TikTok Carousel Size (2026): Photo Post Ratio, Limits and a Free Calculator

TikTok carousel sizes and dimensions at a glance

What TikTok says: a photo post can have up to 35 photos (TikTok for Developers docs and Support, checked on 10 Nov 2026). The pixel sizes in the table are our recommendations.

9:16 or 4:5? Our pick, and why

Pick 9:16. TikTok is built for vertical full-screen viewing, and a 9:16 photo uses all of it, so your text can be bigger.

The catch: a 9:16 slide has more UI on top of it than an Instagram slide does. The caption, username and sound name sit at the bottom, and the like, comment and share buttons sit on the right. Keep text out of those areas. Our TikTok safe zone guide shows where.

Reusing an Instagram carousel? If it is 4:5, expect empty space on TikTok. Rebuild the slides at 9:16 rather than stretching them: scale the design, then move the text away from the bottom and the right edge.

How many photos?

The limit is 35. For most ideas you need far fewer.

• 5 to 8 photos: one tip, one list, or one before and after.
• 9 to 15 photos: a step-by-step or a longer story.
• 16 or more: only if every photo adds something new.

TikTok photo posts are swiped, so the cover works the same way as on Instagram: a promise, not a topic. One more thing to check on TikTok: add alt text to your photos. TikTok introduced alt text for photo posts (TikTok Newsroom), and it helps people who use screen readers.

Canva and design tools

In Canva, Figma or any design tool, create a custom size of 1080 × 1920 px and use it for every slide. Export as JPEG or PNG at that size. Keep text away from the bottom and the right edge.

Posting with a scheduler or API

If you post through a scheduling tool, the tool talks to TikTok through its developer API. TikTok's Content Posting API accepts WebP and JPEG, with a maximum of 1080p and 20 MB per image. These are API rules, not app rules. For posting from the app, export JPEG or PNG at 1080 × 1920 and you stay well inside them.

Running ads? TikTok's carousel ads have their own specs, such as 720 × 1280 px vertical images and 2 to 35 images. Those are ad rules, so check TikTok's ad specs before you build.

Common mistakes

• Photos in different ratios. Pick one and keep it.
• Text on the right edge. The buttons cover it.
• Text on the bottom. The caption and sound name cover it.
• Instagram slides reused as is. They leave empty space on a 9:16 screen.
• No alt text. Add it to each photo.
• Too many photos. 35 is the ceiling, not the target.

Make the carousel itself

Writing and designing 8 to 15 slides is the slow part. SuperCarousels writes the script and designs every slide from your idea. The editor exports PNG, PDF and video, so you can download the slides and post them on TikTok yourself. Create this carousel with AI →