Instagram Carousel Dimensions: Best Guide And Tips For 2025

If you are wondering what the best size and specs for your Instagram carousel post or ad would be, read on. This guide delves into the world of Instagram carousel dimensions and equips you with the best tips to unlock the true power of Instagram carousels. You will also find great ideas to craft compelling carousels that stand out and leave a lasting impression.

What Are Instagram Carousels?

An Instagram carousel is a multi-content format that allows users to display multiple images and videos in a single post or ad. 

Mobile viewers can swipe left and right through carousel cards to view each image/video.

If you use a desktop, you can view an Instagram carousel by single-clicking the arrow button on the left and right sides of the post.

Why Use Instagram Carousels? Benefits Of The Carousel Format

Brands can benefit from Instagram carousels in different ways. Here are some reasons why you should use the Instagram carousel format.

• A goldmine of engagement: According to Social Insider, Instagram carousels receive the highest engagement rate on the platform (0.50%), outperforming reels (0.45%) and single images (0.40%).

• Storytelling potential: With a carousel, you can tell your brand story effectively through different slides and visuals.

• Double exposure: Another amazing benefit of the Instagram carousel format is that Instagram can show a carousel multiple times to a follower with different photos or videos within the carousel. That may explain why Instagram carousels usually have higher impressions than other content formats.

• Showcase multiple products: Carousel is a versatile content format. You can use it to not only tell a story but also showcase multiple best-seller products or promote a new collection. 

Instagram Carousel Dimensions: Recommended Sizes And Specs (2025)

You can create an Instagram carousel in different sizes and ratios. It can be in square, landscape, or portrait formats. 

Just keep in mind that, Instagram will automatically reshape the rest images/videos based on the shape you select for the first slide. Therefore, you should use images/videos of the same size to ensure all slides are shown appropriately. Also, follow the recommended Instagram carousel dimensions to make your posts more professional and visually appealing.

Previously, a carousel on Instagram could have 10 images or videos at maximum. But the current limit is up to 20 cards in a single carousel. 

Now, let’s delve into the best sizes and specs for different media formats.

Instagram carousel dimensions for images

• Aspect ratios: Landscape (1.91:1), portrait (4:5), and square (1:1).
• Recommended image size: From 566 to 1350 pixels, depending on the orientation).
• Instagram carousel landscape size: 1080 x 566 pixels.
• Instagram carousel portrait size: 1080 x 1350 pixels.
• Instagram carousel square size: 1080 x 1080 pixels.
• File type: PNG or JPG.
• Maximum Size: 30MB

Instagram video carousel specs

• Video length: Instagram carousel video length can range from 3 seconds to 1 minute. If your video is longer than 1 minute, it will be trimmed down automatically when uploaded to Instagram.
• Aspect ratios: Landscape (1.91:1), square (1:1), and vertical (4:5).
• Landscape: 1080 x 566 pixels.
• Portrait: 1080 x 1350 pixels.
• Square: 1080 x 1080 pixels.
• File type: MP4 and MOV.
• Maximum Size: 4GB.

Note: The first image or video in a carousel will automatically be cropped to a square thumbnail in grid view, so ensure that all the important content is visible within that square frame. 

Instagram Carousel Dimensions For Ads (2025)

If it is an Instagram carousel ad, the recommended specs will be a bit different. 

Instagram carousel ads can appear in different placements such as the Instagram feed, stories, reels, and the Explore page. Each ad placement requires different Instagram carousel dimensions for optimal viewing experience.

Below, I present the Instagram carousel ad specs for different placements.

Instagram feed carousel ads

• Ratio: 1:1.
• Resolution: At least 1080 x 1080 pixels.
• Slides: 2 to 10.
• Image maximum file size: 30MB.
• Video maximum file size: 4GB.
• Video length: 1 second to 2 minutes.
• File types: JPG, PNG, MP4, MOV, or GIF.

Instagram stories carousel ads

• Ratio: 9:16.
• Resolution: At least 1080 x 1920 pixels.
• Slides: 2 to 10.
• Image maximum file size: 30MB.
• Video maximum file size: 4GB.
• Video length: 1 second to 15 seconds.
• File types: JPG, PNG, MP4, MOV, or GIF.

Instagram reels carousel ads

• Ratio: 9:16.
• Resolution: At least 1080 x 1080 pixels
• Slides: 2 to 10.
• Image maximum file size: 30MB.
• File types: JPG or PNG

Instagram Explore carousel ads

• Ratio: 1:1.
• Resolution: 1080 x 1080 pixels.
• Slides: 2 to 10.
• Image maximum file size: 30MB.
• Minimum width: 500 pixels
• Minimum aspect ratio: 400 x 500
• Maximum aspect ratio: 191 x 100
• File types: JPG or PNG.

Best Tips For Instagram Carousel Dimensions (2025)

Follow these tips to optimize Instagram carousel dimensions for your posts.

• Be consistent: Design all images/videos with the same aspect ratio as recommended to ensure a professional look and avoid cropping. 
• Stick to the safe zone: Put all critical content in the safe zone of the image/video—the central square—so that it is not cut off in previews in the Instagram feed.
• Number of carousel cards: Instagram allows up to 20 cards for carousel posts and 10 cards for carousel ads. Use them wisely.
• Use high-resolution media: Upload images or videos at the highest quality for more visual appeal and get prioritized by the Instagram algorithm.

Troubleshooting Common Issues With Instagram Carousel Dimensions

Here’s how to troubleshoot common issues related to Instagram carousel dimensions to ensure your carousels shine.

• Blurry images: Follow the recommended resolution (1080 x 566 px, 1080 x 1350 px, or 1080 x 1080 px. Upload images/videos with high resolution. Use JPG for images and MP4 for videos to optimize media quality.
• Unexpected cropping: Don’t put important content near the edges of the image to prevent it from being cropped in the grid view. Use the 1:1 aspect ratio to avoid unexpected cropping. You can preview your carousel before posting to see what it will look like in the feed preview.
• Inconsistent look: Use the same ratio, same filters, and same editing styles for all images or videos in the same carousel. Stick to your brand guidelines for a cohesive and professional look.

How To Create An Instagram Carousel Post

Posting an Instagram carousel is super easy. Follow these steps:

• Open Instagram either on your phone or computer.
• Tap on the + icon and select Post.
• Tap the multiple-select icon (the layered square icon) on the right side of your phone and select all images/videos you want to add to the carousel in the right order. Then, click Next
• Or if you are on a desktop, click the Select from computer button, hold down the Ctrl key, and click on the images/videos to select multiple media files. Press Enter, then click Next.
• Add filters and music if you would like to. Write your caption and hashtags, add location and collaborators, etc as usual.
• Finally, tap on Share to publish your post.

Beyond Dimensions: How To Craft Compelling Instagram Carousel Posts?

Now that you understand the basic requirements and steps for Instagram carousels, it’s time to level up the game. Beyond following the recommended dimensions, try these practices to craft captivating Instagram carousel posts.

• Structure your carousel properly: Think of your Instagram carousel like a children’s book. It often has only 10-15 pages, and a few words per page, but still conveys a complete and meaningful message. To structure a carousel post, you can follow this suggestion: 
  • Use a catchy title for the first slide.
  • Include a recap of all the content you share on the 2nd page.
  • Reveal your content in the next slides. Remember to minimize text.
  • Add a call to action in the final slide. Example: Comment to get a discount code.
• Showcase your products: You can use the carousel format to showcase your products effectively in different ways: share a new product line, show different color options, highlight multiple features,… all in a single post. This will lengthen the engagement time and increase chances for conversions because consumers can view your products from multiple angles or in different contexts.
• Instruct step-by-step: With step-by-step instructions through carousel cards, customers can use your products or services effectively. This not only enriches user experience but also makes your brand a useful source of information and knowledge, drives customer loyalty, and boosts sales.
• Tell a story: Instagram carousel posts can be used to tell a compelling brand origin story that captures your vision, mission, and values. This builds customer relationships and strengthens your brand presentation.
• Leverage UGC: User-generated content (UGC) can help boost your brand authenticity, community engagement, and potential sales. 
• Before and Afters: Instagram carousels also work well for before and after pictures (e.g.: the after and before photos of customers’ haircuts or weight loss journey).

Previous post: Guide To Adding Captions To Instagram Reels: 2 Easy Ways For 2025

Conclusion

Mastering Instagram carousel dimensions is not just about following recommended sizes and specifications, it’s a critical skill to elevate user experience. By adhering to the platform’s recommendations and my practical tips, you can create visually and content-appealing carousel posts and ads that drive meaningful engagement and results.

If you want to empower your Instagram carousel campaigns, I highly recommend you use agency ad accounts. They are more reputable and stable, providing you freedom to scale your business campaigns without limits. Feel free to contact us for more information on this amazing tool.

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