LinkedIn Carousel Ad Specs (2026): Size, Cards, Limits
The exact LinkedIn carousel ad specs: card size (1080×1080, 1:1), 2-10 cards, file types and max size, intro-text and headline character limits, and how to prep cards that won't get rejected.
A LinkedIn carousel ad ("Carousel image ad") uses 2-10 cards. Each card is 1080×1080 px (1:1 square), a JPG or PNG up to 10 MB, with its own headline of up to ~45 characters and its own destination URL. One intro text of up to ~255 characters sits above the whole ad. Always confirm current limits in LinkedIn Campaign Manager before launch.
This is the focused spec sheet for the paid LinkedIn carousel ad - the "Carousel image ad" you build in Campaign Manager. If you want the organic PDF carousel instead (the free document post), its sizes are different and live on the size & specs page. Everything below is for the ad.
LinkedIn tweaks these from time to time, so treat this as a working reference and confirm the exact numbers in Campaign Manager before you spend budget.
LinkedIn carousel ad specs at a glance
| Spec | Carousel image ad |
|---|---|
| Card image size | 1080 × 1080 px |
| Aspect ratio | 1:1 (square) |
| Number of cards | 2–10 (5–6 performs best) |
| File type | JPG or PNG (no GIF) |
| Max file size per card | 10 MB |
| Headline per card | ≤ ~45 characters |
| Intro text (whole ad) | ≤ ~255 characters |
| Destination | each card can have its own URL |
| Ad name (internal) | ≤ 255 characters |
Card size and aspect ratio
Every card in a LinkedIn carousel ad is a 1:1 square at 1080 × 1080 px. Unlike an organic carousel - which can be portrait (4:5) for more height - the paid ad is square only. Design at exactly 1080 × 1080 so nothing is scaled or cropped on upload. If you only have a larger square (say 2160 × 2160), that's fine too; keep it 1:1.
How many cards
A carousel ad holds 2 to 10 cards. You don't have to fill all ten - five to six tight cards usually outperform ten thin ones, because every extra card is another chance for someone to stop swiping. Think of the first card as the hook and the last as the call to action, with 3-4 in between.
File type and size
Upload each card as a JPG or PNG, up to 10 MB. PNG keeps text crisp and is the safest choice for cards that are mostly type; JPG is fine for photo-heavy cards and keeps files small. Animated GIFs are not supported in carousel ads.
Text limits: intro and headlines
Two different text fields, two different limits - this trips people up.
- →Intro text: one block above the whole ad, up to ~255 characters. Write it like a hook, front-loaded, because it truncates.
- →Headline: one per card, up to ~45 characters, shown under that card. Keep each a complete, punchy line - not a sentence cut in half.
- →Keep important words inside the limits; anything past them gets cut with an ellipsis.
Prep cards that won't get rejected
Most carousel-ad problems are avoidable at export. A quick checklist before you upload:
- →Exactly square, 1080×1080 (or a larger 1:1) - not 4:5 or 16:9.
- →Under 10 MB each - flatten or compress heavy photo cards.
- →No tiny text - it has to be legible on a phone at thumbnail size.
- →Keep key content away from the extreme edges so nothing clips.
- →Consistent fonts, colours and margins across all cards so it reads as one ad.
Make correctly-sized cards in Reathy (free)
The fastest way to hit these specs is to not think about them. In Reathy, set the format to square 1:1, write each card as a line of text, pick a theme, and export each slide as a 1080 × 1080 PNG. Every card comes out the exact size LinkedIn wants, on-brand and under the file limit - ready to upload as carousel-ad cards. No Canva, no designer, no account needed to try it.
Frequently asked questions
What size is a LinkedIn carousel ad?
Each card is 1080 × 1080 px - a 1:1 square - uploaded as a JPG or PNG up to 10 MB. An ad has 2-10 of these cards. Confirm the current numbers in Campaign Manager before launching, as LinkedIn can change them.
What's the character limit on a LinkedIn carousel ad?
The intro text above the whole ad is up to ~255 characters, and each card's headline is up to ~45 characters. Front-load both, because anything past the limit is cut off.
How many cards can a LinkedIn carousel ad have?
Between 2 and 10. Five to six well-made cards usually perform better than ten thin ones - you don't need to fill every slot.
Are LinkedIn carousel ad cards square or portrait?
Square. Carousel ad cards are 1:1 (1080×1080). Portrait 4:5 is for organic PDF carousels, not the paid Carousel image ad.
Can a LinkedIn carousel ad use a GIF or video?
No. Carousel image ad cards are static JPG or PNG images. For motion you'd use a different LinkedIn ad format, such as a video ad.
Make your carousel now
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