What is the best time to post on TikTok? Does it even matter when you post?
Short answer: yes. But don’t fret, it's easier to figure out than you think.
From reaching new audiences to seeing a boost in engagement, finding the best time to post can support your TikTok strategy.
We're breaking it all down, below.
Does It Matter What Time You Post on TikTok?
Yes! While the TikTok algorithm ranks content based on a combination of factors, posting at your most optimal time is worth experimenting with.
The math speaks for itself: if you post when most of your community is online, you’ll reach more people right away.
That is of course, coupled with posting consistently, using popular sounds, adding relevant keywords, and hopping on trends when appropriate. With the right strategy, you’ll be well on your way to a boost in views.
To learn more about the TikTok algorithm, check out this blog: This Is How the TikTok Algorithm Works.
So, When Is the Best Time to Post on TikTok?
At Later, our social team discovered that the best time to post on TikTok is Monday to Friday at 1pm PST.
“In the beginning, we tested posting only in the mornings, but as our audience grew, we saw that afternoons work best for us,” shares Later’s Social Content Lead, Lindsay Ashcraft.
Unfortunately, there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to finding your best time to post on TikTok — every brand and creator will be different based on their audience’s location and scrolling habits.
So figuring out when your audience is most active is key (more on that, soon).
The Best Days to Post on TikTok
Generally speaking, weekdays at 1pm PST are Later's best times to post on TikTok.
However, upon further digging, we discovered that Thursdays and Fridays specifically had the most engagement.
We hypothesized that as they are right after the mid-week slump, our audience is likely spending more time on the app heading into the weekend.
Once you have a better idea of your best time (and days) to post, you can schedule your TikTok content in advance.
When it's time to post, you'll receive a notification through Later's mobile app, along with your video and prepped caption. This will make it easier to streamline your content planning — no last-minute posting required!
Plan, schedule, and auto-publish your TikTok videos in advance with Later. Create an account today for free.
How to Discover Your Best Time to Post on TikTok
While there’s no universal time for posting on TikTok, there are a couple of ways to guide you in the right direction:
Use Later's Best Time to Post Tool
Use the Native TikTok App
#1: Use Later's Best Time to Post Tool
Using Later’s Best Time to Post tool is the most accurate way to discover your unique optimal posting times based on actual performance data.
The tool automatically calculates your top seven posting times based on when your followers are online:
Your best times will be highlighted in your weekly content calendar, making it easy for you to schedule TikTok posts for when your audience is most likely to engage.
That way, you can capitalize on audience engagement without thinking twice!
NOTE: To access the feature you'll just need to have a TikTok Business Account with at least 100 followers.
Later’s Best Time to Post tool is available on all paid plans. Upgrade now to find the best days and times to post on TikTok for maximum engagement.
#2: Use the Native TikTok App
Alternatively, if you're low on followers you can also find your best time to post on TikTok through the native app.
Here's how in four easy steps:
Create a Business or Creator Account
Identify Your Top Territories
Know When Your Audience is Most Active
Track and Measure Your Content
Step #1: Create a Business or Creator Account
Switching to a Business or Creator TikTok account will unlock your profile’s metrics, and these are key to figuring out your best time to post.
Here’s how to switch to a Business Account on TikTok:
Go to the “Settings and privacy” section by tapping the three lines in the top right corner of your profile page
Tap “Account” and tap, “Switch to Business Account”
NOTE: Business Accounts can only use music from TikTok’s royalty-free Commercial Music Library.
With a Business account, you’ll gain access to a suite of analytics tools:
Head to the three lines in the top right corner of your profile page again
Tap “Business Suite”
Go to “Analytics”
If you have a Creator account, you’ll follow similar steps to find your analytics:
Head to the three lines in the top right corner of your profile page
Tap “Creator tools”
Go to “Analytics”
In your TikTok Analytics, you’ll find four tabs: Overview, Content, Followers, and LIVE. You’ll also be able to choose your date range – up to 60 days.
With these numbers, you’ll be able to see what type of content is working, where your audience is located, and more.
Step #2: Identify Your Top Countries and Cities
Identifying where most of your audience is based can help you understand when they'll most likely be online.
For example, most of Later’s TikTok audience is based in the US:
“As the majority of our audience is US-based, we try not to post too early or too late in the day. This way we won’t exclude too much of our audience. Our sweet spot tends to be midday PST to catch most timezones,” shares Ashcraft.
Once you identify where the majority of your audience is based, you can accurately predict when they’ll be online.
It may take some trial and error but stick to it and soon you'll have a better understanding of what times suit your audience best.
Ready to level-up your TikTok strategy? Manage your TikTok videos in one easy-to-use dashboard — so you can save time and get more eyes on your content.
Step #3: Know When Your Audience is Most Active
This is one of TikTok’s best-kept secrets: the “Follower Activity” section.
And the best part? It’s super easy to find! Just go to the Follower tab of your TikTok Analytics and scroll down.
Here you’ll find detailed information on your audience’s most active hours and days:
Though it’s important to note that the times on TikTok are recorded in UTC. So, you’ll need to convert the hours that your followers are most active into the timezone you’re located in.
For example, if you’re located in NYC and notice most of your followers are active at 8pm UTC, it’d really be 3pm EST – so that’s when you’d post!
TIP: Use a timezone conversion tool to easily switch between timezones. No calculator required!
Step #4: Track and Measure Your Content Performance
The final step to understanding your best time to post on TikTok is to monitor your content’s performance.
Under the Content tab in TikTok Analytics, you’ll see your most recent posts’ performance, along with videos that are trending.
From there you’ll then be able to click on a video and see tons of performance data – like average watch time, number of comments, and where in the world your views are coming from:
By keeping track of your TikTok content performance, you’ll be able to find common trends between when a video was posted and how well it performed.
Of course, there’s still a bit of guesswork left in the mix — but this should give you a strong indication of what time works best for you and your audience.
Ultimately, understanding TikTok analytics is a journey, not a destination. Use the above tactics to help you discover your best time to post on TikTok and watch those views hit new heights!
Looking to optimize your posts on other social platforms? Check out the best time to post on Instagram, the best time to post on Facebook, and the best time to post on Linkedin.
