How to Make a Subreddit (Create a Reddit Community, 2026)

Starting your own corner of Reddit sounds like a big job, but the sign-up screen takes a few minutes. The hard part isn't the form. It's choosing a name you can't change and then keeping the place alive once you've built it.

Reddit now calls these spaces communities, though everyone still says subreddit, so I'll use both. Below are the steps from Reddit's help pages for the website and the app, the name rules that catch people out, and what I'd think about before you click create.

Creating a subreddit on Reddit.com step by step

1. Log in and look at the left-hand sidebar.
2. Click Create Community.
3. Enter a community name and a description.
4. Add up to three topics. Reddit uses them to understand your community and find relevant audiences.
5. Set your community type.
6. Turn on the Mature (18+) option only if the community is NSFW.
7. Finish by creating the community.

Reddit's help notes the topics may change as the community grows, so don't fret over getting them perfect.

Starting a Reddit community from the iPhone or Android app

The app uses slightly different wording. Reddit's help says it's Start a Community rather than Create Community:

1. Tap the menu icon to open the left community drawer.
2. Tap Start a Community.
3. Enter the name and description, then tap Next.
4. Add a banner or avatar now, or skip it and do it later.
5. Add up to three topics.
6. Set the community type.
7. Turn on Mature (18+) if needed, then tap Create.

Choosing a subreddit name you can't change later

This is the bit to slow down on. Reddit's help article says the name must be 3 to 21 characters. It can't be changed after creation, and that includes capitalisation. The name sits at the top of the community and forms its web address, which looks like reddit.com/r/YourCommunityName.

Names must also be unique. If yours is taken, Reddit's help says you can pick another, contact that community's mod team or, if the community has no moderators, request it through r/redditrequest. Before you settle, say the name out loud and check that someone who's never heard of you could guess what the community is about.

Public, restricted or private: picking a Reddit community type

Reddit's help lists three types you can choose when you create a community: public, restricted and private. Old Reddit also shows a premium-only option. The help article doesn't explain each type in detail and points to a separate page, so I'd read that before you decide.

Choice on the form	What Reddit's help says
Topics	Up to three, and Reddit may adjust them as you grow
Name	3 to 21 characters, can't be changed afterwards
Type	Public, restricted or private (premium only on old Reddit)
Mature (18+)	Labels the community NSFW

The Mature (18+) switch when you make a Reddit community

Turning on Mature (18+) labels your community NSFW, which means not safe for work. If you pick a topic that's marked 18+, Reddit switches the toggle on for you. Reddit's help advises deciding whether to age-gate the community before you create it, so think about your audience first.

Rules every new Reddit community must follow

Everything about your community has to follow the Reddit Rules: the name, the description, the icon, the banner and the content. Reddit's help also says it doesn't list a minimum account age or karma level for creating one. Reddit's own wording is the reliable source here, so if the Create Community button isn't showing, check you're logged in and try the website.

Making a Reddit community for a business or creator brand

Before you build, ask whether a community is the right tool. A small brand with a few hundred customers will often get more from joining existing conversations than from running an empty room. If you do go ahead:

• Write a clear one-line description so newcomers know what to post.
• Post a few useful threads yourself before inviting anyone.
• Set simple community rules early. It's far easier than adding them after a row.
• Plan how you'll be there each week. A quiet community looks abandoned.

If you're still weighing it up, my guide on using Reddit for lead generation shows how much you can do without starting your own community. And this look at brands that built a Reddit following has useful lessons about patience.

If you can't create a Reddit community

• Check you're logged in, and try Create Community on reddit.com instead of the app.
• Try a different name. If it's taken, Reddit shows an error.
• Read the name rules again, since the length and characters matter.
• Update the app, because the wording changes between versions.

If none of that helps, Reddit's help centre is the next stop, since it can see account details that you can't.

Frequently asked questions

How do I make a subreddit?

On reddit.com, click Create Community in the left sidebar, add a name, description and up to three topics, set the type and create it. In the app, tap Start a Community.

Can I change a subreddit's name later?

No. Reddit's help says the name can't be changed after creation, and that includes capitalisation. Choose carefully before you create.

How long can a subreddit name be?

Reddit's help article says the name must be 3 to 21 characters. It also has to be unique, so a taken name will show an error.

What types of community can I create?

Reddit's help lists public, restricted and private, with a premium-only option on old Reddit. The article points to a separate page for what each type means.

Do I need a certain karma or account age to create one?

Reddit's help article doesn't list an account age or karma requirement. Everything in your community still has to follow the Reddit Rules.

What does the Mature (18+) toggle do?

It labels the community NSFW. If you choose an 18+ topic, Reddit turns the toggle on automatically.