How to post a panorama on Instagram as a carousel
Split a wide photo into equal slides so it carries on as people swipe: carousel sizes for 2 to 5 slides, how to cut it, and the mistakes that break the join.
Updated 2026-10-22
Instagram shows a wide panorama as a thin strip in the feed. The fix is to cut it into equal slides and post them as one carousel: as people swipe, the picture carries on from one slide to the next. It takes a minute once the sizes are right.
The rule that makes it work
All slides in a carousel share one shape. Instagram sets the orientation (square, portrait or landscape) for the whole post, and you cannot choose a different one for each slide. So the panorama has to be cut into equal slices of exactly that shape, with nothing missing between them. Portrait 4:5 slides of 1080 x 1350 px are a common choice, because they fill more of the screen than squares.
Carousel sizes for 2 to 5 slides
| Slides | Full image for 4:5 slides | Full image for square slides |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | 2160 x 1350 px | 2160 x 1080 px |
| 3 | 3240 x 1350 px | 3240 x 1080 px |
| 4 | 4320 x 1350 px | 4320 x 1080 px |
| 5 | 5400 x 1350 px | 5400 x 1080 px |
The width is 1080 px times the number of slides, and each slice is exactly 1080 px wide. To pick the number of slides, divide the panorama's width by its height, then divide by 0.8 for 4:5 slides: a photo three times as wide as it is tall comes to 3.75, so four slides with a little trimmed. A carousel can hold up to 20 photos and videos, but for one panorama two to five slides keep the detail large enough to enjoy.
Step by step
- Crop the panorama to the full size from the table, for example 3240 x 1350 px for three slides.
- Cut it into equal slices 1080 px wide, starting at the left edge.
- In Instagram, start a new post, choose to select multiple photos and pick the slices in order, from left to right.
- Before you post, check the shape: if Instagram has cropped the slides to squares, switch to the portrait shape.
Mistakes that break the join
- Slices of slightly different widths: the picture jumps at the join.
- Leaving Instagram's crop on square when the slices are 4:5: it trims the top and bottom of every slide.
- A face or the main subject exactly on a cut. Shift the crop so the joins fall on sky, water or another plain area.
- Forgetting that the first slide is the cover: the profile grid shows only a cropped part of it, so it should work on its own.
STAR AI Photo & Video Maker cuts one wide photo into 2 to 5 slides of 4:5 for you and saves them in order, ready to post together as one carousel. Edit the photo first with a new sky or a colour look, and the same photo can also become a 3D video for Reels.
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Questions
What size is an Instagram carousel for 3 slides?
For 4:5 slides, make the full image 3240 x 1350 px and cut it into three slices of 1080 x 1350 px. For square slides, 3240 x 1080 px.
How many photos can an Instagram carousel have?
Up to 20 photos and videos in one post, according to Instagram's Help Center.
Why is my panorama cropped on Instagram?
A single photo has to fit Instagram's supported shapes, so a very wide panorama is cropped or shown very small. Splitting it into slides keeps the whole picture.
Can I try it for free?
Yes. Your first photo is free to edit in the app, and every plan starts with a 7-day free trial. Cancel before it ends and you pay nothing.