Ready to get seen on TikTok in 2025? These hashtags will boost your views, reach, and engagement – powered by real trends and actionable tips.
Hashtags have been a key feature of social media since 2007. And while some platforms have begun to phase out their importance, they are extremely powerful tools to grow views on TikTok.
But many creators don’t really get how they work. They don’t understand which TikTok hashtags to choose, how to find good hashtags, or how many they need to put in their caption and title.
If you’re also looking to grow your audience beyond hashtags, check out our guide on how to get more TikTok followers – packed with proven growth strategies that work in 2025.
Below is your ultimate guide, answering all these questions and more.
What Are Hashtags and How Do They Help on TikTok?
Beginning with the basics, what are hashtags?
Hashtags are categories that creators place their videos into. The categories have names made up of words or phrases that describe what’s in the video. They always begin with the hashtag symbol #.
Examples include:
- #skiing
- #cooking
- #booktok
When users want to see content related to a certain topic, they can search using the hashtag. Then, the results are made up of videos with that hashtag in their title or caption.
So, if someone is a fan of pro wrestling, they can look up the hashtag #prowrestling to find content related to it.
Why You Need to Use Hashtags
Now, let’s move on to the obvious next question. Do they even actually help your post?
The short answer? They are extremely important.
Remember, TikTok hashtags act as a categorization tool for the algorithm. So when used effectively, they help:
- The algorithm understand what your content is about
- Your video appear on hashtag-based search pages
- Your content show up in niche communities and trends
As long as you add accurate hashtags, your videos will be more discoverable to people interested in the topic.
But remember, there is no magical hashtag or group of hashtags that will make a poorly done video go viral. At the end of the day, hooking viewers and keeping them watching (and engaging) is what really counts.
Don’t let the search for the perfect hashtag take time, attention, and energy away from video quality.
When You Should Definitely Use TikTok Hashtags
There are a few situations where you definitely need to use hashtags effectively.
- When You’re Just Getting Started
They are invaluable when you launch, because the algorithm doesn’t have any data points to sort your content. Giving it hashtags lets it start to show your content to the right people, right away. - When You’re Posting Niche Content
If your video is targeted toward a specific audience (like #VanLife, #SmallBusinessTok, or #PlantTok) hashtags help you find those small but dedicated audiences. TikTok’s subcultures thrive on consistent tagging – a tactic that many top TikTokers use to grow highly engaged niche followings. - When You’re Jumping on a Trend or Challenge
Trends move fast on TikTok. If you’re participating in a trending challenge, audio, or format, you need to include the relevant hashtag (e.g., #HotGirlWalk, #AIArtChallenge, #TikTokMadeMeBuyIt). These hashtags connect your video to the broader wave of content, increasing the chance of being seen by people actively browsing that trend.
How TikTok Hashtags Are Changing in 2025
The way hashtags work on TikTok is always evolving. Once upon a time, they were maybe one of the top three ways that the algorithm sorted videos. They’ve taken a backseat in recent years. And in 2025, even more changes are coming.
The platform is leaning harder into semantic search and video topics, meaning your hashtags work best when paired with actual keywords used in your caption or spoken in the video.
TikTok’s voice recognition and closed captions influence how content is categorized, so hashtags alone aren’t enough. You want to match your hashtags with what you say and what’s in the text on screen.
In short: your voice, captions, and hashtags should all contain the same basic content.
Let’s say you create a video about DIY skincare. If you include a caption that says “DIY face masks for glowing skin,” speak those words aloud, and also tag #skincaretips and #diyskincare, you’re sending a consistent message to TikTok’s algorithm. That makes your video more likely to reach its intended audience.
What Are the Best TikTok Hashtags Right Now?
This is the eternal question, isn’t it? What are the best ones to use right now?
Here are some of the best general hashtags for more views in 2025:
Evergreen Hashtags That Always Help
The following list includes hashtags that can really help your videos no matter what year it is. But be warned: you want to use these sparingly. Everyone uses them, so they’re highly competitive, but they can still help boost your reach when paired with niche tags.
- #fyp
- #fypツ
- #foryou
- #viral
- #viraltrend
- #trending
- #explorepage
General High-Traffic Hashtags
These are also very broad, but they can still be great choices as long as they accurately reflect your content.
- #tiktokchallenge
- #relatable
- #lifehacks
- #storytime
- #howto
Trends and Challenges
There are always challenges and popular dubs going on.
- #tiktoktrend2025
- #challenge
- #trendingchallenge
- #dancechallenge
- #remix
- #duet
- #stitch
- #lipdub
Education & Tips
- #learnontiktok
- #booktok
- #didyouknow
- #quicktips
- #lifeadvice
- #tiktoktips
Fitness & Health
- #fitnesstok
- #gymtok
- #homeworkout
- #healthylifestyle
- #fitspo
Art & Creativity
- #arttok
- #drawing
- #digitalart
- #creativeprocess
- #artistsoftiktok
Fashion & Beauty
- #fashiontok
- #ootd
- #beautytips
- #makeuptutorial
- #glowup
Food & Cooking
- #foodtok
- #easyrecipes
- #cookwithme
- #recipeideas
- #homecooking
Gaming
- #gamersoftiktok
- #gamingclips
- #streamerlife
- #tiktokgaming
- #gametok
Finance & Business
- #moneytok
- #personalfinance
- #investingtips
- #businessideas
- #sidehustle
How Do I Use TikTok Hashtags?
You have a long list of possible hashtags, but that only goes so far. You need to know how to use them to get the most out of them.
1. How Many Hashtags Should I Use on TikTok?
The sweet spot is generally 3 to 5 hashtags.
If you add in too many, you won’t prioritize where your video is being sorted. Also, using a dozen hashtags is a warning sign to the algorithm that you are abusing the function. Finally, throwing in a bunch of hashtags looks spammy to new viewers, detracting from the perceived value of your content and channel.
On the other hand, if you only use one or two, you might not be specific enough.
⚠️ Don’t: Avoid using too many hashtags -ja it can confuse the algorithm and look spammy. Stick to 3–5 max!
2. What Kind of Hashtags Should I Use?
TikTok gives you 100 characters total for your caption, and that includes hashtags.
In that limited space, you’ll want to include some mix of:
- popular or trending hashtags
- niche hashtags that describe your content
- branded or personal hashtags (only do this if you’ve gotten fairly big)
- location-specific hashtags
Example: Matching TikTok Hashtags to Content
| Video Topic | Suggested Caption | Matching Hashtags |
| Easy 10-min Workout | “Quick burn before work!” | #homeworkout, #fitnesstok, #quickburn |
| Local Café Review | Best coffee in Austin?” | #AustinEats, #coffeereview, #ATXlife |
| DIY Skincare Tutorial | “3-ingredient face mask!” | #skincaretips, #diyskincare, #glowup |
| Small Business Vlog | “Behind the scenes at my Etsy shop” | #smallbusinesstok, #etsyshop, #dayinthelife |
3. How Do I Find TikTok Hashtags?
Creating a good flow for finding new hashtags will prove critical to long-term success. Really, there is no single best way to do this. But the following are a few tried-and-true methods.
- TikTok Hashtag Tools & Generators
If you don’t want to research every hashtag manually, there are several helpful tools that can generate TikTok hashtags for you. These tools analyze trends, recommend popular tags by topic, and help you find the right ones based on your content.
They save you time and boost your chances of reaching the right audience – whether you’re just starting out or already posting regularly.
Recommended TikTok Hashtag Tools:
- TikTok Creative Center
TikTok’s official tool for tracking trending hashtags in real time. You can filter by country, industry, or niche to find what’s currently working.
The graphic shows the TikTok Creative Center website. - top-hashtags.com/tiktok/
A simple generator that suggests high-traffic TikTok hashtags – perfect for quick ideas and inspiration.
The screenshot shows the simple hashtag generator from top-hashtags.com. - tiktokhashtags.com
The screenshot shows the hashtag generator tiktokhashtags.com. Enter a keyword, and this tool delivers optimized hashtag suggestions with relevance scores and usage data.
- Keep your finger on the pulse
Every day, make sure you spend a little bit of time watching the most popular, trending TikTok videos. This will help you take the temperature of the culture. Not every major trend will be a great fit for you. But once in a while, you’ll be able to capitalize on a trend, and knowing the hashtags associated with it will be essential. - Check out your current followers
Look at your followers and see what they’re looking at. It might surprise you to see what overlapping interests they have and what hashtags they are interested in. - Research similar channels
Create an account just for research. Follow your channel and see what related videos come up. When you find stuff that really resonates with you, see what hashtags they use. You’ll want to be on alert for niche hashtags. While these don’t garner huge numbers, they will attract a specific audience.
4. When Do I Use Location-Specific Hashtags?
These are really a secret weapon. TikTok is increasingly becoming a search engine for local discovery. People are using it to find restaurants, events, hidden gems, and creators near them. That means if you’re a local business, event organizer, or even just someone making content about your city or region, you need to be using hashtags that reflect your location.
For example, if you’re filming a food review at a popular restaurant in Austin, Texas, don’t just use #foodtok and #restaurantreview. Add hashtags like:
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- #AustinEats
- #TexasFoodie
- #ATXlife
- #AustinRestaurants
- #ThingsToDoInAustin
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This allows people in your area – or those planning to visit – to discover your content through hyper-targeted searches. It also increases your odds of being featured on location-specific pages and local For You feeds.
5. How Do I Use TikTok Challenges?
TikTok challenges are fun, and they lend a special sense of excitement and togetherness. But for most creators, it would be a waste of time to chase down and complete every possible challenge (although that might not be a bad concept for a TikTok channel).
In a TikTok challenge, you’re asked to record yourself performing some kind of task or feat. Then you post that recording with the hashtag in the description.
Keeping an eye out for challenges that match the kind of content you make helps keep you plugged in. It can also be a great way to find new fans.
If you have somewhat of a following already, you can also make challenges of your own. Post a video of you completing the challenge and asking viewers to do the same with your specialty-made hashtag. It’s a great way to include your fans.
Hashtag Mistakes to Avoid on TikTok
Now that you know how to use hashtags well, let’s go over the most common mistakes creators make when trying to grow on TikTok using them. These might seem small, but they can seriously hurt your reach and engagement.
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- Using irrelevant hashtagsThis one is huge. And while it might seem obvious, a lot of creators end up spamming the biggest hashtags, thinking it will somehow trick TikTok into feeding their irrelevant content to millions. If you post a video about painting and include #gymtok just because it’s trending, you’re confusing the algorithm. TikTok will push your video to the wrong crowd, which leads to low watch times, bad engagement, and a harder time reaching your actual audience in the future.
- Copy-pasting the same hashtags every timeDon’t use the same hashtags over and over. This helps you gain exposure with more and more people.
- Chasing trends without a fitJust because something is trending doesn’t mean it’s worth your time. If a hashtag or challenge doesn’t match your content or personality, it will lead to bad content that doesn’t meet the expectations of the trend well. That leads to poor engagement and low watch times, which leads to bad performance.
- Not optimizing for searchIncreasing use of the search bar is turning TikTok into an SEO-heavy platform. More users are searching for how-tos, tutorials, and specific topics using keywords and hashtags. If you make a video about jumping rope, try hashtags like #jumpropeworkout or #skippingtips, not just super broad ones like #fitnesstok.
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Mastering TikTok Hashtags in 2025
Getting good at finding the right hashtags is just one piece of the puzzle. What really matters is pairing them with content that grabs attention and keeps viewers engaged.
Start your hashtag strategy today – Use this guide to pick the right tags, follow trends that fit your content, and grow your audience step by step.
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