311 Instagram caption ideas [plus free caption generator]

An Instagram caption is the text that appears along with an Instagram photo or video.

It’s a word (or emoji) based opportunity to elevate your content, provide context, share information, or joke around.

On Instagram, the caption character maximum is 2,200 characters.

We can do this the easy way, or—nah, let’s just do it the easy way.

Hootsuite’s free Instagram caption generator is powered by AI and will write original, optimized captions for you in a snap.

Please note: This tool may display inaccurate or offensive material that doesn’t represent Hootsuite’s views. You’re solely responsible for use of any content generated using this tool, including its compliance with applicable laws and third party rights.

If you need more IG caption inspiration—specifically, hundreds of examples ready for copying and pasting—scroll on.

Short is smart when it comes to Instagram captions.

Short captions won’t get cut off, meaning the entire caption is readable to Instagram users without them taking that extra step to see more. Plus, they have a carefree vibe.

1. Bucket list
2. But first, coffee
3. Coming soon
4. Days like these
5. Dream big
6. Go big or go home
7. Good vibes only
8. Like a boss
9. Limited edition
10. Nailed it
11. New look
12. Small pleasures
13. This just happened
14. Times like this
15. Weekend vibes
16. Wild and free
17. Work hard, play hard

Short, meet shorter. Say a lot with a single word with these caption ideas.

1. Amazing
2. Attitude
3. Awesome
4. Awkward
5. Balance
6. Blessed
7. Bliss
8. Boom
9. Brilliant
10. Classic
11. Dreamer
12. Epic
13. Escape
14. Explore
15. Extra
16. Fabulous
17. Fearless
18. Feels
19. Fierce
20. Fire
21. Flawless
22. Focus
23. Friyay
24. Goals
25. Grateful
26. Hangry
27. Hustle
28. Jealous?
29. Legendary
30. LOL
31. Magic
32. Mood
33. Obsessed
34. Original
35. Perfect
36. Progress
37. Random
38. Ready
39. Saturdaze
40. Sisterhood
41. Sparkle
42. Speechless
43. Surprise
44. Tasty
45. Thankful
46. Throwback
47. TGIF
48. Unforgettable
49. Vibes
50. Whatever
51. XOXO
52. Yesterday

Humour rules on the ‘gram—laughs get likes, so let your silly side show.

1. Cake is the answer, no matter the question
2. Get a girl that can do both
3. I’m fluent in sarcasm
4. If you don’t have anything nice to say, just post on Instagram
5. In my defence, I was left unsupervised
6. Laughing on the inside
7. Look at this photograph
8. Ready to be perceived
9. The Duolingo owl made me post this
10. You’re welcome

You want adorable? We got you.

1. Cutesy, mindful, demure
2. Feeling cuddly
3. Just me
4. Let’s taco ‘bout it!
5. Oopsie
6. Peekaboo
7. Picture perfect
8. Short and sweet
9. Who me?
10. Why hello there

Another year older, and several Instagram captions wiser—here’s our gift to you.

1. All about that cake
2. Another trip around the sun
3. Birthday blues
4. Cake day
5. Candles just want to get lit
6. Fire hazard
7. Happy birthday to me
8. It is your brithday
9. It’s been a slice
10. My birthday week
11. Older and bolder
12. One year wiser
13. (S)he’s a jolly good fellow
14. Too many candles

You don’t need an excuse to post on Instagram, but the first signs of spring are cause for celebration (and worthy of a sunshine-y caption).

1. April showers bring May flowers
2. Coming out of hibernation
3. In like a lion, out like a lamb
4. It’s gonna be May
5. May the fourth be with you
6. Peony szn
7. Rain, rain, go away
8. Raindrops on roses
9. Spring blooms
10. Spring cleaning
11. Spring fever
12. Spring forward
13. Spring has sprung
14. Spring is in the air
15. Sun’s out, buns out
16. Wake up, the sun’s out

The best season, in my opinion, with the best lighting for photos and videos—here’s how to caption them.

1. Bluebird days
2. Clear skies
3. Dog days of summer
4. Feelin’ hot hot hot
5. Girls just wanna have sun
6. Good day sunshine
7. Heat wave
8. Here comes the sun
9. Hot girl summer
10. My place in the sun
11. Nothing but blue skies
12. Patio season
13. Soak up the sun
14. Summer daze
15. Summer lovin’
16. Summer nights
17. Summer vibes
18. Summertime
19. Sunshine is the best medicine
20. The livin’ is easy

1. Baby, it’s cold outside
2. Cold as ice
3. Deck the halls
4. Feeling flaky
5. Jingle bells
6. Keep calm and winter on
7. Let it snow
8. Season’s greetings
9. Snow problem
10. The weather outside is frightful
11. Winter is coming

Selfies are always a little awkward, but a good caption takes the cringe away.

1. Beast mode
2. But first, let me take selfie
3. I’m kind of a big deal
4. I’m the problem, it’s me
5. In case you forgot what I look like
6. Living my best life
7. Me, myself and I
8. Messy hair don’t care
9. Ready for my close-up
10. Some days are better than others
11. Swipe right
12. Woke up like this
13. Work it
14. Worth it
15. Yours truly

Once you’ve both agreed on the photo that gets your best angles, of course.

1. Bestie behaviour
2. BFFs
3. Dynamic duo
4. Golden retriever black cat
5. My person
6. Partner in crime
7. Perfect pairing
8. Ride or die
9. Soul sister

Soft launch or hard, these captions say locked-in.

1. Always on your team
2. Couple goals
3. Endless love
4. Everything I do, I do it for you
5. Just the two of us
6. Love you to the moon and back
7. Me and you
8. My other half
9. P.S. I love you
10. Partners in time
11. Perfect match
12. Tale as old as time
13. The best bad influence
14. You make my heart sing
15. You’re my lobster

Probably the hardest thing you’ll have to write besides your vows.

1. And they lived happily ever after
2. For better or worse
3. Hard launch
4. I do
5. It’s official
6. Just married
7. Locked in for life
8. Mr. and Mrs. [or Mr. and Mr. or Mrs. and Mrs.]
9. Put a ring on it
10. Tied the knot

Here are some ideas worthy of prom queen status.

1. A night to remember
2. All dressed up
3. Dance the night away
4. Glam squad
5. I’ve got the shoes, I’ve got the dress
6. Last dance
7. Last hurrah
8. Let’s dance
9. Prom dot com
10. Suited up
11. We clean up nice

Make sure you unplug during your time away–except to post some well-caption content, of course.

1. Caught the travel bug
2. Chillin out, maxin, relaxin, all cool
3. Elsewhere
4. Exploring
5. Out of office
6. Relaxing until further notice
7. Tripping out
8. Vacay mode
9. Wanderlust
10. [Wherever you left] ✈️[Wherever you are]
11. Your email did not find me

Captions fit for big city living.

1. Among the skyscrapers
2. Busy city
3. City slicker
4. Concrete jungle
5. Empire state of mind
6. Give my regards to Broadway
7. I ❤️NY
8. Start spreading the news
9. The big apple
10. The city never sleeps, but I do

There’s nothing chiller than a photo of a beach: give your caption that same sunny vibe.

1. All the best drinks come with umbrellas
2. Beaching
3. Beachy keen
4. Catch a wave
5. Happy place
6. Hot dogs or legs
7. Life’s a beach
8. Ocean eyes
9. Resting beach face
10. Sail away
11. She sells sea shells
12. Sun, sand, sea
13. Surf’s up
14. Toes in the sand
15. Vacation mode
16. Vitamin sea

Getting that perfect sunset shot is half the battle. Now, it’s time to give it a glowy caption.

1. Enjoying the view
2. Fade out
3. Glow on
4. Golden hour
5. Looking up
6. Nothing gold can stay
7. See you tomorrow
8. Soaking up the sunset
9. You’re so golden

For people who hike or people who pretend to like hiking.

1. Are we out of the woods yet
2. Fresh air
3. Get out
4. It’s the climb
5. Natural instincts
6. Nature lover
7. Summit kind of wonderful
8. Touching grass
9. Tree hugger

An emoji says a thousand words (which is ideal when characters are limited).

1. 💯💯💯
2. All I do is win 🏆
3. 🦄Believe in magic 🦄
4. Everything is 🆗
5. 🍏🍊🍋fresh 🍓🍉🍇
6. Grateful 🙏
7. What the 🦆
8. Right on 🎯
9. ✨ ta-da ✨

These memorable captions will stop the most exuberant Story swipers.

A very important final step before publishing your Reel masterpiece.

1. Boom
2. Exclusive footage
3. Is this relatable
4. It’s a video
5. Live footage
6. My sizzle Reel
7. Caught on video
8. Unedited
9. Unseen video

Asking questions in your Instagram captions can be a great way to increase engagement on your post , because users are encouraged to leave comments.

“Our social is our primary way to gather feedback from our audience—we are continuously asking folks what flavours they’d like to see return, which pints they are sad to see go, etc,” Vannatter shares.

“I find the strongest social accounts have a sense of humor, and authenticity to how someone would normally speak, or write,” says Vannatter.

Even though there’s planning and marketing strategy behind your captions, they shouldn’t sound forced. “While you’re not running a personal account, there is still a person behind the caption,” Vanatter says.

“The more personable your voice, the better!”