Getting the dimensions right for your LinkedIn carousel is crucial for a professional look. The wrong size means cropped text, blurry images, and a carousel that looks amateur. Here's the definitive guide.
The recommended carousel size for LinkedIn
Recommended Dimensions
Square format (1080x1080 pixels) works best on both desktop and mobile. It takes up maximum feed real estate on mobile devices and looks perfectly balanced on desktop. FormaBit automatically generates all carousels at this optimal size.
Complete Specs at a Glance
| Specification | Recommended | Maximum |
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | 1080 x 1080px | 4320 x 4320px |
| Aspect Ratio | 1:1 (square) | 1:1.27 to 1.91:1 |
| File Format | PDF, PPT, PPTX, DOC, DOCX | |
| File Size | 2-5 MB | 100 MB |
| Slide Count | 8-10 slides | 300 pages |
| Resolution | 2x (retina) | N/A |
Square carousels take up 20% more screen space on mobile than landscape formats. Since over 60% of LinkedIn users browse on mobile, square = more visibility.
File Format: PDF
LinkedIn accepts PDF files for carousel posts. Each page of the PDF becomes one swipeable slide. PDF is the best format because it preserves text quality at any zoom level and keeps file sizes small.
- -PDF preserves crisp text at all sizes
- -Smaller file sizes than image-based formats
- -LinkedIn renders PDFs natively in the feed
- -FormaBit exports directly in optimized PDF format
Slide Count: How Many Slides?
LinkedIn allows up to 300 pages in a PDF carousel, but more isn't always better. The sweet spot for engagement is 8-10 slides. Fewer than 5 feels incomplete; more than 15 risks losing reader attention.
Analysis of top-performing LinkedIn carousels shows 8-10 slides generates the highest average engagement rate. Carousels with 5-7 slides get 15% less engagement on average.
Text Size Recommendations
Text readability is critical — especially on mobile where carousels appear at roughly 400px wide. Here are the recommended text sizes for a 1080x1080 carousel:
| Element | Size | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Headline / Hook | 28-36px | Bold, high contrast, max 12 words |
| Body Text | 16-18px | Regular weight, good line spacing |
| Bullets | 16-18px | Keep each bullet under 12 words |
| Captions / Labels | 14px | Minimum readable size on mobile |
| CTA Text | 20-24px | Bold, centered, clear action |
Avoid anything smaller than 14px — it becomes unreadable on mobile devices. When in doubt, go bigger. FormaBit's themes are pre-configured with optimal text sizes.
File Size Limits
LinkedIn's file size limit is 100MB — generous for any carousel. A typical FormaBit carousel runs 2-5MB total, well within limits. The 2x resolution export ensures crisp text without bloating file size.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- 1Using landscape format — wastes mobile screen space
- 2Text smaller than 14px — unreadable on phones
- 3Too many slides (15+) — engagement drops sharply after slide 10
- 4Low-resolution exports — looks blurry and unprofessional
- 5Forgetting safe zones — keep text away from edges (40px+ margin)