Social Media Engagement Rate Calculator
What is Engagement Rate?
Engagement rate is a critical social media metric used to measure the level of interaction that social media content receives relative to the size of the audience. Unlike follower counts, which are often considered "vanity metrics," engagement rate proves how much your audience actually values and connects with your content.
How to Calculate Engagement Rate
The standard formula for calculating engagement rate by followers (ER) is:
Why This Metric Matters
Algorithms on platforms like Instagram, LinkedIn, and TikTok prioritize content with high engagement. A high engagement rate signals to the platform that your post is high-quality, prompting the algorithm to show it to a wider audience. For influencers and brands, this is the primary metric used to determine ROI and partnership value.
Industry Benchmarks
What constitutes a "good" engagement rate varies by platform and industry. Here is a general breakdown of average engagement rates on Instagram:
| Engagement Rate | Classification |
|---|---|
| Less than 1% | Low Engagement |
| 1% – 3.5% | Average / Good |
| 3.5% – 6% | High Engagement |
| Above 6% | Very High (Viral Potential) |
Example Calculation
Imagine you have 5,000 followers. You post a photo that receives 150 likes, 20 comments, and 10 shares.
- Total Interactions: 150 + 20 + 10 = 180
- Calculation: (180 / 5,000) * 100
- Engagement Rate: 3.6%
This would be considered a "High" engagement rate, indicating your audience is very responsive to your content.