TikTokScheduling

Best Time to Schedule TikTok Posts (Data-Backed Timing Guide)

8 November 2025

Updated 8 November 2025

15 min read

Find the best times to schedule TikTok posts for maximum views on the For You Page. Complete day-by-day breakdown with industry-specific timing strategies.

TikTok app icon with clock overlay showing optimal FYP posting times for TikTok scheduling calendar with peak For You Page engagement windows for maximum video views

The best time to schedule TikTok posts is during peak entertainment hours—6-10 AM and 7-11 PM on weekdays, with Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday generating the highest For You Page (FYP) reach. TikTok's algorithm favors engagement velocity, so posting when your audience is actively scrolling can increase FYP placement by 3-5x compared to off-peak times.

TikTok's FYP algorithm is less time-dependent than Instagram's (old TikToks can still go viral days later), but initial engagement velocity still matters dramatically. Videos that get strong watch time, likes, comments, and shares in the first 1-2 hours signal to TikTok "push this to more people." Post when nobody's watching? Your video gets a weak initial test audience, and TikTok moves on.

According to Influencer Marketing Hub's TikTok analysis, videos posted during peak hours receive 60-90% higher average watch time in the critical first hour—the metric TikTok weighs most heavily for FYP distribution.

This guide breaks down the best time to schedule TikTok posts by day, content type, industry, and time zone—so you maximize your FYP chances every time.

Edited by Jamie Partridge, Founder — Reviewed November 8, 2025

TL;DR: Best Times for TikTok

Top 3 best times overall:

6-10 AM (morning scrolling before work/school)
7-11 PM (peak evening entertainment) ← BEST
12-1 PM (lunch break)

Best days: Tuesday, Thursday, Friday Worst times: 2-5 AM (unless targeting night-shift or international) Sweet spot: 9 PM Tuesday-Thursday

Auto-schedule TikToks at optimal times: PostEverywhere's TikTok scheduler queues videos weeks in advance at peak FYP windows. Try free →

Why Timing Matters for TikTok FYP
Best Times to Post on TikTok (Day-by-Day)
Best Time by Content Type
Industry-Specific Timing
Time Zone Strategies
How to Find YOUR Best Time
Common TikTok Timing Mistakes

Why Timing Matters for TikTok FYP

TikTok's algorithm tests every video with a small "seed audience" (typically 100-500 viewers). If that test batch shows strong engagement signals—high watch time percentage, likes, comments, shares—TikTok pushes the video to progressively larger audiences.

When you post at the best time to schedule TikTok posts:

✅ Your followers are online = strong initial engagement
✅ Test audience watches longer (not distracted/working)
✅ Algorithm sees positive signals = pushes to larger FYP audience
✅ Views compound (500 → 5,000 → 50,000 → 500,000)

When you post at random times:

❌ Few followers online = weak initial engagement
❌ Test audience skips quickly (busy/sleeping)
❌ Algorithm sees poor signals = doesn't push further
❌ Video dies at 200-500 views

While TikTok can resurface old content (unlike Instagram), most viral videos get 80% of their views in the first 24-72 hours. Strong initial timing accelerates that viral trajectory.

Learn more: How to schedule TikToks

Best Times to Post on TikTok (Day-by-Day)

Based on data from Hootsuite, Later, and analysis of 100M+ TikTok posts:

Monday

Best times: 6 AM, 10 AM, 8 PM
Engagement level: Medium

6 AM: Early morning scrolling (pre-work routine)
10 AM: Mid-morning break
8 PM: Evening entertainment mode

Avoid: 3-5 AM, midday (1-3 PM)

Monday note: Engagement is slightly lower on Mondays as people transition back to work/school mode and have less leisure time.

Tuesday ⭐ PEAK DAY

Best times: 2 AM, 9 AM, 12 PM, 7 PM
Engagement level: Highest

2 AM: Night owls, international audiences
9 AM: Morning commute/pre-work
12 PM: Lunch break scrolling
7 PM: Prime entertainment hours

Avoid: Late afternoon (4-6 PM)

Why Tuesday peaks: Research shows Tuesday has highest overall TikTok engagement across demographics—work week has settled in, people seek entertainment breaks.

Wednesday

Best times: 7 AM, 9 AM, 11 AM, 11 PM
Engagement level: High

7 AM: Early morning scrolling
9 AM: Pre-work entertainment
11 AM: Mid-morning break
11 PM: Late-night scrolling (younger demographics)

Avoid: Early afternoon (2-4 PM)

Thursday ⭐ PEAK DAY

Best times: 9 AM, 12 PM, 7 PM, 10 PM
Engagement level: Highest

9 AM: Morning engagement spike
12 PM: Lunch hour
7 PM: Evening viewing
10 PM: Late-night entertainment

Avoid: Very early morning (3-6 AM)

Thursday advantage: Pre-weekend excitement means people spend more time on entertainment apps. Thursday evening (7-11 PM) consistently shows peak engagement.

Friday

Best times: 5 AM, 1 PM, 3 PM, 9 PM
Engagement level: High

5 AM: Early risers, international audiences
1 PM: Afternoon break (people winding down work week)
3 PM: Late afternoon
9 PM: Friday night entertainment

Avoid: Very late night (1-4 AM)

Friday note: Evening posting (7-11 PM) performs exceptionally well as people are in "weekend mode" and scroll longer.

Saturday

Best times: 11 AM, 7 PM, 9 PM
Engagement level: High

11 AM: Late morning (people sleep in on weekends)
7 PM: Evening viewing
9 PM: Prime entertainment hours

Avoid: Early morning (before 9 AM), mid-afternoon

Weekend pattern: TikTok engagement remains strong on weekends (unlike LinkedIn/B2B platforms) because TikTok is entertainment-first.

Sunday

Best times: 7 AM, 8 AM, 4 PM, 8 PM
Engagement level: Medium-High

7 AM: Early Sunday scrolling
8 AM: Lazy morning entertainment
4 PM: Late afternoon
8 PM: Sunday evening wind-down

Avoid: Very late night (11 PM-3 AM)

Sunday note: Engagement dips slightly Sunday evening as people prepare for the week ahead (less entertainment time).

Best Time by Content Type

Different TikTok content types perform best at different times:

Entertainment/Comedy

Best times: 7-11 PM daily
Why: People seek entertainment after work/school, not during productive hours.

Peak days: Thursday-Saturday

Strategy: Post right before peak evening hours (7 PM) to catch the surge of people opening TikTok after dinner.

Educational/Tutorial Content

Best times: 9-11 AM, 1-3 PM
Why: People are in "learning mode" during work breaks, not late at night.

Peak days: Tuesday-Thursday

Strategy: Post during work breaks when people scroll for productive/educational content.

Product Reviews/Demos

Best times: 7-9 PM, Thursday-Saturday
Why: Shopping research happens during leisure hours, especially approaching weekends.

Peak days: Thursday-Saturday (pre-purchase research)

Strategy: Post early evening to catch shopping-mode scrollers.

Fitness/Wellness Content

Best times: 6-8 AM, 5-7 PM
Why: Aligns with workout times (morning routines, post-work gym).

Peak days: Monday (new week motivation), Friday-Sunday

Strategy: Post right before typical workout times to inspire action.

Food/Recipe Content

Best times: 11 AM-1 PM, 5-7 PM
Why: Meal planning times (lunch ideas, dinner inspiration).

Peak days: Wednesday-Sunday (weekend meal prep interest spikes)

Strategy: Post 1-2 hours before meal times so viewers see content when hungry/planning.

Dance/Trending Challenges

Best times: 6-8 PM, peak participation hours
Why: People participate in trends when they have time/energy (not mornings).

Peak days: Friday-Sunday

Strategy: Jump on trends early (within 1-2 days of trending) and post during peak hours for maximum participation/duets.

Industry-Specific Timing

B2B/Professional Services

Best times: 8 AM-12 PM, Tuesday-Thursday
Avoid: Late evenings, weekends

Strategy: TikTok B2B content performs better during "inspiration breaks" at work—not deep evening entertainment mode.

B2C/Consumer Brands

Best times: 7-11 PM, Wednesday-Friday
Avoid: Work hours (9 AM-5 PM)

Strategy: Target leisure hours when consumers are browsing/shopping, not working.

Creators/Entertainment

Best times: 7-11 PM, Thursday-Sunday
Avoid: Early mornings, Monday-Tuesday

Strategy: Entertainment content peaks during highest leisure time—evenings and weekends.

E-commerce/Retail

Best times: 12-1 PM, 7-9 PM, Thursday-Saturday
Avoid: Early week, mornings

Strategy: Shopping intent peaks mid-week through weekend. Evening browsing converts best.

Fitness/Health

Best times: 6-8 AM, 5-7 PM, Monday/Friday
Avoid: Midday, late night

Strategy: Motivation content performs when people are considering/doing workouts.

Food/Restaurants

Best times: 11 AM-1 PM, 5-8 PM
Avoid: Post-meal times (2-4 PM, 9-11 PM)

Strategy: Catch viewers when hungry and planning next meal.

Time Zone Strategies

TikTok's global nature means time zones matter significantly:

U.S.-Based Audiences

Problem: Posting at 8 PM EST = 5 PM PST (West Coast still working)

Solution:

Option 1: Post at 9-10 PM EST = 6-7 PM PST (both coasts in evening mode)
Option 2: Post twice daily (8 PM EST for East + 8 PM PST for West)

Multi-zone sweet spot: 10 PM EST / 7 PM PST = both coasts in peak entertainment hours

International Audiences

If you have significant followings in multiple countries:

Option 1: Compromise time

Post at 2 AM EST = 7 AM UK / 3 PM Australia
Hits multiple regions at reasonable times

Option 2: Multiple posts daily

Post 3x daily to cover different global time zones
TikTok doesn't penalize frequent posting (unlike Instagram)

Option 3: Analyze TikTok Analytics

Check where your followers live
Prioritize the time zone with most engaged followers

TikTok Global Tip

TikTok's algorithm is MORE forgiving of time zone issues than Instagram because:

FYP can surface old content (not just recent posts)
Algorithm prioritizes watch time over recency
International virality is common (video posted at 2 AM EST can still blow up globally)

Strategy: Focus on YOUR core audience's time zone, but don't stress as much as you would on Instagram.

How to Find YOUR Best Time

Generic "best times" are a starting point. YOUR audience's optimal times might differ based on demographics, niche, and geography.

Step 1: Check TikTok Analytics

Requirements: Creator account or Business account (both free)

Go to your TikTok profile
Tap menu → Analytics
Tap Followers tab
Scroll to Follower activity
View when YOUR followers are most active (by day and hour)

What you'll see: Graph showing follower activity peaks by hour and day.

Action: Compare with generic best times. If your audience peaks at 6 AM but you've been posting at 8 PM, that's a huge opportunity.

Step 2: Analyze Top Performing Videos

Go to Analytics → Content
Sort videos by Views or Engagement rate
Note the posting time of your top 10 videos

Pattern check: Do your viral videos cluster around certain posting times? That's your sweet spot.

Step 3: Run A/B Timing Tests

Post similar content at different times over 4 weeks:

Week 1: Post at 9 AM
Week 2: Post at 1 PM
Week 3: Post at 5 PM
Week 4: Post at 9 PM

Track: Views, watch time %, likes, comments, shares in first 24 hours.

Important: Keep content quality/type similar so you're testing timing, not content variables.

Step 4: Test Posting Frequency

TikTok rewards consistency and frequency. Test:

1 post/day for 2 weeks
2 posts/day for 2 weeks (morning + evening)
3 posts/day for 2 weeks

Track: Which cadence gets best average performance?

TikTok insight: Many successful creators find 2-3 posts daily (9 AM + 7 PM, or 9 AM + 3 PM + 9 PM) maximizes FYP reach without audience burnout.

Step 5: Use Smart Scheduling

Tools like PostEverywhere's TikTok scheduler analyze your historical posting data and auto-schedule videos at YOUR optimal times based on YOUR audience patterns.

Skip the manual testing: PostEverywhere's smart scheduler analyzes YOUR TikTok data and auto-posts at peak times. Try free →

Common TikTok Timing Mistakes

Mistake 1: Posting Only Once Daily

Problem: TikTok rewards frequency. 1 post/day limits your FYP chances.

Fix: Test 2-3 posts daily at different times (morning + evening). More content = more lottery tickets for FYP.

Data: Accounts posting 2-3x daily average 50% more followers/month than 1x daily posters (same content quality).

Mistake 2: Copying Instagram Timing

Problem: Instagram peaks 9-11 AM and 7-9 PM. TikTok has different patterns (6-10 AM, 7-11 PM).

Fix: Use platform-specific timing. Multi-platform scheduling tools handle different optimal times per platform automatically.

Mistake 3: Never Checking Analytics

Problem: Posting based on generic advice without checking YOUR audience data.

Fix: Check TikTok Analytics monthly. Your audience might be night owls (peak 11 PM-1 AM) or international (peak at 3 AM EST).

Mistake 4: Avoiding "Off-Peak" Times

Problem: You only post during "best times," missing opportunities.

Fix: TikTok's algorithm can push old content to FYP days later. Posting at 3 PM (decent time) is better than skipping a day. Consistency often beats perfect timing.

Mistake 5: Posting Same Time Daily

Problem: You always post at 8 PM, missing audiences who scroll at other times.

Fix: Vary posting times throughout the week to hit different audience segments. TikTok's algorithm tests your video with different user cohorts depending on posting time.

Mistake 6: Ignoring Trending Sounds

Problem: Focusing only on timing, ignoring trending audio.

Fix: Posting trending-sound content at 9 PM Tuesday beats posting non-trending content at 9 PM Tuesday. Content + timing both matter.

Mistake 7: Not Batching Content

Problem: You create and post immediately whenever you finish editing (random times).

Fix: Batch-create 5-10 videos on weekend, then schedule them for optimal times throughout the week. TikTok scheduling tools make this seamless.

Key Takeaways

Best times to schedule TikTok posts:

✅ Top choice: 7-11 PM (entertainment hours)
✅ Alternative: 6-10 AM (morning scrolling)
✅ Best days: Tuesday, Thursday, Friday
✅ Worst times: 2-5 AM (unless targeting night-shift/international)

Content type matters:

Entertainment: 7-11 PM
Educational: 9 AM-3 PM
Product reviews: 7-9 PM Thu-Sat

Frequency matters MORE on TikTok:

2-3 posts/day > 1 post/day
TikTok doesn't penalize frequent posting
More content = more FYP lottery tickets

YOUR audience > generic data:

Check TikTok Analytics for YOUR followers' activity
Run timing tests (4 weeks, different times)
Adjust for YOUR time zones

TikTok is forgiving:

Old content can still go viral (unlike Instagram)
Algorithm prioritizes watch time > recency when scheduling TikTok posts
Good content posted at "decent" time beats mediocre content at "perfect" time

Getting Started: TikTok Timing Checklist

Ready to optimize your TikTok posting schedule? Follow these 10 steps:

Enable TikTok Analytics — Switch to Creator or Business account (Settings → Manage Account) to access follower activity data
Check Follower Activity — Analytics → Followers → Follower activity shows when YOUR audience is most active
Test 7-9 PM window first — This consistently performs well across accounts for entertainment content
Try morning alternative (6-8 AM) — Test for reaching different audience segment during commute scrolling
Experiment with posting frequency — Try 1 vs 2 vs 3 TikToks daily for 2 weeks each, compare total weekly views
Post on Tuesday-Thursday — These days show highest TikTok engagement across most niches
Batch-create 10-15 TikToks — Film multiple videos in one session, schedule throughout week at optimal times
Use TikTok scheduling tools — Queue videos for 9 PM daily without manual posting
Track first-hour performance — TikToks that get strong watch time in hour 1 get pushed to more FYP feeds
Iterate monthly — Review top 10 videos' posting times, adjust schedule based on YOUR data patterns

Pro tip: TikTok rewards consistency. Posting 2 TikToks daily at "good" times (9 AM + 7 PM) beats posting 1 TikTok daily at the "perfect" time. Frequency gives you more FYP opportunities.

FAQs About TikTok Posting Times

What is the best time to post on TikTok?

The best time to schedule TikTok posts is 7-11 PM on weekdays (especially Tuesday-Thursday) when users are in entertainment mode. According to Influencer Marketing Hub, evening TikToks receive 60-90% higher average watch time in the first hour—the metric TikTok weighs most heavily for FYP distribution.

Should I post TikToks multiple times per day?

Yes. TikTok doesn't penalize frequency like Instagram does. Successful creators often post 2-3 TikToks daily at different times (6 AM, 12 PM, 9 PM) to hit multiple audience segments. More videos = more FYP lottery tickets. According to TikTok Creator Portal, consistent posting (1-3x daily) significantly increases follower growth rates.

Does posting time matter less on TikTok than Instagram?

Somewhat. TikTok's algorithm can surface old content days or weeks later if it performs well, unlike Instagram's recency-heavy algorithm. However, the best time to schedule TikTok posts still matters for initial engagement velocity. Strong first-hour performance signals TikTok to push your video to progressively larger FYP audiences.

How do I find my best TikTok posting time?

Enable TikTok Analytics (Creator or Business account), go to Followers → Follower activity to see when YOUR audience is active. Post similar content at 9 AM, 3 PM, and 9 PM for 2 weeks each. Track first 24-hour views and watch time percentage to identify YOUR optimal window. Research from Hootsuite shows niche-specific patterns vary significantly.

What's the worst time to post on TikTok?

2-5 AM is the worst time to schedule TikTok posts for U.S. audiences (when people sleep), unless targeting international time zones. Also avoid: very early Sunday morning (lowest weekly engagement), though TikTok's algorithm is more forgiving than Instagram about off-peak posting since FYP can resurface content later.

Can I schedule TikToks weeks in advance?

Yes. TikTok Studio allows scheduling up to 10 days ahead natively. Third-party TikTok scheduling tools often extend this to weeks or months. Best practice: schedule 1-2 weeks out to maintain flexibility for trending sounds while ensuring consistent posting at 7-9 PM optimal times.

Should I use trending sounds at specific times?

Yes. Post trending-sound content during peak hours (7-11 PM) to maximize initial views. Trending audio + optimal timing + good hook = highest FYP probability. But don't delay posting just for "perfect" timing—trending sounds have short windows (24-72 hours), so post as soon as your video is ready.

Does TikTok's algorithm favor certain posting times?

Not directly. TikTok's algorithm prioritizes watch time percentage, rewatchability, and engagement over posting time. However, posting when more users are active (7-11 PM) means more people see your video in the first hour, generating stronger engagement signals that trigger broader FYP distribution. Timing helps indirectly by boosting early performance metrics.

How long does it take for a TikTok to go viral?

Most viral TikToks gain 80% of views in first 48 hours, but TikTok can push videos to FYP days or even weeks later if they perform well with test audiences. Posting at optimal times (7-9 PM) helps maximize critical first-hour watch time, but TikTok's long-tail algorithm means good content can blow up anytime.

Should I post the same content at different times?

No. TikTok discourages duplicate content. Instead, create 2-3 different TikToks daily and post at different optimal windows (morning + evening). This gives you multiple FYP opportunities without appearing repetitive. Each unique video gets its own algorithm test, multiplying your reach potential.

Related Resources

Scheduling Guides:

Best Time Guides (All Platforms):

Platform Schedulers:

Features:

Get Started:

Pro tip: TikTok's algorithm favors watch time percentage (how much of your video people watch) more than raw views. A video posted at 8 PM with 80% avg watch time beats the same video posted at 9 PM with 60% watch time. Timing helps, but hooking viewers in the first 1-2 seconds matters MORE.

Jamie Partridge

Founder & CEO of PostEverywhere

Jamie Partridge is the Founder & CEO of PostEverywhere. He writes about social media strategy, publishing workflows, and analytics that help brands grow faster with less effort.