LinkedIn Carousel Ad Specs 2026: Sizes, Text Limits and File Types

By Shane Snyman, JWD Website Design Updated 25 September 2026

Here are the LinkedIn carousel ad specs in one place, checked against LinkedIn’s own Carousel Ads specifications help page and its carousel ads specs page for advertisers in September 2026. LinkedIn changes its ad formats from time to time, so if something in Campaign Manager looks different, trust Campaign Manager.

A quick note on who we are: JWD builds websites and does graphic design. We do not run LinkedIn ad campaigns; we refer paid ads to a specialist partner. We can design the images for your carousel cards as part of our graphic design services, quoted per project.

What Is a LinkedIn Carousel Ad?

A carousel ad is a Sponsored Content ad in the LinkedIn feed that shows a row of image cards people can swipe or scroll through. Each card has its own image and headline, and can link to its own page. That makes the format handy for:

Showing several products or services in one ad.
Walking through a process one step per card.
Telling a short story that builds from the first card to the last.

Key Specs at a Glance

Specification	Requirement
Number of cards	2 to 10
Recommended image size	1080 x 1080 pixels (1:1, square)
Maximum image size	4320 x 4320 pixels
Maximum file size	10 MB per image
File types	JPG or PNG (LinkedIn’s help page also allows non-animated GIF)
Card headline	45 characters, and it truncates after two lines
Introductory text	Up to 255 characters, 150 or fewer to avoid being cut off
Video	Not supported in carousel ads

The Full Spec List

Image specs

Cards: at least 2 and at most 10.
Size and ratio: LinkedIn recommends 1080 x 1080 pixels at a 1:1 ratio. The largest it accepts is 4320 x 4320 pixels.
File size: up to 10 MB per image.
File types: LinkedIn’s advertiser specs page lists JPG and PNG. Its help page also lists GIF, but only non-animated, so an animated GIF will not play. JPG or PNG is the safe choice.
Video: carousel ads do not support video, and you cannot mix video and images in one carousel.

Text specs

Ad name: up to 255 characters. This is for your own reference in Campaign Manager.
Introductory text: up to 255 characters. LinkedIn recommends 150 characters or fewer so it is not cut off on some devices.
Card headline: up to 45 characters, and it is cut off after two lines, so short headlines read best.

Link specs

Destination URL: must start with http:// or https:// and can be up to 2,000 characters.
Different links per card: each card can send people to a different page.
Lead Gen Forms: if your carousel uses a LinkedIn Lead Gen Form, every card must use the same form.

One rule that catches people out

According to LinkedIn’s help page, once a carousel ad is saved you cannot edit its cards. Check every image, headline and link before you save.

Tips for Designing the Cards

Make the first card do the work. It is the one everyone sees, so lead with a bold image or a clear question.
Link the cards visually. A shared colour, shape or line that carries across from one card to the next encourages people to keep swiping.
Keep text on the images large. Carousel images are shown small in the feed, especially on phones, so small text becomes unreadable.
Give each card its own headline. Ten cards with the same headline waste nine chances to say something.
End with a clear next step. Use the last card to tell people what to do, and make sure the page it links to delivers on the ad.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many cards can a LinkedIn carousel ad have?

Between 2 and 10 cards.

What image size should I use for a LinkedIn carousel ad?

LinkedIn recommends 1080 x 1080 pixels at a 1:1 square ratio, with a maximum file size of 10 MB per image.

Can each carousel card link to a different page?

Yes. Each card can have its own destination URL. The exception is a carousel using a Lead Gen Form, where all cards must use the same form.

Can I use video in a LinkedIn carousel ad?

No. LinkedIn carousel ads do not support video.

Why is my GIF not moving in my carousel ad?

LinkedIn only accepts non-animated GIFs in carousel ads, so any animation will not play. Use JPG or PNG instead.

Can I edit carousel cards after the ad is saved?

No. LinkedIn’s help page says the carousel cards cannot be edited once the ad is saved, so check everything first.

Need the Card Artwork Designed?

Getting the specs right is the easy part. Designing ten cards that look like they belong together, stay readable on a phone and fit your brand takes more time. JWD can design your carousel images as part of our graphic design services, quoted per project, and a strong logo and brand identity keeps every card consistent. The campaign itself, meaning targeting, bidding and budget, is best handled by a paid ads specialist, and we can refer you to our partner.

Send Your Clicks to a Page That Works

An ad is only as good as the page it links to. If yours is slow or unclear, the clicks you pay for are wasted. We build custom static, WordPress and custom CMS websites, from a 1 to 3 page custom static site at R2,500 to a business website of up to 12 pages from R6,000. If your current site needs fixing rather than replacing, our website maintenance is R450 an hour, agreed before work starts. Request a free quote and tell us what you are promoting.