LinkedIn Carousel Size: Complete 2026 Guide (Specs & Dimensions)
LinkedIn Carousel Size: Complete 2026 Guide (Specs & Dimensions)
Getting the dimensions right is crucial for a professional-looking LinkedIn carousel. Upload the wrong size, and your text becomes blurry, images get cropped, or your design looks stretched. This guide covers every specification you need to create carousels that look perfect on every device.
TL;DR: LinkedIn carousel pages should be 1080 x 1350 pixels (4:5 aspect ratio), PDF format, under 25 MB total file size, with at least 24pt font size for readability. Use RGB color mode and export at 72 DPI.
Why LinkedIn Carousel Size Matters
LinkedIn doesn't just accept any file size or dimension. The platform has specific requirements because:
- Mobile optimization – Most LinkedIn users browse on mobile, so dimensions must be mobile-friendly
- Consistent display – Standardized sizes ensure your carousel looks the same for everyone
- File performance – Proper sizing keeps load times fast
- Professional appearance – Correct dimensions prevent distortion and cropping
Get the size wrong, and your carousel might look great on your computer but terrible on mobile—or worse, LinkedIn might reject it entirely.
LinkedIn Carousel Dimensions: Complete Specs
Recommended Page Dimensions
| Specification | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Width x Height | 1080 x 1350 pixels |
| Aspect Ratio | 4:5 (portrait) |
| DPI | 72 DPI (screen resolution) |
| Color Mode | RGB (not CMYK) |
| File Format | PDF only |
Why 1080 x 1350?
This dimension is optimized for mobile viewing (the primary way people consume LinkedIn content). The 4:5 aspect ratio matches most smartphone screens, ensuring your carousel fills the screen without awkward white space or cropping.
File Format & Resolution
PDF Requirements
- Format: PDF (Portable Document Format)
- Compression: Standard compression is fine; don't use maximum compression as it reduces quality
- Pages: 3-10 pages per carousel
- Orientation: Portrait (vertical) only
Why PDF?
LinkedIn specifically requires PDFs for carousels because:
- PDFs preserve formatting across all devices
- They're secure and can't be easily edited
- They compress well without losing quality
- They're universally compatible
Don't use: PowerPoint, Word, JPG, PNG, or any other format. LinkedIn will reject them.
File Size Limits
| Metric | Limit |
|---|---|
| Total PDF file size | 25 MB maximum |
| Recommended size | 5-15 MB (faster upload) |
| Per-page size | No specific limit, but keep pages consistent |
How to reduce file size:
- Compress images within your PDF (use 72 DPI, not 300 DPI)
- Avoid embedding high-resolution videos
- Use solid colors instead of complex gradients
- Remove unnecessary metadata
Pro tip: If your PDF is over 25 MB, compress it using an online PDF compressor or export from your design tool with "optimize for web" settings.
Text & Font Specifications
Font Size Guidelines
| Element | Minimum Size | Recommended Size |
|---|---|---|
| Headlines | 36pt | 48-60pt |
| Body text | 24pt | 28-32pt |
| Small text/captions | 18pt | 20-24pt |
Why these sizes matter:
- LinkedIn carousels are viewed on mobile devices
- Users scroll quickly; text needs to be readable at a glance
- Anything smaller than 24pt becomes hard to read on phones
Font Recommendations
Best fonts for LinkedIn carousels:
- Sans-serif: Helvetica, Arial, Roboto, Open Sans (clean, modern)
- Serif: Georgia, Garamond (professional, traditional)
Avoid:
- Decorative fonts (hard to read)
- Script fonts (too fancy)
- Fonts smaller than 18pt (unreadable)
Pro tip: Stick to 2-3 fonts maximum. Too many fonts look unprofessional.
Color Mode & Specifications
RGB vs. CMYK
| Mode | Use Case | For LinkedIn |
|---|---|---|
| RGB | Screen display (web, mobile, digital) | ✅ Use this |
| CMYK | Print (brochures, business cards) | ❌ Don't use |
Why RGB? LinkedIn displays carousels on screens, not in print. CMYK colors will look dull and washed out when converted to RGB.
Color Best Practices
- High contrast: Ensure text stands out from the background
- Consistent branding: Use your brand colors throughout
- Accessibility: Avoid red-green combinations (colorblind users)
- Mobile-friendly: Test colors on a phone screen (they may look different)
Carousel vs. Other LinkedIn Content Formats
Understanding how carousels compare to other formats helps you choose the right one for your content.
| Format | Dimensions | Best For | Engagement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carousel (PDF) | 1080 x 1350 | Multi-step tips, tutorials, case studies | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Highest |
| Single Image | 1200 x 627 | Quick tips, quotes, announcements | ⭐⭐⭐ Medium |
| Video | 1080 x 1920 | Demonstrations, interviews, behind-the-scenes | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ High |
| Article/Blog | N/A | Long-form thought leadership | ⭐⭐⭐ Medium |
| Infographic | 1080 x 1350 | Data visualization, statistics | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ High |
When to use carousels: If you have 3+ related tips, steps, or ideas to share, a carousel is your best bet.
Best Practices for Carousel Design
Layout Principles
1. Margins & Padding
- Leave at least 60px margin on all sides
- This prevents text from being cut off on some devices
- Keeps content centered and readable
2. Safe Area
- Keep all critical content (text, logos) within the center 960 x 1200 pixel area
- This ensures nothing gets cropped on different screen sizes
3. Visual Hierarchy
- Page 1: Hook (biggest, most eye-catching)
- Pages 2-9: Content (balanced text and visuals)
- Page 10: CTA (clear action)
Design Elements
What works:
- ✅ Bold headlines (48-60pt)
- ✅ High-contrast colors
- ✅ Icons and illustrations
- ✅ Consistent branding
- ✅ White space (don't overcrowd)
- ✅ One idea per page
What doesn't work:
- ❌ Tiny text (under 24pt)
- ❌ Too many colors (looks chaotic)
- ❌ Dense paragraphs (hard to scan)
- ❌ Low-quality images (looks unprofessional)
- ❌ Inconsistent fonts (looks amateur)
Common Mistakes to Avoid
| Mistake | Impact | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| Wrong aspect ratio (4:3 instead of 4:5) | Content gets cropped or stretched | Always use 1080 x 1350 |
| CMYK color mode | Colors look dull and washed out | Switch to RGB before exporting |
| Text too small (under 24pt) | Unreadable on mobile | Use minimum 24pt for body text |
| File over 25 MB | LinkedIn rejects the upload | Compress images and reduce file size |
| Uploading as image instead of PDF | Treated as single image, not carousel | Always export as PDF |
| Inconsistent page sizes | Pages look misaligned when swiping | Keep all pages at 1080 x 1350 |
| No margins | Text gets cut off on some devices | Leave 60px margin on all sides |
Design Tools & Export Settings
Recommended Tools
Canva
- Built-in LinkedIn carousel templates
- Automatic sizing (1080 x 1350)
- Export as PDF with one click
- Free and paid options
Adobe InDesign
- Professional design tool
- Full control over dimensions
- Export settings: RGB, 72 DPI, PDF/X-1a format
Figma
- Collaborative design tool
- Precise dimension control
- Export as PDF directly
PowerPoint
- Quick option for simple carousels
- File > Export > PDF
- Set page size to 1080 x 1350 in page setup
Lumeo
- Fastest option (templates + auto-sizing)
- One-click PDF export
- Optimized for LinkedIn carousels
Export Settings Checklist
When exporting your carousel as PDF:
- ☑ Dimensions: 1080 x 1350 pixels per page
- ☑ Color mode: RGB
- ☑ DPI: 72 (for screen display)
- ☑ Compression: Standard (not maximum)
- ☑ File size: Under 25 MB
- ☑ Format: PDF (not PDF/A or other variants)
- ☑ Pages: 3-10 pages
Create Perfectly Sized Carousels with Lumeo
Manually setting dimensions, exporting as PDF, and checking file sizes is tedious. Lumeo handles all of this automatically.
Lumeo's sizing advantages:
- Pre-built templates with correct 1080 x 1350 dimensions
- Automatic RGB color mode
- One-click PDF export (always under 25 MB)
- No manual dimension tweaking needed
- Mobile preview to check how it looks on phones
Instead of spending 20 minutes getting dimensions right, Lumeo gets it right the first time.
Create Your First Carousel with Lumeo →
FAQ: LinkedIn Carousel Size
Q: What if my carousel is 1200 x 1500 instead of 1080 x 1350?
A: LinkedIn will accept it, but it may not display optimally on all devices. Stick to 1080 x 1350 for best results.
Q: Can I use CMYK color mode?
A: Technically yes, but your colors will look dull. Always convert to RGB before exporting.
Q: What's the smallest text size I can use?
A: 18pt is the absolute minimum, but 24pt is recommended for readability on mobile.
Q: Can I have different page sizes in the same carousel?
A: LinkedIn will accept it, but it looks unprofessional. Keep all pages at 1080 x 1350.
Q: How do I check my PDF file size?
A: Right-click the file > Properties (Windows) or Get Info (Mac). Look for "Size" or "File size."
Q: Can I upload a carousel larger than 25 MB?
A: No, LinkedIn will reject it. Compress your images or reduce the number of pages.
Q: What DPI should I use?
A: 72 DPI for screen display (LinkedIn). Don't use 300 DPI (that's for print).
Q: Can I edit the carousel after uploading?
A: No, you'd need to delete and repost. Always proofread before uploading.