Public vs. private engagement rate on Facebook - what you need to know
When it comes to the Engagement rate on Facebook Unfortunately, there is no universal calculation method that all marketers have agreed on. Instead, there are Two common variants:
📌 Public engagement rate → based on reactions, comments and shares, divided by the number of page likes
📌 Private engagement rate → includes all eight possible engagement types (reactions, comments, shares, 3-second video views, clicks to play, photo clicks, link clicks and other clicks), divided by reach
And as if that wasn't confusing enough, there are two other methods that are used less frequently but are still used in some contexts. Which calculation makes the most sense depends on what exactly you want to analyze.
👉 For competitive analyses marketers usually resort to public engagement rate.
👉 For your own performance analysis over time however, the private engagement rate used.
The two values can differ significantly - so make sure your team or clients understand the difference.
Average Facebook engagement rate in the last month
Every month we publish the average Public and private engagement rates on Facebook, based on hundreds of thousands of analyzed posts worldwide. With the analysis feature of DotSimple you get these and many other key figures automatically for your own social media channels - without manual calculation.
- The public engagement rate comes from our Competitor Analytics Toolwhich you can use to compare public metrics for Facebook pages.
- The private engagement rate comes from our Profile Analytics toolwhich gives you a deeper insight into all engagement metrics of your own Facebook page.
The average public engagement rate in the last month was:
The average private engagement rate in the last month was:
How has the engagement rate on Facebook developed?
Facebook is constantly changing its algorithms - and this is also reflected in the engagement rate. Let's take a look at the development over the last few months.
DotSimple shows you at a glance how your own reach is developing over time - across all channels and available at any time.
📈 Here you can see the historical engagement rate of the last 12 months:
Why is this important? Because engagement rates are not constant. Therefore, always compare your own performance with the current average values - this way you can see whether your content is performing better or worse than the general trend.
How to calculate the engagement rate on Facebook
As already mentioned, there are four different methodsto calculate the engagement rate. And no, there are no right or wrong approach - just different approaches.
1. public engagement rate (the most frequently used method)
This method is mainly used for comparison with competitors, as it is only based on publicly visible interactions:
📌 Post ER = (reactions + comments + shares) / page likes
📌 ER profile = average of all post-ERs within a certain period of time
Why page likes and not reach?
Reach is a private metric and therefore not publicly viewable. Therefore, this calculation is based on page likes.
2. private engagement rate (the most accurate method for your own analyses)
This variant takes into account all possible interactions and gives you a complete overview of your commitment:
📌 Post ER = (reactions + comments + shares + 3-second video views + clicks to play + photo clicks + link clicks + other clicks) / reach
📌 ER profile = average of all post-ERs within a certain period of time
This method is particularly useful for tracking your own performance over a longer period of time.
3. private engagement rate (only reactions, comments & shares)
Some marketers want to focus on the "real" interactions and therefore leave out clicks and video views:
📌 Post ER = (reactions + comments + shares) / reach
📌 ER profile = average of all post-ERs within a certain period of time
Why this variant?
While clicks and video views signal engagement, they are not publicly displayed and are often "light" interactions. Whether someone simply views a page or video does not necessarily say anything about their genuine interest.
4. private engagement rate (based on impressions)
Some marketers do not relate the engagement rate to reach, but to impressions:
📌 Post ER = (reactions + comments + shares + 3-second video views + clicks to play + photo clicks + link clicks + other clicks) / impressions
📌 ER profile = average of all post-ERs within a certain period of time
The problem?
When you share engagements through impressions, you will receive a significantly lower value than with the other methods. That doesn't look very impressive on paper - so it's rather unfavorable if you have to report figures to stakeholders.
What factors influence the engagement rate on Facebook?
There are many variables that determine how well your posts perform organically. Here are some of the most important ones:
- Interaction behavior: Do people only like your content or do they also comment and share it?
- Post types: Videos, images or links - which format is better received?
- Algorithm updates: Facebook regularly changes how content is displayed.
- Topics & contents: Some topics generate more engagement than others.
- Posting times: When you post can make a big difference.
- Tags & hashtags: Do you mention other users or use relevant hashtags?
Conclusion: Which engagement rate is right for you?
The answer is: It depends.
❌ Don't just blindly compare your figures with other sites! If you want to keep an eye on your own performance, use the private engagement rate. If you want to measure yourself against the competition, the Public engagement rate the right measure.
No matter which method you choose - make sure that you remain consistent. This is the only way to identify real trends and optimize your social media strategy in the long term.
With DotSimple you plan, analyze & optimize your content in one place - efficiently, time-saving and stress-free. 🚀
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