Best Times to Post on TikTok in 2025 to Maximize Engagement

Wondering why your latest TikTok video didn't get the traction you expected? You've perfected the transitions, picked a trending audio, and written a killer caption, yet the views are trickling in slowly. The problem might not be your content, but when you share it. On a platform as fast-paced and algorithm-driven as TikTok, timing isn't just a small detail—it's a critical component of your strategy.

Posting when your audience is most active can be the difference between a video that languishes in obscurity and one that lands on thousands of "For You" pages. Understanding these peak windows allows you to maximize visibility, boost engagement, and capitalize on the cultural moments that define the platform. Let's dive into the data-backed optimal times to post on TikTok to give your content the best possible chance to shine in 2025.

An Overview of Peak TikTok Engagement in 2025

TikTok has solidified its place as an entertainment powerhouse, captivating a young, highly active demographic. For creators and marketers, this presents a golden opportunity, but it also means fighting for attention in a crowded space. Our latest data reveals a significant shift in user behavior, with engagement now heavily concentrated in the afternoon and evening hours. This suggests that users are most likely to scroll through their feeds after the traditional workday or school day concludes.

Generally, the most powerful windows for high engagement occur on weekdays. This is when users unwind, catch up on trends, and look for entertainment. While mornings can capture audiences during their commute or first break of the day, the most sustained activity happens later.

Here’s a snapshot of the globally recognized best times to post on TikTok:

• Best Days to Post: Monday through Thursday

• Best General Times: 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM

• Worst Day to Post: Sunday (engagement is much more sporadic)

These times are recorded globally, meaning 7:00 PM in your audience's local time zone is a strong bet, regardless of where you are located. This evening-centric pattern underscores a fundamental truth about TikTok usage: it's a platform for leisure and relaxation.

The Best Time to Post on TikTok for Each Day of the Week

While having a general overview is helpful, drilling down into each day of the week reveals more specific patterns. The user mindset shifts from the start of the workweek to the weekend, and your posting schedule should reflect that. Below is a detailed breakdown of the optimal posting windows for each day.

[image alt="A detailed heatmap graph showing the best times to post on TikTok in 2025 by day and hour."]

Best Time to Post on TikTok on Monday

The best time to post on TikTok on Monday is from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM.

The week begins with a clear evening peak. After the initial rush of the workday, users turn to TikTok to decompress and see what they missed over the weekend. This after-work window is a prime opportunity to capture their attention as they settle in and start scrolling.

Best Time to Post on TikTok on Tuesday

The best times to post on TikTok on Tuesday are from 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM.

As one of the strongest days for engagement, Tuesday offers a broad and reliable four-hour window. This sustained evening activity makes it a perfect time to post content that requires a bit more attention, such as tutorials, storytelling videos, or detailed product showcases.

Best Time to Post on TikTok on Wednesday

The best times to post on TikTok on Wednesday are from 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM.

Midweek engagement remains consistently high. Wednesday mirrors Tuesday’s pattern, offering another solid four-hour block in the evening. This consistency solidifies the middle of the week as a highly effective period to connect with your audience.

Best Time to Post on TikTok on Thursday

The best times to post on TikTok on Thursday are from 7:00 AM to 11:00 AM and 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM.

Thursday presents a dual opportunity. A morning window from 7:00 AM to 11:00 AM catches users during their morning routine and breaks. However, the evening remains a powerhouse, following the same 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM pattern as Tuesday and Wednesday as users begin to anticipate the weekend.

Best Time to Post on TikTok on Friday

The best time to post on TikTok on Friday is from 3:00 PM to 10:00 PM.

As users head into the weekend, their TikTok activity starts earlier and lasts later. Friday boasts the longest window of high engagement, suggesting audiences are scrolling from mid-afternoon well into the evening. While the engagement is widespread, it may not be as concentrated as the Monday-Thursday peaks.

Best Time to Post on TikTok on Saturday

The best time to post on TikTok on Saturday is from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM.

Weekend engagement becomes more focused. Saturday’s activity is concentrated within a tight, two-hour evening window. People are often busy with activities during the day, so their screen time is consolidated later in the evening.

Best Time to Post on TikTok on Sunday

The best time to post on TikTok on Sunday is around 8:00 PM.

Sunday generally sees the lowest overall engagement across most social platforms. Activity is highly concentrated around a single peak hour in the evening. This presents a very specific, targeted opportunity to reach users as they wrap up their weekend, but it may not be as beneficial as other days.

A Tale of Two Peaks: Mornings vs. Evenings

You might notice that some data points to morning success (especially on Thursdays), while the overwhelming trend leans towards evenings. Why the difference? Morning viewers are often looking for quick, easily digestible content during breaks. Evening viewers, on the other hand, are more leaned-in and willing to watch longer videos. Consider tailoring your content to these mindsets: post quick tips or trend-based videos in the morning and save your in-depth storytelling for the evening.

Do Posting Times Vary by Industry? A Deeper Dive

The global data provides a fantastic starting point, but your industry plays a massive role in determining your unique peak hours. The audience for a B2B financial service is online at different times than the audience for a local restaurant. Use this industry-level data to inform your publishing calendar.

Education & Schools

For educational institutions, engagement is concentrated on weekday afternoons, right after school hours.

• Best Days: Tuesdays, Wednesdays

• Best Times: 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM on weekdays

Food & Beverage

Restaurants and food brands see a surge in activity as people start thinking about their next meal. Friday is a standout day as users plan their weekend dining.

• Best Day: Friday

• Best Times: 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM on Friday, around 4:00 PM on other weekdays.

Retail

Retailers find their audience most active during weekday afternoons. This is likely when consumers take breaks from work to browse or are inspired to shop after their day.

• Best Day: Wednesday

• Best Times: 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM on Wednesdays, 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM on Mondays and Thursdays.

Hospitals & Healthcare

The healthcare industry sees unconventional peaks, including very early morning hours, possibly targeting shift workers or those seeking health information before starting their day.

• Best Day: Wednesday

• Best Times: 2:00 PM and an unusual 4:00 AM - 5:00 AM window on Wednesdays.

Travel & Hospitality

Travel content inspires wanderlust. Engagement for this sector peaks mid-week as people start dreaming about and planning future trips.

• Best Day: Wednesday

• Best Times: 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM on Wednesdays.

For businesses in the home solutions sector, the data for B2C services is highly relevant. At Les Nouveaux Installateurs, where we focus on helping homeowners reduce their energy bills with smart solutions like solar panels and heat pumps, we find our audience is most engaged in the late afternoons and evenings. This is when they have the time to research significant home investments and watch videos explaining how technologies like a virtual battery or an EV charging station can benefit them.

How to Find Your Perfect TikTok Posting Times

While global and industry data provides a powerful roadmap, the ultimate source of truth is your own audience. Every account is unique, and your followers may not fit neatly into a broad category. Fortunately, TikTok and other tools provide the analytics you need to pinpoint your personal best times to post.

Using TikTok's Native Analytics

Your TikTok Business or Creator account comes with a robust, free analytics suite. It's the best place to start understanding your specific audience's behavior.

Here’s how to find your followers' most active times:

1. Log in to TikTok on a desktop. The desktop interface offers a more detailed view.

2. Hover over your profile icon in the top right corner and click "Business Suite."

3. Select "Analytics" from the left-hand navigation menu.

4. Navigate to the "Followers" tab.

5. Scroll down to the "Follower activity" section. Here, you'll find a clear breakdown of the hours and days your followers were most active over the last week.

This data is tailored specifically to your account. Look for consistent peaks in the hourly chart and prioritize posting just before or during those times.

The Power of Experimentation and Analysis

Analytics give you a baseline, but strategic experimentation will refine your approach. Don't be afraid to test the waters and learn from the results.

1. Form a Hypothesis: Based on the general data and your analytics, pick four or five time slots to test over a few weeks. For example: Tuesday at 8:00 AM, Wednesday at 5:00 PM, Thursday at 7:00 PM, and Friday at 4:00 PM.

2. Post Consistently: Post similar types of high-quality content at these designated times. Using different content styles could skew the results.

3. Track Key Metrics: For each post, record its performance after 24 hours. Key metrics to watch are views, likes, comments, shares, and average watch time.

4. Analyze and Refine: After a few weeks, review your data. Which time slots consistently generated the highest engagement? Double down on those winning times and replace the underperforming ones with new hypotheses to test.

This iterative process ensures your strategy evolves with your audience and the platform's algorithm.

Patience is a Virtue on TikTok

Don't be discouraged if a video doesn't take off in the first few hours. Unlike other platforms, the TikTok algorithm can take 24 hours or more to properly categorize your video and push it to the right audiences. A video that seems like a dud at hour three might suddenly find its audience on day two. Resist the urge to delete underperforming posts too quickly.

Key Factors That Influence Your Best Posting Window

Finding your optimal time isn't just about looking at a clock. Several interconnected factors determine when your content will perform best. A holistic strategy considers all of them.

• Audience Demographics: Where does your audience live? If you have a large following in a different time zone, you must schedule posts according to their peak hours, not your own. Your analytics will show you the top countries and cities where your followers are located.

• The TikTok Algorithm: The algorithm prioritizes content that gets strong initial engagement. Posting at a peak time increases the odds of this happening, creating a snowball effect where your video is shown to more and more people.

• Content Type: Is your video a quick, funny meme or an in-depth educational tutorial? The former might perform well during a quick morning break, while the latter is better suited for the evening when users have more time to focus.

• Current Events and Trends: A viral trend or a major cultural event (like the Super Bowl or an awards show) can dominate the platform. Posting during these times can be a double-edged sword: you can ride the wave of a trend, but you're also competing with a massive amount of content. Sometimes, it's better to post in the quieter hours just before or after a major event.

At Les Nouveaux Installateurs, we don't just rely on a set schedule. We adapt. If there's a national conversation about rising energy prices, we might post a timely video explaining the benefits of solar energy, even if it's outside our usual evening slot. Being agile is key.

Don't Post on the Hour

Here's a pro tip: avoid posting exactly on the hour or half-hour (e.g., 5:00 PM sharp). This is when the majority of brands and creators schedule their content, creating a digital traffic jam. To give your content a little breathing room and a better chance to be seen by the algorithm, try posting at an off-minute mark, like 5:07 PM or 5:52 PM.

Ultimately, identifying the best times to post on TikTok is a blend of science and art. Start with the data-backed recommendations provided here to build a solid foundation. Use the Monday-Thursday evening window as your core strategy. Then, dive into your own analytics to uncover the unique habits of your followers. Layer on a smart, consistent testing strategy to refine your approach over time.

Remember that timing is a powerful tool, but it works best when paired with high-quality, authentic content that provides value to your audience. When you combine great content with a strategic schedule, you create the perfect conditions for your videos to go viral.

FAQ: Best Times to Post on TikTok

Is it better to post in the morning or at night on TikTok?

It depends on your goals and audience. Generally, evenings (5:00 PM - 9:00 PM on weekdays) see more sustained and deep engagement as users unwind. However, mornings (around 7:00 AM - 11:00 AM) can be effective for capturing audiences during quick breaks, especially with easily digestible content. The most reliable data points to evenings as the stronger choice for most accounts.

How much does the algorithm care about when I post?

The algorithm cares a great deal. It uses initial engagement (likes, comments, shares, and watch time within the first hours) as a key signal to determine a video's quality. Posting when your audience is most active dramatically increases the chances of getting that crucial early engagement, which tells the algorithm to push your content to a wider audience.

Do I need to consider time zones when posting on TikTok?

Absolutely. The "best times" are most effective when applied to your audience's local time zone. If your analytics show that 40% of your followers are in the UK and you're in New York, you should schedule some posts for the UK's evening peak, not just your own.

How often should I re-evaluate my TikTok posting schedule?

It's a good practice to review your follower activity in TikTok Analytics monthly and conduct a deeper analysis of your posting times quarterly. Audience behavior can change, and the platform's algorithm is constantly being updated, so your strategy should be agile enough to adapt.