Instagram Carousel Size Guide 2025
Dimensions, Resolution & Ratios
| Format | Aspect Ratio | Resolution (px) | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait (Vertical) | 4:5 | 1080 x 1350 | Max screen real estate (Best ROI) |
| Square | 1:1 | 1080 x 1080 | Traditional posts |
| Landscape | 1.91:1 | 1080 x 566 | Photography (Not recommended for engagement) |
Instagram carousels are the engagement kings of 2025. They encourage users to stop scrolling and start swiping, significantly boosting your time-on-post metrics. But one wrong pixel can ruin the effect.
Stop Guessing!
Want to see exactly how your carousel will look before you post? Use our free Instagram Carousel Simulator. It supports seamless panoramas, 4:5 ratios, and mixed media.
1. The Golden Ratio: 4:5 Portrait
If you only remember one thing from this guide, make it this: always use 4:5 (1080 x 1350 pixels) for your carousels.
Why? Because it occupies significantly more vertical screen space than a square post. More screen space means:
- More visibility in the feed
- Less competition from other posts
- More room for text and details
2. Text Safe Zones
When designing your carousel slides, be careful not to put crucial text too close to the edges. Instagram's UI overlays can obscure your content.
- Top 140px: Covered by Profile Name & Menu dots
- Bottom 180px: Covered by Caption, Likes, and Interaction icons
- Right Edge (Slide 1): Often implies a swipe, but keep text padded by 50px
3. Video Carousel Specs
Yes, you can mix videos into your carousels! This is a powerful way to add dynamic elements to a static story.
- Resolution: 1080 x 1350 pixels (match your images!)
- Duration: Up to 60 seconds per slide
- Format: MP4 or MOV (H.264 codec preferred)
4. How to Create Seamless Panoramas
The "swipe-through" effect is a staple of modern Instagram design. This is where one image splits across two slides, creating a seamless connection that compels the user to swipe.
To do this manually, you would create a canvas that is 2160 x 1350 (for 2 slides) and slice it in half. Or, you can just upload your wide image to our Carousel Simulator and let it handle the preview constraints for you.
Summary
Sticking to the 1080 x 1350 (4:5) ratio is the single best optimization you can make for your Instagram carousels in 2025. Combine that with high-quality PNG exports and seamless transitions, and watch your engagement rates climb.