Best Time to Post on Tiktok in 2026 | Get More Views and Followers

If you’re searching for the best time to post on TikTok, the short answer is this: the best times are usually early mornings, lunch hours, and evenings when people are most active, especially between 6–10 AM, 12–2 PM, and 7–10 PM (ET). But there isn’t one universal time that works for everyone. Your real best posting time depends on your audience, their time zone, and when they’re actually online. 

In this article, we’ll break down the most effective posting times for U.S. users, explain how TikTok’s algorithm uses timing, show you how to find your own ideal posting windows using TikTok Analytics, and share practical tips so your videos get more views, engagement, and reach the For You Page.

Whether you’re a creator, using TikTok for your brand, or just trying to go viral for fun to make money on TikTok, posting at the right time can dramatically boost your visibility and engagement.

Let’s start!

TikTok uses an algorithm to decide which videos should appear on the “For You” page based on engagement and repeat views. When people aren’t commenting on or engaging with your videos, your videos won’t be shared as widely.

When you post your videos, timing matters a lot. When you post a video at the right time, it is more likely to reach the people who might be interested in. Posting during peak hours increases the chance your video gets picked up early, which can turn into viral succes.

If your audience is mostly U.S. users, they spread across four primary time zones:

• Eastern Time (ET)
• Central Time (CT)
• Mountain Time (MT)
• Pacific Time (PT)

If TikTok analytics shows strong concentration in one zone, prioritize it.

If your audience is mixed, choose ET or CT, because they capture most of the U.S. population.

Small example:

• 9 PM ET = 8 PM CT = 7 PM MT = 6 PM PT

So one post can hit multiple evening windows at once. Once your videos start getting more views at the right posting times, organizing them helps keep people watching longer. You can learn how to make a playlist on TikTok to group similar videos and improve retention.

Different types of content perform better at different times because audiences use TikTok for different reasons throughout the day. Your posting schedule should align with why and when people consume your type of content.

1: Entertainment, Comedy, and Trend-Based Content

Best posting windows: evenings and weekends

People usually watch entertaining content when they’re relaxing, unwinding, or scrolling for fun. After work, after school, and weekend downtime are peak moments for this niche.

2: Educational, How-To, and Business Content

Best posting windows: mornings and lunch breaks

Users often look for quick tips, tutorials, or productivity content during their morning routine or short breaks throughout the workday.

3: Product Reviews, Shopping, and Brand Content

Best posting windows: mid-afternoon and evenings

Viewers are more open to browsing products and discovering brands when they are not rushed and have time to explore.

4: Fitness, Health, and Lifestyle Content

Best posting windows: early mornings and late evenings

People commonly check fitness, wellness, and motivation content before starting their day or after they wind down for the night.

When your target audience is awake and free to watch your videos is one of the most important things to consider when it comes to publishing videos on TikTok and increasing visibility. A considerable part of the TikTok audience is young people between the ages of 18 to 34. This age group usually spends their time at work throughout the day and at home using their mobile devices at night.

It shows that the best time to post on TikTok is during lunchtime, at night, and on weekends. This means Saturday (evening) and Sunday are the best days of the week to publish TikTok videos and get more eyeballs on them. However, you should consider free hours (lunch hours, & night) to post on TikTok during other days of the week.

Here is a quick look at when people post on TikTok the most:

NOTE: All the given times are in Eastern Daylight Time (EDT).

If you post on Saturday, you may see a lower level of engagement or performance. It makes sense that this is why the majority of people are off work or school on Saturdays.

On a rainy day, most prefer to do something else rather than slouch on the couch and watch TikTok videos. If you’re using TikTok for business, you should avoid publishing on Saturdays. Not every experiment works. If a post doesn’t align with your brand anymore or consistently performs poorly, you can simply remove it. Learn how to delete TikTok videos step-by-step.

Success on TikTok depends on a variety of factors. For instance, you must identify where you want to reach your audience. In light of the many time zones used by you and them (yours and theirs), you’ll have to determine the best time to post on TikTok. This information lets you know when your audience will likely be online and interested in your content.

This will help you publish TikTok videos when TikTok users want to watch exciting stuff like yours. Hence, you should also be consistent in publishing videos to keep existing followers engaged and drive more new followers even without running TikTok Ads.