How do I cite a TikTok video in Chicago?

To cite a TikTok video in Chicago (18th edition), include the author, title, date, and source location. Use our free citation generator for automatic formatting.

How to Cite a TikTok Video in Chicago (18th edition)

Learn how to cite TikTok videos and creator posts in Chicago format (18th edition). This guide includes the reference list format, in-text citation examples, and key formatting rules.

Chicago Bibliography Format

Here is the standard Chicago format for citing a TikTok video in your bibliography:

Cite in a note, not the bibliography: 1. Creator Name (@username), “Caption of the video,” TikTok video, Month Day, Year, https://www.tiktok.com/@username/video/xxxxx.

Chicago Example for a TikTok Video

Chicago does not give a TikTok video an entry in the bibliography — it is cited in a note only. Here is that note, written by hand and checked against the official Chicago guidance:

1. Phil Cook (@chemteacherphil), “Fighting fire with fire. #sciencetok #learnontiktok,” TikTok video, September 17, 2021, https://www.tiktok.com/@chemteacherphil/video/7008953610872605957.

Chicago In-Text Citation

Use one of these formats when referencing this source within your paper:

Parenthetical

Footnote: 1. Phil Cook (@chemteacherphil), “Fighting fire with fire. #sciencetok #learnontiktok,” TikTok video, September 17, 2021, https://www.tiktok.com/@chemteacherphil/video/7008953610872605957.

Narrative

Shortened note: 2. Cook, “Fighting fire with fire.”

Key Chicago Formatting Rules

Give the creator’s name followed by the @username in parentheses; if only the handle is known, start with the handle.
Quote the caption (up to the first 280 characters) in place of a title, and add the description TikTok video.
Give the posting date as Month Day, Year and end with the video’s permalink.
Chicago (CMOS 18 §14.106) normally cites social media posts in notes only; add a bibliography entry only if your instructor asks for one or you cite the account often.

Step-by-Step Guide

Gather source information: Collect the author name, title, publication date, and URL or DOI for your TikTok video.
Format the reference: Arrange the elements following the Chicago (18th edition) template shown above.
Create the in-text citation: Add a parenthetical or narrative citation in your paper where you reference this source.
Add to your bibliography: Include the full formatted citation at the end of your paper.
Double-check formatting: Verify italics, punctuation, capitalization, and hanging indents match Chicago requirements.

Evidence and review notes

Worked examples on this page are written by hand from the style's own published guidance and checked against it, because the general CSL styles do not encode this source's rules. Editorial guidance and sources in this section were reviewed on 2026-08-14.

Metadata to collect

creator's name and @handle
caption text, including hashtags
posting date
video permalink
date you viewed it

Common metadata traps

Copying the profile URL or a vm.tiktok.com share link gives the reader the wrong page; use the full tiktok.com/@handle/video/ number of the video itself.
The song or sound credited at the bottom of a TikTok is not its author; the author is the account that posted the video.
Rewriting the caption in title case or dropping its hashtags changes the title; keep the caption exactly as the creator wrote it.

Editorial sources

Chicago Manual of Style — citation quick guide →

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I cite a TikTok video in Chicago?: To cite a TikTok video in Chicago (18th edition), include the author, title, date, and source location. Use our free citation generator for automatic formatting.
What is the Chicago format for a TikTok video citation?: The Chicago format for a TikTok video is: Cite in a note, not the bibliography: 1. Creator Name (@username), “Caption of the video,” TikTok video, Month Day, Year, https://www.tiktok.com/@username/video/xxxxx.
What does the in-text citation look like for a TikTok video in Chicago?: In Chicago, the in-text citation for the example above is Footnote: 1. Phil Cook (@chemteacherphil), “Fighting fire with fire. #sciencetok #learnontiktok,” TikTok video, September 17, 2021, https://www.tiktok.com/@chemteacherphil/video/7008953610872605957.