The Ultimate LinkedIn Carousel Guide: Dimensions, Safe Zones & Vectorization
Carousels are the highest-converting content format on LinkedIn in 2026. According to LinkedIn's official data, carousels achieve 3.2x the average dwell time of regular image posts and 5.8x that of text-only posts.
But here's the problem: 90% of creators are making carousels with incorrect specifications.
This guide will help you master every detail of professional carousel creation from scratch.
Chapter 1: Dimensions
Optimal Size: 1080 × 1350 pixels (4:5 Ratio)
This is the golden ratio for LinkedIn mobile in 2026. Here's why:
| Ratio | Dimensions | Mobile Screen Coverage | Recommendation | |-------|------------|----------------------|----------------| | 4:5 | 1080×1350 | ~65% | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Best | | 1:1 | 1080×1080 | ~52% | ⭐⭐⭐ Acceptable | | 16:9 | 1920×1080 | ~35% | ⭐ Not recommended |
Why 4:5 Reigns Supreme
┌─────────────────────────┐
│ LinkedIn Top Bar │
├─────────────────────────┤
│ │
│ ┌─────────────────┐ │
│ │ │ │
│ │ Your 4:5 Image │ │ ← Takes 65% viewport
│ │ │ │
│ │ │ │
│ └─────────────────┘ │
│ │
├─────────────────────────┤
│ Bottom Nav Bar │
└─────────────────────────┘
Compared to 1:1 squares, 4:5 portrait images take up 25% more screen space. In a scroll-heavy environment, this means:
- Harder to ignore
- More "eyeball time"
- Higher engagement probability
Resolution Requirements
- Minimum resolution: 1080×1350 (ensures clarity on HD screens)
- Recommended resolution: 2160×2700 (2x HD, Retina-ready)
- File format: PDF (preferred), PNG (acceptable), JPG (not recommended)
- File size limit: 100MB (single PDF)
Chapter 2: Safe Zones
This is the critical issue 95% of creators overlook.
What Are Safe Zones?
When viewing carousels on mobile, the top and bottom of the screen are obscured by LinkedIn's UI elements:
┌─────────────────────────────────────┐
│ 🔍 Search LinkedIn 🔔 👤 💬 │ ← Top obstruction
├─────────────────────────────────────┤
│ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ │ ← Danger zone (~120px)
│ ═══════════════════════════════════ │
│ │
│ │
│ ✅ SAFE ZONE ✅ │ ← Your content goes here
│ │
│ │
│ ═══════════════════════════════════ │
│ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ │ ← Danger zone (~160px)
├─────────────────────────────────────┤
│ 👍 Like 💬 Comment ↗️ Share 📤 │ ← Bottom obstruction
└─────────────────────────────────────┘
Precise Safe Zone Values
Based on 2026 LinkedIn iOS/Android app measurements:
| Zone | Obstruction Height | Canvas Percentage | Recommendation | |------|-------------------|-------------------|----------------| | Top danger zone | ~120px | 8.9% | Avoid key text | | Bottom danger zone | ~160px | 11.9% | Avoid CTAs | | Safe zone | ~1070px | 79.2% | Core content area |
Common Mistakes
❌ Wrong: Title at the top
┌───────────────────┐
│ "Boost Your Sales"│ ← Hidden by search bar!
│ │
│ Body content... │
│ │
│ Contact me ↓ │ ← Hidden by buttons!
└───────────────────┘
✅ Right: Content centered with margins
┌───────────────────┐
│ (whitespace) │
│ ═══════════════ │
│ "Boost Your Sales"│ ← Inside safe zone
│ │
│ Body content... │ ← Inside safe zone
│ │
│ ═══════════════ │
│ (whitespace) │
└───────────────────┘
How to Preview Safe Zones in Real-Time
In the L-Visual editor, toggle the "2026 Mobile Overlay" switch to see:
- Red semi-transparent layers showing danger zones
- Visual warnings if text enters red areas
- Live phone frame preview
Chapter 3: Vectorization
Pixel Images vs Vector Graphics
| Feature | Pixel (PNG/JPG) | Vector (PDF) | |---------|-----------------|--------------| | Zoom quality | Blurry, jagged | Always sharp | | Text clarity | Depends on resolution | Always crisp | | File size | Larger | Smaller | | After LinkedIn compression | Noticeable degradation | Nearly lossless |
Why Choose PDF?
When you export as PDF:
-
Text stays as actual text
- Screen reader compatible (accessibility)
- Search engines can index content (SEO bonus)
- Zoom without blur
-
Colors stay accurate
- PDF uses professional color profiles
- Avoids JPG compression color shifts
-
Multi-page support
- One PDF file = Complete carousel
- No need to export separate images
Vector Workflow
Traditional Method (Not Recommended)
Canva/PowerPoint
→ Export PNG
→ Upload to LinkedIn
→ Re-compression
→ Blurry!
Professional Method (Recommended)
L-Visual Editor
→ Vector editing
→ Export PDF
→ Upload to LinkedIn
→ Sharp!
Chapter 4: Complete Creation Process
Step 1: Plan Content Structure
A high-converting carousel's typical structure:
| Slide | Type | Content | Purpose | |-------|------|---------|---------| | 1 | Hook | Attention-grabbing headline | Stop the scroll | | 2-4 | Content | Core insights/data | Deliver value | | 5 | CTA | "Follow for more" | Convert |
Step 2: Design & Create
- Open L-Visual editor
- Select 4:5 canvas ratio
- Enable safe zone overlay
- Add content slide by slide
- Apply brand theme
Step 3: Preview & Check
- [ ] Switch to "Mobile Preview" mode
- [ ] Verify all text is within safe zones
- [ ] Confirm minimum font size ≥ 24px (mobile readable)
- [ ] Check contrast is sufficient
Step 4: Export & Publish
- Click "Download High-Def PDF"
- Download PDF file
- Upload to LinkedIn (as document)
- Add post copy
- Publish!
Chapter 5: FAQ
Q: What's the maximum number of carousel pages?
A: LinkedIn limits single PDFs to 300 pages, but best practice is 5-10 pages. Completion rates drop significantly beyond 10 pages.
Q: Will 4:5 ratio get cropped on desktop?
A: No. LinkedIn displays 4:5 images in full, with whitespace on sides for desktop. Since 70%+ of LinkedIn traffic is mobile, prioritizing mobile is the correct strategy.
Q: Can I export PDF from Canva?
A: Technically yes, but Canva's PDF export has issues:
- Free version doesn't support HD export
- Some fonts get rasterized
- Pro version still compresses
Recommend using tools optimized specifically for LinkedIn.
Q: Do safe zone values change?
A: They adjust slightly with LinkedIn app updates. We continuously monitor and update overlay parameters in our tools. Last updated: January 2026.
Recommended Tools
Free Tools
- PDF Audit Tool — Check clarity scores of existing PDFs
- Banner Size Checker — Check header safe zones
Professional Tools
- L-Visual Editor — Built for LinkedIn carousels
- 4:5 canvas lock
- Real-time safe zone preview
- Vector PDF export
- Brand kit management
Summary
The three pillars of high-quality LinkedIn carousels:
- Dimensions — Use 4:5 (1080×1350) portrait ratio
- Safe Zones — Keep key content away from top 120px and bottom 160px
- Vectorization — Export as PDF for maximum clarity
Master these three elements and your carousels will outperform 90% of competitors.
Want to compare different tools? Read our next article: Taplio vs Postiv vs L-Visual: Which is Best for B2B Growth?
