Best Times to Post on TikTok in 2024 to go viral
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TikTok has taken the social media world by storm, with over 1 billion monthly active users spending an average of 95 minutes per day on the app.
For brands and creators looking to grow their following and go viral on TikTok, posting at the optimal times is crucial.
When you share content while your target audience is most active on the app, you maximize your chances of getting views, likes, comments and followers.
But when exactly are the best times to post on TikTok?
While there's no one-size-fits-all answer, extensive research and data analysis has revealed key insights into the peak engagement windows on the platform.
In this post, we'll break down the best times to post on TikTok by day of the week, share tips for finding your unique best times, and explain why timing matters so much on this fast-paced app. Let's dive in!
The Overall Best Times to Post on TikTok
According to studies and statistics that analyzed engagement rates across millions of posts, these are generally the best times to post on TikTok for maximum reach and interactions :
- Tuesdays: 9 AM, 12 PM, 7 PM
- Thursdays: 12 PM, 7 PM
- Fridays: 5 AM, 3 PM
The peak time slots are 7 AM to 11 AM and 4 PM to 9 PM EST on Tuesdays through Fridays.
Weekday afternoons and evenings seem to drive the highest engagement, as people check the app on lunch breaks and after work or school.
However, the best times vary quite a bit by day of the week.
Here's a breakdown of the most promising posting windows for each day:
Best Times to Post on TikTok Each Day
Time | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Saturday | Sunday |
12 AM | ㅤ | ㅤ | ㅤ | ㅤ | ㅤ | ㅤ | ㅤ |
1 AM | ㅤ | ㅤ | ㅤ | ㅤ | ㅤ | ㅤ | ㅤ |
2 AM | ㅤ | 🔥 | ㅤ | ㅤ | ㅤ | ㅤ | ㅤ |
3 AM | ㅤ | ㅤ | ㅤ | ㅤ | ㅤ | ㅤ | ㅤ |
4 AM | ㅤ | 🔥 | ㅤ | ㅤ | ㅤ | ㅤ | 🔥 |
5 AM | ㅤ | ㅤ | ㅤ | ㅤ | 🔥 | ㅤ | ㅤ |
6 AM | 🔥 | ㅤ | ㅤ | ㅤ | ㅤ | ㅤ | ㅤ |
7 AM | ㅤ | ㅤ | 🔥 | ㅤ | ㅤ | ㅤ | 🔥 |
8 AM | ㅤ | ㅤ | 🔥 | ㅤ | ㅤ | ㅤ | 🔥 |
9 AM | ㅤ | 🔥 | ㅤ | 🔥 | ㅤ | ㅤ | ㅤ |
10 AM | 🔥 | ㅤ | ㅤ | ㅤ | ㅤ | ㅤ | ㅤ |
11 AM | ㅤ | ㅤ | ㅤ | ㅤ | ㅤ | 🔥 | ㅤ |
12 PM | ㅤ | ㅤ | ㅤ | 🔥 | ㅤ | ㅤ | ㅤ |
1 PM | ㅤ | ㅤ | ㅤ | ㅤ | 🔥 | ㅤ | ㅤ |
2 PM | ㅤ | ㅤ | ㅤ | ㅤ | ㅤ | ㅤ | ㅤ |
3 PM | ㅤ | ㅤ | ㅤ | ㅤ | 🔥 | ㅤ | ㅤ |
4 PM | ㅤ | ㅤ | ㅤ | ㅤ | ㅤ | ㅤ | 🔥 |
5 PM | ㅤ | ㅤ | ㅤ | ㅤ | ㅤ | ㅤ | ㅤ |
6 PM | ㅤ | ㅤ | ㅤ | ㅤ | ㅤ | ㅤ | ㅤ |
7 PM | ㅤ | ㅤ | ㅤ | 🔥 | ㅤ | 🔥 | ㅤ |
8 PM | ㅤ | ㅤ | ㅤ | ㅤ | ㅤ | 🔥 | ㅤ |
9 PM | ㅤ | ㅤ | ㅤ | ㅤ | ㅤ | ㅤ | ㅤ |
10 PM | 🔥 | ㅤ | ㅤ | ㅤ | ㅤ | ㅤ | ㅤ |
11 PM | ㅤ | ㅤ | 🔥 | ㅤ | ㅤ | ㅤ | ㅤ |
So the best times to post on TikTok each day:
- Monday: 6 AM, 10 AM, 10 PM
- Tuesday: 2 AM, 4 AM, 9 AM
- Wednesday: 7 AM, 8 AM, 11 PM
- Thursday: 9 AM, 12 PM, 7 PM
- Friday: 5 AM, 1 PM, 3 PM
- Saturday: 11 AM, 7 PM, 8 PM
- Sunday: 7 AM, 8 AM, 4 PM
A few interesting patterns emerge here.
Weekday mornings tend to see high engagement, likely as people check TikTok first thing after waking up.
Late nights are also popular on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
Fridays have strong engagement in the early morning and afternoon as the weekend kicks off.
On weekends themselves, late mornings and early evenings are the prime times as people enjoy their leisure time.
Why Posting Times Matter on TikTok
The TikTok algorithm heavily considers engagement metrics like views, watch time, likes, comments and shares when deciding which videos to promote on the For You page.
Posting when your followers are online means more people will see your content quickly, signaling to the algorithm that it's resonating and deserves a wider audience.
Just like on other social networks, time is of the essence on TikTok.
The algorithm looks at engagements on your video to rank it appropriately.
If your video gets a lot of views and interactions right after posting, the algorithm will deem it high-quality and engaging, and will show it to more users on the For You page.
But if your initial audience doesn't engage much, it's less likely to get picked up and go viral.
Recency is also an important factor.
TikTok prioritizes fresh content, so your brand new videos have the best shot at getting featured on the For You page.
Posting at high-traffic times ensures your content is seen when it's new rather than getting buried under newer videos.
Tips for Finding Your Best TikTok Posting Times
While the data above provides helpful guidelines, remember that TikTok serves content to a global audience in many different demographics.
The best posting times can vary based on your unique audience and niche. Here are some tips to zero in on the optimal posting schedule for your account:
- Check your TikTok analytics: TikTok provides detailed audience insights in the TikTok Business tools showing your followers' top locations and when they're most active on the app. Use this data to inform your posting cadence.
- Experiment and test: Post at different times and track your results to see which time slots generate the most engagement for your specific content. Testing is the best way to tailor broad best practices to your unique audience.
- Consider time zones: If you have a global audience, look at when your top viewer regions are awake and active. You may need to post at "odd" hours in your local time to reach followers across time zones.
- Post consistently: Regularly posting quality content trains the algorithm to surface your videos. Aim to post at least once per day, and maintain a steady posting schedule to build audience expectations and momentum.
- Watch for trends: If you see a particular sound or hashtag taking off, joining the trend quickly can help your video ride the viral wave. Keep an eye on the Discover page to spot rising trends to jump on at their peak.
Putting It All Together
To sum it up, the best times to post on TikTok are 7-11 AM and 4-9 PM EST Tuesday through Friday, with slight variations by day.
Hitting these peak engagement windows gives your content the best odds of reaching a large audience.
However, TikTok moves fast and trends change constantly.
While these posting guidelines are a great starting point, it's important to use your own analytics and audience insights to develop a custom posting schedule tailored to your followers' online habits.
Experiment, track your top-performing posts, and adapt your strategy as you learn what works for your unique brand and audience.
Consistency is key - showing up regularly with fresh, entertaining content is ultimately what will help you get picked up by the algorithm and go viral.
With these tips and best times in mind, it's time to get out there and start posting!
Focus on creating authentic, engaging videos that resonate with your target subculture, and post them at the times your audience is most likely to be scrolling their For You page.
With a data-driven posting strategy and a commitment to quality content, you'll be well on your way to TikTok success.
