How to Post a Carousel on Pinterest

Pinterest Carousels let you tell a bigger story, showcase multiple products, or share a step-by-step process all within a single, interactive Pin. If you're looking for a way to stop the scroll and keep users engaged with your content longer, Carousels are an incredibly effective tool. This guide walks you through exactly how to create them, offers ideas to get you started, and shares best practices for making your Carousels stand out.

What Exactly Is a Pinterest Carousel Pin?

Think of a Pinterest Carousel as a mini-slideshow directly in the Pinterest feed. It's a single Pin that contains multiple images or video clips (called "cards" or "slides") that users can swipe through. Unlike a standard static Pin, which only has one image, a Carousel allows for 2 to 5 images per Pin, letting you create a more dynamic and in-depth experience.

Each card in a Carousel can have its own title, description, and link, though most creators use one destination link for the entire Pin to create a unified call-to-action.

Why Carousels Are Worth Your Time

At first glance, creating multiple images for one Pin might seem like extra work. But the payoff is significant. Here’s why you should add Carousels to your Pinterest strategy:

• Deeper Storytelling: You can tell a complete narrative from beginning to end. Instead of trying to cram a whole DIY tutorial into one picture, you can dedicate each slide to a single step, making it much easier for your audience to follow along.
• Showcase Multiple Angles or Products: For e-commerce businesses, Carousels are a game-changer. You can display a product from different angles, show it in various colors, or bundle complementary products together in one Pin, creating a virtual catalog experience.
• Increased Engagement Time: The interactive nature of Carousels encourages users to spend more time on your Pin. As they swipe through your slides, they're signaling to the Pinterest algorithm that your content is valuable and engaging, which can help boost your Pin’s overall distribution.
• Stand Out in the Feed: In a sea of static images, the little dots beneath a Carousel Pin signal that there’s more to see. This subtle visual cue can capture attention and inspire curiosity, prompting users to stop scrolling and engage.

Creative Ideas for Your Next Pinterest Carousel

Not sure where to start? Carousels are flexible and can work for almost any niche. Here are some proven ideas to spark your creativity:

For E-commerce Brands

• Product Tour: Dedicate each slide to showcasing a different feature of your product. For example, a backpack carousel could show the waterproof fabric, the laptop sleeve, the side pockets, and a final shot of it being worn.
• User-Generated Content: Feature a collection of happy customers using your product. This builds social proof and shows your product in real-world scenarios.
• Style Guide: Create a "how to style" Carousel. For a fashion brand, one Pin could show three different ways to wear the same scarf. For a home decor brand, it could be three ways to style a bookshelf.

For Bloggers & Content Creators

• Step-by-Step Tutorials: This is a classic and highly effective use of Carousels. From recipes to craft projects, you can guide your audience through the entire process, with the final slide directing them to your blog for the full scoop.
• Before and After: Showcase a dramatic transformation. This works incredibly well for home renovation projects, fitness journeys, furniture flips, or organization hacks. The visual payoff keeps users swiping to see the final result.
• Listicles & Roundups: Turn a blog post like "5 Must-Have Plants for Beginners" into a Carousel. The first slide introduces the topic, and the next few slides each feature one of the plants, with a final CTA to read the full article.

For Service-Based Businesses

• Portfolio Snippets: A graphic designer could showcase different slides from a recent branding project. A web designer could feature screenshots of various pages from a website they designed.
• Client Testimonials: Pair a powerful quote from a client with an image of the work you did for them. String a few of these together to build credibility and trust.
• Explain Your Process: Break down a complex service into simple, digestible steps. A four-slide Carousel could outline your onboarding process: 1. Discovery Call, 2. Strategy Session, 3. Execution, 4. Launch & Support.

How to Post a Carousel on Pinterest: A Step-by-Step Guide

Ready to create your first Carousel? The process is straightforward whether you’re on a desktop or the mobile app. Here's exactly how to do it.

On Desktop:

1. Log in and Create: Log into your Pinterest business account. In the top-left corner, click the Create dropdown and select Create Pin.
2. Upload Your Images: This is the most important step for making a Carousel. Instead of dragging in a single image, click the arrow icon and select 2 to 5 image files from your computer. Hold down the Shift or Command/Control key to select multiple files at once. After they upload, Pinterest will automatically recognize them as a Carousel.
3. Arrange Your Slides: You'll see all your uploaded images on the left side. You can drag and drop them to reorder the slides into the perfect sequence for your story.
4. Add Your Title: Write a clear, keyword-rich title for your Pin. Your title should accurately describe what the Carousel is about.
5. Write Your Description: Use the description box to explain your Carousel in more detail. Include relevant keywords and hashtags to help Pinterest understand your content and show it to the right audience.
6. Add the Destination Link: Paste the URL you want users to visit when they click on your Pin. This could be a blog post, product page, or landing page.
7. Choose Your Board: Select the most relevant board for your Pin from the dropdown menu at the top.
8. Publish!: Double-check everything, then hit the red Publish button to share your Carousel immediately. You can also schedule it for later if you have a content calendar planned out.

On the Pinterest Mobile App:

1. Start Creating: Open the Pinterest app and tap the plus (+) icon at the bottom of the screen. Select Pin from the menu.
2. Select Multiple Images: Your phone’s photo gallery will open. Tap on the first image you want in your Carousel. Once it’s selected, tap the multiple photo icon (it looks like two squares layered on top of each other) to enter multi-select mode. Now you can tap up to four more photos for your Carousel. Tap Next when you're done.
3. Reorder and Edit: The app will show you a preview. You can hold and drag each image to reorder them. You also have options here to add text, stickers, or make other edits to individual cards.
4. Fill in the Details: Tap Next to move to the final screen where you can add your title, description, and destination link.
5. Choose a Board & Publish: Select a board for your Pin and tap Publish to set it live.

Best Practices for Creating Carousels That Convert

Just knowing how to upload a Carousel isn't enough. To make them truly effective, you need to be strategic. Here are some tips to get the most out of every multi-image Pin you create.

• Start with a Strong First Image: The first slide is your hook. It needs to grab attention and make people curious enough to swipe. Use your most compelling image and consider adding a text overlay with an enticing headline like "My 5-Step Skincare Routine" or "You Won't Believe This Before & After."
• Maintain Visual Consistency: While the images should be different, try to maintain a cohesive look and feel throughout the Carousel. Use similar lighting, fonts, and brand colors to create a polished and professional experience. All images should also be the same size, ideally in a 2:3 vertical aspect ratio.
• Guide the User Through: Don't assume people will know to swipe. Use visual cues to encourage them. Add small text overlays like "Swipe for the next step" or number your slides "1/5," "2/5," etc. This sets expectations and keeps them moving through the content.
• Tell a Complete Story: Your Carousel should have a logical flow - a clear beginning, middle, and end. Each slide should build on the one before it, leading the user on a little journey that culminates in a satisfying conclusion.
• End with a Clear Call-to-Action (CTA): The last slide is your most valuable real estate. Its job is to turn a viewer into a visitor. Use this space to direct users to the next step with a strong CTA like "Shop the Look," "Get the Full Recipe on Our Blog," or "Download Your Free Guide." Don't let your story just... end. Give them somewhere to go.

Final Thoughts

Creating Carousel Pins on Pinterest is a fantastic way to go beyond a static photo and offer your audience a deeper, more engaging slice of content. By guiding users through a story, a tutorial, or a product collection, you can hold their attention for longer and give them a much richer brand experience right in their feed.

Keeping track of all your visual assets and content ideas can be challenging, especially when planning across multiple social platforms. That's why we built Postbase with a visual-first approach. Being able to see everything on a clean content calendar helps us plan not just individual Pins or Reels but entire visual campaigns. Its simplicity means we spend more time creating and less time wrestling with complicated tools, which is exactly how it should be.