According to Instagram Help (checked October 4, 2026, "Image resolution of photos you share on Instagram"), a 1080px-wide photo keeps its resolution when its ratio is between 1.91:1 and 3:4. Outside that range it is cropped.
Sizes
| Ratio | Size | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4:5 | 1080×1350 | Most common |
| 3:4 | 1080×1440 | The tallest allowed ratio |
| 1:1 | 1080×1080 | Square |
1.91:1 (wide) is also allowed, but text-heavy carousels usually use portrait or square slides because wide slides leave little room for text.
Why 4:5 is the favorite
The feed is viewed on tall phone screens. At the same 1080px width, 4:5 takes up more of the screen than 1:1, so it is more likely to stop the scroll. 3:4 fills even more but can feel too tall to take in at a glance, so 4:5 is the practical middle ground.
Slide structure
- Cover: one line that makes people curious.
- Body, 5–8 slides: one point per slide.
- Last slide: a summary and a call to action such as "Save this for later".
Keep each slide to three or four lines; slides crowded with text get swiped past unread.
How to make one
- Set up a 1080×1350 canvas (the Image Resizer has a 4:5 preset).
- Design the cover first and lock in the background, font and colors.
- Duplicate the cover layout for each body slide and change only the text.
- End with a summary and a CTA slide.
- Export each slide as an image and upload them in order.
Writing a better cover line
Lines that hint at a number or a result ("3 ways to…", "What happened when I…") encourage swiping. But a cover that promises something the slides don't deliver hurts trust, so keep it honest.
Good vs. bad
- Good: every slide shares the same background, font and margins.
- Bad: colors and fonts change on every slide.
- Good: one message per slide.
- Bad: several topics squeezed onto one slide with tiny text.
Common mistakes
- Packing everything onto the cover, so there is no reason to swipe.
- Too many slides (15+). Five to eight is a comfortable length.
- No CTA on the last slide, so readers don't save or follow.
Checklist
- 4:5 (1080×1350) or 3:4 (1080×1440)?
- Same background and font on every slide?
- One point per slide?
- Summary and CTA at the end?
FAQ
What is the best size for an Instagram carousel?
1080×1350 (4:5). It stays sharp because it is inside Instagram's 1.91:1–3:4 range and it fills more of the screen than a square.
Can each slide be a different size?
Instagram crops all slides to the ratio of the first one, so design every slide at the same ratio.
How many slides should a carousel have?
Five to eight usually works well for text carousels. Instagram allows more, but very long carousels tend to lose readers.