Instagram carousel posts are one of the most engaging formats brands can use on the platform. Hootsuite’s own social media team finds that, on average, their carousel posts get 1.4x more reach and 3.1x more engagement than regular posts on Instagram.
The temptation to swipe left, it seems, is hard to resist — especially when there’s a persuasive cover slide. Give your followers the chance to stop doom scrolling and start swoon scrolling with thumb-stopping carousel posts.
What is an Instagram carousel post?
An Instagram carousel is a post with up to 10 photos or videos. Mobile Instagram users can view carousel posts by swiping left, while desktop users can click through using the arrow button on the right-hand side of a post.
Like any other Instagram post, you can include a caption, image alt-text, a geotag, and account and product tags on each image in your carousel. People can like, comment, and share your carousel post.
When an IG carousel is published, a small square icon appears in the post’s upper right corner. As someone flips to the second image, the icon is replaced with a counter that indicates the number of frames. Small dots also appear at the bottom of a post to mark progress through the carousel.
How to create an Instagram carousel post
When creating an Instagram carousel, start with a concept. Figure out why multiple photos or videos make sense for your content instead of a standard image post, collage post, video, or Instagram story.
Once you know what type of content you plan to use, sketch out a storyboard to get an idea of how many frames you’ll need. Then, you can decide if your carousel will jump from one image to the next or have a continuous, panoramic effect.
Here’s how to make a carousel post on Instagram:
1. Add all relevant photos to your photo library.
2. Open the Instagram app and click the + icon from the navigation bar.
3. Tap the layered square icon right below the post preview.
![Phone screenshot with the first step to creating an Instagram carousel](https://blog.hootsuite.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/How-to-create-an-Instagram-carousel-1-310x612.jpg)
4. Select up to 10 photos and/or videos from your photo library. The order in which you select the media files is the order that they will follow in your carousel.
5. Tap Next in the top right corner of the screen.
6. Apply filters to all of your images/videos or edit each of them individually by tapping the icon with two overlaying circles. When you’re done with your edits, tap Next.
![Editing individual images or videos before posting an Instagram carousel](https://blog.hootsuite.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/How-to-create-an-Instagram-carousel-2-310x611.jpg)
7. Add your caption, geotag, account tags and hashtags.
8. Tap Advanced Settings to add alt text and adjust preferences for likes, view counts, and commenting.
![Instagram carousel advanced settings](https://blog.hootsuite.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/File-310x671.jpg)
9. Tap Share.
Tip: Double-check that all your frames are in the correct order before you publish. You can’t reorder the slides after you share. (However, you can delete individual slides after posting your carousel)
How to schedule Instagram carousel posts
You can schedule Instagram posts (including carousels) using Creator Studio, Facebook Business Suite, or the web version of the Instagram app.
Why should you use Instagram carousel posts?
These days, everyone’s posting photo dumps, but it’s not just a trend — carousels should be part of your overall Instagram marketing strategy.
Sure, including more images or videos in a single post increases your chances of generating a high engagement rate. But posting engaging carousels can also help you get on the Instagram algorithm’s good side.
Because carousels are interactive, users spend more time looking at them than at traditional Instagram feed posts. This tells the algorithm that your target audience finds your content interesting and valuable and can lead to more people seeing your posts in their feeds.
Carousels are also great for easily sharing:
Different angles and close-ups of a product
How-tos and step-by-step guides
Before-and-after transformations
For more specific use cases and examples, scroll down to the bottom of this post.
Instagram carousel sizes and specs
Like regular posts, Instagram carousels can be published in square, landscape, and portrait formats.
Just keep in mind that all post sizes must be uniform. The shape you choose for the first slide will also apply to the rest of the carousel.
Don’t be afraid to post a mix of videos and images, either.
Instagram carousel sizes:
Landscape: 1080 x 566 pixels
Portrait: 1080 x 1350 pixels
Square: 1080 x 1080 pixels
Aspect ratio: landscape (1.91:1), square (1:1), vertical (4:5)
Recommended image size: Width of 1080 pixels, height between 566 and 1350 pixels (depending on whether the image is landscape or portrait)
Instagram video carousel specs:
Length: 3 to 60 seconds
Recommended formats include .MP4 and .MOV
Aspect ratios: landscape (1.91:1), square (1:1), vertical (4:5)
Maximum video size: 4GB
16 ways to use Instagram carousel posts for marketing
Looking for Instagram carousel inspiration? Here’s how brands use photo carousels to promote products or services on the platform.
1. Tell a story
2. Reveal something
3. Recommend similar products or services
4. Show off the details
5. Illustrate scale
6. Showcase your process
7. Share important information
8. Share a recipe (or any how-to)
9. Crack a joke
10. Share a tutorial
11. Share secret hacks
12. Make a powerful statement
13. Generate engagement
14. Share testimonials
15. Keep your feed aesthetically consistent
16. Highlight important data