# Hashtags on TikTok: how many to use and how to choose them

URL: https://socialboostexpert.com/blog/hashtags-on-tiktok
Updated: 2026-11-14

> How many hashtags to add under a TikTok video, what role they play alongside keywords in the description, and how to choose them by video topic step by step.

Home
/ Blog
/ TikTok
TikTok
## Hashtags on TikTok: how many to use and how to choose them for a video
TikTok does not provide an official number of hashtags. We explain what the platform actually says about them, why keywords in the description are also important, and how to choose and test hashtags.
The Social Boost editorial team · Published November 14, 2026 · Last reviewed November 14, 2026 · 7 min read
### In short
- TikTok does not provide a recommended number of hashtags in its official materials; it only states that hashtags are among the video information that the recommendation system works with.
- As a starting point, a few precise hashtags that describe the video's topic work well, and then verify the number based on your own analytics.
- Keywords in the description are equally important as hashtags, meaning words that people would type into search.
- Hashtags like #fyp or #foryou will not get a video to the For You Page by themselves; TikTok decides based on how people respond to the video.
- TikTok's rules do not allow purchased interactions, and optimized hashtags will not replace or balance them.
TikTok does not specify an official number of hashtags. A reasonable starting point is around three to five precise hashtags that describe the video's topic, supplemented with a clear description containing keywords that people search for. You can only find out what number works for you by comparing the statistics of your own videos.
### What do hashtags on TikTok actually do?
Hashtags are one of the pieces of information about a video that TikTok uses to estimate what the video is about and who to offer it to. However, they do not determine the success of the video by themselves.
A hashtag is a word or phrase without spaces preceded by a hash symbol (for example #pečení), which categorizes the video under a certain topic. TikTok in the article about how it recommends videos on the For You Page
, lists among factors "video information", which includes descriptions, sounds, and hashtags. On the page about the recommendation system
then explicitly mentions "hashtags assigned to the video" alongside video length, sound, creator language, or publish time (as of November 2026).
However, these same sources emphasize that viewer behavior carries significant weight: which videos people watch completely, like, share, comment on, or skip. So a hashtag helps get the video to people with the right interests. Whether they will like it is determined by the content. This is discussed in more detail in the article how the TikTok algorithm works
.
An interesting note from practice: TikTok allows viewers to add words and hashtags they don't want to see on their For You Page. So hashtags also serve to prevent videos from reaching people who are not interested in the topic.
### How many hashtags should I add under a TikTok video?
TikTok does not provide official recommendations for the number of hashtags in its public materials about recommendations. Therefore, all numbers you find on the internet are just rules of thumb, not platform rules.
To start, it is best to stick with a few hashtags, each of which says something specific about the content. The reason is practical: ten loosely related tags give a less clear signal than three precise ones. Additionally, a long block of hashtags takes up space in the description that viewers see below the video.
Approach What does When it makes sense
Few precise hashtags 3–5 tags directly related to the video's topic Default choice for most videos
No hashtag Just a description with keywords To test whether your videos need hashtags at all
Many generic hashtags 10 or more hashtags such as #viral, #trend Usually not, the video topic remains unclear
Verify this count yourself: for a few weeks, give similar videos a different number of hashtags and compare the statistics of each video. Pay special attention to where viewers came from and how long they watched the video. Check where to find this data in the current version of the app, as the layout of creator tools changes.
### Why are keywords in the description as important as hashtags?
People on TikTok search through the search field and often type common words, not hashtags. A description that contains terms that a viewer would enter in search therefore gives the video another chance to be found by people.
In the announcement of the tool Creator Search Insights
states that search drives content discovery on TikTok and helps people explore topics of interest to them. A keyword is a term that people enter in search, for example "quick dinner without meat" or "how to change a bicycle tire".
A good description therefore usually contains:
- one clear sentence , which tells what the video is about and contains the main term,
- natural wording , as a person would write it in search, not a list of words in a row,
- a few hashtags at the end , which will complement or clarify the topic.
Keywords can also be carried by the video itself: what you say aloud and text on screen. How exactly TikTok uses these elements in search is not described in verified sources, but it is reasonable for the description, spoken word, and text in the video to talk about the same thing. A similar principle applies elsewhere, see hashtags on Instagram
.
### How to choose hashtags for a video step by step?
Choose hashtags according to the finished video, not the other way around. The procedure below will take a few minutes and can be repeated for each video.
- Describe the video in one sentence. For example, "banana bread recipe without sugar in 10 minutes". Keywords and hashtags will come from this sentence.
- Choose the main topic. One hashtag that generally names the area (#baking, #recipe).
- Add specification. One or two hashtags that distinguish the video (#sugarfree, #bananabread).
- Consider a hashtag for your audience or location. If you target a specific group or city, it might make sense (#brno, #forbeginners).
- Verify the hashtag in search. Type it into the search in the app and see what videos appear under it. If there is completely different content, skip the hashtag.
- Write the description. Adjust the sentence from the first step into natural form and put the hashtags at the end.
- Evaluate the result. After a few days, check the video statistics and note which combinations worked.
The mentioned Creator Search Insights tool can help when choosing topics. According to TikTok, it shows what people search for, can sort by categories, and filter so-called content gaps, i.e., topics that people often search for but few videos exist for. Open it by typing its name into the search in the app. TikTok states that it is available only in selected regions (as of November 2026), so verify its availability directly in the app.
### What hashtag mistakes should you avoid?
The most common mistake is using hashtags that are unrelated to the video just because they are popular. The video can then be shown to people who skip it quickly, and according to TikTok's description of recommendations, that is not a good signal.
- Unrelated trending hashtags. Use a trend only if the video actually relates to it.
- Only generic tags. #fyp, #foryou or #viral don't say anything about the video's content.
- Always the same block. A copied list under every video regardless of topic.
- Hashtags instead of a description. Viewers and search need to know what the video is about, even from a regular sentence.
- Expecting a miracle. Hashtags won't save a weak video. If reach suddenly drops for all videos, the cause is usually something else, see how to recognize limited reach on TikTok
.
### Will purchased likes or followers help?
Not directly. Purchased interactions don't change what the video is about, and according to TikTok's rules the platform doesn't allow them.
TikTok Community Guidelines in the section Integrity and authenticity
state that the platform does not allow trading in services that artificially increase interactions or deceive the recommendation system. If TikTok detects false metrics, it will remove fake likes and followers. Possible measures include account restrictions, limited visibility in search, or removal from the For You Page (as of November 2026). Therefore, limitations on reach or account cannot be ruled out after purchase. The same is explicitly stated by terms and conditions
clause 3.3.
Purchased interactions also do not replace content, do not guarantee audience interest, sales, or reach, and may worsen the engagement-to-follower ratio. Moreover, according to TikTok sources, the follower count itself is not a direct factor in recommendations.
### When paid promotion makes sense and when it does not?
A package can help as initial social proof for a new profile that already has good videos with well-thought-out descriptions and hashtags, or as a complement to a specific campaign provided you continue working on content. It doesn't make sense if videos are still missing or not working, if you want to meet monetization or verification requirements, if your account already has warnings or restrictions, or if you're waiting for sales and genuine audience engagement.
If, after considering the risks, you are considering promotion, you will find a description of the service on the page followers on TikTok
and current prices in price list
.
### Frequently asked questions
#### What is the maximum number of hashtags on TikTok?
TikTok does not specify a fixed number of hashtags in its public materials on recommendations; you are mainly limited by the description length, which can change with app updates. You will see the current limit directly when writing the description. In practice, however, it makes no sense to fill the description with hashtags: a few precise tags and a clear sentence with keywords usually give a better idea of the video's topic than a long list.
#### Does it make sense to add #fyp or #foryou to a video?
These hashtags do not say anything about what the video is about, so they bring little value for topic categorization or search. TikTok states that it builds the For You Page mainly based on how people interact with videos, for example whether they watch them completely, like them, or share them. If you want to use them, treat them as a supplement, not a replacement for topic-related hashtags.
#### Can I use the same hashtags under every TikTok video?
You can repeat one or two hashtags that describe your profile or series, but the rest should match the content of the specific video. If you copy the same block under every video regardless of the topic, hashtags will stop conveying useful information. For clarity, you can keep a table where you have a set of suitable terms for each topic.
#### Will changing hashtags on an older video help?
TikTok does not publicly describe whether and how editing the description will affect an already published video, and the ability to edit the description may vary depending on the app version. It is more reliable to learn from the results and carefully consider hashtags and keywords for your next videos. Then compare the results in the statistics of individual videos.
#### How do I find out what people are searching for on TikTok?
The Creator Search Insights tool can help, which according to TikTok shows topics that people search for. You can find it by typing its name into the search in the app, but it is only available in selected regions. Otherwise, you can use the search field itself: start typing a topic and see what expressions the app suggests and what videos appear.
### Want to give your profile a head start?
Choose a package for your platform. We never ask for your password, the order takes two minutes and delivery starts after payment.
See packages and prices
Not sure which package fits? Write to us on WhatsApp or by e-mail and we will recommend one. WhatsApp
· info@socialboostexpert.com
### Sources
- How TikTok recommends videos #ForYou – TikTok Newsroom
(checked November 14, 2026)
- Introduction to the TikTok recommendation system – TikTok Transparency Center
(checked November 14, 2026)
- Get inspired with Creator Search Insights – TikTok Newsroom
(checked November 14, 2026)
- Integrity and Authenticity – TikTok Community Guidelines
(checked November 14, 2026)
Prepared by our editorial team with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Platform rules change: always check the current wording at the source. This article was translated with AI assistance. The sources are in their original language.
### Related articles
TikTok TikTok Verification: What the Badge Means and How to Prepare Your Profile The TikTok verification badge is granted by the platform itself and cannot be purchased. We explain where to find the official criteria, how to prepare your profile and what to watch out for in verification offers. November 3, 2026 · 5 min read
TikTok When to post on TikTok: how to find the right time for your audience There is no universal posting time for TikTok. We show how to determine it from your own statistics and a simple test, and what role timing actually plays in video recommendations. November 3, 2026 · 6 min read
TikTok How to Get Followers on TikTok: Current Step-by-Step Process Followers on TikTok mainly come from videos that people watch to the end and share. We show what TikTok says influences recommendations and how to proceed step by step. November 2, 2026 · 5 min read