How to Create Sub-Boards in Pinterest

Tired of your Pinterest boards feeling like a digital junk drawer? You can easily fix that with one of the platform's most powerful, but often overlooked, organizational features. What many pinners call sub-boards are officially known as sections, and they are the perfect tool for tidying up broad topics into neat, browsable categories. This guide will show you precisely how to create and use sections to transform your Pinterest profile from cluttered to curated, with step-by-step instructions and smart strategies for growing your brand.

What Are Pinterest Sub-Boards (and Why Should You Use Them)?

First, let's clear up the name. For years, users wished for a way to create boards within boards, often calling them "sub-boards." Pinterest listened and launched an official feature called Sections. So, if you're looking for sub-boards, you're in the right place - you'll just be creating a "section." Think of a board as a filing cabinet for a big topic like "Marketing Strategies." Your sections are the labeled folders inside that cabinet: "Content Marketing," "Email Campaigns," "Social Media Tips," and "SEO Basics."

Using sections isn't just about being tidy, it's a strategic move that comes with several benefits:

• Better Organization: For creators with broad, high-volume boards, sections are a game-changer. They allow you to group related ideas together without having to create dozens of hyper-specific, separate boards that can clutter your profile page.
• Improved Follower Experience: When a user lands on your massive "Home Decor" board, they might not want to scroll through 500+ pins to find kitchen ideas. With sections for "Kitchen," "Living Room," and "Bedroom," you make it effortless for them to find exactly what they're looking for, keeping them engaged longer.
• Easier Content Planning: As a creator, sections help you quickly see where your content is concentrated and where there are gaps. Planning a series of blog posts on vegan recipes? A dedicated section on your recipes board helps you organize inspiration and existing content in one place.
• Clearer Project Management: Sections are perfect for planning multi-stage projects. Whether it's a "Bathroom Remodel" (with sections for Tiling, Vanities, and Lighting) or a "Brand Photoshoot" (with sections for Wardrobe, Location, and Poses), you can organize every visual element neatly.

Your Step-by-Step Guide to Creating Pinterest Sections

Creating sections is a straightforward process you can do on both a computer and the mobile app. Let’s walk through both methods so you can get organized from anywhere.

Creating Sections on a Desktop

Working from your computer gives you a larger screen to organize pins, making it a great place to start your clean-up.

1. Navigate to Your Board: Log in to your Pinterest account, go to your profile, and click on the board where you want to add a section.
2. Click the "Saved" Tab: Once you're inside the board, you should be on the "Saved" pins tab by default.
3. Create a Section: Look for the plus (+) icon below your board's title and description. When you click it, a menu will pop up. Select "Section."
4. Name Your Section: A new field will appear asking you to name your section. Choose a short, clear name that describes the content you’ll put inside. For example, on a "Marketing Tips" board, you might name a section "Instagram Growth." Click "Add."
5. Add Pins to Your New Section: Now comes the fun part: organizing! Click the "Organize" button at the top of your board. This allows you to select multiple pins at once. Click on every pin you want to move into your new section. Once selected, a toolbar will appear at the bottom. Click "Move" and then choose the section you just created.

That's it! Your new section will now appear at the top of your board, functioning like a categorized folder for your pins.

Creating Sections on the Pinterest Mobile App

Organizing on the go is just as easy from your phone.

1. Open the Right Board: Open the Pinterest app, tap your profile picture to go to your profile, and then tap the board you want to edit.
2. Add a Section: Once inside the board view, tap the plus (+) icon at the bottom of the screen. This will bring up a menu with options to add a Pin, Note, or Section. Tap "Section."
3. Name It: Type in the name for your section and tap "Done" or "Add." Your section is now created.
4. Organize and Move Pins: To move existing pins, go back to the main board and look for "Organize" below your board's title, next to "More ideas" and "Notes". Tapping it will allow you to select your pins. Tap on all the pins you want to move. A menu will appear at the bottom of the screen. Tap "Move" and select your desired section.

Beyond Organization: Smart Strategies for Using Pinterest Sections

Now that you know how to create sections, let's talk about why and when. This is where you can turn a simple organizational tool into a powerful asset for your brand or business.

1. For E-commerce Brands: Organize by Product Category

If you run an online store, your Pinterest boards are extensions of your shop window. When a user explores your "Fall Fashion" board, help them find what they're after instead of making them scroll endlessly. Create sections for each product type.

• Board: New Autumn Collection
• Sections: "Midi Skirts," "Boyfriend Jeans," "Knit Cardigans," "Ankle Boots"

This approach mirrors an intuitive e-commerce site navigation, making it easier for users to click through from a pin directly to a product page.

2. For Bloggers & Content Creators: Sort by Content Pillar

As a blogger, your Pinterest boards probably represent your main content categories. Sections let you get even more granular. Instead of one massive "Healthy Recipes" board, you can guide followers to precisely the solution they need.

• Board: Plant-Based Recipes
• Sections: "30-Minute Dinners," "Smoothies & Juices," "Holiday Desserts," "Meal Prep Salads"

This way, someone looking specifically for a quick dinner doesn't have to sift through your breakfast and dessert pins. It improves their experience and better showcases the breadth of your expertise.

3. For Service Providers: Showcase Different Facets of Your Work

If you offer a service, your Pinterest can act as a visual portfolio. Sections allow you to group examples of your work thematically, helping potential clients see the specific styles or results you produce.

• Board (Interior Designer): Living Room Designs
• Sections: "Modern Farmhouse Style," "Mid-Century Modern," "Coastal & Airy," "Small Space Solutions"

This helps a prospect quickly identify your work that aligns with their personal taste, making them more likely to connect with your brand and reach out.

4. For Seasonal & Holiday Content: Group by Theme

Some boards can become a catch-all for seasonal content. Instead of creating a separate board for every single holiday (which can overwhelm your profile), consolidate them into one main board and use sections to keep things in order.

• Board: Holiday & Seasonal Ideas
• Sections: "Christmas Decor," "Halloween Costumes," "Thanksgiving Tablescapes," "Summer Party Food"

This keeps your profile tidy while still allowing users to dive deep into a specific holiday when the time is right.

Quick Tips and FAQs for Pinterest Sections

As you start using sections, a few questions might pop up. Here are some quick answers to the most common ones.

Do pins in sections also appear on the main board feed?

Yes. The default view of a board shows all pins, regardless of which section they're in, under the "All Pins" tab. The sections themselves appear as filterable tabs at the top of the board, allowing users to drill down into specific categories. Nothing is hidden, it's just organized better.

Can I move a whole section to a different board?

Unfortunately, no. Pinterest currently does not allow you to move an entire section from one board to another. You would have to move the pins themselves from the section on one board to a new section on another board.

How should I name my sections?

Be clear, concise, and think like your audience. Use keywords that people are likely to search for on Pinterest. Instead of a vague section name like "Stuff I Like," use something descriptive like "Minimalist Home Office." Short, two-to-three-word phrases work best.

When should I create a section versus a brand-new board?

Here's a good rule of thumb: If the topic is a sub-category of an existing board, make it a section. If it's a completely new, broad topic that can stand on its own and will eventually house its own sections, make it a new board. For example, "Breakfast Recipes" should be a section within your main "Recipes" board. But a topic like "Travel Guides" is likely broad enough to be its own board, which you could later organize with sections for "Europe," "Asia," and "South America."

Final Thoughts

Using sections, or sub-boards, is a simple change that can dramatically improve how you and your followers experience your Pinterest profile. They move you from being just a collector of ideas to a thoughtful curator, providing clear pathways for users to find value and making your content strategy much easier to manage.

Getting your content strategy organized on platforms like Pinterest is a huge first step. Once your ideas are structured in boards and sections, the next challenge is planning and scheduling your content consistently across all your channels. That's where we aimed to build a better tool. With Postbase, we designed a simple visual calendar that lets you see your entire content plan, drag and drop posts, and schedule everything for Pinterest, Reels, and TikTok from one place. It helps you take that organized Pinterest strategy and turn it into a real, reliable publishing schedule.