Instagram Carousel Size: 1080 × 1350 Is the Safe Portrait Default

Updated September 2026 · By Joseph Pugliese, founder of Linklay

Last verified: September 7, 2026

For a feed carousel, 1080 × 1350 pixels at 4:5 remains a safe portrait default because it uses more vertical feed space than a square post. Instagram also supports square and landscape feed images, and the current profile grid can preview posts differently from the feed.

Quick answer

Use 1080 × 1350 px at 4:5 for a portrait Instagram carousel when you want a conservative feed-first format. Square carousels can use 1080 × 1080, and landscape assets can use about 1080 × 566; keep every slide visually consistent and preview the current 3:4 profile-grid crop.

At a glance

SpecValue
Portrait default1080 × 1350 px, 4:5
Square1080 × 1080 px, 1:1
Landscape1080 × 566 px, about 1.91:1
Instagram image width ceilingUp to 1080 px in official image-resolution guidance
Current profile-grid preview3:4 in current 2026 UI

What should you use?

The first design decision is the ratio, not the number of slides. A 4:5 portrait carousel occupies more vertical space in the feed than a square carousel and gives educational slides, screenshots and before-and-after examples more room.

How Instagram handles this

Instagram’s image-resolution Help Center has historically supported a range of feed ratios rather than one required carousel shape. Current profile-grid presentation has also changed over time. That means a carousel can look correct in the feed and still receive a different preview crop on the profile. Keep headlines and important subjects comfortably inside the center area.

Practical guidance

“Instagram carousel size,” “carousel dimensions,” “carousel pixels” and “carousel resolution” all describe the same decision: pick one ratio, then export every slide at that same pixel size. Mixing a 4:5 slide with a 1:1 slide inside one carousel makes the post jump as people swipe, so choose the ratio first and keep the whole set consistent.

Sources and verification

Verified against Instagram Help Center and Hootsuite on September 7, 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions

What size should an Instagram carousel be?

1080 × 1350 pixels at 4:5 is a safe portrait default for feed carousels.

Can Instagram carousels be square?

Yes. 1080 × 1080 at 1:1 is a common square format.

Can Instagram carousels be landscape?

Yes. Around 1080 × 566 at roughly 1.91:1 is a common landscape format.

Should I make a separate page for “Instagram carousel dimensions”?

No. That is the same intent and should canonicalize to this page.

Sources

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