Reddit Karma System 2026 – Types + Decay Table All Devices
Reddit Karma System 2026
Reddit karma tracks upvotes minus downvotes on your posts and comments to build account trust. Follows message on Reddit. Caps end of core Reddit flow. Three types control sub access.
Upvotes add, downvotes subtract. Post karma from submissions, comment karma from replies (most important for new accounts). Community karma per sub. Decay after 24h.
What Builds Reddit Karma?
Upvotes add to totals. Downvotes subtract. Fresh content gives best ratio.
Post upvotes = post karma. Comment upvotes = comment karma. Community karma per sub. Decay hits old posts hard.
Entities Table
| Entity | Attribute | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Post Karma | Earned | Submission upvotes |
| Comment Karma | Earned | Reply upvotes |
| Community Karma | Scope | Single subreddit |
| Decay | Time | 24h max yield |
| Profile View | Location | Overview tab totals |
Post Karma Details
Links, images, text posts count separate from comments.
Submit to open subs → Upvotes add post karma only. Title drives clicks. Needs sub approval first.
Comment Karma Details
Replies build faster, needed most for new accounts.
Short answers on new/hot threads → Upvotes count comment karma. r/AskReddit easy start point.
Karma Decay System
Old upvotes worth near zero new points.
First 24h max per upvote. Day 2 tiny gain. Hot new posts best ratio always.
Types Table
| Type | From | Sub Use |
|---|---|---|
| Post | Post upvotes | Image/link subs |
| Comment | Reply upvotes | All subs min req |
| Community | Sub upvotes | That sub only |
Why Subs Need Karma
Blocks spam bots from instant posting.
r/pics 10 post karma. r/AskReddit 30 comment. Check sidebar rules before try.
Negative Karma Impact
Sitewide posting blocks below zero.
Downvote heavy drops total. Delete doesn’t fix. New account cleanest reset path.
View Your Karma
Profile page splits all three types live.
reddit.com/u/yourname → Overview tab shows post/comment/community totals separate.