Post karma
Also called: link karma, post_karma
Definition
Post karma is the part of your Reddit karma earned from votes on posts you submit, as opposed to comments. It cannot drop below zero, and subreddits often require a minimum before you can create posts there.
Post karma is the karma you earn from posts: the links, text posts, images and videos you submit to subreddits or your profile. It used to be called "link karma," which is why older guides and some tools still use that name.
How it works
When people upvote a post you made, your post karma rises. Downvotes pull it back. Reddit says the relationship between votes and karma is approximate, not 1:1, and it does not publish the exact math.
Two details from Reddit's AutoModerator documentation are useful:
- Post karma "will not go below 0." A downvoted post can wipe out gains, but your post karma never shows a negative number.
- Moderators can check either your sitewide post karma (post_karma) or the post karma you earned in their community (post_subreddit_karma).
You can see your split on desktop by hovering over the karma total on your profile card, or in the app on your profile's About tab.
Why it matters for marketers
Post karma gates posting. Many subreddits require a minimum post karma, a minimum comment karma, or a combined total before a new post goes live. If you are short, AutoModerator removes or filters the post, often without a message. Reddit's Poster Eligibility Guide shows users whether they meet a community's karma criteria when they start a post, but it does not reveal the exact number.
Post karma is harder to earn than comment karma for most business accounts. A good comment in a busy thread can get dozens of upvotes. A post needs to stand on its own and survive the Hot sort competition against everything else in that subreddit.
Example
A DTC founder wants to share a launch post in a subreddit that requires 100 post karma. Their account has 900 comment karma and 4 post karma. The post is filtered. Comment karma does not count toward that rule. The fix is either to build post karma (useful questions and write-ups in communities where posting is open) or to stay in the comments in that subreddit until the account qualifies.
Common mistakes
- Reposting popular old content to build post karma. Reddit's spam policy names "repeatedly posting or sharing old content for the purpose of rapidly gaining karma." That is karma farming.
- Assuming combined karma is what's checked. Mods can check post karma, comment karma, combined karma, or the subreddit-specific version of each.
- Posting low-effort content in big subreddits. A heavily downvoted post can cancel out earlier gains.
For a practical plan, see how to get karma on Reddit, and check where an account stands with the Reddit karma checker.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between post karma and link karma?
Nothing. "Link karma" is the older name for post karma, from when most Reddit posts were links.
Can post karma go negative?
No. Reddit's AutoModerator documentation states that post karma will not go below 0.
Does post karma count toward comment karma requirements?
No. They are separate numbers. A subreddit that checks comment karma ignores your post karma unless it checks combined karma.