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TikTok hashtags: Top trending tags and strategies for 2026

June 8, 2026 10 minutes

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TikTok hashtags can make the difference between a video getting lost in the feed or reaching thousands of new viewers through the For You Page (FYP). But with trends changing daily, how do you know which tags actually work?

Hashtags like #fyp and #TikTokMadeMeBuyIt may be popular, but they work best when combined with more specific tags related to your niche.

In this guide, you’ll learn how TikTok hashtags work, how to use them strategically to reach the right audience, and which ready-to-use hashtag sets are best for print-on-demand and TikTok Shop sellers.

How do TikTok hashtags work?

A person is holding a mobile phone with the TikTok app loading screen.

TikTok uses automated recommendation systems that analyze, categorize, and match your TikTok content with viewers who interact with similar posts.

The system evaluates several signals:

  • User interactions: watch time, likes, shares, comments, and saves
  • Content information: hashtags, captions, sounds, and keywords
  • User information: location, language, and device settings

When you add hashtags to a TikTok caption, they help the TikTok algorithm identify what your post is about and who might be interested in it.

Hashtags also help your posts appear when TikTok users use the search bar or explore topics on the Discover page. For example, if someone searches for small business tips or print-on-demand business ideas, videos using those hashtags are more likely to appear in the results.

Three women are holding make-up products and recording themselves using a mobile phone.

This list of trending TikTok hashtags combines broad discovery tags with niche ones used by specific communities across the platform.

Note

Post counts were collected from TikTok’s Creative Center at the time of writing and may change as TikTok content trends evolve.

1. #FYP

One of the most used TikTok hashtags to go viral, #FYP signals that your video is meant for the FYP. It won’t guarantee your video lands on that page, but it can help TikTok show your content to more viewers when paired with niche hashtags.

Number of posts: 8.9 billion+

2. #Trending

Creators use #Trending to connect their videos to current formats, sounds, and viral challenges circulating on the platform. Because TikTok prioritizes fresh content, this tag can help your videos appear alongside other popular posts gaining momentum.

Number of posts: 1.4 billion+

3. #POV

Short for “point of view,” #POV is widely used for relatable scenarios and funny skits. This type of video content often encourages comments, reactions, and shares, which helps creators gain more engagement on TikTok.

Number of posts: 95.8 million+

4. #OOTD

#OOTD or “Outfit of the day” remains one of the strongest fashion hashtags on TikTok. Creators use it to showcase styling inspiration, clothing hauls, and brand collaborations, making it powerful for fashion creators and eCommerce businesses targeting style-focused audiences.

Number of posts: 70.3 million+

5. #TikTokMadeMeBuyIt

This hashtag gained traction as TikTok became a major platform for product discovery. Creators often use #tiktokmademebuyit in product reviews, demonstrations, or recommendations, inspiring viewers to purchase items directly through TikTok Shop.

Number of posts: 35.2 million+

6. #GRWM

Short for “get ready with me,” #GRWM is one of the most popular beauty hashtags on TikTok. Creators use it for routines, tutorials, and product demonstrations while casually interacting with their audience, which encourages longer watch times and higher engagement.

Number of posts: 23.5 million+

7. #GamingOnTikTok

This fast-growing niche hashtag is widely used among gaming creators who share gameplay clips, commentary, and reactions. Because gaming has a massive global audience, this tag helps your videos reach highly engaged communities.

Number of posts: 16.4 million+

8. #Foodtok

A major discovery hub for cooking content, #Foodtok gathers recipes, kitchen tips, restaurant reviews, and food experiments. If you sell kitchen gadgets and accessories, this is an effective tag for reaching a food-loving target audience.

Number of posts: 8.5 million+

9. #Cleantok

This hashtag represents a huge community focused on home organization and cleaning transformations. Videos tagged with #Cleantok often perform well because satisfying before-and-after visuals keep viewers watching longer on the TikTok app.

Number of posts: 7.7 million+

10. #Hopecore

#Hopecore highlights uplifting stories, motivational edits, and positive messages. Its rapid growth reflects TikTok’s evolving culture around emotional storytelling and shareable feel-good content.

Number of posts: 2.4 million+

POD and TikTok Shop hashtag sets

If you’re selling custom merch through TikTok Shop, generic trending tags will only take you so far. Pair them with niche commerce-driven hashtags that signal to both the algorithm and shoppers that your video is shoppable.

Here are three ready-to-use hashtag sets built for print-on-demand sellers. Mix and match based on your product and content style – aim for 3-5 hashtags per post rather than stuffing your caption.

For shoppable product videos

These are the non-negotiables for any TikTok Shop seller. They tell the algorithm your content is product-focused, pulling in viewers already in shopping mode.

#TikTokShop #TikTokShopFinds #TikTokMadeMeBuyIt #ProductReview #SmallBusinessCheck #Unboxing #MustHave

For print-on-demand and custom merch

Use these when your video showcases the design, the print quality, or your store. They connect you with other POD sellers, supportive shoppers, and creators looking to discover new brands.

#PrintOnDemand #CustomMerch #SmallBusinessOwner #POD #CustomTshirt #MerchDrop #IndieBrand

For TikTok Shop sellers building an audience

These pair well with founder-style content – behind-the-scenes packing videos, day-in-the-life clips, or content that builds your brand story over time.

#TikTokShopSeller #SmallBizTikTok #EntrepreneurLife #ShopSmall #BuildInPublic #SideHustle

Pro tip

Designs that evoke emotion sell best on TikTok – humor, identity, belief, and relatability drive impulse purchases. Match your hashtags to that feeling. A funny tee fits with #FunnyTshirt and #GiftIdeas, while a faith-based design pairs with #ChristianTikTok and #FaithBased.

What are the benefits of using TikTok hashtags?

A smiling young woman is sitting on a couch and using a mobile phone to learn how to use TikTok hashtags.

1. Reach the right audience through FYP

Using relevant hashtags helps the TikTok algorithm understand what your TikTok videos are about. When your content is categorized correctly, the platform can recommend it to users who already watch or interact with similar posts.

2. Improve discoverability

Adding the right hashtags to your TikTok caption increases the chances that your videos appear in relevant search results or on the Discover page.

This visibility is valuable for creators and brands selling on TikTok, helping your product videos reach users who are searching for related items.

3. Build a community

Businesses on TikTok often create their own hashtags to encourage followers to make videos around a trend or challenge. This helps boost engagement and build community around shared interests.

4. Track campaign performance

Custom or branded hashtags make it easier to track a campaign’s performance. By monitoring how often the tag appears in TikTok posts, brands can measure reach, participation, and audience response.

A young woman in headphones is being recorded using a mobile phone.

The best TikTok hashtag strategy focuses on relevance, search discovery, and community trends.

Follow these TikTok marketing tips to optimize your hashtag use.

Do’s

Use a mix of trending and niche hashtags

A balanced mix of trending, branded, and hyper-specific hashtags helps the platform categorize your TikTok videos more accurately. This allows your content to reach both a broader audience and smaller communities interested in your niche.

Research hashtags before posting

Before publishing, find trending hashtags on TikTok and see what types of videos appear for that topic. This gives you useful insights into what formats, captions, and topics already perform well.

Use a TikTok hashtag generator for ideas

A TikTok hashtag generator can create tags based on your topic, keywords, or niche. These tools can help brainstorm catchy word combinations for hashtag challenges.

Place hashtags at the end of your caption

This keeps your TikTok caption clean while still helping the algorithm categorize your content.

Track hashtag performance metrics

Use tools like the TikTok Creative Center to see which tags are associated with trending topics or emerging content formats.

Quick tip

Want to boost your TikTok growth? Read our success story on Diana True-Knox, who went viral with a pop-culture design and generated thousands of dollars in merch sales using TikTok.

Don’ts

Use irrelevant or random hashtags

Adding unrelated TikTok-viral hashtags just to chase views and promote your business can make your posts look spammy, confuse the algorithm, and attract the wrong audience.

What’s more, TikTok discourages creators from adding too many hashtags to their captions. Aim for 3-5 well-chosen hashtags per post that clearly match your niche.

Rely only on the most popular hashtags

Generic tags like #fyp are extremely competitive and won’t guarantee viral success. Pair them with more specific hashtags related to your topic so your video has a better chance of reaching viewers.

Use the same hashtags every time

Instead of copying and pasting the same hashtag list, experiment with similar hashtags based on new TikTok trends and your video itself. This helps your profile reach different audience segments over time.

Ignore search-driven discovery

To find the best hashtags for your content, explore related tags in the search bar. This helps you choose keywords connected to topics people are actively searching for.

TikTok Creative Center workflow

The TikTok Creative Center is TikTok’s free research hub for advertisers and creators. It’s the most reliable way to spot trending hashtags before they peak – and TikTok trends typically only last around two weeks, so timing matters.

Here’s a simple workflow you can use every week to find hashtags worth posting.

Step 1: Set your region and industry

  • Region: Switch to where your target audience lives (most TikTok Shop sellers will choose United States).
  • Industry: Pick the category that fits your products – Apparel & Accessories for print-on-demand clothing, Beauty & Personal Care, or Home & Living.

Step 2: Compare 7-day and 30-day movement

  • Toggle between the 7-day and 30-day views.
  • Look for hashtags rising fast in the 7-day view but still small in posts – they’re picking up speed but haven’t saturated yet.
  • Skip anything you already see everywhere on your feed. If a trend feels saturated, you’re likely too late.

Step 3: Check the analytics page

  • Click any hashtag to open its detail page.
  • Review interest over time (the trend curve), audience age range, and regional popularity to confirm the tag fits your audience.
  • Don’t skip the related hashtags panel – it gives you 5 more candidates to mix in.

Step 4: Save 5-10 hashtags per niche

  • Build a small library of hashtags grouped by your products – one set for your hero design, another for seasonal pushes, another for behind-the-scenes content.
  • Rotate them rather than reusing the same list on every post.

Step 5: Cross-check with other signals

  • The Creative Center is great, but it’s not the whole picture. TikTok often sets the trend, but Google Trends and Pinterest can show you whether a topic has staying power beyond the platform – useful for deciding whether to keep posting on it.
  • Before committing to a hashtag, search it directly in the TikTok app. The top results show you what content the algorithm actually ranks for that tag – if your video fits the pattern, you’re in the right place. If it doesn’t, pick a different tag.
Pro tip

Save TikTok videos relevant to your niche as you scroll. The more you engage (like, comment, save) with content in your category, the more your algorithm surfaces emerging trends before they go mainstream.

FAQ

Some of the most popular TikTok hashtags include #FYP, #Trending, #POV, #OOTD, #TikTokMadeMeBuyIt, #GRWM, #Foodtok, and #Cleantok. Popular hashtags change frequently as trends evolve.

If you want to know how to find viral TikTok hashtags in your niche, explore the TikTok Creative Center, which tracks trending hashtags and topics on the platform.

The best hashtags for TikTok views combine broad discovery tags with niche-specific hashtags related to your content.

For example, pairing a high-volume tag like #FYP with niche tags relevant to your topic helps your videos reach both large audiences and viewers already interested in that subject.

Some of the most-liked TikTok hashtags include #FYP, #Trending, and #POV. These high-volume tags often generate strong engagement because they reach large audiences. For better results, many creators combine them with niche hashtags related to their content topic.

For TikTok Shop and print-on-demand sellers, the strongest hashtags blend commerce signals with niche tags. Start with #TikTokShop, #TikTokShopFinds, and #TikTokMadeMeBuyIt, then layer in product-specific tags like #PrintOnDemand, #CustomMerch, or #SmallBusinessOwner. Aim for 3-5 hashtags per post.

Top TikTok hashtags change constantly as new formats, sounds, and topics emerge. Examples include #FYP, #Trending, #POV, #GRWM, and #Foodtok. However, the best way to find current trends is by checking the TikTok Creative Center, where you can explore trending hashtags by region, industry, and time period.

Conclusion

TikTok hashtags are one of the most powerful tools to boost visibility, reach the right audience, and tap into trending topics across the platform.

Make sure to mix trending and niche TikTok hashtags to help your videos show up in search and discovery feeds to reach new viewers. And if you’re selling on TikTok Shop, pair commerce-driven tags like #TikTokShop and #TikTokMadeMeBuyIt with niche tags that match your product and audience.

If you want more TikTok marketing tips, product inspiration, and behind-the-scenes POD content, give PrintifyOfficial a follow on TikTok.

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