The best time to post on TikTok
The two biggest studies disagree. Here’s what each one found, why, and how to find the time that works for your followers.
Short answer: start with weekday afternoons (Sprout Social: Tuesday to Thursday, 2–6 p.m. local time) or a weekend morning (Buffer: Sunday at 9 a.m.). Then move to the hours your own followers are most active, which TikTok Studio shows you. Post two to five times a week.
What the two biggest studies found
Sprout Social analyzed nearly 2 billion engagements across 307,000 profiles, from November 27, 2025 to February 27, 2026. Buffer analyzed 7.1 million posts published through Buffer. Their answers barely overlap.
| Day | Sprout Social (local time) | Buffer (best first) |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 3–5 p.m. | 1 p.m., then 11 a.m. and 8 a.m. |
| Tuesday | 2–6 p.m. | 6 a.m., then 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. |
| Wednesday | 1–8 p.m. | 10 p.m., then 6 a.m. and 9 p.m. |
| Thursday | 1–5 p.m. | 1 p.m., then 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. |
| Friday | 3–5 p.m. | 6 p.m., then 10 p.m. and 8 p.m. |
| Saturday | Avoid | 5 p.m., then 4 p.m. and 3 p.m. |
| Sunday | Avoid | 9 a.m., then 1 p.m. and 12 p.m. |
Why the studies disagree
- Different accounts. Sprout’s profiles belong to its 30,000 customers, who pay for a tool built for business teams. Buffer’s data comes from “a wide range of Buffer users around the world”.
- Different measures. Sprout counts engagements. Buffer uses the median engagement rate per post. The busiest hour isn’t always the one where each post does best.
- Different clocks. Sprout lists local time. Buffer adjusts its times so they apply anywhere, with “no need to convert”.
- Different months. Sprout’s data covers winter, late November to late February. Buffer’s article doesn’t give a date range.
Neither is wrong. They describe different audiences, and yours is a third one.
How to find your own best time
- In the TikTok app, open your profile and tap TikTok Studio, then Analytics, then the Followers tab.
- Scroll to Most active times. It shows when your followers were on TikTok over the past week.
- Pick two time slots inside those peaks. If one of the studies’ times falls inside a peak, use it as one of the two.
- Alternate between the two for three weeks. Compare each post’s views after its first day.
- Keep the winner, then test it against a new slot.
If most of your followers live in another time zone, schedule for their clock, not yours.
How often to post on TikTok
Buffer studied 11.4 million TikTok posts from over 150,000 accounts. Compared with posting once a week:
| Posts a week | Views per post |
|---|---|
| 2 to 5 | up to 17% more |
| 6 to 10 | up to 29% more |
| 11 or more | up to 34% more |
The biggest jump is from one post a week to two to five. For most creators, that’s the realistic target.
Let MochiPanel pick the times
You set the rhythm, like “three a week, mornings”. MochiPanel picks the days and times, posts once you approve, and every week shifts toward what worked.
Limited Creator founding offer: $6/month for up to 100 subscribers. Check availability in the app.
Questions
What is the best day to post on TikTok?
It depends on the study. Sprout Social found Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday best, and weekends worst. Buffer found Saturday the strongest day, with Monday and Sunday close behind. Your own follower activity in TikTok Studio breaks the tie.
What is the worst time to post on TikTok?
Sprout Social says to avoid weekends, with Sunday the worst day. Buffer found afternoons, 12 to 5 p.m., had the lowest engagement on most days.
Is it better to post on TikTok in the morning or at night?
Buffer found engagement generally peaks in the evening, 6 to 11 p.m., though its single best slot is Sunday at 9 a.m. Sprout Social’s best windows are in the afternoon, roughly 1 to 6 p.m. local time.
How often should I post on TikTok?
Two to five times a week. In Buffer’s study of 11.4 million posts from over 150,000 accounts, going from one post a week to two to five gave up to 17% more views per post.
Does posting time matter on TikTok?
Some. Posting while your followers are active may help a video pick up early engagement, but timing won’t rescue a weak video. Use the studies as a starting point and your own analytics as the answer.
What time zone should I post in?
Your audience’s. Sprout Social lists its times in local time, and Buffer adjusts its times so they apply anywhere. If most of your followers live in another time zone, schedule for their clock, not yours.
Sources
- Sprout Social, “Best times to post on TikTok in 2026”, March 31, 2026
- Buffer, “Best Time to Post on TikTok in 2026”, September 14, 2026
- Buffer, “How Often Should You Post on TikTok”, October 8, 2025