TikTok Hashtags: How Many to Use and How to Pick the Right Ones

Hashtags are one of the most misunderstood parts of TikTok. Some creators paste 20 trending tags under every video; others skip them entirely. The truth is in between: hashtags are a labelling tool. They help TikTok and viewers understand what your video is about — which helps it reach the right people.

How TikTok hashtags work

TikTok looks at many signals to decide who sees a video: how people interact with it, what is said and shown in it, the caption, sounds, and hashtags. Hashtags are part of the description of your video, a bit like labels on a folder. They can also make your video appear when someone taps or searches a hashtag page.

What hashtags can't do is make people watch. If viewers swipe away in the first second, no hashtag will save the video. Treat hashtags as a way to describe good content accurately, not as a shortcut.

How many hashtags should you use on TikTok?

TikTok doesn't publish an ideal number. In practice, many creators use a handful — around three to five — that clearly describe the video. More tags don't automatically mean more reach, and a long list of loosely related tags can make your description messier and less clear.

Broad vs. niche hashtags

Think of hashtags in three layers:

• Broad tags (e.g. #cooking, #fitness): huge audiences, huge competition. Use one at most to set the general category.
• Niche tags (e.g. #airfryerrecipes, #homeworkoutforwomen): smaller but much more interested audiences. These should be the core of your set.
• Specific tags (e.g. #5minutebreakfast, #dumbbellonlyworkout): describe exactly what this video is. Great for search and for reaching people who want precisely that.

Generic tags like #fyp or #viral are extremely common and don't describe your content, so they add little. They won't hurt, but niche and specific tags do more useful work.

How to find the right hashtags

1. Search your topic on TikTok. Look at the hashtags used on recent videos in your niche that perform well, and at the suggestions in the search bar.
2. Check TikTok's Creative Center. It shows trending hashtags by region and industry, which is useful for spotting what's rising.
3. Look at your own analytics. Notice which topics and tags appear on your best-performing videos.
4. Describe the video in plain words. If your video is a quick vegan breakfast, tags like #veganbreakfast and #quickbreakfast are obvious — and that's fine.
5. Use a generator for a first draft. Our TikTok Hashtag Generator gives you a mix of broad, niche and specific tags to choose from.

TikTok hashtag examples by niche

Notice the pattern: one broad tag, then increasingly specific ones that match the actual video.

Hashtags are only part of TikTok SEO

Many people now use TikTok like a search engine. To be found, make sure the topic is clear everywhere, not just in hashtags:

• Caption: describe the video in natural words, including the main keyword.
• On-screen text: add a short text hook that names the topic.
• What you say: mention the topic out loud early in the video.
• Hashtags: reinforce the same topic with a few relevant tags.

Common TikTok hashtag mistakes

• Using trending tags that don't fit. Viewers who arrive from an unrelated tag swipe away quickly.
• Copy-pasting the same set on every video. Tailor tags to each video's actual topic.
• Only broad tags. Your video competes with millions of others and may reach the wrong audience.
• Misspelled or overly long tags. Keep them readable and correctly spelled.
• Expecting hashtags to fix weak content. Strong hooks and watch time matter far more.

Ready to try it? Describe your next video in our free TikTok Hashtag Generator, copy the tags that fit, and drop the rest. Repurposing the same clip for YouTube? Our guide on writing YouTube titles will help you package it there too.