| Interest or option | Type | Reaches or does | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apparel & Accessories | Interest (tier 1) | Clothing, shoes, bags, jewelry and fashion brands | Each tier-1 category has narrower sub-interests in Ads Manager | |
| Appliances | Interest (tier 1) | Kitchen, cleaning and home appliance brands | Each tier-1 category has narrower sub-interests in Ads Manager | |
| Apps | Interest (tier 1) | Mobile app installs and app engagement | Each tier-1 category has narrower sub-interests in Ads Manager | |
| Baby, Kids & Maternity | Interest (tier 1) | Baby gear, toys, kids’ clothing and parenting products | Each tier-1 category has narrower sub-interests in Ads Manager | |
| Beauty & Personal Care | Interest (tier 1) | Skincare, makeup, hair care, fragrance and grooming | Sub-interests include Skincare and Facial Cleansing | |
| Business Services | Interest (tier 1) | B2B software, agencies and services for small businesses | Each tier-1 category has narrower sub-interests in Ads Manager | |
| E-Commerce (Non-app) | Interest (tier 1) | Online stores and marketplaces selling on the web | Each tier-1 category has narrower sub-interests in Ads Manager | |
| Education | Interest (tier 1) | Courses, language learning, schools and tutoring | Each tier-1 category has narrower sub-interests in Ads Manager | |
| Financial Services | Interest (tier 1) | Banking, investing, insurance, credit and fintech | Each tier-1 category has narrower sub-interests in Ads Manager | |
| Food & Beverage | Interest (tier 1) | Snacks, drinks, groceries, restaurants and recipes | Each tier-1 category has narrower sub-interests in Ads Manager | |
| Games | Interest (tier 1) | Mobile, PC and console games | Each tier-1 category has narrower sub-interests in Ads Manager | |
| Home Improvement | Interest (tier 1) | Furniture, decor, tools, DIY and garden | Each tier-1 category has narrower sub-interests in Ads Manager | |
| Household Products | Interest (tier 1) | Cleaning, storage and everyday home supplies | Each tier-1 category has narrower sub-interests in Ads Manager | |
| Life Services | Interest (tier 1) | Local services, delivery, dating, weddings and events | Each tier-1 category has narrower sub-interests in Ads Manager | |
| News & Entertainment | Interest (tier 1) | Movies, TV, music, streaming and news | Each tier-1 category has narrower sub-interests in Ads Manager | |
| Pets | Interest (tier 1) | Pet food, toys, care and supplies | Each tier-1 category has narrower sub-interests in Ads Manager | |
| Sports & Outdoors | Interest (tier 1) | Fitness, sportswear, outdoor gear and sports fans | Each tier-1 category has narrower sub-interests in Ads Manager | |
| Tech & Electronics | Interest (tier 1) | Phones, computers, gadgets and wearables | Sub-interests include Wearable Tech Devices | |
| Travel | Interest (tier 1) | Flights, hotels, destinations and travel gear | Each tier-1 category has narrower sub-interests in Ads Manager | |
| Vehicles & Transportation | Interest (tier 1) | Cars, motorcycles, parts and ride services | Each tier-1 category has narrower sub-interests in Ads Manager | |
| Video interactions | Behavior | People who finished, liked, commented on or shared videos in a category | Based on the past 15 days | |
| Creator interactions | Behavior | People who follow or viewed the profiles of creator types | TikTok cites 30 days (2024 guide) and 90 days (Help Center) | |
| Hashtag interactions | Behavior | People who viewed videos with chosen hashtags | Pick hashtags tied to your product | |
| Combining selections | How it works | Choices in the same section use OR; different sections use AND | Too many AND layers shrink reach fast | |
| Broad / no interests | How it works | Leave interests empty and let TikTok find buyers | Often works well with enough budget and strong creative |
List as of Nov 2026 from TikTok guides and third-party lists. Sub-interests vary by market and objective; search them in Ads Manager › Ad group › Targeting.
How to use TikTok interest targeting
Start with one tier-1 category
TikTok says choosing a first-tier category helps delivery explore. Add sub-interests only if results are too broad.
Add behaviors for recent intent
Interests are long-term. Video interactions look at the past 15 days, so they catch people engaging with your niche now.
Watch the AND/OR rule
Several interests widen reach (OR). Adding a behavior on top narrows it (AND).
Frequently asked questions
How many interest categories does TikTok have?
20 top-level categories in Ads Manager. Third-party guides count more than 440 when sub-interests are included.
What is the difference between interests and behaviors?
Interests are predicted from long-term activity. Behaviors use recent actions, like videos watched or liked in the past 15 days.
Can I use interest targeting on TikTok Ad Network (Pangle)?
No. TikTok says interest targeting isn’t supported on Pangle placements.
Related free tools
Sources: MegaDigital: TikTok interest targeting (20 categories) · PiPiADS: TikTok ad targeting audience (category list) · TikTok Ads: About interest targeting · TikTok Ads: Behavior targeting · TikTok: Targeting Solutions 2024 (PDF) · TikTok Ads: About ad targeting