Best Times to Post on TikTok
Timing matters. Learn when your audience is most active and how to maximize your initial engagement.
Why Posting Time Matters
The TikTok algorithm heavily weighs engagement velocity—how quickly your video accumulates likes, comments, and shares after posting. When you post while your audience is actively scrolling, you're more likely to get that crucial early engagement boost.
Think of it this way: posting at 3 AM when your audience is asleep means your video sits with minimal engagement for hours. By the time they wake up, the algorithm has already decided your content isn't trending.
General Best Times (US Eastern)
Based on aggregate data, these are the generally recommended posting windows. Adjust for your timezone.
| Day | Good Times | Peak Time |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 6-9 AM, 12 PM, 4 PM | 7 PM |
| Tuesday | 9 AM, 12 PM, 3 PM | 7 PM |
| Wednesday | 7 AM, 11 AM, 4 PM | 8 PM |
| Thursday | 9 AM, 12 PM, 7 PM | 9 PM |
| Friday | 5 AM, 1 PM, 3 PM | 9 PM |
| Saturday | 11 AM, 7 PM, 8 PM | 9 PM |
| Sunday | 7 AM, 8 AM, 4 PM | 7 PM |
Note: These are starting points. Your actual best times depend on your specific audience.
Morning Posts (6-9 AM)
Catch early risers during their morning scroll. Lower competition means your video can gain traction before the flood of afternoon content.
Evening Posts (7-9 PM)
Peak scrolling hours. People are unwinding after work/school. Higher competition but maximum potential audience.
Weekends
Later posting works well. People sleep in and binge content at night. Saturday and Sunday evenings are particularly strong.
Global Audiences
If your audience is international, focus on overlap windows or post multiple times daily to catch different timezones.
Finding YOUR Best Time
Generic advice only goes so far. Here's how to find your optimal posting schedule:
- 1Check your analytics
Go to Creator Tools → Analytics → Followers → Follower Activity. TikTok shows you exactly when your followers are most active.
- 2Experiment systematically
Post similar content at different times for 2 weeks. Track performance. Patterns will emerge.
- 3Consider your niche
Cooking content might perform better around meal times. Fitness content in early morning or evening. Think about when your audience would naturally seek your content type.
- 4Post before peak, not during
If your audience peaks at 7 PM, post at 6:30 PM. Give your video time to gain traction before the rush.
Timing Mistakes to Avoid
Optimal times vary by day. A weekday schedule won't work for weekends.
If you're in LA but most followers are in NYC, post for Eastern time, not Pacific.
Timing helps, but great content posted at a bad time still beats mediocre content posted at the perfect time.
Pro Tip: Consistency Beats Perfect Timing
Posting consistently at "good enough" times is better than inconsistently chasing perfect timing. Build a sustainable schedule you can maintain, then optimize from there.
Ready to Optimize Your Strategy?
Combine optimal timing with growth strategies for maximum impact.