Best Times to Post on TikTok

TikTok has completely changed how we watch and make videos, becoming a huge deal for both people and businesses alike. With users spending an average of 58 minutes per day on the platform globally and even more in some countries like the United States and the United Kingdom, TikTok offers a massive opportunity for creators to showcase their talent and grow their audience.

But, like anything, timing is everything. The difference between a video that everyone sees and one that disappears into the void can be as simple as when you post it.

Let's look at the best times to post on TikTok to help you maximize your global reach and engagement.

Understanding TikTok's Algorithm

TikTok's algorithm is incredibly smart at determining what videos people enjoy. It constantly analyzes what people are watching and interacting with and quickly promotes videos that are gaining attention.

This means that even if you are new to the platform, your videos can quickly gain popularity if they resonate with the current trends and interests of your audience.

If you want to know more about TikTok’s algorithm, the video below has an in-depth explanation; it has information on why timing is essential and how it helps drive engagement.

TikTok determines which videos appear on a user’s For You Page (FYP) based on several factors, including:

1. User Interactions

• Likes: TikTok uses likes to inform its algorithm about your taste in humor and aesthetics, as well as the type of content that keeps you entertained.
• Comments: We tend to comment when we see a debate in the video we are watching, whether regarding the video itself or questions asked in the caption. When we comment, TikTok’s algorithm shows us similar content by understanding our interests.
• Shares: Sharing videos among friends increases views, and the video gets more engagement. This is also a factor that TikTok’s algorithm considers when recommending similar videos.
• Watch Time: How long you watch a video is crucial. Longer watch time indicates higher engagement and helps TikTok understand what keeps you hooked.

2. Video Information

• Captions: Captions are more than just a bunch of words put together. They provide valuable keywords that help TikTok categorize and recommend your videos to users searching for specific topics.
• Hashtags: Think of hashtags as labels. They help TikTok understand the context of your video and connect it with other videos and users interested in the same topics.
• Sounds: Using trending sounds or creating your own unique audio can significantly increase your visibility. The algorithm recognizes the popularity of sounds and utilizes them to promote content to different audiences.
• Trending Effects: When you use trending effects, viewers find the video appealing, and they engage more with the video. It also shows your dedication to the platform and willingness to experiment with your videos to make them more authentic and captivating.

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3. Device and Account Settings

• Location: Location can influence the type of content people see, such as local trends, businesses, and events.
• Language: TikTok adjusts the language of the content we see based on our preferred language settings, ensuring a more personalized experience.
• Device Type: While subtle, the type of device we use can also influence our experience. For example, TikTok may prioritize different content for users on mobile devices versus desktops.

The algorithm’s primary goal is to maximize user engagement by showing them content they are likely to enjoy.

Why Timing Matters on TikTok

Timing plays a critical role in how well your videos perform on TikTok. Here is why:

Initial Engagement Spike: When you post your video at the right time, it gets global engagement from active users. TikTok’s algorithm prioritizes videos that get attention right away and promotes them across the platform to different audiences.

Audience Availability: Your follower's activity patterns influence when they are most likely to see and interact with your content. Posting during peak activity hours ensures your video does not get lost in newer posts.

Trending Waves: TikTok trends move quickly. Posting at the right time allows you to keep up with the trending challenges, hashtags, or sounds when they are most active.

How can creators make the most of posting on TikTok at the best times?

Posting at the right times on TikTok can significantly impact the visibility and engagement of your content. 

While the algorithm does not explicitly prioritize posting time, it does factor in how quickly a video gains engagement after being posted, which can be influenced by the timing of your post.

Here is how timing can affect your content:

1. Initial Engagement

• The first hour is crucial: If your video engages the audience and receives likes, comments, and shares within the first hour of posting, TikTok's algorithm will push it to a larger audience.
• Timing your post for peak activity: Posting when your audience is most active increases the chances of getting early engagement. This can help your video get featured on more users’ For You Pages (FYP).

2. Audience Behavior

• Understand your target audience’s behavior: Most TikTok users’ are active in the evenings after a long day (around 6 PM to 10 PM local time) and on weekends. This can vary for regional creators because of the audience’s demographic characteristics, like age, location, and lifestyle. By understanding and making changes, you can schedule your posting strategies accordingly.
• If you have a TikTok Pro account, you can access detailed analytics about your audience’s active hours. This feature lets you see when your followers are most active so you can time your posts accordingly. Understanding your audience's behavior and using tools like TikTok Analytics can help you optimize your posting schedule for maximum engagement.

3. Time Zone Considerations

• Global Audience: If you have followers from different time zones, consider scheduling posts to hit peak times in multiple regions. For example, posting in the late afternoon in one region could align with early evening in another.
• Experimentation: Since TikTok's algorithm can vary based on content type and audience, experimenting with different posting times can help you understand when your specific audience is most likely to engage.

4. Consistency

• Posting regularly: Consistency is key on TikTok. Posting at regular times can help build an audience that expects content from you at certain hours, which can lead to better engagement.
• Algorithm learning: The more you post when your audience is active, the better TikTok’s algorithm can learn when to push your content to users for optimal engagement.

5. Trending Content

• Timely content: Whenever you post content related to a trending topic or sound, it is important to post when it is still trending to get more engagement. Trending sounds, hashtags, and challenges change frequently, so posting during the trend can give your video a better chance of being discovered.

6. Avoiding Overcrowded Times

• Competition: While peak hours (like evenings and weekends) are great for engagement, they also come with more competition. Your video may get lost in a sea of other posts, so sometimes posting it during off-peak hours (like early mornings or late nights) helps your video stand out more.
• Less saturation: Fewer posts during off-peak hours may mean less competition for views, which could result in better engagement in the first hour.

7. TikTok's Global Reach

• TikTok's algorithm does not just focus on local time zones. If you have an international audience, your post could still get engagement outside your primary time zone, especially if the content resonates globally. However, posting when your core audience is most active is still important for initial traction.

Best Practices for Timing:

• Use TikTok Analytics: TikTok has built-in analytics. Use this to find out when your followers are online and how well they are engaging with your content.
• Post during peak engagement: most of the peak engagement hours are in the evenings and on weekends. Use this to your advantage and post during this time for visibility. But also experiment with off-peak hours to avoid too much competition.
• Stay consistent: when you find your posting time that is working for you always stay consistent with your posting schedule. This helps maximize the reach and growth of your TikTok account.
• Move with trends: trends change quickly, keep track of what’s trending, and make content relevant to that.
• Monitor performance: use analytics to see the best posting time for you and your audience. Make strategies and plan accordingly.

By understanding your audience’s habits and the dynamics of TikTok's algorithm, you can strategically time your posts to maximize their chances of success.

How Timing Affects Views

Timing is everything when it comes to posting your TikTok videos. Posting during peak hours, when your audience is most active, gives your videos the best chance of getting noticed instantly. Think of it like a party–you are more likely to have fun if you arrive when everyone else is there! Rather than waiting for everyone to arrive. This early attention is a big deal for TikTok's algorithm, which uses those initial likes, comments, and shares to decide whether your video gets its limelight. On the other hand, posting when most people are asleep or busy with other things can feel like waiting for the mythical Europe to America train to arrive. Your video might get lost in the flood of newer content. By understanding when your followers are online and tailoring your posting schedule accordingly, you can ensure your videos get the attention they deserve and reach the widest possible audience.

How Timing Affects Engagement

The timing of your posts can significantly impact your engagement metrics, including likes, shares, comments, and views. Here is some data to consider:

Daily Usage Patterns:

TikTok users are most active during breaks, such as lunchtime (12 PM–2 PM) and evenings (7 PM–9 PM).

Weekends often see higher engagement as users have more free time.

Time Zones Matter:

If your audience is international, consider scheduling TikTok posts for maximum visibility across multiple time zones. For example, tools like TikTok Analytics can help identify where your followers are located and when they are most active.

Engagement Rates:

Videos posted during peak hours often increase engagement by up to 30% more than those posted during off-peak times.

The percentage increase (up to 30%) is a general estimate and may not apply to every account or every piece of content.

Posting consistently during optimal times can improve your overall reach and follower growth.

Top 10 countries using TikTok

The top 10 countries that use TikTok the most have creators who follow the best times to post to reach maximum broader audience and engage their audience.

In case you’re wondering why China is not on this list, it’s because the app goes by a different name, ‘Douyin,’ in China, and the two apps don’t interact or share content.

Best time to post on TkTok by industry

Different industries have varying audience behaviors on TikTok. Here are some general guidelines:

• Fashion & Beauty: Weekends are your best bet. People are more relaxed, scrolling through for inspiration. Aim for those mid-morning hours, maybe 10 am to 2 pm. You know, when they are planning their outfits or getting ready for a fun night out.
  
  
• Education & E-learning: when students grab a quick study session before exams, they mostly surf the internet to find tips and tricks to ace the exam. Mornings like 7-9 am are a perfect time to post. Do not forget about night owls. They mostly like to learn new things from the internet at night(8-9 pm or even later).
  
  
• Food & Beverage: It is time to get those taste buds tingling! Late afternoons, 3-5 pm, are ideal for snack time inspiration. And, of course, evenings, 7-9 pm, are prime time for dinner ideas or those after-dinner treats.
  
  
• Entertainment: Weekends are your friends here! People are looking to unwind and have some fun. Evenings, from 6-10 pm, are a goldmine. They are done with work or school and are ready to be entertained.
  
  
• Fitness & Health: Hit them with the morning motivation! Early mornings, 6-8 am, are perfect for those who love to start their day with a workout. And do not forget the after-work crowd—around 5-7 pm, they might be looking for some fitness inspiration to end their day.

Important Note: These are just general guidelines. The best times can vary wildly depending on your specific audience and their habits. So, experiment! Track your results and see what times work best for your TikTok account.

How to effectively use multiple good times to post on TikTok

Plan Ahead: You can use various tools to schedule your posting times for maximum engagement and use them to post at optimal times across different time zones.

Experiment: Always test different posting times and find out what best works for you as well as for your audience. You can find out patterns of audience engagement. Use these times to increase views on your TikTok video.

Use Analytics: look at the analytics of your audience and make a note of how different times are working for your audience. The analytics of this data helps in planning for your future strategies.

Benefits of Posting at the Right Time

Posting at the right time ensures your content gets:

• Maximum Visibility: When you post during your audience's peak hours, your videos are more likely to be seen by the most number of eyes.
• Higher Engagement: People are more likely to interact with your content when they are actively scrolling and browsing. Posting during peak hours increases the chances of likes, comments, and shares, which are crucial signals to the algorithm.
• A Boost from the TikTok Algorithm: TikTok's algorithm loves content that gets attention quickly. Early engagement is a strong signal to the algorithm that your video is valuable and worth showing to more people. Posting when your audience is most active gives your video the best chance to gain that initial momentum.

How to identify the best time to post for your TikTok account

Every TikToker dreams of finding the perfect time to post that guarantees maximum visibility and engagement. So, how do you find it for your TikTok account?

Analyze Your Audience: Explore your TikTok Analytics. The "follower activity by hour" section reveals the peak times when your audience is most active, meaning they are scrolling, liking, and commenting. Utilize it to the fullest and see changes happening.

Study Trends: Keep an eye on what is performing well for other creators in the same field as you. Notice when similar content seems to explode in views and engagement. Follow this to keep up with the trends and make content that resonates with your audience.

Engage With Feedback: Pay close attention to the comments and interactions on your videos. What times of day do you get the most comments and likes? Are there any patterns you notice? This helps you understand your audience more.

Tools to Optimize Timing

TikTok Analytics: provides insights into follower activity and content performance, such as identifying peak activity hours, geographical engagement patterns, and the types of content that resonate most with your audience. For instance, you can track when your followers are most active during the week and adjust your posting schedule accordingly.

Scheduling Tools: Platforms like Buffer, Hootsuite, and Later allow you to schedule posts for maximum visibility.

Engagement Trackers: Tools like Sprout Social help analyze engagement trends.

By combining these strategies, you can ensure your TikTok content is seen by the right audience at the right time, maximizing your chances of success on the platform.

Summary

Timing is everything when it comes to boosting engagement on your videos, especially on a global platform like TikTok. By diving into how TikTok’s algorithm works, keeping an eye on your audience’s behavior, and making the most of available tools, you can pinpoint the best times to post. Posting is about being strategic. Whether you’re aiming to reach a worldwide audience or focusing on a specific niche, syncing your posting schedule with users’ most active times can significantly boost your video’s visibility and help your account grow.

What next

Finding the best time to post on TikTok can be a hefty task for creators and brands. When you understand your audience and the type of content they resonate with, stay consistent with your efforts, and use analytics to guide your decisions, you can make it to the top. Don’t be afraid to test things out and see what works best for you. Start applying these tips today, and you’ll be on your way to boosting your TikTok presence in no time!

FAQs

1. What are the best times to post on TikTok for maximum engagement?

While the ideal posting time may vary depending on your audience, general studies suggest posting during peak hours such as 6 am to 10 am and 7 pm to 11 pm (local time) tends to yield better engagement. However, it’s essential to monitor your analytics to find the time that works best for your specific followers.

2. How can I find the best time to post on TikTok for my audience?

You can use TikTok Analytics to track when your followers are most active. Go to the "Followers" section of your analytics to see detailed information on when your audience is online, and adjust your posting schedule accordingly for maximum reach.

3. Does posting time affect TikTok’s algorithm?

Yes, posting time can impact how your content performs on TikTok. TikTok’s algorithm prioritizes content based on engagement, and posting when your audience is most active can help boost your chances of immediate engagement, which in turn signals the algorithm to promote your video to a larger audience.

4. Does the best time to post on TikTok vary for different niches?

Yes, different niches may experience peak engagement at different times. For example, lifestyle influencers or food bloggers may find higher engagement in the evenings when people are relaxing after work, while educational content might do better in the morning when users are looking to start their day productively. It’s important to test and analyze your specific audience’s activity patterns.

5. What time of day is TikTok most active?

TikTok tends to see the highest activity between 6 am and 10 am and 7 pm to 11 pm, as these are the times when most users are awake and scrolling through their feeds. However, activity levels can vary by country and audience type, so it’s beneficial to track trends in your audience's behavior.

6. How do I determine the best time to post on TikTok for my region?

The best way to find the best time for your region is to check your TikTok Analytics for the "Followers" section, which shows when your followers are active by day and hour. This will give you insights into the optimal time to post in your local time zone.

7. Are weekends or weekdays better for posting on TikTok?

Weekdays generally see higher engagement during mid-morning and evening hours when people take breaks from work or school. However, weekends can also have high activity, especially during the afternoon and evening when users are free. Experimenting with both weekdays and weekends can help you find a balanced posting schedule.

8. Can I use TikTok analytics to find the best time to post?

Yes, TikTok Analytics is a valuable tool for discovering the best times to post. In the "Followers" tab, you'll find insights into when your followers are most active by time of day and day of the week. By tracking these trends, you can adjust your posting schedule for optimal engagement.

9. What are the best times to post on TikTok for business accounts?

For business accounts, the best times to post are typically during weekdays, especially around 10 am to 12 pm and 7 pm to 9 pm. Businesses can benefit from these times as people are either starting their day or winding down, making them more likely to engage with content. Additionally, business accounts should keep an eye on their TikTok Analytics for more specific data on their audience.

10. Does posting at peak times increase my chances of going viral on TikTok?

Posting during peak times can increase your chances of going viral as it increases the likelihood of early engagement. TikTok’s algorithm favors content that receives rapid engagement, so posting when your audience is most active can lead to more likes, comments, and shares, which can ultimately help your video reach a larger audience.