The world of TikTok can be difficult to navigate for any creator or business looking to maximize the reach of their content. With around 16,000 TikToks posted every minute, how does one stand out, build an audience, and land UGC gigs and content creation jobs? By finding the best times to post on TikTok, of course—here’s how.
1. Understand that there’s no universal “best time.”
Before we dive into the data, it’s important to note that there’s no all-encompassing “best time” to post on TikTok. The landscape is constantly changing, and many factors come into play. Chances are, your research on this topic has led you to a mix of contradictory answers. Our goal here is to help you think strategically while providing general time windows as a jumping-off point.
Being strategic about when you post is just as important as what you post on TikTok. Timing can be the difference between going viral and remaining obscure. In a world where nearly half of business owners and content creators (44%) share content on a weekly basis, this can be the difference between growth and failure over time. To reach TikTok influencer status, you must adopt a posting strategy.
2. Know the most popular posting time: 6 p.m.
According to a study by Adobe Express, which analyzed 21,289 TikToks from 160 creators, nearly 1 in 10 TikToks are posted around 6 p.m. TikToks are most commonly posted on weekdays, specifically Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.
While it may seem like you should avoid the oversaturated 6 p.m. weekday posting time, content shared then often draws more views because more users are active at that time. By contrast, posting during off-peak hours might initiate more engagement through comments and shares, as there is simply less competition.
3. Aim for the best overall time: Sunday at 8 a.m.
Taking both viewership and engagement into consideration, the weekly sweet spot to post on TikTok is Sunday at 8 a.m. This time catches users on slower Sunday mornings when many have the day off, refrain from early plans, and take some time for leisurely activities.
4. Post early in the morning for maximum engagement.
If you are looking to post on a daily or semi-daily basis, the best time to post for engagement is generally around 5:30 a.m—although TikToks posted around 4 a.m. and 8 a.m. also perform well. These times catch users as they wake up, hop on their phone, and get some scrolling time in before heading to work or their daily plans.
5. Consider your content and audience.
While statistics point to posting early Sunday morning, your optimal posting time for TikTok will also depend on your niche and audience.
For example, the Adobe Express study found that TikToks revolving around comedy, fashion, and gaming saw better engagement and performance during off-peak posting hours (early mornings), while TikToks in the beauty, cooking, and education niches performed best during peak times (around 6 p.m.).
Consider the audience your content will land with most. What does their day and schedule look like? When are they on TikTok? College students, retired professionals, nine-to-fivers, and creative freelancers all have different routines and engage with TikTok at different times.
6. Account for global audiences and time zones.
Dive into the analytics of your audience. If you have an audience that spans the globe, posting according to your personal time zone may not be best. Try to see where the majority of your audience lives and cater your posting time to a time zone that works best for them.
For example, if your audience is split between Europe and the West Coast of the United States, then posting around mid-afternoon Eastern Time can help you reach both regions during their active hours. Alternatively, some creators experiment with staggering multiple posts throughout the day to cover different time zones.
7. Remember that quality trumps timing.
TikTok’s algorithm prioritizes user interest signals over recency, which essentially means that content can go viral at any time after being posted. However, engagement within the first few hours of posting can definitely help content get picked up by the algorithm.
This means making quality content that has a strong hook and watch value over time is better than constantly posting subpar content at the best times. Focus on creating engaging content first, then optimize your posting schedule to give that content the best chance of success.