Facebook Carousel Ad Specs: Sizes, Cards, and Limits
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A Facebook carousel ad uses 1080 x 1080 pixel square images at a 1:1 aspect ratio, holds 2 to 10 cards, and accepts JPG or PNG files up to 30MB each. Primary text displays best under about 125 characters, each card headline runs around 40 characters, and every card in one carousel must share the same aspect ratio. Get those five things right and the format renders cleanly across Feed, and the same square cards carry over to Instagram and LinkedIn carousels with minor differences.
Facebook carousel ad specs at a glance
These are the specs that matter when you build the creative. Meta occasionally adjusts limits, so confirm anything borderline in Ads Manager before a big launch, but the values below are the stable working set.
| Spec | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| Image resolution | 1080 x 1080 pixels (minimum), higher is fine |
| Aspect ratio | 1:1 (square), consistent across every card |
| Number of cards | 2 to 10 |
| File type | JPG or PNG |
| Max file size per image | 30MB |
| Primary text | ~125 characters before truncation |
| Headline (per card) | ~40 characters |
| Description (per card) | ~20 characters, often hidden by placement |
| Landing URL | One per card, or one for the whole set |
Why every card must share one aspect ratio
Meta locks the aspect ratio to the first card. If card one is square and card two is a 4:5 vertical, Facebook crops the odd cards to match, which lops off logos, prices, and faces sitting near the edge. Build all cards at the same 1080 x 1080 square from the start. Keep important elements away from the outer 10 percent of each card, since different placements trim the edges by different amounts.
How many cards should a Facebook carousel have?
Facebook allows 2 to 10 cards, but 3 to 5 usually performs best, because most people swipe only two or three times before they decide. Your first card doubles as the thumbnail and carries the most weight, so lead with the strongest image and hook. Meta can also automatically optimize card order for engagement, which means each card should stand on its own rather than depending on a fixed left-to-right sequence.
Character limits, in practice
The primary text sits above the carousel and gets cut behind "See more" at roughly 125 characters, so front-load the offer. Each card has its own headline, around 40 characters, and an optional description near 20 characters that many placements hide entirely. Write the headline to work alone, because it is the line most likely to survive across placements. Do not rely on the description to carry critical information.
How Instagram and LinkedIn carousels differ
The good news is that a square card set travels well. Instagram feed carousels use the same 1:1 1080 x 1080 cards and the same 2 to 10 range, though Instagram leans more visual, so text-heavy cards underperform there. LinkedIn carousel ads also run 1080 x 1080 squares with 2 to 10 cards, but the audience is professional, so the copy and design should read business-first. Here is the quick comparison.
| Platform | Card size | Cards | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1080 x 1080 (1:1) | 2 to 10 | Auto card-order optimization available | |
| 1080 x 1080 (1:1) | 2 to 10 | Keep cards visual, minimal text | |
| 1080 x 1080 (1:1) | 2 to 10 | Professional tone, business-first copy |
What makes a carousel worth the extra work
A carousel is more production than a single image, so it should earn the format. Use it when you have a genuine multi-frame story: a product range, a step-by-step process, a before-and-after, or several features that each deserve a frame. If your message fits one image, a single-image ad is cheaper to test first. When the story does need multiple frames, build every card to one square spec, lead with your strongest, and keep each card able to stand alone. The clicks that land afterward still have to convert, and a page that answers a shopper's questions the moment they arrive, whether through clear copy or an assistant that responds to product questions instantly, is what turns a swipe into a sale.
Ready to build every card, the copy, and each crop in one pass instead of lining them up by hand? Start with the carousel ad maker and generate a full set that stays consistent across Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
Generate your ad set with Adscreator.
Paste a product URL or describe what you sell, and get ad copy, on-brand images, and every placement size in one pass, with variants to A/B test. Then export and launch where you already buy ads.