How our scores work
Every score on Markets, in plain terms: what goes in, how much it weighs, and the guardrails. The weights shown here are the ones the engine uses right now.
How Top posts are ranked
In plain terms
Top puts the most useful posts first, not the loudest. Insightful votes count most, recent posts get a head start that fades, and authors with a record of helpful posts get a small boost.
score = (3 × insightful + 1 × likes + 0.5 × replies from different people) × author standing boost × verified boost ÷ (hours since posted + 2) ^ 1.4
Inputs
- Insightful votesStrongest signal of usefulness3×
- LikesLighter, easier to give1×
- RepliesCounted once per person0.5×
- Author standingBoost between 0.8x and 1.3xboost
- RecencyFades over about a day^1.4
Guardrails
- Votes from accounts under 14 days old count half.
- Votes between the same small group of accounts are detected and discounted.
- A post with 3 reports is hidden until a moderator reviews it.
- Staff posts are pinned separately and never boosted in Top.