# Instagram Carousel Limit: How Many Slides Can You Post? > The Instagram carousel limit for scheduled posts is 10 photos and videos. Learn why the app may allow more, how to order slides and which aspect ratios to use. Canonical: https://scheduleforyou.com/blog/instagram-carousel-limit Last updated: 2026-10-23 Category: Guides. The Instagram carousel limit for scheduled posts is 10 items. When you schedule a carousel with Schedule For You, you can also mix photos and videos in the same post. The Instagram app itself has allowed more slides for posts created in the app (up to 20 at the time of writing), but posts published through Instagram's API, which scheduling tools use, are limited to 10. Below you'll find the limits side by side, why the numbers differ, and how to build a carousel that looks right when it goes live. ## Instagram carousel limits at a glance | Item | Limit for posts scheduled with Schedule For You | |---|---| | Items per carousel | 2 to 10 | | Media types | Photos, videos, or a mix of both | | Caption | Up to 2,200 characters | | Hashtags | Up to 30 per post | | Feed image shape | Between 4:5 portrait and 1.91:1 landscape (at the time of writing) | | Cropping and resizing | Not done by Schedule For You; prepare images first | | Account type | Instagram Business or Creator account linked to a Facebook Page | One image on its own is posted as a regular photo post, and one video on its own is posted as a Reel. Add a second item and the post becomes a carousel. ## Instagram post limit: why the app allows more than scheduled posts Instagram has raised the in-app carousel limit over the years. At the time of writing, posts made directly in the Instagram app can include up to 20 photos and videos. Third-party tools don't publish through the app, though. They use Instagram's official publishing API, and that API caps carousels at 10 items. So the practical Instagram carousel limit depends on how you post: - **Posting by hand in the app:** you may be able to add more than 10 items. - **Scheduling through any tool that uses the API:** plan for 10. If a story genuinely needs more than 10 slides, split it into two carousels (for example "Part 1" and "Part 2") and schedule them a day or two apart, or post the longer version by hand in the app. ## How other platforms compare If you're sending the same set of images to several networks, the limits differ. Here's what Schedule For You can publish on each platform that supports multiple images: | Platform | Multiple-image limit | |---|---| | Instagram | Carousel of 2–10 photos and videos | | Threads | Carousel of up to 10 items | | Facebook Pages | Up to 10 images | | LinkedIn | Up to 9 images | | X | Up to 4 images | | Bluesky | Up to 4 images | | TikTok | Photo post with up to 35 images | A set of 10 images works on Instagram, Threads and Facebook as is (Facebook takes up to 10 images or one video, not a mix). For LinkedIn, drop one slide. For X and Bluesky, pick the four strongest images and give them their own post. ## How to plan the order of your slides The order of a carousel matters more than its length. People decide whether to swipe based on the first slide, and they decide whether to save or share based on the last. ### Slide 1: the hook The first slide does the same job as a headline. Make the promise of the carousel clear, such as a result, a question, or a "how to" in a few words. Keep text large enough to read on a phone. ### Slides 2 to 9: one idea per slide Give each slide a single point, step or image. If a slide needs a paragraph of text to make sense, split it into two. A consistent layout (same margins, font and position for slide numbers) makes swiping feel smooth. ### Last slide: the payoff End with a summary, the final step, or a clear call to action, such as "save this for later" or "visit the link in our bio." Since you can't add clickable links in an Instagram caption, the last slide is a good place to point people to your profile. ### Mixing photos and videos You can combine photos and videos in one carousel. A short video works well as slide 2, right after a strong still cover, or as a demo in the middle of a step-by-step set. Keep videos short so people keep swiping. ## Aspect ratios for carousels Instagram shows a carousel at one shape, so every slide should share the same aspect ratio. ### Pick one shape and use it for every slide | Shape | Size | When to use it | |---|---|---| | Portrait 4:5 | 1080×1350 | Most feed space; good default for text slides | | Square 1:1 | 1080×1080 | Clean grid, product shots, mixed sources | | Landscape 1.91:1 | 1080×566 | Wide photos where height isn't important | In the Instagram app, the first item generally sets the shape for the whole carousel, and later items are cropped to match. At the time of writing, published carousels behave the same way, so a mix of portrait and landscape slides can end up cropped. Schedule For You doesn't crop or resize anything, and images outside Instagram's 4:5 to 1.91:1 range will be rejected by Instagram. The simplest fix is to export every slide at the same size before you upload. Our [Instagram photo resizer](https://scheduleforyou.com/tools/instagram-photo-resizer) has presets for each feed shape. ### Seamless panoramas A "seamless" carousel spreads one wide image across several slides so it looks continuous as people swipe. To make one, design a single wide image and cut it into equal slices. Our free [Instagram carousel splitter](https://scheduleforyou.com/tools/instagram-carousel-splitter) splits a panorama into 2 to 10 equal slides at 1080×1350 or 1080×1080 and downloads them in order, ready to upload as one carousel. Tips for seamless carousels: - Keep faces and text away from the cut lines between slides. - Make the first slice work on its own, since it's also the cover in the feed. - Check the slide count: a 10-slice panorama is the maximum you can schedule. ## How to schedule a carousel in Schedule For You 1. **Prepare your slides.** Export every image at the same aspect ratio, inside Instagram's feed range. Number the files so the order is obvious. 2. **Open the composer** and select your Instagram account. Add other platforms too if you're cross-posting. 3. **Upload 2 to 10 items** in the order you want them to appear, or pick them from the media library. 4. **Write your caption.** Put the hook in the first line and keep the Instagram version within 2,200 characters. Adjust other platforms' versions separately if needed. 5. **Check the other platforms.** X and Bluesky accept up to four images and LinkedIn up to nine. If your carousel is longer, schedule a separate post for those platforms with your strongest images. 6. **Schedule it.** Pick a time, add it to your queue, or drag it onto the calendar. If Instagram rejects the post, for example because an image is outside the allowed aspect ratio, you'll get a failed-post alert so you can fix the image and reschedule. ## Frequently asked questions ### How many photos can you put in an Instagram post? In a carousel scheduled with Schedule For You, up to 10 photos and videos. The Instagram app may allow more for posts made in the app (up to 20 at the time of writing), but the publishing API that schedulers use is limited to 10. ### Can I mix photos and videos in one carousel? Yes. A carousel can contain any mix of photos and videos, up to 10 items in total, when you schedule it through Schedule For You. ### Why does Instagram crop some of my carousel slides? Instagram displays a carousel at one shape, usually set by the first item. If later slides have a different aspect ratio, they can be cropped to match. Export all slides at the same ratio to avoid it. ### Can I add more than 10 slides by scheduling two posts? Not as one carousel. You can split the content into two carousels and schedule them separately, or post a longer carousel by hand in the Instagram app if the app allows it at the time. ### Can I schedule a carousel from a personal Instagram account? No. Scheduling requires an Instagram Business or Creator account linked to a Facebook Page. Switching to a professional account is free in Instagram's settings. ## Related - [All guides](https://scheduleforyou.com/blog) - [Pricing](https://scheduleforyou.com/pricing)