Instagram Giveaway Post and Caption Templates (Copy, Paste, Adapt)
A good Instagram giveaway post says what you’re giving away and how to enter in the first line or two, then gives the end date, who can enter, how the winner is picked, and a link to the full rules. Below are 10 caption templates you can copy for different kinds of giveaways, plus the parts every post needs.
Swap the [brackets] for your details, add an emoji or two if that fits your brand voice, and keep the rest short. Most people read the first two lines and the steps, nothing else.
What every giveaway post needs
Whatever the template, check your caption has these six things:
- The prize, up front. “Win our [prize]” in the first line, so it shows before “more”.
- How to enter, as numbered steps. Two or three steps at most.
- The end date and time, with time zone. “Ends Friday, March 12, 11:59 p.m. ET”.
- Who can enter. Age and country, for example “18+, US only”.
- How and when you’ll pick the winner. “Winner drawn at random and announced in stories on [date].”
- A link to the full rules and the Instagram disclaimer. Instagram’s promotion guidelines ask you to make clear that Instagram doesn’t sponsor or run your giveaway, and your full rules should say that each entrant releases Instagram from responsibility.
A line you can reuse for number six:
Full rules: link in bio. This giveaway is not sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Instagram.
Launch post templates
Template 1: Simple comment giveaway
GIVEAWAY: win [prize]
To enter:
- Follow @[yourbrand]
- Like this post
- Comment with your favorite
Ends [day, date, time, time zone]. Open to [age]+ in [countries]. One winner, drawn at random and announced in our stories on [date].
Full rules: link in bio. Not sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Instagram.
Best for: quick giveaways for your existing followers. You’ll pick the winner from the comments with a comment picker.
Template 2: Hosted giveaway with bonus entries
We’re giving away [prize] to celebrate [reason]
Enter through the link in our bio. It takes 30 seconds, and you can earn extra entries by: • following us • sharing your personal link with friends • coming back every day for a bonus entry
Ends [date, time, time zone]. [Age]+, [countries]. Winner picked at random on [date].
Rules at the link. Not sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Instagram.
Best for: growing an email list and reaching people outside Instagram. Entrants enter on a giveaway page, so every entry comes with an email address.
Template 3: Tag a friend
Who would you share [prize] with?
- Follow @[yourbrand]
- Tag one friend in the comments (each comment = one entry)
- Share this post to your story and tag @[yourbrand] for a bonus entry
Ends [date]. [Age]+, [countries]. Rules in bio. Not sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Instagram.
Best for: reach. Limit how many tags count, or the comments fill with spam accounts. Stories disappear after 24 hours, so note who shared and tagged you while they’re live.
Template 4: Collab giveaway with another brand
GIVEAWAY with @[partner]!
We’ve teamed up to give one person [prize from both brands].
To enter:
- Follow @[yourbrand] and @[partner]
- Like this post
- Enter at the link in our bio
Ends [date]. [Age]+, [countries]. Winner announced on both accounts on [date]. Rules in bio. Not sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Instagram.
Best for: reaching a new audience that already trusts your partner. Post it as a Collab so it appears on both profiles.
Template 5: Photo contest (user-generated content)
PHOTO CONTEST: show us how you use
Upload your photo at the link in our bio by [date]. Our team picks the [number] best photos, judged on [creativity / use of the product / theme].
Winners get [prize]. [Age]+, [countries]. Rules in bio. Not sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Instagram.
Best for: collecting photos you can reshare with permission. A contest judged on merit needs clear judging criteria in the rules. Say in the rules that you may reshare entries, with credit to the entrant.
Template 6: Follower milestone
We just hit [number] followers! Thank you. To celebrate, we’re giving away [prize].
Enter at the link in bio. Ends [date]. [Age]+, [countries]. Winner drawn at random on [date]. Rules in bio. Not sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Instagram.
Template 7: Holiday or seasonal
[Holiday] giveaway: [prize] for one lucky [customer/follower].
Enter at the link in bio before [date, time, time zone]. Bonus entry every day until then.
[Age]+, [countries]. Rules in bio. Not sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Instagram.
Reminder and winner templates
Template 8: Last-chance reminder (story or post)
Last day! Our [prize] giveaway closes tonight at [time, time zone]. Link in bio.
Post one reminder in the middle of the giveaway and one on the last day. People often need to see a giveaway more than once before they enter.
Template 9: Winner announcement
And the winner of our [prize] giveaway is… @[winner]!
We drew the winner at random from [number] entries. @[winner], check your [email/DMs]. Please reply by [date] to claim your prize.
Thank you to everyone who entered. [Optional: here’s [discount code] for [percent] off until [date].]
Announce only after the winner has replied, and only with their permission. For DM and email versions, see our giveaway winner message templates.
Template 10: “No winner reply, redraw” update
Our [prize] winner didn’t claim their prize by [date], so we’ve drawn a new winner: @[new winner]!
Post this only after the reply deadline in your rules has passed.
Turning a template into a working giveaway
The caption is half the job. The other half is running the entry and the draw fairly. For the full setup, from picking a goal to drawing the winner, see how to run an Instagram giveaway.
- Comment giveaways (templates 1 and 3): count entries from the comments and pick at random with a comment picker (see how to pick a winner from Instagram comments). Check the winner did every step before you announce.
- Hosted giveaways (templates 2, 4, 5, 6, 7): set up a giveaway page and put the link in your bio. With SweepWidget, you can choose from eight Instagram actions (visit profile, view post, follow, like, comment, repost, submit a post and tag a friend) and add actions from other platforms. Entrants type the username they used, because Instagram doesn’t let any outside tool confirm follows or likes, so check your winner’s profile before announcing. Follow, like, comment, repost, tag-a-friend and submit-a-post actions, daily bonus entries and personal share links (refer-a-friend) need the Pro plan or above.
- Photo contests (template 5): entrants upload their photo from their device with an Upload a file action (Pro plan and above).
The quickest start is a starter template. Open Starter Templates, filter by the Instagram category, choose one, change the prize and dates, publish, and paste the link into your bio.
Want to see how a finished one looks? See an example Instagram giveaway.
FAQ
Lead with the prize, then list how to enter in two or three numbered steps. Add the end date with time zone, who can enter, how the winner is picked and a link to the full rules.
Short enough that the prize and steps are readable without tapping “more”. Put details like eligibility and the rules link at the end.
Instagram’s promotion guidelines ask you to make clear that Instagram doesn’t sponsor, endorse or run your promotion. A one-line disclaimer at the end of the caption covers that, and your full rules should also include a release of Instagram by each entrant.
Two or three required steps. Every extra step loses entrants. Put extra actions on a giveaway page as optional bonus entries instead.
After the winner has confirmed and agreed to be named. Give them a reply deadline, and redraw if they miss it.
