An image is value a thousand phrases. However typically, one image alone is probably not sufficient to inform the entire story. That’s the place Instagram carousel posts are available in, permitting you so as to add a number of photos or movies to 1 submit. So that you get individuals to cease and swipe, partaking them for longer.
This information explores what carousel posts are and how one can use them on your Instagram advertising and marketing technique. Let’s get began.
What’s an Instagram carousel?
An Instagram carousel is a submit containing a couple of photograph or video. Customers can view these visuals by swiping left on a submit by means of the cellphone app. Desktop customers can view a carousel submit by clicking on the arrow button on the suitable of a submit. Consider it as a slideshow of posts that customers can management manually.
The present Instagram carousel restrict stands at 20 pictures or movies. So there’s loads of room to inform longer tales or showcase a number of gadgets from a set. It’s additionally a good way to share snippets of an occasion and even curate photos round a sure theme.
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As such, an Instagram slide submit is ideal for getting individuals to pause and have interaction together with your content material. So it’s no shock that Instagram carousels outperform each photograph and video posts by way of engagement.
Socialinsider.io discovered that carousel posts get larger engagement charges than pictures and movies. Regardless of a 28% YoY drop in general engagement, carousels nonetheless see a mean engagement price of 0.55% per submit. In the meantime, the typical engagement per submit for Reels and pictures stands at 0.50% and 0.45%, respectively.
Even in terms of influencer posts, carousel posts see larger engagement than single-image posts. The newest Instagram stats present that carousel posts from influencers see a mean engagement price of 1.70% per submit. In the meantime, single-image posts from these accounts get a mean engagement of 1.17% per submit.
The way to create a carousel submit on Instagram
After you have the right photos or movies lined up, you can begin creating an Instagram carousel submit utilizing the steps beneath:
Step 1. Click on on the “+” button on the backside of your display.
Step 2. Choose the choice to create a brand new “Put up.”
Step 3. Select the picture you wish to use as the primary slide. Then faucet on the icon so as to add a number of photos.
Step 4. Choose the pictures or movies you wish to embody within the submit so as of how they need to seem. When you’re carried out, faucet on “Subsequent.”
Step 5. Similar to making a single-image submit, you’ll get the choice to edit the pictures and movies. You’ll be able to add filters, music and textual content overlay to create the right carousel submit. Making use of the identical filter all through all the pictures and movies will enable you create a cohesive look. When you’re carried out, faucet on the “Subsequent” button.
Step 6. Now add particulars to your carousel submit. Be sure you embody an appropriate and attractive caption that would immediate engagement. You’ll be able to even embody widespread and related Instagram hashtags to enhance your submit visibility. That is additionally the part the place you possibly can tag individuals, add a location or add a reminder much like an everyday submit.
Step 7. After you have all the pieces sorted, faucet on the “Share” button and that’s it. You’ve created and shared your Instagram carousel submit.
Instagram carousel measurement necessities
When making a carousel submit on Instagram, you’d wish to guarantee that it seems nice on the platform. So it’s essential to observe the measurement necessities and specs.
Instagram recommends a side ratio of 1:1 for carousel posts. It’s also possible to add horizontal (1.91:1) and vertical (4:5) media.
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For photos, Instagram recommends a decision of 1080 x 1080 pixels. Movies can have a minimal decision of 600 x 600 pixels and a most decision of 1080 x 1080 pixels.
Professional Tip: Instagram will use the primary picture in your slide submit as a reference for facet ratio. So it’ll mechanically crop any subsequent visuals you embody within the slide to suit the primary one. Align the facet ratio of all of the visuals for every carousel submit beforehand. So you possibly can keep away from distorted photos and by accident cropping out any essential parts.
When to make use of Instagram carousels
The distinctive nature of Instagram carousels makes them an excellent possibility for strategic Instagram content material. A few of the finest methods to make use of an Instagram carousel submit are:
Academic content material
Knowledge and infographics
Tutorials
Model storytelling
Earlier than-and-after reveals
Picture dumps
Product reveals
Product/model updates
Person-generated content material
Occasion highlights
Behind-the-scenes seems
Themed picture collections
Product spotlights
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The way to schedule an Instagram carousel submit
The handbook publishing course of could also be simple, however it may be time-consuming. As a social media supervisor, certainly one of your principal targets is to do your job as effectively as potential. Meaning scheduling content material forward of time so you possibly can keep a constant publishing schedule.
And the identical would maintain true on your Instagram carousel posts. Happily, you’ve got the choice to schedule your Instagram posts utilizing the native publishing device. Listed here are the steps to schedule a carousel submit on Instagram:
Step 1. After creating your carousel submit, faucet on the “Extra choices” button from the “Share” web page.
Step 2. Toggle on the choice to “Schedule this submit.”
Step 3. Select the date and time on your submit to exit. Then faucet on “Executed.”
Step 4. Return to the “Share” web page. As an alternative of the “Share” button, you’ll now see a “Schedule” button. Faucet on it to schedule your Instagram carousel submit.
Though the native scheduling device is beneficial to have, managing your scheduled posts is a bit difficult. As an illustration, you’ll have to return to your profile and entry your “Settings and exercise” menu to edit or delete them. In the event you’re new to Instagram scheduling, it might take a while to determine it out.
To not overlook the truth that it’s essential manually schedule every submit one after the other.
With a publishing device like Sprout Social, you possibly can effortlessly handle your scheduled posts in a single place. Edit or reschedule your scheduled posts immediately from the visible content material calendar. Or get the choice to create a brand new scheduled submit if you hover over a selected day.
Have to schedule a couple of carousel submit? Use the majority scheduling function to immediately schedule tons of of posts at a time.
The way to create an Instagram carousel submit on Sprout
Step 1. Open Compose within the Sprout desktop or cell app.
Step 2. Choose your Instagram Enterprise Profile from the Profile Picker.
Step 3. Add your content material for the Instagram submit.
Step 4. Choose as much as 20 photos to incorporate in your submit. Word which you could’t mix photos and movies in your Instagram carousel posts revealed by means of the Sprout app right now.
Step 5. Personalize your submit utilizing tags, hashtags, Instagram First Remark and even submit hyperlinks.
Step 6. Click on on the drop-down menu subsequent to “When to submit” and select the date and time you need. Alternatively, you’ll get the choice to select from an inventory of “Optimum ship time” recommendations.
Step 7. Click on on “Schedule” to finish your scheduling.
For extra info on publishing and scheduling Instagram carousel posts inside Sprout, go to our Assist Heart.
8 Instagram carousel submit examples to encourage you
Regardless of carousel posts being probably the most partaking content material format, manufacturers are nonetheless not utilizing them sufficient. The 2025 Content material Benchmarks Report discovered that multi-image posts make up 25% of branded Instagram content material. This makes it the third most-used Instagram content material after single-image posts and Reels.
So ramping up your Instagram carousel technique offers you an edge over the competitors.
Want some inspiration for inventive methods to make use of carousel posts? Listed here are some Instagram carousel examples to encourage you:
1. Sprout Social: Sharing insightful stats
Sprout makes use of Instagram carousels to share some key insights from a latest information report. These stats supply insights to tell social methods. Not solely does this present worth to the viewers, but it surely additionally entices them to obtain the total report.
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2. Canva: Chew-sized visible guides
Canva makes probably the most of carousel posts to share actionable visible guides for its customers. This affords sensible worth and serves as design inspiration, guiding customers to profit from the platform.
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3. ColourPop Cosmetics: Revealing a brand new assortment/product line
Instagram is a good place for locating new merchandise, in line with the 2024 Social Media Content material Technique Report. The report reveals that product discovery is the primary motive for interacting with manufacturers on Instagram. So profit from carousels for product reveals and spotlights.
At any time when ColourPop Cosmetics comes up with a brand new collab or assortment, it makes use of carousel posts to disclose the brand new merchandise. Every slide provides the model a possibility to focus on a selected merchandise from the gathering. That is good for attractive prospects to purchase from the gathering.
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4. Fabletics Scrubs: Teasing new product drops
On a associated notice, Fabletics Scrubs makes use of carousel posts to tease merchandise earlier than the precise drop. The model posts teaser photos to announce an upcoming colour for his or her subsequent drop. That is extremely efficient for constructing anticipation and getting prospects excited on your subsequent launch.
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5. Frank Physique: Sharing a model journey
For Frank Physique, carousel posts function the right format to share the model’s journey over time. It jumps in on the “The way it began vs. the way it’s going” pattern to indicate how the model’s product line has expanded because it first launched.
It is a probability to take prospects on a journey by means of time, displaying how far the model has come. It additionally helps to create a way of nostalgia in long-time prospects.
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Professional Tip: Keep away from leaping in on each pattern. The 2025 Sprout Social Index discovered that manufacturers leaping in on viral developments get combined reactions. Whereas 40% suppose it’s cool, 33% suppose it’s embarrassing and 27% say it’s solely efficient within the first 24-48 hours. So be selective concerning the developments you take part in.
This Frank Physique instance works as a result of the pattern has been round for some time, displaying longevity.
6. CLEARSTEM Skincare: Throwing again to a previous occasion
An Instagram slide submit affords the right format for displaying occasion highlights. Within the case of CLEARSTEM Skincare, a carousel submit serves to indicate snippets of a previous occasion. The model takes the chance to throw again to an occasion on its one-year anniversary and gauge individuals’s opinions about doing one other occasion.
It is a nice strategy to interact audiences and present them that you just care about what they suppose. Plus, you get to really feel out the panorama earlier than investing in one other occasion.
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7. File Perfumes: Asking prospects to decide on a colour/scent of the day
Carousel posts provide the alternative to curate merchandise or photos round a selected theme. File Perfumes takes this opportunity to share a few of their high color-based perfumes. The model then asks prospects to select their colour (scent) of the day.
This enables the model to showcase its product selection whereas encouraging prospects to work together with the submit. So it’s a extremely efficient strategy to increase Instagram engagement.
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8. Miramonti Boutique Resort: Mini Property Tour
For institutions like Miramonti Boutique Resort, carousels are the right format for a mini property tour. The resort creates a number of slide posts to focus on sure components of the property, such because the Onsen pool.
So it provides potential company an opportunity to “discover” the property nearly earlier than they determine to e book.
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Creating Instagram carousel submit templates
One of many finest practices to observe on Instagram is sustaining a constant Feed with high-quality visuals. Be strategic concerning the visuals you select on your carousel posts to create a Feed that appears cohesive and on-brand. Instagram carousel templates will help with this.
Instagram carousel templates act as a framework on your carousel posts. They use a constant type of colour schemes, fonts and different design parts to guarantee that every picture comes collectively to type a unified look. Customise these templates with textual content, graphics and pictures to create a brand new carousel submit.
You’ll find loads of pre-made templates on web sites like Canva and PicMonkey. These templates can be found to customise and obtain at no cost or for a small charge. Inventory templates are an excellent possibility if you wish to save time. They’re additionally good in case you don’t have a knack for designing however nonetheless need professional-looking templates.
Alternatively, you can too design your personal Instagram carousel templates from scratch. It is a good selection in case you have a sturdy model visible identification that you just wish to showcase by means of your Instagram carousels. It provides you extra flexibility to create a template that matches your actual wants.
Create posts that get individuals swiping
Instagram carousels get individuals to cease and swipe, driving larger engagement. On the similar time, it’s essential be strategic together with your posts. From visuals that entice individuals to maintain swiping to posts that target a selected theme, all the pieces wants planning.
Sprout’s visible content material calendar allows you to handle all this seamlessly. You’ll be able to visualize your content material plan and simply transfer issues round for optimum posting. It even allows you to schedule your Instagram carousel posts proper throughout the platform, in order that they exit on the good time.
Join a free 30-day trial to see how the platform provides to your Instagram technique.
