The three formulas the calculator uses
The calculator adds up your interactions, then divides them by each base you enter.
Interactions = likes + comments + shares + saves
Engagement rate = interactions ÷ base × 100
| Base | What it measures | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
| By views | Interactions relative to plays | TikTok, Reels, Shorts, YouTube videos |
| By reach | Interactions relative to the distinct people reached | Judging Instagram content |
| By followers | Interactions relative to account size | Comparing yourself with other accounts, filling in a media kit |
Example: a Reel with 620 likes, 38 comments, 140 shares and 95 saves totals 893 interactions. With 8,000 followers, 15,000 accounts reached and 24,000 views, the calculator shows 11.2% by followers, 6.0% by reach and 3.7% by views. All three numbers are right: they just don't answer the same question. When you quote a rate to a brand, always state the formula and the period.
How to read your result
The badge under each rate uses rough benchmarks for creator accounts. They only exist for four combinations of platform and formula: for the others, the calculator shows no badge rather than inventing a benchmark.
| Platform and formula | On the low side | Around average | Above |
|---|---|---|---|
| Instagram, by followers | < 1% | 1 to 3% | > 3% |
| Instagram, by reach | < 2% | 2 to 6% | > 6% |
| TikTok, by views | < 3% | 3 to 8% | > 8% |
| YouTube (long videos), by views | < 2% | 2 to 5% | > 5% |
For brand accounts, Rival IQ's 2026 report found a median by followers of 2.01% on TikTok and 0.30% on Instagram. Creators often do better, especially small accounts: as an account grows, its rate by followers tends to fall.
Your real benchmark: your own median
Calculate the same rate, with the same formula, for your last 20 posts in the same format, then keep the median. A post above 1.5× your median is worth breaking down and repeating (same topic, same angle, same hook). A post under half your median deserves a diagnosis: hook, topic, format or posting time.
Under the rates, the calculator shows your shares and saves relative to views. Two posts with the same overall rate can have very different profiles: one pleases in the moment, the other is judged useful enough to keep or pass on.
The limits of the calculation
- For someone else's account, you only see public interactions (on Instagram, saves stay private and likes can be hidden): the rate you get will be lower than the real one. Always compare rates calculated the same way.
- On TikTok, the rate by followers can exceed 100%: most views come from people who don't follow you. Rely on the rate by views.
- Since 2025, Instagram views and Shorts views count every play, rewatches included: a recent rate by views is lower than one calculated before that change.
- Engagement rate says nothing about watch time, clicks or sales. A video watched to the end but rarely liked can be shown more than a much-liked video people leave quickly.
- One post isn't enough to judge an account: run the calculation on several posts.
Go further
- Export your TikTok data as a CSV
- Export your Instagram Insights as a CSV
- Export your YouTube Studio stats as a CSV
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate my engagement rate?
Add up a post's likes, comments, shares and saves, divide that total by a base (views, accounts reached or followers), then multiply by 100. The calculator does this for all three bases at once.
Which base should I choose: views, reach or followers?
By views on TikTok, Reels, Shorts and YouTube. By reach to judge Instagram content, because you divide by the people who actually saw it. By followers to compare yourself with other accounts or fill in a media kit.
What's a good engagement rate on TikTok?
By views, 3 to 8% is a common order of magnitude for a creator, and over 8% is above average. This benchmark is only a guide: above all, compare each video with the median of your last 20 videos.
What's a good engagement rate on Instagram?
As a rough guide, 1 to 3% by followers and 2 to 6% by reach are common for a creator, with big variations by niche and account size. For brand accounts, Rival IQ found a median of 0.30% by followers in 2026.
Can I enter 1.2k or 12,500 with commas?
Yes. The calculator accepts thousands separators, decimal points and the abbreviations k (thousands) and M (millions): 1.2k means 1,200.
Are my numbers sent anywhere?
No. The calculation happens in your browser: the numbers you enter are neither sent nor saved, and the tool works without an account.