How to Make a TikTok Carousel in 2026 (Step-by-Step Guide)
Everything you need to know about creating TikTok photo carousels that actually get saves, shares, and follows.
TikTok carousels (also called photo posts or slideshows) are one of the highest-performing content formats on the platform right now. They get more saves, more shares, and often more reach than short videos — especially for educational, list-based, and storytelling content.
The format is simple: a series of swipeable images, each with text and visuals, that guide the viewer through your content slide by slide. Think of it like an Instagram carousel, but built for TikTok's algorithm and audience.
This guide covers everything: how to create carousels natively on TikTok, how to structure them for maximum engagement, the design rules that matter, and how to use AI tools to produce them faster.
What You'll Learn
- What TikTok carousels are and why they perform so well
- How to create a carousel natively inside TikTok
- The slide structure that gets saves (Hook → Value → CTA)
- Design tips that make carousels scroll-stopping
- How to use AI tools to make carousels in under 60 seconds
- Common mistakes to avoid
What Is a TikTok Carousel?
A TikTok carousel is a post containing multiple photos (up to 35 images) that viewers swipe through horizontally. TikTok introduced this format to compete with Instagram carousels, and it's quickly become one of the most-used post types on the platform.
Unlike videos, carousels let viewers consume content at their own pace. This makes them perfect for:
- Educational content — tips, tutorials, how-to guides
- Lists and rankings — "Top 5 tools for X", "7 mistakes to avoid"
- Storytelling — before/after, day-in-the-life, travel recaps
- Product showcases — feature breakdowns, comparisons, reviews
- Motivational / relatable content — quotes, memes, hot takes
Why carousels outperform video right now: TikTok's algorithm rewards saves and shares heavily. Carousels naturally drive both because people save useful slides and share them with friends. A good carousel can get 2–5x the save rate of a comparable video.
How to Create a TikTok Carousel (Native Method)
Here's the basic process for creating a carousel directly in the TikTok app:
Open TikTok and tap the + button
Tap the create button at the bottom of the screen, just like you would for a video.
Select "Photo" mode
At the bottom of the camera screen, swipe to find the "Photo" option. This switches from video to the carousel/photo post format.
Select your images
Choose up to 35 photos from your camera roll. You can reorder them by pressing and dragging. The order matters — your first image is your hook.
Edit and add text
TikTok lets you add text, stickers, and filters to each photo. You can also add background music that plays while viewers swipe.
Write your caption and post
Add a caption with relevant keywords and hashtags. Then hit post.
That's the basic flow. But here's the thing: the design of your slides matters far more than the posting process. Let's talk about structure.
The Slide Structure That Gets Saves
The best-performing TikTok carousels follow predictable structures. You don't need to reinvent the wheel — you need to use formats that are already proven to drive swipes.
The "Hook → Value → CTA" Framework
Almost every viral carousel follows this pattern:
Slide 1: The Hook
This is the only slide people see before they decide to swipe. It needs to create curiosity, promise value, or trigger an emotional response. Examples: "5 things I wish I knew before moving to Tokyo", "Stop making this skincare mistake", "The $3 meal that changed my meal prep".
Slides 2–7: The Value
Each slide delivers one clear point. One idea per slide. Don't cram — let each slide breathe. Use short text (under 30 words per slide), a relevant background image, and consistent styling.
Last Slide: The CTA
Tell them what to do: follow for more, save this for later, check the link in bio, share with a friend. Don't skip this — carousels without a CTA leave engagement on the table.
Popular Carousel Formats That Work
Tips / Listicle
"7 apps every student needs" — one tip per slide, numbered.
Mistakes to Avoid
"5 gym mistakes killing your gains" — one mistake per slide with the fix.
Step-by-Step Tutorial
"How to start a Shopify store in 2026" — sequential steps, each slide builds on the last.
Before / After
Transformation content — room makeover, fitness journey, portfolio redesign.
Story Arc
"How I went from $0 to $10k/mo" — narrative that unfolds slide by slide.
Comparison / vs.
"iPhone vs Android for photography" — side-by-side or alternating slides.
Design Tips for Scroll-Stopping Carousels
You don't need to be a designer to make good-looking carousels. But you do need to follow a few rules:
TikTok is mobile-first. If your text isn't readable on a phone screen without zooming, it's too small. Aim for 40px+ for headlines, 24px+ for body text. Bold fonts work better than thin ones.
The biggest mistake beginners make is cramming too much text on one slide. Each slide should have one clear point. If you have to scroll your eyes to read it, split it into two slides.
Use the same font, colors, and text positioning throughout the carousel. Inconsistent styling makes it feel amateur. Pick a look and stick with it.
If you're using background photos, make sure the text is readable. Use text outlines, text shadows, or semi-transparent backgrounds behind text. White text with a dark outline works on almost any image.
TikTok supports multiple ratios, but 9:16 (vertical, full screen) gets the most real estate and feels native. 4:5 and 1:1 also work, especially if you cross-post to Instagram.
Your first slide competes with videos in the feed. It needs to stand out. Use a strong background image, large hook text, and high contrast. Treat it like a thumbnail.
How to Make TikTok Carousels Faster with AI
The native TikTok method works, but it's slow if you want to post carousels consistently. Designing 5–10 slides manually for every post adds up fast — especially if you're posting daily.
This is where AI carousel tools come in. Instead of designing each slide from scratch, you describe what you want and the tool generates the full carousel for you.
Using ReelCarousel to Generate Carousels
ReelCarousel is an AI carousel generator built specifically for TikTok and Instagram. Here's how it works:
Type a prompt
Describe your carousel idea in plain language. For example: "7 tips for saving money on groceries" or "5 mistakes beginners make at the gym".
AI generates the full carousel
The AI creates all slides — hook, content slides, CTA — with text, background images, and proper carousel structure. This takes under 60 seconds.
Edit and customize
Adjust text, swap images, change fonts and colors, tweak the layout. You're editing a finished draft instead of starting from scratch.
Download or schedule
Export the slides as images and upload to TikTok manually, or use the built-in scheduler to auto-post to TikTok and Instagram.
Speed comparison: Designing a carousel manually takes 15–60 minutes depending on complexity. With an AI tool like ReelCarousel, the first draft is ready in under a minute, and editing takes another 2–5 minutes. That's a 5–10x speed improvement.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
If your hook doesn't create curiosity or promise value, people won't swipe. Spend the most time on slide 1. Test different hooks for the same content.
Keep it under 30 words per slide. If a slide takes more than 3 seconds to read, it's too dense. Break it up.
Always tell people what to do next: follow, save, share, or check the link. A carousel without a CTA is a missed opportunity.
Mixing fonts, colors, and styles across slides makes the carousel feel disjointed. Pick one style and apply it to every slide.
Your caption is searchable. Use relevant keywords naturally (don't stuff them). Include 3–5 relevant hashtags. The caption helps TikTok understand who to show your carousel to.
Carousels compound over time. Your first few might not go viral, but consistent posting builds your audience. Aim for at least 3–4 carousels per week to see results.
Summary: How to Make a TikTok Carousel
- Choose a proven format — tips, mistakes, steps, or story arc
- Write a strong hook — slide 1 is everything
- One idea per slide — keep text short and readable
- Use consistent styling — same font, colors, and layout throughout
- End with a CTA — tell them to follow, save, or share
- Post consistently — 3–4 carousels per week minimum
- Use AI tools to speed up — generate first drafts in seconds, not hours
The creators who grow fastest on TikTok in 2026 aren't necessarily the best designers — they're the ones who post the most valuable content, the most consistently. Carousels are the easiest format to produce at volume without sacrificing quality.
Ready to Create Your First Carousel?
Try ReelCarousel free — type a prompt and get a full carousel in under 60 seconds.
Try ReelCarousel FreeFAQ
How many slides should a TikTok carousel have?
Most high-performing carousels have 5–10 slides. Enough to deliver real value, short enough to keep people swiping to the end. TikTok allows up to 35, but longer isn't always better.
What size should TikTok carousel images be?
For full-screen vertical carousels, use 1080x1920 pixels (9:16 ratio). For square posts, use 1080x1080 (1:1). The 9:16 format gets the most screen space on TikTok.
Can I add music to a TikTok carousel?
Yes. When creating a photo post on TikTok, you can add a sound/music track that plays while viewers swipe through. Trending sounds can help with reach.
Do TikTok carousels get more reach than videos?
It depends on your niche, but carousels often outperform videos for educational and list-based content because they drive higher save and share rates — two signals TikTok's algorithm rewards heavily.
What's the fastest way to make TikTok carousels?
AI carousel generators like ReelCarousel can produce a full carousel from a text prompt in under 60 seconds. You edit the draft instead of designing from scratch, which cuts production time by 5–10x.