Reddit formatting guide, with a live markdown preview
Reddit formats posts and comments with markdown, plus a few extras of its own like spoilers and superscript. Type or paste on the left and see the result on the right, the way a Reddit comment shows it, with a cheat sheet underneath.
Runs in your browser. Nothing you type is sent anywhere. Paste the left side into Reddit's Markdown editor, or its comment box in markdown mode.
Reddit formatting cheat sheet
**bold**- bold
*italic*- italic
~~strikethrough~~- strikethrough
>!spoiler!<- hidden until clicked
^superscript or ^(two words)- raised text
# Heading- heading (up to ######)
- item or 1. item- bulleted or numbered list
> quote- quote block
`code`- inline code
4 spaces or ``` fences- code block
[text](https://url)- link
| a | b | then |---|---|- table
blank line- new paragraph
***- horizontal line
Reddit formats text with markdown: you type symbols around words and Reddit turns them into bold, lists, links and tables. This Reddit formatting guide shows each piece of syntax next to a live preview, so you can see what a comment will look like before you post it.
The syntax at a glance
| You type | You get |
|---|---|
**bold** |
bold |
*italic* |
italic |
~~strikethrough~~ |
|
>!spoiler!< |
Text hidden until clicked |
^word or ^(two words) |
Superscript |
# Heading |
A heading (one to six #) |
- item or 1. item |
A bulleted or numbered list |
> quote |
A quote block |
`code` |
Inline code |
| Four spaces, or three backticks above and below | A code block |
[text](https://example.com) |
A link |
r/SaaS or u/name |
A link to the subreddit or user |
Reddit comment formatting rules people trip on
- New lines. Reddit ignores a single line break. Leave a blank line between paragraphs, or end the line with two spaces.
- Lists need a blank line before them when they follow a paragraph. Without it they run into the text above.
- Tables need a header row, then a row of dashes, like
|---|---|. - Spoilers open with
>!and close with!<, with no space after the opening marks. - The editor matters. On the web, the default editor formats as you type. Switch it to markdown mode before pasting markdown, or the symbols show up as plain text.
How the preview works
The formatter runs in your browser, and nothing you type is sent to us. It follows Reddit's markdown, including tables and strikethrough, plus Reddit's spoilers, superscript and r/ and u/ links. Raw HTML shows as text, which is how Reddit treats it. Images appear as links, the way they do in most comment threads.
The preview is close but not pixel-perfect. Fonts, colours and spacing depend on the Reddit app or theme the reader uses.
Formatting that helps a post do well
Much of Reddit is read on a phone, where short paragraphs and a clear list are easier to follow. A table works well for a comparison. Heavy bold, headings in every comment and walls of links tend to read like marketing. See how to post on Reddit for the rest of the posting basics.
What to do next
- Got a draft? Check it against the subreddit's rules with the post rule checker.
- Starting from scratch? The Reddit post generator drafts a post for a subreddit you pick.
- Learning the language of Reddit too? Read Reddit slang and terms every marketer needs.
Frequently asked questions
Is there an official reddit markdown guide?
Reddit publishes formatting help in its own help centre. The cheat sheet and preview on this page cover the same syntax with live examples.
How do I make a spoiler on Reddit?
Wrap the text in `>!` and `!<`, for example `>!the ending!<`. Readers click it to reveal the text.
Why does my formatting show as symbols on Reddit?
You're probably in the rich-text editor. Switch to markdown mode before you paste, or use the editor's buttons to add the formatting.
Does reddit comment formatting work the same in the app?
The syntax is the same everywhere. How it looks varies a little by app and theme.
Want posts written that fit each subreddit?
We write and run Reddit posts for funded SaaS, fintech and DTC brands, formatted and checked against every subreddit's rules. Book a call to see if it's a fit.
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What we tried
We tested three onboarding flows over a month. The short one won, the long one is
gone.Spoiler: we cut the welcome video and nobody missed it. E = mc2