How does Sift calculate Instagram engagement?
For each recent public post, Sift divides likes plus comments by follower count, then averages the available posts.
Free Instagram tool
Check recent public engagement on any Instagram creator before you add them to a campaign.
See the engagement scorecard
Enter a public Instagram handle above. We pull recent posts and score follower-normalized engagement.
Use this public-data screen to compare recent engagement before outreach.
Engagement rate = (likes + comments) ÷ followers × 100, averaged across recent public posts. That is the formula this calculator uses, and it is the same follower-based formula most influencer platforms report.
There are variants. Per-post engagement rate applies the formula to a single post instead of an average. Engagement rate by reach divides by impressions instead of followers — more accurate, but impressions are not public, so follower-based ER is the standard for vetting creators you don't manage.
Engagement rate falls as accounts grow, so judge a creator against their follower tier, not a single global number. Public industry studies cluster around these ranges:
A creator slightly under their tier's range can still perform if the audience fits your product, and a creator above it can still flop with the wrong audience.
| Follower tier | Typical engagement rate |
|---|---|
| Nano (1K–10K) | 2.5% – 6% |
| Micro (10K–100K) | 1.5% – 3% |
| Mid (100K–500K) | 1% – 2% |
| Macro (500K+) | Under 1.5% |
For each recent public post, Sift divides likes plus comments by follower count, then averages the available posts.
No. Campaign fit, audience relevance, recent activity, and product suitability still matter.
Yes. The next step is a campaign audit that qualifies the list you already sourced before outreach starts.
Low engagement for the follower count? Screen the audience for inflation signals next.
The full vetting checklist engagement rate is one part of.
Track outreach, shipping, and posts for the creators that pass your screen.