Updated: February 2025
LinkedIn Carousel Guide: Create, Post, and Scale in 2025
Answer in 60 seconds: LinkedIn carousels (documents with up to 20 slides) deliver 1.8–2.5× more impressions than static posts when they open with a sharp hook, stay under 1 MB, and close with a CTA. You can spin up a publish-ready carousel in minutes by pairing AI copy with brand-aligned templates in Postiv.ai, then scheduling to hit peak engagement windows.
Create faster: Generate your next carousel with Postiv.ai — upload a brief, choose a template, and our AI designs every slide in under two minutes.
Quick Navigation
- What is a LinkedIn carousel?
- Why carousels work
- How to create a carousel
- Carousel size & specs
- Design best practices
- Posting workflow
- Tool stack comparison
- Examples to model
- FAQs
What is a LinkedIn Carousel?
A LinkedIn carousel is a multi-slide document post (PDF) that users swipe through inside the feed. Carousels support:
- Up to 20 slides per post.
- Square (1080×1080) or portrait (1080×1350) layouts.
- File sizes under 100 MB — though keeping it under 3 MB ensures mobile loads instantly.
- Embedded links on each slide (PDFs retain clickable URLs).
Carousels outperform static images because they create built-in dwell time. The algorithm sees people lingering on your content and boosts distribution.
Need a deeper specification breakdown? Jump to the Carousel size & specs guide.
Why Carousels Work
| Signal | Why it matters | How Postiv.ai helps |
|---|---|---|
| Swipe interaction | Each swipe extends dwell time and signals interest to the algorithm. | Slide flows are generated with storytelling frameworks that encourage swiping to the end. |
| Snackable structure | Readers process one point at a time, boosting retention. | AI drafts short-form copy tailored to your voice so slides stay focused. |
| Saveability | Strong carousels are bookmarked for reference, fueling recurring impressions. | Templates include summary slides + CTA panels that encourage saves and shares. |
| Visual storytelling | Branded layouts communicate authority quickly. | Brand kits keep typography, colors, and iconography consistent across posts. |
Template drop: Inside Postiv.ai you’ll find 25+ carousel blueprints for thought leadership, product launches, recruiting, and demand gen. Duplicate them in one click.
How to Create a Carousel
Method 1: AI-assisted (fastest)
- Outline the insight. Paste bullet points, a transcript, or a URL into Postiv.ai.
- Select a template. Choose from story, listicle, case study, or data layouts.
- Generate slides. AI drafts hook, body, CTA, and alt text automatically.
- Tweak voice & visuals. Apply your brand kit, swap imagery, and reorder slides.
- Export or schedule. Download a PDF or schedule directly to LinkedIn via Postiv.
Total time: 5–7 minutes. Teams tell us they save 6+ hours per week compared to manual design.
Method 2: Manual build (design tools)
- Write your copy in Docs/Notion.
- Design slides in Canva or Figma using 1080×1080 frames.
- Export each slide as PNG/JPG, combine into a PDF.
- Upload and publish from LinkedIn.
Total time: 45–90 minutes once you include writing, design, reviews, and export checks.
Side-by-side tutorial: Follow the complete walkthrough in How to Create a LinkedIn Carousel for annotated screenshots and checklists.
Carousel Size & Specs
| Setting | Recommendation | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | 1080×1080 (square) or 1080×1350 (portrait) | Native rendering on mobile & desktop, maximises screen real estate. |
| Slides | 8–12 sweet spot (max 20) | Enough to build a story without losing attention. |
| File size | < 3 MB | Fast loads; avoid compression artefacts on mobile data. |
| Format | Preserves typography, clickable links, and vector quality. | |
| Fonts | 24 pt+ for body, 48 pt+ for headers | Ensures legibility on small screens. |
Postiv.ai auto-optimises exports to stay within spec. If you prefer to DIY, keep the LinkedIn Carousel Size guide bookmarked.
Design Best Practices
- Hook hard on slide 1. Pose a question, promise a transformation, or share a contrarian stat.
- One idea per slide. Use subheads, icons, and short sentences (12 words or less).
- Visual hierarchy. Combine bold titles, high-contrast backgrounds, and consistent spacing.
- Story arc. Build tension, deliver the insight, close with next steps.
- CTA slide. Offer templates, demos, or resources. Add trackable URLs.
Read the full breakdown plus templates in LinkedIn Carousel Best Practices.
Posting Workflow
- Schedule intelligently. Postiv.ai recommends best-time slots based on historic engagement.
- Upload as a document. On LinkedIn, choose Start a post → Add a document → Upload PDF.
- Write a compelling caption. Front-load the hook, add 3–5 hashtags, and mention collaborators.
- Engage fast. Reply to comments in the first 60 minutes to keep the post trending.
- Repurpose. Convert the carousel into an email, blog summary, or Instagram post.
Detailed upload instructions live in How to Post a Carousel on LinkedIn.
Tool Stack Comparison
| Tool | Creation speed | AI copy/design | Brand kits | Scheduling | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Postiv.ai | ★★★★★ | Full AI workflow | Yes | Yes (multi-profile) | Teams & creators scaling output |
| Canva | ★★☆☆☆ | Manual copy, limited AI | Brand kits on paid plan | No native scheduling | Designers comfortable in Canva |
| Figma | ★★☆☆☆ | Manual | Shared libraries | No | Agencies building custom systems |
| Taplio | ★★★☆☆ | AI copy, limited design | No | Yes | Solo creators prioritising copy |
| Simplified | ★★★☆☆ | AI templates | Basic | Yes | Small teams exploring AI |
Dive deeper into feature breakdowns inside Best LinkedIn Carousel Makers and Canva LinkedIn Carousel Alternative.
Examples to Model
| Category | Why it works | Template |
|---|---|---|
| Educational playbooks | Step-by-step instructions keep readers swiping and saving. | "Swipe Playbook" template inside Postiv.ai |
| Founder story | Builds trust by sharing lessons learned. | "Personal Narrative" template |
| Data drop | Charts or benchmarks deliver instant value. | "Metrics Report" template |
| Product launch | Visual walkthrough reduces the need for demos. | "Feature Spotlight" template |
| Recruiting spotlight | Human stories attract talent more authentically than job ads. | "Culture Stories" template |
See 50 fully analysed examples (with recreatable layouts) in LinkedIn Carousel Post Examples.
CTA: Launch Your Next Carousel Today
- Start free: Try Postiv.ai — no credit card required.
- Template library: Unlock 25+ carousel blueprints, caption starters, and analytics dashboards.
- Team workflows: Invite collaborators, approve posts, and schedule across multiple profiles.
FAQs
Do carousels still work in 2025?
Yes. LinkedIn’s 2024 algorithm updates rewarded posts that drive dwell time. Carousels encourage swipes and saves, signalling depth. Our customers report carousels delivering 2–3× more impressions than single-image posts when hooks and CTAs are strong.
How many slides should I use?
Aim for 8–12 slides. That’s enough space to deliver a narrative without overwhelming your audience. Save the bonus material for a downloadable resource or follow-up post.
Can I include video or GIFs in a carousel?
Not directly. Carousels accept PDF uploads, so animations won’t play. Instead, add a static slide teasing the video and link to it in your CTA or comments.
How do I measure carousel performance?
Track impressions, swipe rate (via document analytics), reactions, comments, saves, and profile visits. In Postiv.ai you can overlay carousel metrics with lead capture or campaign attribution to prove ROI.
Should I boost carousels as ads?
Organic performance should be strong before you pay to amplify. If a carousel wins organically, republish the PDF inside Campaign Manager as a document ad. Follow the targeting and budgeting steps in LinkedIn Advertising Costs.