Karma requirement
Also called: minimum karma, karma threshold, karma limit to post
Definition
A karma requirement is a minimum amount of Reddit karma an account needs before it can post or comment in a subreddit. Moderators usually enforce it with AutoModerator, and most communities do not publish the exact number.
A karma requirement is a subreddit's minimum karma for participating. Below it, your post or comment is removed or held for review. Reddit's help center says some communities require a certain amount of karma before allowing you to post, as a measure "to prevent spamming within the community."
How it works
Most karma requirements are AutoModerator rules. According to Reddit's AutoModerator documentation, moderators can check:
- comment_karma, post_karma or combined_karma (sitewide)
- comment_subreddit_karma, post_subreddit_karma or combined_subreddit_karma (earned in that subreddit only)
- with greater-than or less-than thresholds, often paired with an account age check
- with an option (satisfy_any_threshold) that lets an account pass if it meets any one check instead of all of them
The rule then removes, filters to the mod queue, or reports the content. Increasingly, moderators also use the Contributor Quality Score, which Reddit's docs describe as "a more holistic replacement for karma or account age checks."
Can you see the threshold?
Partly. Reddit's Poster Eligibility Guide appears when you select Create a post in a community and shows which karma, account age and email verification criteria you meet or miss. Reddit states that the specific karma and account age thresholds "aren't disclosed at this time to deter potential misuse." Some communities publish their minimums in the sidebar or wiki; many do not.
Why it matters for marketers
Karma requirements are the most common reason a brand-new account "posts" and nobody sees it. The content exists on your profile, so it looks fine to you, but it never appeared in the subreddit. That can look like a shadowban but usually is not; check with the shadowban checker and read why posts get removed.
Build karma before you need it, in the communities you plan to participate in, because subreddit-specific checks ignore karma earned elsewhere.
Example
A new account comments in a large personal finance subreddit and gets no replies for a day. Logged out, the comment is not visible in the thread. The sub filters comments from accounts under a combined karma threshold. The account spends two weeks answering questions in smaller communities, crosses the threshold, and later comments appear normally.
Common mistakes
- Messaging mods to ask for the exact number. Many will not share it, for the same anti-spam reason Reddit gives.
- Farming karma to clear the bar. Reposting old content for karma is named in Reddit's spam policy. See karma farming.
- Assuming one threshold fits all. One sub checks comment karma, another checks post karma, a third checks karma earned inside that sub.
Check where an account stands with the Reddit karma checker.
Frequently asked questions
What is the typical karma requirement on Reddit?
There is no standard. Many subreddits have none, others require small amounts, and some large or spam-targeted communities set much higher bars. Reddit does not publish them.
Why can't I post even though I have enough karma?
The rule may check a different type (post vs comment), subreddit-specific karma, account age, a verified email, or Contributor Quality Score. The Poster Eligibility Guide shows which criteria you miss.
Do karma requirements apply to comments too?
They can. AutoModerator rules can target posts, comments or both.