Instagram Captions Template
Write Instagram captions with hashtags in bulk using AI in Google Sheets. Free =GPT() template: scroll-stopping hooks, CTAs and niche hashtag sets per post.
Write a month of Instagram captions in one drag: each row turns a post topic into a hooked caption plus a hashtag set, so batching content stops meaning staring at a blank caption field.
What you need in your sheet
| Column | Content |
|---|---|
| A | Post topic or product |
| B | Target audience |
| C | Call to action (comment, save, share, link in bio) |
| D | Generated caption |
| E | Generated hashtags |
The formula
In D2, then drag down:
=GPT("Write an Instagram caption. First line is a hook — it gets cut around 125 characters in the feed. Then 2-3 short paragraphs with line breaks, ending with this call to action: '"&C2&"'. Conversational, max 2 emojis, no hashtags in the caption.", "Post about: "&A2&". Audience: "&B2)
In E2 for the hashtags:
=GPT("List 15 Instagram hashtags for this post: mix large, mid-size and niche tags. One line, space-separated, all lowercase, no numbering.", A2)
Variations: add a column for post format (“carousel”, “Reel”, “single photo”) and reference it in the prompt, or keep the whole prompt in $G$1 and call =GPT($G$1, A2&" — "&B2) to retune the voice for the entire calendar from one cell.
Get started
- Install GPT for Sheets from the Google Workspace Marketplace (free tier included, no API keys needed).
- List your post topics in column A and paste the formulas.
- Drag them down the month, then use Replace all GPT formulas with results in the sidebar before copying captions out.
Full guide: Catchy Instagram captions with hashtags and emojis.
FAQ
How many hashtags should the formula generate?
Instagram allows up to 30 hashtags per post; most accounts use 5–15. The template asks for 15 mixed-size tags — edit the number in the prompt to match your strategy.
Won’t all the captions sound the same?
Each row sends its own topic, audience and call to action to the model, so captions are generated individually. Vary the CTA column (comment, save, share, link in bio) and the hooks naturally diverge.
Is there a caption length limit I should worry about?
Captions can run to 2,200 characters, but only roughly the first 125 characters show in the feed before “…more”. The template front-loads the hook into the first line for exactly that reason.