% – 6.0%
High
Common among micro-influencers (10k-50k followers).
Above 6.0%
Excellent / Viral
Typical for nano-influencers or viral content creators.
The "Fake Follower" Problem
One of the primary reasons marketers use tools like Modash is to detect fake followers. A significantly low engagement rate is the first red flag of purchased followers. If an account has 50,000 followers but only averages 50 likes per post, the ER will be 0.1%. This mathematical discrepancy suggests that the majority of the follower base is either inactive (ghost followers) or bots.
How to Calculate "Average" Likes and Comments
To use this calculator effectively, you need accurate inputs. Do not use the metrics from a single viral post, as this will skew your data. Instead:
Open the Instagram profile.
Select the last 10 to 12 posts (exclude Reels if you are strictly measuring feed engagement, though Reels are increasingly important).
Sum the total likes and comments for these posts.
Divide by the number of posts counted to get the average.
Enter these averages into the calculator above.
Conclusion
Calculating engagement rates is the first step in due diligence for influencer marketing. While this calculator provides the essential math, remember to also analyze the quality of the comments. Generic comments like "Nice pic" or emojis often indicate bots, whereas specific questions or conversations indicate true influence.