How to Schedule LinkedIn Image Carousels via API
Create multi-image carousel posts on LinkedIn using the PostFast API. Schedule up to 9 images in a single swipeable post.
LinkedIn image carousels let you share multiple images in a single swipeable post, perfect for product showcases, team introductions, event highlights, and step-by-step guides. Carousels often outperform single-image posts in engagement.
To create an image carousel, include 2-9 IMAGE items in your mediaItems array with sequential sortOrder values. LinkedIn will automatically display them as a swipeable carousel.
Note: This guide covers image carousels. For document carousels (PDF, PowerPoint, Word files that display as swipeable slides), see our LinkedIn Documents guide which uses linkedinAttachmentKey instead of mediaItems.
Code Example
const response = await fetch('https://api.postfa.st/social-posts', {
method: 'POST',
headers: {
'pf-api-key': 'YOUR_API_KEY',
'Content-Type': 'application/json'
},
body: JSON.stringify({
"posts": [
{
"content": "Meet the team behind our latest product launch:\n\nSlide 1: Engineering\nSlide 2: Design\nSlide 3: Marketing\nSlide 4: Customer Success\n\nEvery launch takes a village. Tag someone who made your last launch possible!\n\n#teamwork #productlaunch #startup",
"mediaItems": [
{
"key": "image/a1b2c3d4-e5f6-7890-abcd-ef1234567890.jpg",
"type": "IMAGE",
"sortOrder": 0
},
{
"key": "image/b2c3d4e5-f6a7-8901-bcde-f12345678901.jpg",
"type": "IMAGE",
"sortOrder": 1
},
{
"key": "image/c3d4e5f6-a7b8-9012-cdef-012345678912.jpg",
"type": "IMAGE",
"sortOrder": 2
},
{
"key": "image/d4e5f6a7-b8c9-0123-def0-123456789023.jpg",
"type": "IMAGE",
"sortOrder": 3
}
],
"scheduledAt": "2025-01-31T09:00:00.000Z",
"socialMediaId": "bb1a3944-c8de-97f0-a372-001211005007"
}
],
"controls": {}
})
});
const data = await response.json();
Did You Know?
Tips
Use the first image as a strong hook - it appears in the feed before users swipe
Maintain consistent visual style (colors, fonts, branding) across all slides
Square (1:1) images work well on both mobile and desktop
Reference slides in your caption to encourage swiping (e.g., 'See slide 3 for the results')
End with a call-to-action slide (follow, comment, visit website)
Carousels work great for listicles, tutorials, and before/after comparisons
Schedule image carousels, documents, and videos to LinkedIn via API
Common Pitfalls
Including only 1 image creates a regular image post, not a carousel. Include at least 2 images.
LinkedIn image carousels support a maximum of 9 images. If you need more, consider using a document post or splitting into multiple posts.
Ensure sortOrder values are sequential (0, 1, 2...). Gaps or duplicates may cause unexpected ordering.
You cannot mix images with videos or documents in a single post. Choose one media type per post.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the maximum number of images in a LinkedIn carousel?
LinkedIn image carousels support 2-9 images. You need at least 2 images for it to be treated as a carousel.
What's the difference between image carousels and document carousels?
Image carousels use mediaItems with IMAGE type (up to 9 images). Document carousels use linkedinAttachmentKey to upload a PDF/PPTX/DOCX file that displays as swipeable slides. Document carousels are better for text-heavy educational content.
How do I control the order of images?
Use the sortOrder field in each mediaItem. Set values starting from 0 in the order you want images to appear (0 = first slide, 1 = second, etc.).