With millions of daily users, TikTok has become one of the most popular social media platforms in the world. For content creators, timing is everything when it comes to achieving success on this platform. Posting at the right time can significantly impact how many people see and engage with your videos. But when is the best time to post on TikTok? Let's dive in.
When Is a Good Time to Post on TikTok?
While generating great content is essential, posting it when your audience is most active is just as important. If you share your videos during peak times, you’re more likely to encourage engagement through likes, shares, and comments.
The best times to post on TikTok depend on your audience, but here's a general guide to get you started:
- Monday: 6 a.m., 10 a.m., 10 p.m.
- Tuesday: 2 a.m., 4 a.m., 9 a.m.
- Wednesday: 7 a.m., 8 a.m., 11 p.m.
- Thursday: 9 a.m., 12 a.m., 7 p.m.
- Friday: 5 a.m., 1 p.m., 3 p.m.
- Saturday: 11 a.m., 7 p.m., 8 p.m.
- Sunday: 7 a.m., 8 a.m., 4 p.m.
These suggested TikTok posting times come from data gathered by industry reports on social media usage, research papers on digital engagement, and TikTok metrics showing when users are most active. But remember that these are just starting points, and your particular audience might be more active at different times. Try posting content at these various peak times and tracking the likes, shares, and comments you receive to inform your social media strategy going forward.
A Daily Breakdown of When To Share on TikTok
Determining the best days and times to post on TikTok so you can get more views hinges on people’s social media behavior. Platforms examine user data to gauge when audiences are active and likely to engage, and social media strategists also test different posting times to find out what works best.
While research shows that Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays tend to be the prime days to post, there are ideal and suboptimal times to share content for every day of the week. The best times tend to align with natural breaks in the day when people are likely scrolling through social media. For example, many people have a habit of grabbing their phones first thing in the morning, making it a more reliable time to reach them.
Follow this daily breakdown to plan the most effective posting schedule.
Monday
Monday mornings are great for catching people as they start their week. Posting early in the morning, around 6 a.m., can help you reach users as they check their phones first thing.
If you miss the early morning window, 10 a.m. and 10 p.m. are also good times to post. By 10 a.m., most people have settled into their day and might be ready for a mid-morning break. At 10 in the evening, many are winding down and have more time to scroll and engage with content.
Tuesday
The best time to post TikToks on Tuesday is super early, around either 2 or 4 a.m. Sharing in the wee hours means you can catch the eyes of night owls or people in other time zones when there's less competition for attention. Later, around 9 a.m., posts reach users while they're starting their day.
Wednesday
Mid-week, people are usually settled into their routines, so it’s best to catch them before and after the busiest parts of their days. Try posting on Wednesdays at 7 or 8 a.m to reach people during their morning rituals. An 11 p.m. post can also work well for reaching users before they go to bed.
Thursday
On Thursdays, mid-morning and evening posts perform well. Posting at 9 a.m. or 7 p.m. can help you reach your audience when they're scrolling through TikTok — either as they kick off their day or relax in the evening. A post at midnight can also be effective for reaching people who stay up later.
Friday
On Fridays, posting at 5 a.m. can catch early risers or those who check their feeds before popping out of bed. Lunchtime, around 1 p.m., is excellent for reaching people taking a break and browsing social media while they eat. The 3 p.m. slot is perfect for finding those in the final stretch of their workday, looking for a quick distraction before wrapping up for the weekend.
Saturday
Weekends are another prime time for TikTok. People generally have more free time to scroll through social media when they're not busy with work or school. The best times to post TikToks on Saturdays are 11 a.m., 7 p.m., and 8 p.m. Late morning works well because people are easing into their day and have plenty of time to scroll, and evenings are perfect as many unwind and browse before heading out for nighttime plans.
Sunday
Early Sunday morning, around 7 or 8 a.m., is a great time to reach people who start their day by checking social media or catching up on what they missed. Later, posting at 4 in the afternoon can help you reach people winding down their weekend. By this time, many are relaxing and scrolling, making it a great chance to engage.
Why Finding the Best Time to Post on TikTok Matters
While using trending TikTok hashtags and creating quality content with a video editor is helpful for generating buzz, posting at the optimal times can greatly boost your visibility, engagement, and follower growth. Here are some benefits of strategically timing your content publication.
Increased Visibility
Sharing at optimal times increases the chances that your audience will see and interact with your content. This engagement boosts your post's visibility and helps build a stronger connection with your followers.
Higher Engagement Rates
TikTok's algorithm favors content that generates engagement fast. If you post when your audience is active, your video will more likely gain likes, shares, and comments quickly, which can help it appear on more users' "For You" pages, helping it get noticed more and improving how the algorithm promotes your content.
Follower Growth
Consistently posting at strategic times helps you grow your follower count. When audiences regularly view and interact with your content, they’re more eager to share it with other people, attracting new followers to your account.
Monetization
Optimizing peak engagement times on TikTok does more than boost visibility and engagement — it can also help you make money from your content. When you post at the best times, you’re better positioned to attract sponsors, earn from TikTok's Creator Fund, increase your live broadcast income, and drive traffic to your merch.
Finding the Best Time to Post for Your Audience
While the guidelines above are a good starting point, finding the best time to post TikTok videos for your specific account requires experimentation and analysis. Here's how you can tailor your posting schedule to your followers and the TikTok algorithm.
Use TikTok Analytics
TikTok offers a built-in analytics tool that provides follower activity insights. Check when your followers are most active and use this data to guide your posting schedule.
Test Different Times
Experiment with posting at different times of the day and week to see when your content gets the most engagement. Track your posts' performance to identify patterns and adjust your schedule accordingly.
Consider Time Zones
If your audience spans different time zones, consider their locations when scheduling your posts. To maximize your reach, post at times that work well for multiple time zones. For example, if your analytics show that much of your audience is in New York (EST) and London (GMT), try scheduling your posts for late afternoon EST, which would be early evening GMT. This way, you're hitting peak activity times in both places.
Follow Industry Benchmarks
While it's important to find what works best for your specific account, keep an eye on social media benchmarks and trends in your particular industry to glean helpful insights. For instance, as we’ve said, many studies suggest that early mornings and evenings are peak times for social media activity.
Using all the above strategies, you can create a posting schedule that works best for your following to maximize your content’s impact.
Boost TikTok Engagement With Captions
Timing is key to TikTok success, but so is the quality of your content. That's where Captions comes in. Captions has all the tools you need to elevate your videos and stand out with your TikTok ideas—any day of the week. Using our advanced features, you can enhance your videos with customizable subtitles that make your content accessible to a broader audience. Edit with professional-grade tools and see your engagement skyrocket alongside your content quality.
Give Captions a try and start planning your next viral video today.