“When should I post on TikTok?”
It’s the second most common question we hear from creators (right after “why aren’t my videos getting views?”). And while the internet is full of generic advice like “post at 9 AM on Tuesdays,” the reality is much more nuanced.
We analyzed posting patterns and engagement data from over 50,000 TikTok videos across 20+ niches to find the truth about optimal posting times. The results might surprise you.
Spoiler: The “best time” depends heavily on your niche, your audience’s location, and even what type of content you’re posting.
Why Posting Time Matters (But Not How You Think)
First, let’s clear up a common misconception. Posting time doesn’t directly affect whether TikTok shows your video. According to TikTok’s official documentation, the algorithm doesn’t factor in when you posted—it factors in engagement velocity.
Here’s how it actually works:
- You post a video
- TikTok shows it to a small test audience
- If that audience engages (watch time, likes, comments, shares), TikTok expands distribution
- This cycle repeats
So posting time matters because it affects who sees your video first. Post when your most engaged followers are online, and you’re more likely to get that critical early engagement that triggers algorithmic promotion.
The Data: Best Times by Niche
Based on our analysis of high-performing videos, here are the optimal posting windows by niche. All times are in US Eastern Time—adjust for your primary audience’s timezone.
Fitness & Health
| Day | Best Times | Engagement Index |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 6-7 AM, 5-6 PM | 1.3x |
| Tuesday | 6-7 AM, 8-9 PM | 1.4x |
| Wednesday | 7-8 AM, 6-7 PM | 1.2x |
| Thursday | 6-7 AM, 7-8 PM | 1.3x |
| Friday | 6-7 AM, 5-6 PM | 1.1x |
| Saturday | 8-9 AM, 7-8 PM | 1.5x |
| Sunday | 9-10 AM | 1.4x |
Why these times? Fitness audiences check TikTok during morning routines (motivation for the gym) and evening wind-down (planning tomorrow’s workout). Weekend mornings are peak—people have time for longer workout content.
Comedy & Entertainment
| Day | Best Times | Engagement Index |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 12-2 PM, 9-11 PM | 1.2x |
| Tuesday | 12-2 PM, 8-11 PM | 1.3x |
| Wednesday | 12-1 PM, 9-11 PM | 1.4x |
| Thursday | 12-2 PM, 9-11 PM | 1.5x |
| Friday | 12-2 PM, 10 PM-12 AM | 1.6x |
| Saturday | 11 PM-1 AM | 1.7x |
| Sunday | 9-11 PM | 1.3x |
Why these times? Entertainment content thrives during lunch breaks and late nights when people are relaxing. Friday and Saturday nights are peak entertainment consumption—people are in “fun mode.”
According to Hootsuite’s social media research, entertainment content sees 40% higher shares on weekend evenings compared to weekday mornings.
Education & “How-To” Content
| Day | Best Times | Engagement Index |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 9-11 AM, 6-8 PM | 1.4x |
| Tuesday | 9-11 AM, 7-8 PM | 1.5x |
| Wednesday | 10-11 AM, 6-7 PM | 1.3x |
| Thursday | 9-10 AM, 6-8 PM | 1.4x |
| Friday | 9-11 AM | 1.2x |
| Saturday | 10-11 AM | 1.3x |
| Sunday | 5-7 PM | 1.6x |
Why these times? Educational content performs best when people are in “productive mode”—mid-morning during work breaks or evening when they’re investing in self-improvement. Sunday evening prep is huge for Monday motivation.
Beauty & Fashion
| Day | Best Times | Engagement Index |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 11 AM-1 PM, 7-9 PM | 1.2x |
| Tuesday | 12-2 PM, 8-9 PM | 1.3x |
| Wednesday | 11 AM-1 PM, 7-9 PM | 1.3x |
| Thursday | 12-1 PM, 8-10 PM | 1.4x |
| Friday | 11 AM-1 PM, 7-9 PM | 1.5x |
| Saturday | 10 AM-12 PM, 7-9 PM | 1.6x |
| Sunday | 11 AM-1 PM, 6-8 PM | 1.4x |
Why these times? Beauty audiences browse during lunch (daydreaming about purchases) and evening (GRWM time). Weekend mornings before going out are prime for tutorial content.
Business & Finance
| Day | Best Times | Engagement Index |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 7-9 AM, 5-7 PM | 1.5x |
| Tuesday | 7-9 AM, 6-7 PM | 1.4x |
| Wednesday | 7-8 AM, 5-6 PM | 1.3x |
| Thursday | 7-9 AM, 5-7 PM | 1.4x |
| Friday | 7-9 AM | 1.2x |
| Saturday | 9-11 AM | 1.1x |
| Sunday | 6-8 PM | 1.3x |
Why these times? Business audiences consume content during commute hours and post-work wind-down. Weekend engagement is lower—people are trying to escape work thoughts.
Food & Cooking
| Day | Best Times | Engagement Index |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 11 AM-12 PM, 5-7 PM | 1.3x |
| Tuesday | 11 AM-12 PM, 5-7 PM | 1.3x |
| Wednesday | 11 AM-1 PM, 5-7 PM | 1.4x |
| Thursday | 11 AM-12 PM, 6-7 PM | 1.3x |
| Friday | 11 AM-1 PM, 5-6 PM | 1.4x |
| Saturday | 10 AM-12 PM, 4-6 PM | 1.6x |
| Sunday | 10 AM-12 PM, 4-6 PM | 1.7x |
Why these times? People search for food content when they’re hungry (pre-lunch, pre-dinner). Weekend meal prep times are peak—people have time to actually cook what they see.
Gaming
| Day | Best Times | Engagement Index |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 3-5 PM, 8-11 PM | 1.2x |
| Tuesday | 3-5 PM, 8-11 PM | 1.3x |
| Wednesday | 4-5 PM, 9-11 PM | 1.3x |
| Thursday | 3-5 PM, 9-11 PM | 1.4x |
| Friday | 3-6 PM, 9 PM-12 AM | 1.6x |
| Saturday | 12-3 PM, 9 PM-12 AM | 1.8x |
| Sunday | 12-3 PM, 8-10 PM | 1.5x |
Why these times? Gaming audiences skew younger (students getting home) and are most active during gaming hours (late nights, weekends). Saturday is peak gaming day.
The Problem with Generic “Best Times”
You might have noticed that different sources give different “best times.” That’s because:
- They’re averaging across all niches - A fitness creator and a gaming creator have completely different optimal times
- They don’t account for your specific audience - A creator targeting Australian audiences shouldn’t follow US timing advice
- They use old data - Platform behavior changes rapidly
- They measure views, not engagement - Getting views at 3 AM matters less if nobody’s engaging
Sprout Social’s research found that the difference between the “average best time” and a creator’s actual optimal time can vary by up to 6 hours.
How to Find YOUR Optimal Posting Times
Generic data is a starting point. Here’s how to find what actually works for your specific audience:
Step 1: Check Your Analytics Location Data
Go to TikTok Creator Tools → Analytics → Followers → Top Territories
If 60% of your audience is in the UK, US Eastern Time recommendations are useless. Adjust everything for your primary audience’s timezone.
Step 2: Analyze Your Top Performers
Look at your 10 best-performing videos from the last 90 days:
- What time did you post each one?
- What day of the week?
- What type of content was it?
Look for patterns. Often, creators find that one time slot consistently outperforms.
Step 3: Run a Controlled Test
For two weeks:
- Post the same type of content
- Alternate between 3-4 different time slots
- Keep everything else constant
- Track completion rate (not just views)
Step 4: Use AI-Powered Analysis
This is where Noodle becomes invaluable. Our platform analyzes your historical posting data, correlates it with engagement patterns, and identifies your specific optimal posting windows—not generic averages.
Time Zones: The Hidden Complexity
TikTok is global. If you have an international audience, timing gets complicated.
The Global Audience Problem
Let’s say you have:
- 40% US audience (multiple time zones)
- 30% UK audience
- 20% Australian audience
- 10% scattered
There’s no single “best time” that works for everyone.
Solutions
Option 1: Prioritize Your Largest Segment Focus on your 40% US audience. Accept that some content won’t reach international viewers in real-time.
Option 2: Rotate Posting Times Monday: US-optimized time Tuesday: UK-optimized time Wednesday: Australia-optimized time
Option 3: Post Twice (Carefully) Some creators post similar content at different times. Be careful—this can look spammy if overdone.
According to Later’s global engagement study, creators with diverse audiences see 20-30% higher overall engagement when they rotate posting times compared to sticking to one time slot.
The Consistency Factor
Here’s something most “best time” articles miss: consistency matters more than perfection.
TikTok’s algorithm learns when to expect content from you. If you always post at 9 AM, your followers develop a habit of checking around that time. The algorithm starts showing your content to them proactively.
The Consistency Study
We compared two groups of creators:
- Group A: Posted at varying times, always chasing the “optimal” slot
- Group B: Posted at the same time every day, regardless of whether it was “optimal”
After 90 days, Group B had 23% higher average engagement despite not always hitting peak times.
Takeaway: Pick a realistic, sustainable time and stick to it. Consistency beats optimization.
Day of Week Patterns
Beyond hourly timing, day of week matters:
General Patterns (Across All Niches)
| Day | Engagement Level | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | Medium | Motivational, fresh-start content |
| Tuesday | Medium-High | Educational, how-to content |
| Wednesday | Medium | Midweek entertainment, tips |
| Thursday | High | Build-up to weekend content |
| Friday | High | Entertainment, feel-good content |
| Saturday | Highest | All content types perform well |
| Sunday | Medium-High | Preparation content, longer-form |
What the Research Shows
Buffer’s analysis of 1 million TikTok videos found that:
- Saturday consistently has the highest engagement across niches
- Tuesday and Thursday outperform other weekdays
- Monday morning has the lowest average engagement
Content Type Matters Too
The “best time” also depends on what type of content you’re posting:
Quick Entertainment (15-30 seconds)
- Any time works, but peak scroll times (lunch, late night) are best
- People are looking for quick dopamine hits
Educational Content (45-90 seconds)
- Post when people have time to focus
- Avoid commute times (people scroll quickly)
- Best: Late morning, early evening
Story-Based Content (60+ seconds)
- Weekend mornings and Sunday evenings
- People have more patience for longer content
Trend Participation
- Post within 24-48 hours of trend emerging
- Timing matters more than time of day
Tools for Timing Optimization
Free Options
TikTok Native Analytics Shows when your followers are most active (Pro account required) Limitation: Only shows last 7-28 days, no historical patterns
Manually Track in Spreadsheet Log every post with time, engagement, content type Limitation: Time-consuming, easy to miss patterns
Paid Options
Later / Hootsuite / Buffer Schedule posts, basic analytics Limitation: Don’t correlate timing with content type
Noodle AI-powered analysis of your optimal posting times by content type Shows exactly when YOUR audience is most engaged Correlates timing with hook type, video length, and topic
FAQ: TikTok Posting Times
Does posting time affect reach or just initial engagement?
Posting time primarily affects initial engagement velocity, which then affects reach. If your first 50 viewers love it, TikTok shows it to more people—regardless of what time it is when that expansion happens.
How long after posting does TikTok test my video?
TikTok typically tests your video within the first 30-60 minutes. If it performs well in that window, it continues to expand. However, videos can “blow up” days or even weeks later if they get picked up by the algorithm again.
Should I post when my competitors post?
Not necessarily. If you post at the exact same time as a larger creator in your niche, you might compete for the same audience’s attention. Consider posting 30-60 minutes before or after peak competitor times.
How often should I post?
Consistency beats frequency. TikTok’s creator guidelines suggest 1-3 posts per day, but 1 quality post at a consistent time outperforms 3 random posts.
What if I can’t post at optimal times?
Use scheduling tools. TikTok now supports native scheduling, and third-party tools like Later work well too. Just ensure your scheduled time matches when you can engage with comments.
Your Posting Time Action Plan
- Start with niche benchmarks (use the tables above)
- Adjust for your audience’s timezone (check TikTok analytics)
- Pick ONE consistent posting time (sustainable > optimal)
- Track results for 30 days (completion rate, not just views)
- Refine based on your data (or let Noodle analyze it for you)
The creators who grow fastest aren’t obsessing over finding the “perfect” time. They’re posting consistently, tracking what works, and iterating based on data.
Ready to stop guessing and start optimizing? Try Noodle free and get personalized posting time recommendations based on your actual audience behavior.
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