Best Time to Post on TikTok in 2025

If you’re creating TikTok content to promote your print-on-demand (POD) products, build a personal brand, or reach a global audience, knowing the best time to post on TikTok can have a major impact. 

TikTok’s algorithm rewards engagement and watch time, so timing your posts right could be the difference between going viral or getting buried.

In this guide, you’ll learn why posting time plays a key role in TikTok engagement, what the best time to post on TikTok is for each day of the week, how to tailor your posting schedule using your own TikTok data, and which social media strategies can help you increase engagement beyond just timing.

Main takeaways

• Best days to post on TikTok – Tuesday and Thursday tend to see the highest engagement, especially during peak hours between 10 am and 6 pm EST.

• Use TikTok analytics – Switching to a Business or Creator account unlocks key data like follower activity, audience location, and top-performing times, helping you find the best time to post on TikTok.

• Schedule posts for consistency – Use TikTok’s built-in scheduling feature or third-party tools to post TikTok videos at optimal times across multiple time zones, without needing to be online.

• Industry matters – The best posting times can vary by niche. For example, fashion brands thrive at night, while restaurants perform better in the afternoon.

• Timing is only part of it – Strong hooks, trending sounds, relevant hashtags, and consistency are just as important as posting at the right time.

Why timing matters on TikTok

Creating engaging content is only half the battle – the other half is finding when to post it.

Here’s why nailing the best time to post on TikTok plays such a key role:

• The algorithm prioritizes early engagement – TikTok boosts videos that get fast interaction (likes, comments, shares, and watch time), so posting when your audience is most active helps your content reach the For You page.
  
  

• Your audience isn’t online 24/7 – If you post when your follower activity is low, your content may get buried before people see it, so finding the best time to post on TikTok is important for visibility.
  
  

• Better timing = better sales potential – For print-on-demand sellers and ecommerce brands, timing can directly impact click-throughs and conversions.

Whether you’re building a TikTok business account, trying to reach a global audience, or running short-form ads, aligning your TikTok posting schedule with the habits of your TikTok viewers is one of the smartest ways to improve performance without spending a dime.

Best day and time to post on TikTok

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer, but the best time to post on TikTok often follows consistent trends across different industries and audiences.

The platform sees spikes in activity during certain days and times, especially when TikTok users are most likely to scroll: before work, during lunch hours, and in the evenings.

That said, the best time to post on TikTok will depend on your target audience, their time zone, and their activity level. 

Here are some optimal posting times on TikTok throughout the week, as data suggests these ​​windows consistently drive higher engagement, based on a study of over 700,000 TikTok posts from more than 50,000 accounts:

• Monday: 7 am, 11 am, 10 pm

• Tuesday: 2:30 am, 4 am, 7 pm

• Wednesday: 8 am, 9 am, 11 pm

• Thursday: 9 am, 12 pm, 6 pm

• Friday: 6 am, 1 pm, 4 pm

• Saturday: 11 am, 3 pm, 8 pm

• Sunday: 9 am, 10 am, 4 pm

These slots, based on the EST time zone, offer a helpful starting point for identifying the best time to post on TikTok, especially if you don’t yet have enough data to work with. 

Still, your best results will come from testing and analyzing performance over time – using TikTok analytics to track follower activity, average watch time, and engagement by hour and day.

Next, we’ll break down each day in more detail to help you fine-tune your TikTok posting schedule even further.

Best time to post on Monday

Mondays might feel slow, but they’re a solid opportunity to capture early-week engagement – especially if you post when people are commuting or winding down at night.

The best time to post on TikTok on Monday is:

• 7 am – Catch users during their morning scroll

• 11 am – A late-morning boost

• 10 pm – Ideal for reaching night owls

Use these optimal TikTok posting times to schedule TikTok posts and find the best time to post on TikTok for your audience. 

Best time to post on Tuesday

Tuesday is one of the best days to post on TikTok, with maximum exposure across both early morning and evening time slots. It’s a great day to experiment with if you’re trying to grow your TikTok business account or drive more traffic to your store.

The best time to post on TikTok on Tuesday is:

• 2:30 am – Reach followers in more than one time zone

• 4 am – For late-night scrollers or international audiences

• 7 pm – Users are relaxed and more likely to engage

Tuesday offers flexibility to reach a global audience or test less crowded time slots. Use this day to refine your posting schedule and track performance data like average watch time and engagement.

Best time to post on Wednesday 

Wednesdays show steady engagement, especially in the morning and late evening, when users check in before or after their routines.

The best time to post on TikTok on Wednesday is:

• 8 am – For early risers 

• 9 am – Before people get into work mode

• 11 pm – Users are cozy and likely bingeing content

If you’re promoting print-on-demand products, these hours are perfect for testing content that drives clicks or saves. Track your results using TikTok analytics to see which moments lead to the most significant engagement.

Best time to post on Thursday

Thursday is one of the top-performing days on TikTok, with high user activity throughout the day. Whether you’re sharing a behind-the-scenes look at your products or promoting a new drop, this is a prime day to go live with content that drives traffic and sales.

The best time to post on TikTok on Thursday is:

• 9 am – As people settle into their day

• 12 pm – Lunch hours when users are actively browsing

• 6 pm – As audiences unwind

If you want to maximize engagement, Thursday gives you multiple chances to connect with your audience when they’re most responsive. Combine this with trending audio or appropriate hashtags to give your TikTok content an even stronger push.

Best time to post on Friday

As the weekend approaches, people scroll more during lunch breaks and early afternoons. This makes it a great time to post fun, promotional, or weekend-themed content.

The best time to post on TikTok on Friday is:

• 6 am – For early birds and commuters

• 1 pm – When users take a break and scroll

• 4 pm – Engagement spikes as the weekend begins

If you’re promoting limited-time offers or encouraging last-minute purchases, Friday afternoon is a strong window to grab attention. 

Best time to post on Saturday 

With fewer people sticking to a weekday routine, engagement picks up in the late morning and stays strong through the evening. 

This makes it a great day to post relaxed, entertaining content or showcase your products in a more casual, lifestyle-focused way.

The best time to post on TikTok on Saturday is:

• 11 am – Users start scrolling after a slower morning

• 3 pm – A high-engagement afternoon window

• 8 pm – When many are winding down or out socializing

Use Saturdays to experiment with different content styles, such as storytelling or weekend deals, and reach users when they’re more open to browsing and sharing. This is also a good time to focus on videos that tap into current TikTok trends or trending audio.

Best time to post on Sunday

Sundays are slower-paced, but still offer solid engagement – especially in the morning and mid-afternoon. Many users scroll while relaxing, planning the week, or catching up on missed content. 

For creators and ecommerce sellers, Sunday is a good opportunity to post informative, soft-sell, or community-building content.

The best time to post on TikTok on Sunday is:

• 9 am – A calm, high-visibility slot as users start their day

• 10 am – Follows naturally from the early morning scroll session

• 4 pm – People are still actively browsing before the evening 

Posting during these windows can help you maintain visibility and stay top of mind as your audience resets for the week. Combine this with thoughtful captions or weekend recaps to drive TikTok engagement and keep your content relevant.

Read more: Is It Worth Selling on TikTok in 2025?

How to find your best time to post

Audience behavior varies by location, habits, and niche, so understanding your audience demographics and when your followers are active is key to capturing maximum engagement.

Here’s how to pinpoint the best time to post on TikTok for your TikTok account:

Switch to a TikTok Business or Creator account

Source: TikTok App Settings menu

 To access TikTok analytics, switch to a Business or Creator account. It’s free and unlocks key performance metrics like follower activity, audience location, and average watch duration. Open Privacy and Settings

Check follower activity in TikTok Analytics

Once you’ve switched accounts, head to the Followers tab in your analytics dashboard. You’ll see:

• Top territories – Where most of your followers are based

• Follower activity – When your audience is online, shown by hour and day

Use this to match your posting time to when your audience is most active. Remember that TikTok shows data in UTC, so convert it to your audience’s time zone.

Source: TikTok App Settings menu

Review your top-performing content

In the Content tab, check which TikTok posts brought in the most views, likes, shares, and watch time. Note when they were published. Patterns will emerge, indicating your best time to post on TikTok. 

Source: TikTok App Analytics menu

Track your results over time

Since TikTok only shows data from the last 7 days, it helps to keep a basic spreadsheet of:

• Posting date

• Posting time 

• Video topic or style

• Views, likes, shares

• Watch time and reach

Over time, you’ll gather data on what works and when, allowing you to adjust your timing accordingly to find the best time to post on TikTok.

Best time to post for different industries

If you're promoting a niche product or service, the habits of your target audience may vary from general trends. 

A restaurant's peak engagement won’t match that of a fashion brand or a nonprofit. That's why knowing when your specific target audience is most active makes all the difference.

Here’s a quick look at industry-specific TikTok posting times that consistently drive higher engagement:

• Restaurants – 2–5 pm, Monday to Thursday
  
  

• Photographers – 2–3 pm, Saturday and Sunday
  
  

• Nonprofits – 10 am–2 pm, Monday to Friday
  
  

• Schools and educators – 11 am–3 pm, Tuesday to Thursday
  
  

• Lawyers – 3–9 pm, Tuesday to Thursday
  
  

• Real estate agents – 10 am, Tuesday to Thursday
  
  

• Musicians – 9 am on Saturday, 1 pm on Sunday
  
  

• Dentists – 9–10 am or 4–5 pm, Thursday to Saturday
  
  

• Doctors – 12–1 pm, Monday to Friday
  
  

• Artists – 1–2:30 pm or 7–9 pm, Monday to Friday
  
  

• Fashion brands – 10 pm–7 am, Saturday and Sunday
  
  

• Insurance agents – 9 am–12 pm, Monday to Friday
  
  

• Gamers – 10 am–12 pm on weekends

These times aren’t set in stone, but they give you a valuable framework to optimize your posting time by industry and target audience. Pair them with insights from your own analytics to find the sweet spot between what works generally and what works for your TikTok profile. 

Read more: 20 TikTok Metrics You Should Be Tracking in 2025

Tips to boost engagement beyond timing

Nailing the best time to post on TikTok gives your content a head start – but timing alone won’t carry the whole show. To keep people watching, interacting, and coming back, you need content that hooks fast and speaks directly to your audience.

Here are key strategies to increase engagement beyond just posting at the right time:

Hook viewers in the first 2 seconds

TikTok moves fast. Your opening visuals or captions should instantly signal what the video is about. Whether it’s a bold statement, a question, or a behind-the-scenes shot, grab attention immediately to increase average watch time.

Use trending audio and relevant hashtags

Leaning into market trends, popular sounds, and appropriate hashtags can get your videos in front of more users. Stay current and experiment with remixing trends and fresh ideas to fit your brand voice or product.

Include a strong call to action (CTA)

Guide your audience. A clear CTA on your TikTok videos, like “drop a comment,” “check the link,” or “save this for later” can drive maximum engagement and signal value to the algorithm.

Be consistent, not random

Posting consistently builds recognition and signals to TikTok that you're an active creator. Whether it’s once a day or a few times a week, consistent activity keeps your brand top of mind and improves long-term reach.

Know your audience’s habits

Your audience’s location, age, interests, and online behaviour affect when and how they engage. Monitor your follower activity, listen to comments, and adapt your content style to what resonates most.

Track performance and refine

Check performance data to monitor metrics like watch time, shares, and engagement by time of day. As your content evolves, so should your strategy. Test new approaches and review what’s working monthly.

Similar to most social media platforms, the more your TikTok posts combine smart timing with strong content and consistent strategy, the more your TikTok presence will grow, whether you’re building a personal brand or selling custom products through print-on-demand.

Conclusion

The best time to post on TikTok isn’t about chasing a magic hour – it’s about understanding your audience, testing what works, and showing up with consistent, engaging content. 

Whether you’re a print-on-demand seller, a creator building a personal brand, or an ecommerce business testing short-form TikTok videos, posting at the right time can help you reach more people, drive meaningful engagement, and grow your sales.

Start with the proven time slots, review your engagement data, post regularly, and keep refining. And remember: it’s not just when you post, but what you share that will keep your audience coming back.