Subreddit rules are the posting rules each Reddit community sets on top of Reddit’s sitewide rules. On desktop you’ll find them in the sidebar on the right of the community page. In the Reddit app, open the community and tap through to its About or Rules section. Read them with the wiki and pinned posts, then check what the community removes in practice, because limits such as karma or account age are often enforced by filters and never written down.
This guide shows where to find subreddit rules, what the common ones mean, and a 10-point check to run on any community before your first post. It’s written for anyone posting somewhere new, and especially for businesses, since promotional posts get removed more than anything else.
What are subreddit rules?
Reddit runs on two layers of rules. The Reddit Rules apply everywhere and are enforced by Reddit’s own staff. Subreddit rules apply inside one community and are set and enforced by its volunteer moderators.
Subreddit rules can be stricter than Reddit’s, never looser. A community can ban links, require a title format, limit self-promotion to one weekly thread, or allow only certain post types. Moderators remove content that breaks those rules, and repeat offenders can be banned from the community.
Moderators also have their own obligations. Reddit’s Moderator Code of Conduct asks them to publish clear rules and enforce them consistently, which is why most communities do have a rules list somewhere.
How do you find subreddit rules?
Where the rules sit depends on how you’re browsing. Check all three places below before posting, because some communities spread their rules across them.
On desktop
Open the subreddit and look at the right-hand sidebar. You’ll usually see an “About” box with the community description, followed by a “Rules” box with numbered rules you can click to expand. Scroll further for links to the wiki, related communities and the moderator list.
In the Reddit app
Open the community and tap its name or the info area at the top of the page. That opens the About section, where the subreddit rules are listed. Reddit changes its app layout from time to time, so if you can’t see the rules, look for an “About” tab or an “i” icon.
On old Reddit
Some people still browse old.reddit.com. There, rules usually sit in the sidebar as plain text. A few communities keep different text on old and new Reddit, so if something seems missing, check the other version.
What do common subreddit rules mean?
Most subreddit rules fall into a handful of types. The table below covers the ones that trip people up most often.
| Rule | What it usually means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| No self-promotion | No links to, or mentions of, anything you own or sell | Help without mentioning your business, or skip the community |
| Self-promotion in the weekly thread only | Promotional posts belong in a pinned megathread | Use that thread and nothing else |
| Flair required | Every post needs a category tag | Pick the flair before you submit |
| Title format | Titles must follow a pattern, like [Question] or a location tag | Copy the format from recent posts |
| No duplicates | Questions already answered get removed | Search the subreddit first |
| No low-effort posts | Short or vague posts get removed | Add context and detail |
| Minimum karma or account age | New accounts are filtered automatically | Build some history first |
If a rule is unclear, ask the moderators before posting. That message takes a minute and can save a removal.
What don’t subreddit rules tell you?
The written list is only part of what decides whether your post stays up. Three other things matter just as much.
Automatic filters. Most communities run AutoModerator, Reddit’s rule bot. It can remove posts from new accounts, posts with certain links or words, or posts from people with little karma in that community. Moderators rarely publish these settings, because publishing them makes the filter easier to dodge. Our guide to Reddit karma explains how those thresholds work.
Culture. Every community has its own tone. Some welcome business owners who share what they’ve learned. Others react badly to anything that sounds like marketing, even when it’s allowed.
Moderator habits. Some teams remove borderline posts quickly; others leave them up and let votes decide. The only way to learn this is to watch the community for a while.
How to research a subreddit before you post: a 10-point check
Reading subreddit rules is step one. The other nine points tell you whether the community suits you at all. Run through them once for every community on your list.
- Read the rules in full. Note anything about promotion, links, flair and titles.
- Read the wiki and pinned posts. Many communities keep their detailed guidance and FAQs there.
- Check activity. Look at how many posts appeared in the past week and how many got replies.
- Read a month of top posts. This shows what the community values and the tone it expects.
- Look at recent removals. Threads with “[removed]” and a moderator note show which rules get enforced.
- Find the promotion policy in practice. Search for posts by business owners and see how they were received.
- Check who answers questions. If the same experts reply every time, you’ll be compared with them.
- Look for your buyers’ questions. Search the subreddit for the problems your customers describe.
- Check Google. Search
site:reddit.com/r/[name] "your keyword"to see whether threads from this community rank. - Look at the moderators. Active moderators who post and reply tend to run communities with clear, steady standards.
For more ways to build your shortlist, see our subreddit discovery guide and our guide on how to find Reddit threads already ranking.
How do you score a subreddit?
Give each of the 10 points a score of 0, 1 or 2, where 2 means the community clearly passes. Then add them up:
- 15 to 20: go. Start commenting and help where you can.
- 9 to 14: wait. Watch for a few more weeks, or ask the moderators about anything unclear.
- 0 to 8: skip. Your time is better spent in a community that fits.
Keep the scores in a simple spreadsheet and redo them every few months. Communities change when moderators change, and subreddit rules get updated more often than people expect.
How do subreddit rules differ between types of community?
The kind of community tells you a lot about the rules you’ll meet before you even open the sidebar.
Large general subreddits tend to have the strictest automatic filters. They get thousands of posts a day, so moderators lean on AutoModerator to remove anything from new accounts, anything with a link, and anything that repeats a recent post.
Professional and industry communities usually ban promotion outright but welcome detailed, first-hand answers. Many have a weekly thread for tools and services, and some ask members to set user flair showing their role.
Local subreddits for cities and regions often allow business recommendations when someone asks, but remove unprompted ads. Several keep a pinned thread for local services.
Hobby and support communities are often the friendliest to newcomers. Their subreddit rules focus on staying on topic and being kind, and they’re good places to build history before you post anywhere stricter.
How do you keep track of subreddit rules across communities?
Once you’re active in more than a few communities, keep the key rules in one place. A spreadsheet with one row per subreddit works: note the promotion policy, link rules, required flair, title format, any weekly thread, and the date you last checked. Add a column for the score from the check above.
Before each post, glance at that row instead of relying on memory. It takes seconds, and it catches the rule you forgot about.
When should you message the moderators?
Send a short modmail before anything that could look promotional: a post about your product, a survey, an AMA, or a link to your own content. Say who you are, what you’d like to post, and which rule you think applies. Most moderators would rather answer a polite question than clean up afterwards.
Keep it brief and accept the answer, even if it’s no. If they say yes, mention the approval in your post if the community expects it. For the wider picture on promotion, read how to promote your business on Reddit and how to mention your brand on Reddit without sounding like an ad.
What happens if you break subreddit rules?
Usually the post or comment is removed, sometimes with a note explaining which rule applied. Repeat breaks can lead to a ban from that community. A subreddit ban doesn’t affect the rest of Reddit, but ignoring it with a second account counts as ban evasion under the Reddit Rules and can lead to sitewide action.
If a post disappears and you’re not sure why, our guide on why your Reddit post was removed walks through the checks in order.
Subreddit rules: frequently asked questions
Where are subreddit rules in the Reddit app?
Open the community, then tap its name or the info area at the top to open the About section. The rules are listed there. If the layout has changed, look for an About tab or an “i” icon.
Can subreddit rules be stricter than Reddit’s rules?
Yes. Communities can add any rules they like on top of the Reddit Rules, as long as they don’t conflict with them. They can’t allow something Reddit bans.
How do I know a subreddit’s karma requirement?
Sometimes the sidebar or wiki says. Often it doesn’t, and you only learn from an automatic removal. If that happens, build history elsewhere for a few weeks and try again, or ask the moderators.
Do subreddit rules change?
Yes, often when moderators change or a community grows. Recheck the rules of any community you post in every few months, and watch for pinned announcements.
How do I appeal a removal for breaking subreddit rules?
Message the moderators once, politely, through modmail. Ask which rule applied and whether an edited version would be welcome. Don’t repost the same content while you wait.
Want a shortlist of communities worth researching? Get a free Reddit Opportunity Report showing which Reddit threads already rank for your keywords.
