How to make a carousel post
- Write the hook on slide one. It's the only slide most people see before deciding to swipe.
- Add a slide for each point, keeping to one idea and a few lines of text per slide.
- Pick a background and keep it consistent across slides so the post reads as one piece.
- End with a call to action slide: save, share, follow, or visit a link.
- Download the slides and upload them in order as a carousel, or schedule them from Schedulin.
Carousel limits and sizes by platform
As of 2026. Keep every slide in a carousel the same aspect ratio — Instagram crops all slides to match the first one.
| Platform | Maximum | Recommended slide size |
|---|---|---|
| 20 slides | 1080 × 1350 (4:5) or 1080 × 1080 (1:1) | |
| TikTok photo mode | 35 photos | 1080 × 1920 (9:16); 4:5 slides show with bars |
| 10 images per carousel ad | 1080 × 1080 (1:1) | |
| Upload slides as a PDF document post | 1080 × 1350 (4:5) or 1080 × 1080 (1:1) |
Why do carousels perform well?
Every swipe is a signal that people are interested, and carousels give viewers a reason to stay on a post longer than a single image. Instagram can also show a carousel again in the feed starting from a later slide, which gives the same post a second chance to be noticed. Educational carousels — steps, checklists, before-and-afters, myths vs facts — also get saved, which is one of the strongest signals you can earn.
Carousel design tips
- Make slide one a promise."5 mistakes that kill your reach" tells people what they get for swiping.
- Use big text.Slides are viewed on phones; if you'd need to zoom, it's too small.
- Keep a visual thread. Same background, fonts, and layout on every slide.
- Number the slidesor add a small arrow so readers know there's more.
- Put the payoff near the end, then close with one call to action.
Check your text contrast with the color palette generator and write the caption with the caption templates.