LinkedIn Carousel Ads Design Specs: Complete Technical Guide

Technical precision matters when uploading creative assets to campaign manager. LinkedIn requires between 2 and 10 carousel cards for a single sponsored post. Each individual card must maintain specific requirements to pass platform checks and render properly for every viewer. When building files in graphic design software like Figma or Adobe Illustrator, setting up artboards to match these exact guidelines saves hours of revision time.

The recommended aspect ratio for carousel cards is 1:1, making square images the safest and most versatile choice for campaigns. For this square format, the recommended pixel resolution is 1080 by 1080 pixels. This size provides enough pixel density for retina screens while keeping file sizes within manageable limits for quick loading in the feed. Each image file size can be up to 10MB, which allows for rich, detailed infographics or photography without risking compression artifacts.

Accepted file formats for these cards include JPEG, PNG, and non-animated GIF. Transparency is not supported in the same way as vector formats, so ensure backgrounds are fully filled with color. Setting color profiles to sRGB prevents unexpected color shifts when the creative goes live in the professional feed. Alien Road often advises design teams to double-check their export settings before batch-exporting ten separate cards for a new campaign launch.

Designing the visual layout requires careful attention to text placement across different card panels. While the images carry the visual weight, each card can include introductory text and individual card headlines. The introductory text at the top of the ad can be up to 255 characters, though shorter hooks often capture attention faster in a busy professional feed. Keeping this primary text concise ensures it remains visible without truncation on mobile devices.

Each individual card also accepts a headline or website URL. The headline limit is generally kept short, around 45 characters for desktop views, to prevent awkward line breaks. If text appears directly inside the card image artwork, maintain generous padding from the edges. Keeping crucial typography at least 100 pixels away from the borders ensures that platform interface elements, such as swipe arrows or sponsored tags, never obscure the message.

• Keep main headlines under 45 characters to avoid truncation.
• Add generous padding around all text elements inside image graphics.
• Include a clear call to action on the final card of the sequence.
• Test visual contrast between background colors and typography.

Setting up the creative inside Campaign Manager follows a structured sequence. First, navigate to the campaign manager dashboard and select the appropriate ad account. Create a new campaign or enter an existing sponsored content group, then click on create ad. Select the carousel format from the available options. At this stage, you will define the ad name, introductory text, and destination landing page URLs for the overarching campaign.

Next, upload your prepared visual assets card by card. You can add between 2 and 10 cards, arranging their order by dragging them in the interface. Assign unique landing page URLs and distinct headlines to each card if you want to guide users to specific product pages or white paper download sections. Review the preview pane to check how both desktop and mobile feeds display your sequence before submitting the ad for platform review.

When managing B2B campaigns, our team at Alien Road establishes a rigorous asset production workflow for every client account. For example, when partnering with a enterprise software vendor, we begin with a discovery phase to map out their core narrative across five distinct slides. We translate complex product features into clean visual blocks that respect the 1080×1080 pixel constraint, ensuring no vital text gets cut off by mobile UI overlays.

During the setup stage in campaign manager, our practitioners configure tracking parameters and unique destination links for each card. We monitor performance metrics weekly, adjusting the card sequence based on which panel drives the highest click-through rates. This systematic approach guarantees that every technical constraint set by the platform is met while maximizing the visual impact of the brand’s sponsored messaging.

Many advertisers make mistakes by overcrowding individual cards with too much dense text. Because users swipe quickly through the professional feed, cards with heavy paragraphs often fail to retain attention. Another frequent error is ignoring the safe zones, placing logos or important website links right near the bottom corners where interface buttons overlay the image. Maintaining clean negative space around your core visual elements keeps the ad professional and legible.

• Avoid using more than 10 cards, as engagement drops on overly long sequences.
• Do not place small font sizes that become unreadable on mobile screens.
• Avoid mismatched aspect ratios across different cards in the same ad.
• Never ignore the platform review guidelines regarding prohibited content.

LinkedIn requires between 2 and 10 carousel cards for a single sponsored post. Exceeding this limit is not possible within campaign manager, and trying to upload more than 10 assets will trigger an error message during the ad creation process.

The recommended aspect ratio for carousel cards is 1:1 with an image resolution of 1080 by 1080 pixels. This square format ensures your visual assets render correctly and look sharp across both desktop and mobile feeds without unexpected cropping.

Each image file size can be up to 10MB. While the platform allows up to 10MB, compressing your JPEG or PNG files to a slightly lower size helps ensure fast asset loading speeds when users scroll through their feeds.

Yes, campaign manager allows you to assign a unique destination website URL and a distinct headline to each individual card in your carousel sequence, making it easy to direct users to specific product pages.

Keep reading: Linkedin Ads · B2B Marketing