TikTok engagement rate formula
Add the interactions on a video and divide by its views. TikTok’s developer APIs expose these counts for each video: like_count, comment_count, share_count and view_count,[1] and the Research API adds favorites_count, the saves.[2] TikTok does not publish one official engagement-rate formula for creators, so this calculator states its own and shows the rate with and without saves.
| Counted | Interactions | Rate by views | What it signals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Likes | 4,200 | 7% | Most common, cheapest interaction |
| + comments | 4,380 | 7.3% | Conversation |
| + shares | 4,730 | 7.88% | Reach beyond the viewer |
| + saves | 5,250 | 8.75% | Intent to come back |
By views or by followers?
Use views. On TikTok a video’s audience is mostly people who do not follow the account, so dividing by followers mixes two groups: a 3,000-follower account with a 1.8 million-view video would show an engagement rate far above 100%. The follower-based rate is still shown when you enter followers, because it is what many brand briefs ask for; label it clearly. The general engagement rate calculator explains the three denominators, and the Instagram engagement rate calculator applies them to Instagram Insights.
- Rate by views8.75%
- Without saves7.88%
- Shares + comments rate0.88%
- Rate by followers43.75%
Across several videos
For an account average, add the interactions and views of the last 10 or 20 videos and enter the number of videos. Summing first weights big videos more than averaging each video’s rate, which is usually what a brand wants to know. For paid TikTok video views, cost belongs on the cost per view calculator.
TikTok engagement mistakes
- Mixing periods. Views and interactions must cover the same videos and dates; lifetime views with last-week likes gives a meaningless rate.
- Comparing with Instagram follower rates. Different denominators give different numbers. Compare TikTok by-views rates with each other.
- Hiding paid partnerships. Sponsored posts need a clear disclosure under FTC guidance, and engagement on them is still counted the same way.
Influencer posts that are paid or gifted need a disclosure that is hard to miss.[3]
Not affiliated with TikTok or ByteDance. Platform names are trademarks of their owners and appear only to identify whose documentation we cite.
Frequently asked questions
How do you calculate TikTok engagement rate?
(Likes + comments + shares + saves) ÷ views × 100. 5,250 ÷ 60,000 × 100 = 8.75%.
Should TikTok engagement rate use views or followers?
Views, because most TikTok views come from non-followers. Use followers only when a brief asks for it, and say which one you used.
Are saves counted in TikTok engagement rate?
There is no single official formula. This calculator includes saves (favorites) and also shows the rate without them.
How do I calculate an account’s average engagement rate?
Add interactions and views across your last 10–20 videos, divide, and multiply by 100. Enter the video count to see per-video averages.