The TikTok algorithm is a mystery, but user behavior is not. People wake up, commute, take lunch breaks, and scroll before bed. Aligning your posts with these biological rhythms is the easiest hack for more views.
The Global Best Times (EST)
If you want a "cheat sheet" for a global audience, here is the consensus data for 2025. All times are in Eastern Standard Time (EST).
| Day | Best Times (EST) | Engagement Level |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 6 AM, 10 AM, 10 PM | Medium |
| Tuesday | 2 AM, 4 AM, 9 AM | High 🔥 |
| Wednesday | 7 AM, 8 AM, 11 PM | Medium |
| Thursday | 9 AM, 12 PM, 7 PM | High 🔥 |
| Friday | 5 AM, 1 PM, 3 PM | High 🔥 |
| Saturday | 11 AM, 7 PM, 8 PM | Low |
| Sunday | 7 AM, 8 AM, 4 PM | Low |
Why Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday?
Our data shows a clear trend: mid-week mornings and Friday afternoons are peak consumption times.
- Tuesday/Thursday Mornings: Users are settling into the work week and looking for distractions.
- Friday Afternoons: The weekend mindset kicks in. Attention spans shorten, but session times lengthen.
The "Velocity" Factor
Posting at the "right" time isn't about the total number of people online. It's about Velocity.
TikTok tests your video with a small batch of users (200-500). If they engage quickly (high velocity), it pushes it to a larger batch. Posting when your specific audience is active ensures that initial test group reacts fast.
How to Find YOUR Personal Best Time
Global data is a starting point, but your audience is unique.
- Go to TikTok Analytics (Creator Tools).
- Click on the Followers tab.
- Scroll down to Follower Activity.
- Look for the tallest bars—that is your golden window.
Conclusion
Timing matters, but content is king. A bad video posted at the perfect time will still flop. A great video posted at 3 AM might still go viral.
Use this schedule as a baseline, but focus on creating high-retention content. For help with that, check out our guide on writing viral captions.