TikTok Marketing

Best Time to Post on TikTok in 2025: Day-by-Day Guide for Maximum Reach

Matt
Matt
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Tips you can use today. What works and what doesn't.

Best Time to Post on TikTok in 2025: Day-by-Day Guide

πŸ•

Quick Answer

Best Time: 5–9 PM on Weekdays
Wednesday is the #1 day for TikTok engagement
Peak Window:
Tuesday–Thursday evenings
Avoid:
11 PM–3 AM (all days)

TikTok Posting Schedule at a Glance

DayBest Time to PostEngagement Level
Monday5–9 PM⭐⭐⭐⭐ High
Tuesday10 AM–1 PM, 5–9 PM⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Very High
Wednesday5–9 PM⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Best Day
Thursday7–9 AM, 5–9 PM⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Very High
Friday3–10 PM⭐⭐⭐⭐ High
Saturday10 AM–7 PM⭐⭐⭐ Medium
Sunday8 AM–12 PM⭐⭐ Low

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Best Times to Post on TikTok by Day

Monday: 5–9 PM

Monday engagement climbs throughout the day and peaks when people finish work. Users look for entertainment to unwind after starting their week.

Why it works: People are back in their routines and scrolling during evening downtime.

Pro tip: Post motivational or relatable "Monday mood" content that resonates with your audience's start-of-week mindset.

Tuesday: 10 AM–1 PM and 5–9 PM

Tuesday has two engagement windows. The first hits during lunch breaks when users scroll between tasks. The second peaks in the evening.

Why it works: Lunchtime scrolling is a habit for many users, and evening engagement remains consistently strong.

Pro tip: Educational and how-to content performs well during lunch hours when users are in learning mode.

Wednesday: 5–9 PM

Wednesday is the best overall day to post on TikTok. Midweek engagement spikes as people seek entertainment before dinner.

Why it works: Users are comfortable in their weekly routine and have established scrolling habits.

Pro tip: This is your best day for important content launches or announcements.

Thursday: 7–9 AM and 5–9 PM

Thursday morning posts perform exceptionally well before the workday begins. Evening engagement stays consistent with other weekdays.

Why it works: Users check TikTok first thing in the morning on Thursdays, perhaps anticipating the weekend.

Pro tip: Schedule morning content the night before so you don't miss this early window.

Friday: 3–10 PM

Friday has the longest high-engagement window of the week. Users start scrolling from midafternoon through the evening.

Why it works: Weekend anticipation drives extended TikTok usage as people wind down from work.

Pro tip: Entertaining, fun content works best on Fridays when users are in a relaxed mood.

Saturday: 10 AM–7 PM

Saturday shows sustained engagement throughout the day. Users have more free time to browse and engage with content.

Why it works: No work commitments mean longer browsing sessions throughout the day.

Pro tip: Avoid posting before 7 AM when engagement drops significantly.

Sunday: 8 AM–12 PM

Sunday has the lowest overall engagement of the week. Focus on the morning window when users are most active.

Why it works: Morning is when people catch up on content before their Sunday activities begin.

Pro tip: Sunday is good for evergreen content that doesn't need immediate high engagement.

Best Time to Post on TikTok by Time Zone

The times above are based on your audience's local time. Here's how to adjust:

If Your Audience is in the US

EST (Eastern): Use the times as listed above.

CST (Central): Subtract 1 hour from EST times.

MST (Mountain): Subtract 2 hours from EST times.

PST (Pacific): Subtract 3 hours from EST times.

For Global Audiences

If you have a global audience, focus on these universal peak times:

  • Early morning (6–9 AM local) catches morning scrollers
  • Lunch hours (12–2 PM local) captures break-time users
  • Evening (6–9 PM local) reaches the largest audience

Check your TikTok Analytics to see where your followers are located and adjust accordingly.

How to Find Your Best Posting Time

While these general times work for most accounts, your specific audience may differ. Here's how to find your optimal posting time:

πŸ“Š Find Your Optimal Time in 3 Steps

1
Check TikTok Analytics
Go to Profile β†’ Menu β†’ Creator tools β†’ Analytics β†’ Followers tab β†’ Follower activity
2
Test Different Times
Post at various times for 2-3 weeks and track views/engagement for each post
3
Match Content to Time
Educational content β†’ mornings | Entertainment β†’ evenings | Trends β†’ post immediately

Best Content Types by Time Slot

Time SlotBest Content TypesWhy It Works
Morning (6–9 AM)Educational, how-to, motivationalUsers in learning mode before work
Lunch (12–2 PM)Quick tips, entertainment, trendsShort break = short content
Evening (5–9 PM)Entertainment, storytelling, productRelaxed browsing, longer attention
WeekendLifestyle, behind-scenes, challengesMore free time for casual content

Why Posting Time Matters on TikTok

The TikTok algorithm prioritizes content that gets quick engagement. When you post while your audience is active:

Higher initial views: More followers see your content immediately.

Better engagement rates: Active users are more likely to like, comment, and share.

Algorithm boost: Strong early engagement signals quality content to the algorithm.

Extended reach: Good initial performance means your video gets shown to more people on the For You page.

How Often Should You Post on TikTok?

TikTok recommends posting 1-4 times per day. Here's what works:

Beginners: Start with 1 post per day at your optimal time.

Growing accounts: Aim for 2-3 posts spread throughout the day.

Established creators: 3-4 posts per day can maximize reach if content quality stays high.

Quality over quantity: One great video beats five mediocre ones.

Posting Frequency Tips

  • Space posts at least 2-3 hours apart
  • Don't sacrifice quality for frequency
  • Use scheduling tools to maintain consistency
  • Test what frequency works best for your audience

Common Posting Time Mistakes

Posting at the Same Time Every Day

Vary your posting times to reach different audience segments. Someone who scrolls at lunch may never see your evening posts.

Ignoring Time Zones

If your audience spans multiple time zones, you may need to post multiple times to reach everyone effectively.

Not Checking Analytics

General best times are starting points. Your actual audience behavior may differ significantly.

Posting Too Late at Night

11 PM to 3 AM is consistently the worst time to post on TikTok across all time zones. Avoid this window.

Relying Only on Timing

Posting time matters, but content quality matters more. A great video posted at a suboptimal time will outperform mediocre content posted at peak hours.

TikTok Posting Time Best Practices

Be Consistent

Post at regular intervals so your audience knows when to expect new content. Consistency helps the algorithm understand your posting patterns.

Schedule Content in Advance

Use TikTok's built-in scheduler or third-party tools to:

  • Never miss optimal posting windows
  • Maintain consistency even when busy
  • Plan content around peak engagement times

While optimal times matter, trending content is time-sensitive. When a trend is blowing up, post immediately regardless of the time.

Monitor and Adjust

Review your analytics monthly and adjust your posting schedule based on what's working. Audience behavior changes over seasons and as your following grows.

Posting Times by Industry

Different niches see varied engagement patterns:

Hospitality and Travel: Morning posts (7-9 AM) perform best when users plan trips.

Entertainment and Media: Weekend afternoons see highest engagement.

Education: Weekday mornings and lunch hours work best.

E-commerce: Evening posts (6-9 PM) reach users with buying intent.

Fitness: Early morning (5-7 AM) catches users planning their day.

TikTok Algorithm and Timing

The TikTok algorithm evaluates your video within the first 30-60 minutes of posting. During this window:

  • Initial viewers' watch time and engagement are measured
  • The algorithm decides whether to push content to more users
  • Strong early performance leads to For You page distribution

This is why posting when your audience is active matters so muchβ€”you need engaged viewers immediately.

Summary: Best Times to Post on TikTok

βœ… TikTok Posting Cheatsheet

Do Post:
  • β€’ 5–9 PM on weekdays
  • β€’ Wednesday (best day overall)
  • β€’ Thursday 7–9 AM (morning peak)
  • β€’ Friday 3–10 PM (longest window)
Don't Post:
  • β€’ 11 PM–3 AM (any day)
  • β€’ Sunday afternoons
  • β€’ Saturday before 7 AM
  • β€’ Same time every single day

Pro Tip: These are data-based starting points. Check your TikTok Analytics to find when your specific audience is most active, and test different times to optimize your posting schedule.

For more TikTok growth strategies, explore our TikTok video ideas generator and TikTok caption generator to create content that performs.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best time to post on TikTok?

The best time to post on TikTok is between 5-9 PM on weekdays, with Wednesday being the best day overall. Thursday mornings (7-9 AM) and Friday afternoons (3-10 PM) also see high engagement.

What day gets the most TikTok views?

Wednesday is the best day to post on TikTok for maximum views and engagement. Tuesday and Thursday are close seconds, while Sunday typically sees the lowest engagement.

How often should I post on TikTok?

TikTok recommends posting 1-4 times per day. Beginners should start with 1 post daily, growing accounts can aim for 2-3 posts, and established creators can post 3-4 times if quality remains high.

Does posting time really matter on TikTok?

Yes, posting time matters because the TikTok algorithm evaluates your video within the first 30-60 minutes. Posting when your audience is active leads to higher initial engagement, which signals quality content to the algorithm and increases For You page distribution.

What is the worst time to post on TikTok?

The worst time to post on TikTok is between 11 PM and 3 AM across all time zones. Sunday afternoons and Saturday mornings before 7 AM also see significantly lower engagement.

How do I find my audience's best posting time?

Check TikTok Analytics by going to Profile β†’ Menu β†’ Creator tools β†’ Analytics β†’ Followers tab β†’ Follower activity. This shows when your followers are most active. Test different posting times for 2-3 weeks and track which times get the best engagement.

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