Subreddit rules
Also called: community rules, sub rules, subreddit guidelines
Definition
Subreddit rules are the community-specific rules a subreddit's moderators write and enforce on top of Reddit's sitewide rules. They cover topics, formatting and self-promotion, appear in the sidebar, and double as the report reasons users can choose.
Every subreddit runs on two layers of rules. The Reddit content policy applies everywhere and is enforced by Reddit's admins. Subreddit rules apply in one community and are enforced by its moderators. Reddit's help center puts it plainly: follow the Reddit Rules "as well as the rules of the community you're in."
How it works
Mods create rules in the Rules section of their mod tools. Each rule has a name, a description, a report reason, and a scope: posts only, comments and chat messages, or both. The rules show in the community's sidebar in the order the mods set.
Because each rule doubles as a report reason, breaking a rule is easy for members to flag. A reported item goes to the mod queue, and the mod who removes it can attach the matching rule as the removal reason.
Enforcement increasingly happens before a human looks:
- AutoModerator and filters. Many rules are backed by AutoModerator rules that remove posts with certain links or keywords.
- Rules hub auto-enforcement. Reddit's help center says newly created public and restricted communities (and those in the beta) can turn on automatic enforcement for compatible rules, using a large language model. Mods choose Report, Remove for review, Remove, or Only show guidance.
- Post Check. When you create a post, Reddit can use an LLM to highlight likely rule violations in your draft and suggest fixes. It does not block you from posting.
Why it matters for marketers
The most common reasons a brand gets removed are not sitewide rules. They are subreddit rules like these:
- "No self-promotion" or "self-promotion only in the weekly thread."
- "No links to your own product or blog."
- The 10% rule: most of your activity here must not be about you.
- "No surveys," "no market research," "no 'what do you think of my startup' posts."
- Minimum karma or account age, often unstated in the sidebar and enforced by AutoMod.
Reading rules is cheap and getting banned is expensive. Before you comment in a community for the first time, read the sidebar, check pinned posts for a weekly promo thread, and search the subreddit for how other founders have been received. Our subreddit stats tool shows a community's rules alongside its activity, and the self-promotion rules guide groups common policies.
Example
Many founder communities allow sharing your own project only in a pinned weekly thread. A founder who posts a launch announcement as a standalone post gets it removed under "Rule 3: No promotion." The same announcement in the weekly thread stays up and gets replies.
Common mistakes
- Reading only the rule titles. The description often holds the detail, such as "links allowed if you disclose."
- Assuming rules are the same across similar subreddits. Two SaaS communities can have opposite link policies.
- Ignoring rule changes. Mods update rules, especially after a wave of spam.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I find a subreddit's rules?
In the community's sidebar on desktop, or the About tab in the Reddit app. Some communities also link a wiki page with longer guidelines.
Can a subreddit have stricter rules than Reddit?
Yes. Communities can ban topics, formats, links or self-promotion that Reddit's sitewide rules allow. They cannot permit content that breaks the Reddit Rules.
What happens if I break a subreddit rule?
Usually the post or comment is removed. Repeat or serious breaks can lead to a temporary or permanent ban from that community, but not from Reddit as a whole.