How to Create High Performing LinkedIn Carousel Post

LinkedIn carousels get 5x more clicks than any other post format. But creating one shouldn't take 5x longer.

You probably already know carousels work. We've all seen competitors rack up engagement with swipeable content while their text posts get crickets.

Carousels are powerful, and they can be used frequently. A single carousel won't transform your LinkedIn presence. A system for producing them regularly will have much more impact.

This guide shows you how to create LinkedIn carousel posts efficiently, from the exact dimensions you need to the step-by-step process for uploading. You'll also learn the best practices that separate high-performing carousels from forgettable ones, plus how to turn your existing content into carousel format without starting from scratch. No design degree required.

What Is a LinkedIn Carousel Post?

A LinkedIn carousel post is a swipeable, multi-page document that appears in the feed. Users swipe or click through slides to consume your content one piece at a time.

If you're confused about terminology, here's what happened: LinkedIn used to support native multi-image carousels where you could upload several photos that people swiped through. In December 2023, LinkedIn discontinued that feature. What remains (and works even better) is the document post format. You upload a PDF, PowerPoint, or Word document, and LinkedIn converts it into a swipeable carousel.

These document carousels are what everyone now means when they say "LinkedIn carousel." The format stuck because it works. According to Postnitro's 2025 engagement data, carousel posts achieve a 24.42% average engagement rate compared to just 6.67% for text-only posts.

Why do carousels perform so well? Three reasons:

Extended dwell time. When someone swipes through your carousel, they spend more time with your content. LinkedIn's algorithm interprets this as a quality signal and shows your post to more people.

Micro-commitments. Each swipe is a small "yes" from the viewer. They've invested attention, making them more likely to keep going and ultimately engage.

Visual scroll-stopping. In a feed dominated by text, carousels stand out. The format itself attracts attention before anyone reads a word.

LinkedIn Carousel Dimensions and Specifications

Getting your dimensions right prevents embarrassing cropping issues and ensures your carousels look professional on every device.

The Complete Specifications Table

Square vs Portrait: Which LinkedIn Carousel Size to Choose

Square (1080 x 1080 px) is the most versatile linkedin carousel size. It displays consistently across desktop and mobile devices, making it the safer choice if you're unsure about your audience's viewing habits.

Portrait (1080 x 1350 px) gives you more vertical space to work with. This 4:5 aspect ratio is mobile-optimized and takes up more screen real estate on phones. If your audience skews mobile-heavy, portrait carousels command more attention in the feed.

The practical advice: start with square. Once you're comfortable creating carousels, experiment with portrait to see if it improves engagement for your specific audience.

Mobile Considerations for LinkedIn Carousel Posts

Approximately 57% of LinkedIn content is viewed on mobile devices. If you want to do carousels right, you have to take this into account.

Test thumbnail appearance. Your first slide appears as a small thumbnail in the feed. If your text is too small or your visual is too complex, people won't know what your carousel is about and will scroll past.

Use sans-serif fonts. Fonts like Arial, Helvetica, or Inter read better on small screens than decorative serif fonts.

Increase contrast. Colors that look distinct on your large monitor may blur together on a phone. High contrast between text and background is non-negotiable.

Maintain safe margins. Keep important content away from the edges. LinkedIn crops differently across devices, and the last thing you want is crucial text getting cut off.

How to Create a LinkedIn Carousel Post: Step-by-Step

Here's the exact process to create a linkedin carousel post from start to finish.

Step 1: Plan Your Content Before Designing

The biggest mistake people make is jumping straight into design software. Carousels that perform well start with a clear outline.

Choose your topic. What single idea will you explore? Carousels work best when focused on one problem or concept. "10 Email Subject Line Formulas" is specific. "Marketing Tips" is too broad.

Outline your slides. Write down what each slide will say before you design anything. A typical structure: - Slide 1: Hook (the promise that stops the scroll) - Slides 2-8: Content (your main points, tips, or steps) - Final slide: Call-to-action

Apply the one-idea-per-slide rule. Each slide should communicate exactly one concept. If you're explaining a process, one step per slide. If you're sharing tips, one tip per slide. This keeps your carousel scannable and prevents information overload.

The optimal slide count is 5-10. Anything less feels thin. Anything more risks losing attention. According to multiple industry sources, this range provides enough depth without exhausting your audience.

Step 2: Design Your Slides Using a LinkedIn Carousel Template

You don't need professional design skills. You need a good linkedin carousel template.

Canva offers over 1,043 LinkedIn carousel templates in its free tier. Search for "LinkedIn carousel" and you'll find options for every style: minimalist, bold, corporate, creative.

Google Slides or PowerPoint work perfectly if you prefer familiar tools. Set your slide dimensions to 1080 x 1080 (or 1080 x 1350), create your content, and export as PDF.

Figma gives you more design control for those who want it, with free templates available from the community.

When designing:

Start with your first slide. This is your hook. It needs to work at thumbnail size in the feed. Bold text, clear value proposition, minimal clutter. Think of it like a headline for your profile: it needs to earn the click.

Maintain consistent visual language. Use the same fonts, colors, and layout patterns across all slides. Inconsistent design looks unprofessional and distracts from your message.

Work efficiently. Create your first content slide completely, then duplicate it. Change the text for each subsequent slide rather than building from scratch each time. This ensures consistency and saves hours.

Limit text to 20-30 words per slide. Carousels are visual content, not blog posts reformatted into slides. If you're cramming paragraphs onto slides, you're doing it wrong.

Step 3: Export as PDF

PDF is the recommended file format for LinkedIn carousels. It preserves your formatting exactly as you designed it, unlike PowerPoint or Word which can shift elements during upload.

In Canva, click "Share" then "Download" and select PDF. In PowerPoint or Google Slides, use "Save As" or "Download" and choose PDF format.

Before exporting, check: - File size is under 100 MB (rarely an issue with standard carousels) - All text is spelled correctly (you cannot edit after publishing) - Your final slide has a clear call-to-action

Step 4: Upload to LinkedIn

Here's the exact upload process:

1. Click "Start a post" at the top of your LinkedIn feed or profile
2. Find the document option. Click the three-dot "More" menu, then select "Add a document." Some interfaces show a document icon directly in the post composer.
3. Upload your PDF. Select the file from your computer.
4. Add a document title. This appears at the top of your carousel in the feed. Make it descriptive and keyword-rich. "5 Cold Email Templates That Get Replies" beats "My Latest Post."
5. Write your caption. Don't skip this. Your caption should hook readers and give context for the carousel. Include a strong opening line, because only the first few lines show before people click "see more."
6. Add 3-5 relevant hashtags. Hashtags help your content appear in topic feeds. Don't stuff 20 hashtags hoping for reach. Pick 3-5 that actually describe your content.
7. Publish. Hit post and your linkedin document post goes live.

Step 5: Engage After Publishing

Posting your carousel is only half the job. What you do in the first hour matters enormously for reach.

Respond to every comment. When someone takes time to comment, reward that engagement with a reply. This signals to LinkedIn's algorithm that your post is generating conversation, which triggers additional distribution.

Reply with substance. "Thanks!" doesn't cut it. Ask follow-up questions. Add additional insight. Create back-and-forth discussion. According to Postnitro, comments with 15+ words receive 2.5x more algorithmic weight than short responses.

Stay active in the feed. Engage with other people's content before and after posting. This keeps you visible and often leads to reciprocal engagement on your carousel.

LinkedIn Carousel Best Practices

These principles separate forgettable carousels from ones that get saved, shared, and commented on.

First Slide: The Hook That Stops the Scroll

Your first slide is the most important. It determines whether anyone swipes to slide two.

Must work at thumbnail size. When your carousel appears in someone's feed, the first slide displays as a relatively small image. If people can't immediately understand what your carousel offers, they'll scroll past.

Use bold statements, questions, or surprising statistics. "5 Mistakes Killing Your Cold Emails" creates curiosity. "Email Marketing Tips" doesn't.

Promise clear value. What will someone gain by swiping through? Make that obvious. "How I Grew My LinkedIn Following from 0 to 50K in 6 Months" tells people exactly what they'll learn.

Test before publishing. Preview your carousel on mobile. If the first slide text is unreadable or the hook is unclear, redesign it.

Design Principles for LinkedIn Carousels

Limit fonts to 2-3. One for headlines, one for body text, optionally one for accents. More than that creates visual chaos.

Maintain a consistent color palette. Pick 2-4 colors and stick to them. Consistent branding builds recognition over time.

Embrace whitespace. Resist the urge to fill every pixel. Empty space makes your content easier to digest and looks more professional.

Create visual hierarchy. Headlines should be noticeably larger than body text. Important points should stand out through size, weight, or color.

Content Structure That Keeps People Swiping

Use a problem-solution flow. Start by identifying a pain point your audience relates to. Then deliver solutions across subsequent slides.

Include numbered lists. "Step 1 of 7" tells people exactly where they are in your carousel. This clarity encourages completion.

Build a story arc. Hook (first slide) builds (middle slides) payoff (second-to-last slide) and call-to-action (final slide). Each slide should make people want to see what's next.

Ensure each slide works independently. Someone might screenshot and share a single slide. Make sure every slide makes sense on its own while also fitting the overall narrative.

The Final Slide: Your Conversion Opportunity

Don't waste your final slide on a generic "Thoughts?" The final slide is prime real estate for driving action.

Be specific with your CTA. "Comment your biggest challenge with cold emails" is actionable. "Let me know what you think" is vague.

Ask for the save. "Save this for your next campaign" explicitly tells people to bookmark your content. Saves are a strong engagement signal.

Mention how people can work with you. If relevant, include a brief note about your services, newsletter, or how to get in touch. Don't be pushy, but don't hide either.

LinkedIn Carousel Content Ideas

Not sure what to turn into carousels? These formats consistently perform well.

High-Performing Carousel Types

Step-by-step tutorials. "How to Write a Cold Email in 7 Steps." People love actionable, sequential content they can implement immediately.

Listicles with substance. "10 Tools Every Consultant Needs." Each slide covers one tool with a brief explanation of why it's valuable.

Before/after case studies. Show a transformation. What was the problem? What was the result? What made the difference?

Industry insights and data. Turn statistics or trends into visual slides. "5 Surprising Stats About Remote Work" with one stat per slide.

Contrarian takes. Challenge conventional wisdom in your field. "Why Hustle Culture is Destroying Your Career" will get attention if you back it up.

Myth-busting content. "5 Things You Think You Know About SEO (That Are Wrong)." Each slide debunks one misconception.

Behind-the-scenes breakdowns. Show your process. How do you approach a specific task? What does a day in your work look like?

Repurposing Your Existing Content

You don't need to create carousel content from scratch. Your existing content is a goldmine.

Blog posts become key takeaways carousels. Pull the 7 most important points from a recent article. One point per slide. Link to the full post in your caption. This strategy works especially well for professionals who already create thought leadership content, like consultants building visibility on LinkedIn.

Podcast episodes become quote highlight carousels. Extract the most quotable moments from a recent episode. Design them as quote cards.

Webinars become process carousels. If you taught a framework during a webinar, turn those steps into a carousel walkthrough.

Client wins become case study carousels. Before, challenge, solution, result. Each stage gets its own slide with relevant details.

Repurposing is efficient and extends the reach of content you've already invested in creating.

Common LinkedIn Carousel Mistakes to Avoid

These errors undermine even good carousel content.

Information overload. Cramming paragraphs of text onto slides defeats the purpose. If someone wanted to read an essay, they'd read a post. Keep each slide focused and scannable.

Weak first slide. A generic or boring hook means no one swipes. Your first slide is an advertisement for the rest of your content. Treat it that way.

No clear call-to-action. You captured attention for 30 seconds. Now what? If you don't tell people what to do next, they'll scroll on without engaging.

Inconsistent design. Different fonts, colors, and styles across slides looks amateurish. Maintain visual consistency from first slide to last.

Ignoring mobile users. As mentioned earlier, 57% of LinkedIn users view content on mobile. Small fonts and complex visuals are unreadable on phones.

Too many slides. A 15-slide carousel exhausts attention. Stick to 5-10 slides unless your content genuinely requires more depth.

Poor image quality. Blurry graphics or low-resolution images signal low effort. Use high-quality visuals or skip images entirely in favor of clean typography.

Hashtag stuffing. 3-5 relevant hashtags is plenty. Twenty hashtags looks desperate and doesn't improve distribution.

Not proofreading. This is critical: you cannot edit carousel slides after publishing. A typo on slide 3 means deleting the entire post and re-uploading. Triple-check before you publish.

Creating one and disappearing. A single carousel won't build your LinkedIn presence. Carousels work through consistency. One per week beats one per month.

Tools for Creating LinkedIn Carousels

You have options at every price point.

Free LinkedIn Carousel Maker Options

Canva is the most popular choice for good reason. Over 1,043 linkedin carousel templates, drag-and-drop editing, and a generous free tier. Most professionals never need to pay.

Google Slides is familiar and free. Set your slide dimensions to your preferred carousel size, design your slides, and export as PDF. No learning curve if you've used presentation software before.

PowerPoint works the same way. Design in PowerPoint, export to PDF, upload to LinkedIn. The interface is more powerful than Google Slides if you're comfortable with it.

Premium Options and Professional Tools

The learning curve for these is much steeper, but you can get great unique results with it.

Figma offers more design control and is popular among designers. It's free for individual use, with paid tiers for teams.

Adobe Express provides professional-quality templates with Adobe's design capabilities at a lower price point than the full Creative Suite.

Visme specializes in data visualization, making it ideal if your carousels involve charts, graphs, or statistics.

Carousel-Specific Tools

Postnitro uses AI to generate carousel content and designs. Useful if you want to speed up the creation process.

Scheduling LinkedIn Document Posts

Most scheduling tools now support PDF/document uploads: - Buffer - Hootsuite - Later - Publer

This matters for consistency. Batch-create your carousels on one day, schedule them to publish throughout the week, and you've maintained visibility without daily effort.

LinkedIn Carousel Engagement Statistics

Understanding performance benchmarks helps you set realistic expectations.

The Data That Matters

According to Postnitro, 76% of consumers prefer visual content over text-heavy posts. This preference explains why carousels capture attention.

For deeper context on how LinkedIn measures content performance, see our guide on what LinkedIn impressions mean.

Why Carousels Work with the Algorithm

Extended dwell time signals quality. When someone swipes through 8 slides, they've spent considerably more time with your content than a quick scroll past a text post. LinkedIn interprets this engagement as a sign your content is valuable.

The swipe action creates micro-commitments. Each swipe is a small "yes" from the viewer. This psychological investment makes them more likely to complete the carousel and engage.

Multiple hooks throughout your carousel give you multiple chances to earn engagement. Someone might not relate to slide 2 but find slide 5 compelling enough to like or comment.

Optimal Posting Strategy

Don't post only carousels. Mix formats for variety: carousels, text posts, videos, single images. This keeps your content fresh and lets you see what resonates best with your specific audience.

1-2 carousels per week is sustainable for most professionals. More than that becomes time-intensive unless you have a system for batching creation.

Best days for posting: Tuesday through Thursday consistently outperform weekends. Best times: 9-11 AM in your audience's timezone typically sees highest engagement.

Your LinkedIn Carousel Action Plan

Theory doesn't build LinkedIn presence. Action does. Here's your implementation plan.

This Week

1. Choose one existing piece of content to repurpose. A blog post, a podcast episode, a talk you gave. Something where the work is already done.
2. Open Canva and pick a template. Search "LinkedIn carousel" and choose one that matches your brand aesthetic. Don't overthink it.
3. Create 6-8 slides with a clear hook and CTA. Use the structure from this guide: hook on slide 1, content in the middle, call-to-action at the end.
4. Export as PDF and upload to LinkedIn. Follow the step-by-step process above. Add a compelling caption and 3-5 hashtags.
5. Track engagement and note what works. Which slides got the most attention? What comments did people leave? This data informs your next carousel.

Building a Sustainable System

One carousel is a start. A system makes carousels sustainable.

Batch create 2-4 carousels at once. Set aside 2-3 hours on a Sunday or whenever works for you. Create multiple carousels in one sitting rather than scrambling each week.

Schedule them across 2-4 weeks. Use a scheduling tool to publish your carousels at optimal times without requiring daily attention.

Repurpose high-performing carousels. A carousel that gets great engagement can become a blog post, a newsletter section, or a video script. Extract maximum value from what works.

Analyze performance monthly. Which carousel topics performed best? Which hooks stopped the scroll? Which CTAs drove the most comments? Use this data to refine your approach.

Your Next Step

LinkedIn carousels are high-engagement content accessible to anyone willing to put in the work. You don't need design skills. You don't need expensive tools. You need a clear process and the commitment to show up consistently.

The system matters more than perfection. A "good enough" carousel published this week beats a perfect carousel stuck in drafts. Your first few carousels won't be your best. That's fine. You'll learn what resonates with your audience through iteration.

Here's your action item: create your first carousel this week. Pick an existing piece of content, choose a template, design your slides, and publish. Track what happens. Then do it again next week.

The professionals who build real visibility on LinkedIn aren't the ones with the fanciest designs. They're the ones who show up consistently with content worth consuming. Carousels are one powerful tool for that consistency. Now you know how to use it.

Want to make consistent posting easier? A content system beats good intentions every time. When you batch your posts and schedule them in advance, you stay visible without LinkedIn eating your week.