What are Instagram Carousels?

Instagram Carousels are posts featuring multiple images, videos, or a combination of both, allowing viewers to swipe through them. 

They’re a great way to tell a story, share tutorials, or showcase a collection in only one post. According to Adam Mosseri, Head of Instagram, carousels often get more reach than single photo posts (source).

With a tool like SocialBee, you can schedule and publish Instagram carousel posts directly or use publishing via reminders to finish posting from your phone. This guide covers both methods, along with tips to make your carousel posts perform better. 

👉 For more Instagram tips & how-tos, see the following articles:

• Schedule & publish Instagram single-image posts
• Schedule & publish Instagram Stories
• Schedule & publish Instagram Reels
• How to add an Instagram location to your post
• Add Instagram collaborators to your post
• Instagram grid planner

Requirements to Schedule Instagram Carousels

• Instagram Business Profile Required: Direct publishing of carousel posts through SocialBee is only available for Instagram Business profiles connected via Facebook.
• Supported Formats:
  • According to Instagram (source), here are the latest dimensions for carousels:
    • Image size (4:5) 1080 x 1350 px
    • Grid view (3:4) 1012 x 1350 px
    • Only the center area  is visible in the grid view.
    • You can still post Carousels as square images, but the grid view will remain 3:4.
  • See our supported media file types for Instagram article for more details on image/video size, aspect ratio, and format requirements.

Instagram Carousel Publishing Methods in SocialBee

• Direct Publishing (Auto-Publish): Your Instagram carousel will be posted automatically at the scheduled time.
• Publishing via Reminders: SocialBee will send you a mobile notification at the scheduled time, so you can finalize posting in the Instagram app.

Learn more about SocialBee's publishing methods here (Directly or via Reminders).

Instagram API and Media Limitations

Instagram’s API enforces specific restrictions on carousel posts, which vary depending on your profile type (Business, Creator, or Personal), media format (images or videos), and posting method.

📸 Instagram Image Carousel — Media Specifications

• For Instagram Business or Creator profiles, you can upload up to 10 PNG or JPG images, each up to 3 MB in size, for direct posting.
• For Instagram Personal profiles, you can also upload up to 10 PNG or JPG images, each up to 3 MB in size, but these are scheduled as reminders rather than posted directly.

🎥 Instagram Video Carousel — Media Specifications

• For Instagram Business or Creator profiles, you can publish directly one video in MP4 or MOV format (up to 300 MB and 15 minutes long), or schedule up to 10 videos (each up to 300 MB and 15 minutes long) via Reminders.
• For Instagram Personal profiles, you can upload up to 10 videos in MP4 or MOV format, each up to 512 MB and up to 10 minutes long, but these are scheduled via Reminders rather than posted directly.

FAQ: Can I mix images and videos in my carousel posts?

Yes! You can combine images and videos in Instagram carousels, as long as the media requirements listed above are followed.

🖥️ How to Schedule Instagram Carousels From Desktop

1. Open the Post Editor in your SocialBee dashboard.
2. From the Profile Selector, choose your Instagram profile.
3. Upload your media files: Upload up to 10 images or videos for your carousel. You can also create content directly using Canva or Unsplash without leaving SocialBee.
4. Write your caption within the maximum character length limit supported:
   • Click “Customize for each profile” to unlock advanced features like scheduling the first comment on your Instagram post.
   • Add Hashtags: Use hashtag collections to organize and quickly insert relevant hashtafs into your captions. Stay within Instagram’s 30-hashtag limit, SocialBee will alert you if you exceed it.
   • Use Emojis: Enhance your captions by typing emojis directly into the post editor.
   • Tag Other Accounts (Mentions): For Business or Creator profiles, type the @ symbol in the editor to see handle suggestions and easily mention other accounts.
   • Instagram Collaborators: Add collaborators to carousel posts (up to 3 accounts).
   • Add Location: Include a geotag when scheduling posts if you have a Business or Creator profile.
   • Text Formatting: Make your captions stand out by applying bold, italic, or strikethrough styles.
   • Speed Up Content Creation: Use our SocialBee AI Post Generator to quickly generate captions.
5. Check out the publishing method (Directly or via Reminders) by hovering over the red Mobile Phone icon 📱 in the Post Editor.
6. Set your date and time for posting, and choose a Content Category for your post to appear in.
7. Save your post as Approved (to be shared at your selected posting time or according to your set schedule) or as Draft (to finish later).

📱 Share Your Instagram Carousels Using Publishing via Reminders

If you schedule your Instagram carousel post using Direct Publishing, there’s nothing else to do, SocialBee will publish your post automatically at the scheduled time.

If you schedule your post using Publishing via Reminders, you’ll receive a push notification on the SocialBee mobile app (which you’ll need to download). When it’s time to post, simply tap on the notification to complete the publishing process within the Instagram app.

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📱 Publish Your Instagram Carousel Post from iOS

You can publish an Instagram carousel post using Publishing via Reminders on iOS as follows:

1. Make sure you’re logged in to the correct Instagram account before starting.
2. Open the push notification sent to your device from the SocialBee mobile app. If you miss the notification, you can still find your post in the SocialBee mobile app under Content.
3. In the SocialBee app, select the post due to be shared and tap on Post Now.
4. Confirm you are logged in to the right Instagram profile and tap OK.
5. You’ll be redirected to the Instagram app, with your caption automatically copied to your clipboard.
6. Select how you want your post to be shared (Story/Feed/Messages). For Carousels, you'll need to choose Instagram Feed.
7. Select your carousel’s media files (automatically downloaded to your device from the SocialBee app).
8. When you reach the caption screen, paste your post’s caption (automatically copied to your clipboard).
9. Tap Next to review and edit your media files: crop, add filters, tag people, add location, add music, add AI labels, select your Audience, add partnership labels, and much more.
10. When you’re ready, tap Share to publish.

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📱 Publish Your Instagram Carousel Post from Android

You can publish an Instagram carousel post using Publishing via Reminders on Android as follows:

1. Make sure you’re logged in to the correct Instagram account before starting.
2. Open the push notification sent to your mobile device from the SocialBee mobile app. If you miss the notification, you can still find your post in the SocialBee mobile app under Content.
3. In the SocialBee app, select the post due to be shared and tap Post Now.
4. Confirm you are logged in to the right Instagram profile and tap OK.
5. You’ll be redirected to the Instagram app. Tap the + (new post) icon.
6. Tap Select Multiple (Instagram’s carousel icon) to select multiple media items.
7. Select your carousel’s media files, which will have been automatically downloaded to your device’s gallery by SocialBee.
8. When you reach the caption screen, paste your post’s caption (automatically copied to your clipboard).
9. Tap Next to review and edit your media files: crop, add filters, tag people, add location, add music, add AI labels, select your Audience, add partnership labels, and more.
10. When you’re ready, tap Share to publish.

Using SocialBee's Instagram Grid Planner to Preview Carousels

SocialBee's Instagram grid planner lets you preview how your carousel posts will appear on your profile before posting.

• Visualize your Instagram carousel within the full grid for a polished, cohesive feed.
• Plan your Instagram feed confidently by ensuring your carousels fit smoothly with surrounding posts.
• Save time and avoid reposts by spotting layout issues early.

⚠️ Troubleshooting Tips

Carousel media not appearing in Instagram app?

Make sure SocialBee has permission to access your photos and files. On Android, go to Settings > Apps > SocialBee > Permissions and enable access to storage/photos. On iOS, go to Settings > Privacy > Photos and allow SocialBee to access your media.

Caption not copying automatically?

Sometimes the caption might not copy to your clipboard automatically. If this happens, manually copy your caption from the SocialBee app before you open Instagram.

Instagram posting fails or shows errors?

Try these steps:

• Log out and back into your Instagram account.
• Restart your phone.
• Reinstall the SocialBee app if needed.
• Check your internet connection and confirm you’re logged into the correct Instagram account.

Learn how to troubleshoot together with the SocialBee team: What Do I Do If I Run Into Errors?

Best Practices for Instagram Carousel Posts

• Tell a story: Use the image/video on the first slide as a hook, and arrange your slides to create a narrative or step-by-step flow.
• Share helpful content: Provide helpful tips, educational content, or design inspiration in your carousel posts to offer value and increase engagement with your audience.
• Plan your content ahead: By using SocialBee to schedule Instagram carousel posts in advance, brands can establish a reliable and consistent posting routine to keep their audience engaged.
• Automatic swipe: If someone sees your carousel post but they don’t swipe, we’ll often give that carousel a second chance and automatically move to that second piece of media for the viewer.
• Use trending audios for your carousels: Using music on carousels and photos now makes them eligible to be shown in the Reels tab, which can also help with reach.
• Optimize image/video specs: Stick to 1080px by 1080px or 1080px by 1350px for images; keep videos under 60 seconds each.
• Mix media types: Combine photos and videos for variety.
• Engage with captions: End with a call-to-action (e.g., “Swipe to see more” or “Which slide is your favorite?”).
• Track performance: Monitor carousel metrics in Instagram Insights to learn what works best.

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Scheduling IG Carousels

• Uploading images or videos with varying aspect ratios can disrupt the publishing flow or cause cropping of your carousel.
• Posting too many similar or repetitive images that might cause viewer drop-off.
• Forgetting to preview the entire carousel before posting, which may result in media order issues or unwanted edits.
• Ensure you have the rights or permission to use all images and videos in your carousel to avoid copyright issues.
• When posting sponsored content, don’t forget to add partnership labels on Instagram to comply with advertising guidelines.
• Failing to assess the current Instagram content landscape may lead to ineffective carousel scheduling; review trends and competitor posts to inform your strategy.

Instagram Carousel Post Ideas

Looking for fresh inspiration for your next Instagram carousel? Carousel posts are a versatile way to engage your audience and showcase your brand creatively. Here are some ideas to get you started:

• Highlight New Products or Services: Showcase features, benefits, and multiple angles or variations to give your audience a complete look.
• Share Customer Testimonials: Use each slide to feature different customer reviews or success stories to build trust.
• Feature User-Generated Content: Curate posts from your community to boost authenticity and encourage engagement.
• Create Educational Carousels: Share tips, how-tos, tutorials, or industry insights that provide real value to your followers.
• Offer Behind-the-Scenes Glimpses: Let your audience see the story behind your brand, team, or production process for a personal touch.
• Announce Exclusive Deals or Events: Use carousels to build excitement with sneak peeks or detailed information about special offers or upcoming events.
• Curate Themed Collections: Group related images and videos around a theme, such as seasonal looks, product lines, or inspirational quotes, to create a cohesive story.

Best Posting Times for Instagram Carousels

To increase visibility and engagement on your Instagram carousels, posting at the right time is essential.

Based on thorough social media research and audience activity insights, here are the best times to post Instagram carousels for maximum reach:

Weekdays (Monday to Friday):

• Early Morning: 6 AM – 8 AM: Catch early risers and morning scrolls before work.
• Midday: 11 AM – 1 PM: Engage users during lunch breaks when activity peaks.
• Evening: 7 PM – 9 PM: Reach users winding down after work and more active on Instagram.

Weekends (Saturday and Sunday):

• Late Morning: 9 AM – 11 AM: People start their day later, making late mornings ideal.
• Afternoon: 2 PM – 4 PM: Perfect window when users are relaxed and browsing social media.

Additional Tips:

• Avoid posting late at night (after 10 PM) and during typical work hours (2 PM – 5 PM on weekdays) to reduce the risk of low engagement.
• Use Instagram Insights to tailor posting times specific to your audience’s active hours.
• Consistency is key: Post regularly during these peak times to build momentum and audience anticipation.