Instagram Carousel Size: What to Use and How CONRA Handles It

For Instagram carousel size, use a portrait slide, because it takes the most room in the feed, and keep every slide in a post the same shape. Around five slides works well. At CONRA AI we design each slide for you, so you never enter dimensions yourself.

The short answer: the carousel size to use

Pick a portrait (tall) slide and keep every slide in the post the same shape. Instagram publishes its exact pixel dimensions in its help centre, and those figures have changed over time, so check the current page rather than trusting an old blog or a screenshot from a few years back.

• Choose portrait A tall slide fills more of the phone screen as people scroll, so your words and picture look bigger.
• Match every slide Mixing shapes in one post makes Instagram crop or add bars to some slides.
• Leave safe margins Keep headlines and logos away from the edges, where the feed or profile grid can trim them.
• Aim for five slides Most of our carousels have five slides, and some have four or six.
• Export sharp files Upload the original, high-quality export, not a screenshot of the design.

Square, portrait or landscape: which fits your posts

Aspect ratio is simply how tall a slide is compared with its width. Square is the safe old default, portrait gives you the most room, and landscape gives you the least, so choose by what your slides need to say.

How many slides a carousel should have

Instagram sets a ceiling on how many slides a carousel can hold, and you will find the current limit in its help centre. You will rarely need it: a post people finish usually has a clear job for each slide, and most of our carousels have five, with some at four or six.

1. Storytelling, five slides Hook, setup, journey, turning point, then the call to action.
2. Problem and fix Hook, problem, cause, solution, call to action.
3. List and how-to, six slides Hook, context, two list slides, a recap or bonus, then the call to action.

Keeping text readable at feed size

Most people see your carousel on a small phone screen, scrolling fast. If a slide is hard to read at that size, it does not matter how well it is designed.

• Few words Aim for under ten words on the first slide so it reads at thumbnail size.
• One idea per slide Split a long thought across slides instead of shrinking the type.
• Strong contrast Dark text on a light background, or the reverse, never text on a busy photo.
• Shrink to check Look at the slide at feed size for a second. If you cannot read it, neither can your customer.

Common size mistakes that crop or blur slides

Most blurry or cut-off carousels come from the same few habits. They are easy to fix once you know them.

• Mixed shapes One wide photo among tall slides gets cropped or padded.
• Screenshots as slides A screenshot loses sharpness and can carry stray phone icons.
• Text at the edge Headlines near the border are the first to be trimmed.
• Tiny type Small body text turns to grey smudge on a phone.
• Old size guides Pixel advice from earlier years may no longer match what Instagram uses.

How CONRA sets up your slides for you

With CONRA AI you do not enter any dimensions. We plan the month, write each post and design every slide in your colours and logo, and you only review what comes out.

• Slide count handled Most of our carousels have five slides, and some have four or six, depending on the story shape.
• Edit before approving You can edit a post's words or slides before you approve it.
• Other platforms The same slides work across platforms, and we resize them where needed.
• Nothing goes out unchecked Nothing goes out until you approve it, so you can check health claims first.

What it costs and how long it takes

You can try it first: the free trial lasts 14 days or 100 credits, whichever ends first, and each post uses a few credits. After that we suggest the starter plan for a small business, and clinics on it typically post around 12-20 times a month.

We approve a month of posts in about 5-10 minutes, since each one is ready to review.

How to start your first carousel

1. Create your account Sign up with Google or email, then confirm your address from the link we send.
2. Tell us the essentials Give your business, one thing you sell, your logo and when you want to post.
3. Get your first month Setup takes about five minutes, and you get themes and designed posts written around what you sell.
4. Review each slide Read the words and look at every slide at feed size, as you would on your phone.
5. Edit what you need Change any wording or slide before you approve, including festival or local touches.
6. Approve and schedule Once approved, posts go out at the days and times you chose.

Questions people ask

What is the best size for an Instagram carousel?

A portrait slide, used for every slide in the post, gives you the most room in the feed. Check Instagram's help centre for the current pixel dimensions, as they have changed before.

How many slides can an Instagram carousel have?

Instagram sets a maximum, which you will find in its help centre. In practice most of our carousels have five slides, and some have four or six.

Should every slide in a carousel be the same size?

Yes. Slides with different shapes get cropped or padded, which makes the post look uneven.

Can I edit a carousel before it goes out?

Yes, you can edit a post's words or slides before you approve it, and nothing goes out until you do.

How long does it take to make a month of carousels?

Setup takes about 5 minutes, and approving a month of posts takes about 5-10 minutes, since each one is ready to review.