Instagram carousel templates

Instagram carousel templates you can copy and fill in

By TokCloner team · Updated October 13, 2026

Short answer

An Instagram carousel template is a reusable slide-by-slide structure: a cover that earns the swipe, a set of content slides, and a last slide that asks for a save, share or click. Copy one of the 18 free templates below, fill in the [blanks], and design it at 1080×1350 (4:5) or 1080×1440 (3:4), the tallest ratio Instagram keeps as of October 2026.

18 templates. Replace the [brackets], keep the structure. Click Copy to copy the slide text.

Mistakes and fixes

Best for: Experts and service businesses who want shares and saves from a common problem
1. Slide 1 (cover): [Number] [niche] mistakes I see every week (and the fix for each)
2. Slide 2: Mistake 1: [mistake]. Fix: [specific fix].
3. Slide 3: Mistake 2: [mistake]. Fix: [specific fix].
4. Slide 4: Mistake 3: [mistake]. Fix: [specific fix].
5. Slide 5: Mistake 4: [mistake]. Fix: [specific fix].
6. Slide 6: Mistake 5: [the one even pros make]. Fix: [specific fix].
7. Slide 7 (recap): The 5 fixes in one list: [fix], [fix], [fix], [fix], [fix].
8. Slide 8 (CTA): Save this, and share it with someone about to [task].
Step-by-step tutorial

Best for: How-to content people save and come back to
1. Slide 1 (cover): How to [result] in [number] steps (even if [obstacle])
2. Slide 2 (before you start): You'll need [items]. Time: [minutes].
3. Slide 3: Step 1: [action]. Why: [reason in one line].
4. Slide 4: Step 2: [action]. Watch out for [common slip].
5. Slide 5: Step 3: [action].
6. Slide 6: Step 4: [action].
7. Slide 7: Step 5: [action]. You're done when [success sign].
8. Slide 8 (CTA): Save it for later. Stuck on a step? Ask below.
Before and after

Best for: Visible transformations: renovation, design, grooming, styling, fitness coaching
1. Slide 1 (cover): [Before state] to [after state] in [time]. Here's exactly what we did.
2. Slide 2 (before): The starting point: [one concrete detail].
3. Slide 3 (brief): The goal: [what the client or you wanted].
4. Slide 4 (change 1): [What you changed and why].
5. Slide 5 (change 2): [What you changed and why].
6. Slide 6 (change 3): [What you changed]. Cost or time: [figure].
7. Slide 7 (after): The result: [state]. Same angle as slide 2.
8. Slide 8 (CTA): Book your [service] via the link in bio, or save this for ideas.
Myth vs fact

Best for: Correcting common beliefs with a named source behind each fact
1. Slide 1 (cover): [Number] [niche] myths that are costing you [result]
2. Slide 2: Myth: [belief]. Fact: [correction].
3. Slide 3: Myth: [belief]. Fact: [correction]. Source: [name].
4. Slide 4: Myth: [belief]. Fact: [correction].
5. Slide 5: Myth: [belief]. Fact: [correction]. Source: [name].
6. Slide 6 (bottom line): What to do instead: [one practical rule].
7. Slide 7 (CTA): Share this with the friend who still believes myth #[number].
Checklist cheat sheet

Best for: Save-worthy reference for a recurring task, launch, trip or season
1. Slide 1 (cover): The [task] checklist we use for every [project/client]
2. Slide 2 (part 1, [phase]): [Item], [item], [item].
3. Slide 3 (part 2, [phase]): [Item], [item], [item].
4. Slide 4 (part 3, [phase]): [Item], [item], [item].
5. Slide 5 (most skipped): [Item]. Skip it and [consequence].
6. Slide 6 (one-page version): All [number] items on one slide.
7. Slide 7 (CTA): Save this before your next [task].
Tier list

Best for: Product and tool roundups that spark comments
1. Slide 1 (cover): Every [category] we've tested, ranked
2. Slide 2 (S tier): [Item]: [reason].
3. Slide 3 (A tier): [Item], [item]: [reason].
4. Slide 4 (B tier): [Items]: good if [condition].
5. Slide 5 (C tier): [Items]: [what holds them back].
6. Slide 6 (skip): [Item]: [honest reason].
7. Slide 7 (full board): The whole tier list on one slide.
8. Slide 8 (CTA): Which one would you move up? Comment below.
Founder storytime

Best for: Building trust with the true story behind your business
1. Slide 1 (cover): [Year], [situation]. This is how [business] started.
2. Slide 2 (setup): I was [job/situation] and kept seeing [problem].
3. Slide 3 (attempt): First try: [what you did]. It [result].
4. Slide 4 (setback): Then [setback].
5. Slide 5 (turn): The change: [decision or insight].
6. Slide 6 (today): Now: [honest current state].
7. Slide 7 (lesson): If you're [audience], remember: [one sentence].
8. Slide 8 (CTA): Follow for the next chapter.
Case study

Best for: Agencies, consultants and B2B products with real, permissioned results
1. Slide 1 (cover): [Real result] for a [client type] in [time]. Here's the breakdown.
2. Slide 2 (client): Who: [client type, size, market].
3. Slide 3 (problem): The problem: [problem with a starting number].
4. Slide 4 (move 1): What we did first: [action].
5. Slide 5 (move 2): Then: [action].
6. Slide 6 (move 3): Finally: [action].
7. Slide 7 (result): The result: [number and timeframe]. [Screenshot shared with permission].
8. Slide 8 (limits): What we'd do differently: [honest note].
9. Slide 9 (CTA): Want the same audit? DM '[keyword]'.
Side-by-side comparison

Best for: Helping buyers choose between two options or two approaches
1. Slide 1 (cover): [Option A] or [Option B]? An honest comparison for [audience]
2. Slide 2 (at a glance): A is best for [use]. B is best for [use].
3. Slide 3 (cost): A: [price]. B: [price].
4. Slide 4 ([criterion]): A: [fact]. B: [fact].
5. Slide 5 ([criterion]): A: [fact]. B: [fact].
6. Slide 6 ([criterion]): A: [fact]. B: [fact].
7. Slide 7 (verdict): Choose A if [situation]. Choose B if [situation].
8. Slide 8 (CTA): Save this for when you decide.
FAQ carousel

Best for: Answering the questions that block a purchase, one per slide
1. Slide 1 (cover): Your [number] most-asked questions about [product/service], answered
2. Slide 2: Q: [real question]? A: [short answer].
3. Slide 3: Q: [real question]? A: [short answer].
4. Slide 4: Q: [question about price]? A: [straight answer].
5. Slide 5: Q: [question about timing or delivery]? A: [answer].
6. Slide 6: Q: [question about who it's not for]? A: [honest answer].
7. Slide 7 (CTA): Still have a question? Comment it and we'll reply.
Product launch

Best for: Announcing a new product, collection or feature with the details buyers need
1. Slide 1 (cover): New: [product]. [One-line promise].
2. Slide 2 (why): We made it because [real customer request or problem].
3. Slide 3 (what it is): [Product] is [plain description].
4. Slide 4 (feature 1): [Feature]: [benefit].
5. Slide 5 (feature 2): [Feature]: [benefit].
6. Slide 6 (in use): [Photo of it in use]. [Short caption].
7. Slide 7 (details): [Price], [options], [available from date].
8. Slide 8 (CTA): Shop via the link in bio, or turn on post notifications for launch day.
Customer reviews (real reviews only)

Best for: Social proof built from real reviews, quoted exactly and used with permission
1. Slide 1 (cover): Don't take our word for it. [Number] real reviews of [product].
2. Slide 2: '[Exact quote]' [First name or initials, source, date]
3. Slide 3: '[Exact quote]' [First name or initials, source, date]
4. Slide 4: '[Exact quote that mentions a doubt before buying]' [Name, source]
5. Slide 5: '[Exact quote]' [Name, source]
6. Slide 6 (fair one): '[Mixed review]' Our reply: [what you fixed or clarified].
7. Slide 7 (CTA): See all reviews at [where]. Link in bio.
Behind the scenes

Best for: Showing the people and process behind a small brand
1. Slide 1 (cover): A day making [product] at [business]
2. Slide 2 ([time]): [What happens first].
3. Slide 3 ([time]): [Next step].
4. Slide 4 ([time]): [The step people never see].
5. Slide 5 ([time]): [Quality check or detail].
6. Slide 6 ([time]): [Packing or delivery].
7. Slide 7 (team): [Who does this], [one human detail].
8. Slide 8 (CTA): What should we show next? Comment below.
POV

Best for: Relatable lifestyle angles for consumer brands and apps
1. Slide 1 (cover): POV: it's [moment] and you finally [desired outcome]
2. Slide 2: A month ago: [old routine or frustration].
3. Slide 3: The small change: [what you started doing].
4. Slide 4: Week [number]: [first visible win].
5. Slide 5: Now: [specific new normal].
6. Slide 6 (reveal): What made it stick: [product/method].
7. Slide 7 (CTA): Tag someone who needs this month.
Things I wish I knew

Best for: Founders and experts sharing lessons for people one step behind them
1. Slide 1 (cover): [Number] things I wish I knew before [milestone]
2. Slide 2: 1. [Lesson]. [One-line story or proof].
3. Slide 3: 2. [Lesson]. [One-line story or proof].
4. Slide 4: 3. [Lesson]. [One-line story or proof].
5. Slide 5: 4. [Lesson]. [One-line story or proof].
6. Slide 6: 5. [The lesson that matters most].
7. Slide 7 (CTA): Save this, and send it to someone starting [milestone].
Named framework

Best for: Coaches and consultants turning their method into a memorable, saveable post
1. Slide 1 (cover): The [name] method: how we [result] in [number] steps
2. Slide 2 (overview): [Letter/step 1], [letter/step 2], [letter/step 3], [letter/step 4].
3. Slide 3: [Step 1 name]: [what it means and one example].
4. Slide 4: [Step 2 name]: [what it means and one example].
5. Slide 5: [Step 3 name]: [what it means and one example].
6. Slide 6: [Step 4 name]: [what it means and one example].
7. Slide 7 (mistake): Where people go wrong: [common mistake].
8. Slide 8 (CTA): Save it. Try step 1 this week.
Glossary

Best for: Explaining jargon to beginners in finance, tech, real estate or health-adjacent niches
1. Slide 1 (cover): [Number] [niche] terms explained in plain English
2. Slide 2: [Term]: [plain definition]. Example: [example].
3. Slide 3: [Term]: [plain definition]. Example: [example].
4. Slide 4: [Term]: [plain definition]. Example: [example].
5. Slide 5: [Term]: [plain definition]. Example: [example].
6. Slide 6: [Term people mix up with the last one]: [the difference].
7. Slide 7 (CTA): Which term should we explain next?
Monthly recap

Best for: Regular community posts that show progress and lessons
1. Slide 1 (cover): What [month] taught us about [topic]
2. Slide 2 (win): The win: [real result].
3. Slide 3 (miss): The miss: [what didn't work].
4. Slide 4 (surprise): The surprise: [unexpected finding].
5. Slide 5 (photo): [Best photo of the month]. [One-line context].
6. Slide 6 (next): Trying next month: [plan].
7. Slide 7 (CTA): What was your win this month? Tell us below.

An Instagram carousel template is a reusable slide-by-slide structure. A cover earns the swipe, content slides make one point each, and the last slide asks for a save, share or click.

Copy one of the 18 free templates on this page and fill in the [blanks]. The page also covers the sizes and text placement that work as of October 2026.

They are copy templates, so they fit any design: a Canva layout, your brand kit or plain photos. Each card lists every slide and what it has to say.

How to pick an Instagram carousel template

Choose by the result you want, then check you have the proof the template needs. A case study with no real numbers is weaker than an honest founder story.

Your goal	Start with	Why it fits
Saves	Checklist cheat sheet, step-by-step tutorial, glossary, named framework	People keep reference posts to use later
Shares and sends	Mistakes and fixes, myth vs fact, POV	Viewers send them to the friend who needs them
Trust before a sale	Case study, customer reviews, behind the scenes, before and after	They show real people, process and results
A launch or promotion	Product launch, side-by-side comparison, FAQ carousel	They answer buying questions, not just announce
Comments and community	Tier list, monthly recap, founder storytime	Each one invites a reply or a pick

Each structure has a deeper breakdown of slide roles, hooks and pitfalls: mistakes listicle, before and after, POV, chat screenshot, tier list, storytime, myth vs fact and things I wish I knew.

How many slides to use

Instagram lets you post up to 20 photos and videos in one carousel from the app. Tools that publish through Meta’s API, which includes most schedulers, are capped at 10.

The templates here use 7–9 slides, so they fit either way. Add slides only when each one carries a new point.

How to fill in a carousel template

Write the payoff first. Decide what the reader can do or know by the last content slide.
Write the cover as a headline plus a subline. The headline makes the promise. The subline adds the specific: a number, an audience or a timeframe.
Give each middle slide one point. Readers control the pace on a carousel, so 20–40 words per slide works. More than that belongs in the caption.
Close with one ask. Save, share, comment or link in bio. Pick the one that matches your goal.
Write the caption last. Restate the cover’s promise in the first line, in the words your audience would search.

Need a stronger cover line? The hook library groups proven opening patterns by type.

Worked example: the tutorial for an interior design studio

Slide	Template	Filled in
1	How to [result] in [number] steps (even if [obstacle])	How to style a bookshelf in 5 steps (even if you own mostly paperbacks)
2	You’ll need [items]. Time: [minutes].	You’ll need your books, 3–5 objects and one plant. Time: 30 minutes.
3	Step 1: [action]. Why: [reason].	Step 1: Empty every shelf. Why: you can’t see gaps on a full shelf.
4	Step 2: [action]. Watch out for [slip].	Step 2: Mix vertical rows and horizontal stacks. Watch out for one long, even row.
8	Save it for later. Stuck on a step? Ask below.	Save this for moving day. Stuck on a step? Ask below.

The structure did not change. Only the nouns, the details and the reason to save did.

Instagram carousel size and text placement

These are the sizes Instagram keeps without cropping, as of October 2026. For every ratio and the grid crop in detail, see the Instagram carousel size guide.

Ratio	Pixels	When to use it
3:4 portrait	1080 × 1440	Posting from the app and you want the tallest slide
4:5 portrait	1080 × 1350	Scheduling through a tool, or one size for everything
1:1 square	1080 × 1080	Quote-style posts, or mixing with square photos
1.91:1 landscape	1080 × 566	Rarely; it shows small on a phone

Three rules from Instagram’s and Meta’s own documentation matter here:

Instagram keeps ratios from 1.91:1 to 3:4. Photos 320 to 1,080 px wide stay at full resolution in that range. Anything outside it gets cropped.
One orientation for the whole post. The orientation you choose applies to every slide in the carousel.
The API is stricter. Meta’s publishing API accepts 4:5 to 1.91:1 only, so design at 4:5 if a scheduler posts for you.

Where to put the text

Margins. Keep text at least 80–100 px from every edge.
The cover and the grid. Profile grids have shown posts as 3:4 tiles since early 2025. A 4:5 cover loses a thin strip on each side in the grid, so keep the headline centered.
Top-right corner. Instagram shows a slide counter there, so keep slides 2 onward clear of it.
Sizes. Use 80–120 px for the cover headline, 44–60 px for slide text, and at least 34 px for small print.
A swipe cue. An arrow, a line or a shape that runs off the right edge tells readers there is more.

Using a 9:16 design on Instagram

Many slideshow tools export 1080×1920, TokCloner included. Instagram crops that to 3:4 (losing about 240 px top and bottom) or 4:5 (about 285 px from each end).

Keep every word between about y = 300 and y = 1620 and the crop removes only background. Keep text above y = 1260 too, and the same file also clears TikTok’s caption and buttons.

How to adapt a template for your niche

Keep the structure and change three things: the nouns, the proof and the ask.

Niche	Template	Cover written for it
Accounting firm	Glossary	6 tax terms every freelancer should know, in plain English
Skincare shop	Customer reviews	5 real reviews from people who almost didn’t buy
Fitness app	POV	POV: it’s 6am and you actually want to train
Bakery	Behind the scenes	A day making 400 croissants at our shop
Marketing agency	Case study	[Real result] for a 3-location clinic in 90 days. Here’s how.

Rules that keep adapted carousels specific and honest:

Borrow your customers’ words. Reviews, DMs and support emails tell you how people describe the problem.
Real proof only. Reviews must be real, quoted exactly and used with permission. Case study numbers must be real and approved by the client.
One design system. Two fonts, one accent color and fixed text positions make a carousel feel like one piece.
Add alt text. Words baked into images can’t be read by screen readers, so put each slide’s text in the alt text.

How to use these with Canva carousel templates

Canva carousel templates handle the look. These templates handle the words.

Pick a Canva layout and check its size. Older templates are often 1080 × 1080 squares.
Duplicate pages until you have one per slide in your template.
Delete the placeholder copy and paste your filled-in slide text.
For a continuous panorama, design one wide canvas, for example 5,400 × 1,350 px for five 4:5 slides. Split the export into 1,080-px-wide images, and keep text off the cut lines.
Download all pages as PNG and upload them in order.

Paid template kits on marketplaces add polish, but they still ship with placeholder copy. The structure is the part that does the work.

Start from a carousel that already works

If a carousel in your niche already performs, its structure is a template. List each slide’s role, then write your own version.

TokCloner does this from a link. Paste a public Instagram carousel link and it rebuilds the structure for your business profile in 1–3 minutes, with new text and new or your own images. It exports 1080×1920 PNGs only, so crop to 3:4 or 4:5 for Instagram using the band above.

There is no free plan (plans start at $29 a month), and it doesn’t post for you. Don’t repost other creators’ images or text; keep the structure and make the rest yours. For TikTok versions of these structures, see the TikTok slideshow templates.

Frequently asked questions

Are these Instagram carousel templates free?

Yes. Copy any template's text and use it in Canva, Figma, Adobe Express or your phone's editor. They are copy structures, so they work with any visual style.

What size should an Instagram carousel template be?

Use 1080 × 1350 px (4:5) as the safe default, or 1080 × 1440 px (3:4) for the tallest slide Instagram keeps when posting from the app. Every slide in a carousel uses the same orientation.

How many slides can an Instagram carousel have?

Up to 20 photos and videos when you post in the app. Tools that publish through Meta's API, such as most schedulers, are limited to 10.

Where can I find Canva carousel templates?

Search Canva's template library for Instagram carousel or Instagram post layouts. Check the size, delete the placeholder copy, and paste a structure from this page.

How do I make a carousel that looks like one continuous image?

Design one wide canvas, for example 5,400 × 1,350 px for five 4:5 slides, then slice it into 1,080-px-wide pieces. Keep text away from the cut lines.

Can I use the same template for Instagram and TikTok?

Yes. Design at 1080×1920 for TikTok and keep all text between about y = 300 and y = 1260. Instagram's 3:4 or 4:5 crop then removes only background.