Instagram carousel sizes: a practical 2026 guide

The quick answer

• Tall portrait: 1080 × 1440 pixels (3:4) — the current upper portrait limit for Instagram photos.
• Portrait: 1080 × 1350 pixels (4:5) — Donefeed’s dependable default for feed carousels.
• Square: 1080 × 1080 pixels (1:1) — useful when assets already rely on a square system.
• Landscape: 1080 × 566 pixels (about 1.91:1) — valid, but gives educational copy less vertical room.
• Keep every slide in a carousel at the same dimensions and aspect ratio.

Donefeed’s feed templates use a 4:5 canvas and export a consistent slide set, so one differently sized frame cannot disrupt the carousel.

Why Donefeed uses 4:5 by default

A 4:5 post occupies more vertical space in the mobile feed than a square or landscape post. It remains a widely supported, predictable canvas even though Instagram now accepts 3:4 photos. That gives headlines, supporting copy, and imagery room while keeping the workflow consistent.

The larger canvas does not justify smaller type or more copy. Treat the extra space as breathing room. A readable post with strong hierarchy will outperform a dense slide that technically fits.

Design for safe reading areas

Instagram’s interface and different viewing contexts can compete with content near the edges. Keep essential text and logos comfortably inside the frame. The exact inset can vary with the design, but a consistent inner margin is more reliable than placing important content against an edge.

• Use the same outer margin across content slides.
• Keep small labels and page numbers away from corners.
• Check long headlines for awkward line breaks.
• Preview at the actual width of a phone, not only on a large monitor.

Export for clarity, not maximum file weight

Export each slide at its intended pixel dimensions. Enlarging a small raster image during export will not restore lost detail, and exporting far beyond the display size usually adds weight without visible value.

Photographic slides normally work well as high-quality JPEG files. Graphics with flat color, sharp text, or transparency can benefit from PNG. Always inspect the exported files—not only the editor preview—before publishing.

Keep the sequence technically consistent

The first selected asset establishes how a carousel is presented, so mixed ratios can lead to unexpected cropping. Use one canvas size from the first slide through the last. Also confirm that filenames sort in the intended order before upload.

1. PreviewInspect every exported slide at phone size.
2. SequenceConfirm the cover is first and the action slide is last.
3. EdgesLook for clipped text, accidental borders, or inconsistent margins.
4. UploadSelect the slides in order and review the in-app preview before publishing.

A final pre-publish checklist

• Every slide uses the same dimensions—1080 × 1350 for a Donefeed 4:5 carousel.
• Body copy is readable without zooming.
• No important content sits against an outer edge.
• Images remain sharp at phone size.
• Slide order and numbering agree.
• The cover still works as a standalone feed image.