When to Use It
- Showcase multiple products in a single ad
- Tell a story across multiple cards
- Highlight different features of a single product
- Create interactive shopping experiences
- Display before/after sequences
- Show step-by-step tutorials or processes
- Increase engagement with swipeable content
- Test different creative combinations within one ad
Inputs
| Field | Type | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Account | Select | Yes | Select a Meta Ads account |
| Page | Dynamic-select | Yes | Select Facebook page for the ads |
| Structured Data | Dynamic-text | Yes | Google Sheets data containing carousel ad information |
Bulk Upload Template
For carousel ad creation, use the Google Sheets template with these columns:Required Columns
| Column | Description | Required |
|---|---|---|
| adset_id | Ad set ID where the carousel ad will be created | Yes |
| ad_name | Name for the carousel ad | Yes |
| ad_status | ACTIVE or PAUSED (recommended: PAUSED for review) | Yes |
| primary_text | Main ad copy that appears above the carousel | Yes |
| website_url | Default landing page URL for all cards | Yes |
| card_1_media_url | Image or video URL for the first card | Yes |
| card_1_headline | Headline text for the first card | Yes |
| card_2_media_url | Image or video URL for the second card | Yes |
| card_2_headline | Headline text for the second card | Yes |
Optional Columns
| Column | Description | Usage |
|---|---|---|
| card_N_description | Description text for card N (where N = 1-10) | Optional |
| card_N_website_url | Specific landing URL for card N (overrides default website_url) | Optional |
| card_N_call_to_action | Call-to-action button for card N (e.g., SHOP_NOW, LEARN_MORE) | Optional |
| card_N_story_media_url | Dedicated media for Stories placement for card N | Optional |
| form_id | Lead form ID for lead generation carousel ads | Optional |
Additional Cards (3-10)
For cards 3 through 10, you can add:- card_N_media_url and card_N_headline (both required if any card_N field is provided)
- Any of the optional columns listed above
card_N_media_url AND card_N_headline become required for that card.
Card Requirements
Media Specifications
Images:- File type: JPG or PNG
- Aspect ratio: 1:1 (square) recommended for best display
- Recommended resolution: 1080 x 1080 pixels
- Maximum file size: 30 MB
- Minimum resolution: 600 x 600 pixels
- File type: MP4, MOV, or GIF
- Aspect ratio: 1:1 (square) or 4:5 (vertical)
- Maximum file size: 4 GB
- Maximum duration: 240 minutes
- Recommended duration: 15 seconds or less for optimal performance
- Video thumbnails: Auto-generated by Meta
Content Guidelines
Card Limits:- Minimum: 2 cards per carousel
- Maximum: 10 cards per carousel
- Optimal: 3-5 cards for best performance
- Primary text: 125 characters or less for optimal display
- Card headlines: 25 characters or less for maximum visibility
- Card descriptions: 20 characters or less when used
Output
Returns the created carousel ad IDs and count:ad_ids: Array of all successfully created carousel ad IDscreated_count: Total number of carousel ads created
Credit Cost
- Cost per run: 3 credits per carousel ad created
- Example: 5 carousel ads = 15 credits
FAQs
What's the difference between carousel and single image ads?
What's the difference between carousel and single image ads?
Carousel Ads:
- Show 2-10 images or videos in one ad
- Users can swipe through cards
- Each card can have its own headline, description, and landing URL
- Higher engagement rates due to interactive nature
- Better for showcasing multiple products or telling stories
- Display one image per ad
- Simpler setup and management
- Better for single product focus
- Lower file size requirements
Can I mix images and videos in the same carousel?
Can I mix images and videos in the same carousel?
Yes! Each card in a carousel can be either an image or video. You can mix different media types within the same carousel ad.Best practices:
- Keep media styles consistent (similar filters, lighting, etc.)
- Ensure videos are short (under 15 seconds) for better performance
- Use square aspect ratio (1:1) for both images and videos
- Video thumbnails are automatically generated by Meta
How do I optimize carousel card order?
How do I optimize carousel card order?
Strategic card ordering:
- Lead with your strongest visual - Put your most compelling image/video first
- Tell a story - Arrange cards in logical sequence (problem → solution, before → after)
- Product showcase - Start with hero product, then show variations or details
- Call-to-action progression - Build interest through early cards, strong CTA on final cards
Can each card have different landing URLs?
Can each card have different landing URLs?
Yes! You can set different landing URLs for each card using the
card_N_website_url columns in your template.Use cases:- Link each product card to its specific product page
- Direct users to different category pages
- Send traffic to relevant blog posts or resources
- A/B test different landing pages within one ad
website_url from your template.What Call to Action options work best for carousel ads?
What Call to Action options work best for carousel ads?
Popular CTA options for carousel ads:E-commerce:
- SHOP_NOW - Direct purchasing intent
- VIEW_MORE - Product browsing
- GET_OFFER - Promotional campaigns
- LEARN_MORE - Information gathering
- SIGN_UP - Newsletter or service signup
- CONTACT_US - Direct inquiry
- DOWNLOAD - App installs
- WATCH_MORE - Video content
- READ_MORE - Blog articles
How do I create placement-specific carousel content?
How do I create placement-specific carousel content?
Use the Meta will automatically choose the best media for each placement.
card_N_story_media_url columns to provide optimized media for Stories placements:Stories Optimization:- Aspect ratio: 9:16 (vertical)
- Resolution: 1080 x 1920 pixels
- Content: Full-screen, mobile-first design
- Your default 1:1 cards don’t display well in Stories
- You want Stories-specific messaging or design
- Different product angles work better vertically
Can I use carousel ads for lead generation?
Can I use carousel ads for lead generation?
Yes! Carousel ads work excellently for lead generation:Setup for lead forms:
- Add your
form_idcolumn in the template - Use lead-friendly CTAs like SIGN_UP or LEARN_MORE
- Each card can highlight different benefits
- Final card should have the strongest conversion message
- Use first cards to build interest and trust
- Show multiple value propositions across cards
- Include social proof or testimonials
- Keep form fields minimal for higher conversion rates
What are the best practices for carousel ad performance?
What are the best practices for carousel ad performance?
Creative Best Practices:
- Consistent branding across all cards
- High-quality visuals with good lighting and composition
- Clear headlines that complement the visuals
- Logical flow between cards (tell a story)
- Strong first card to capture attention
- Use 1:1 aspect ratio for universal compatibility
- Keep file sizes optimized for fast loading
- Test both images and videos
- Include 3-5 cards for optimal engagement
- Show different product angles or use cases
- Highlight key features across multiple cards
- Use the last card for strong call-to-action
- A/B test different card arrangements
How do I track which carousel cards perform best?
How do I track which carousel cards perform best?
Meta Ads Manager provides detailed carousel insights:
- Card-level metrics - See performance for each individual card
- Click-through rates - Which cards drive the most clicks
- Engagement data - Swipe behavior and time spent per card
- Conversion tracking - Which cards lead to actual conversions
- Pause or replace underperforming cards
- Promote high-performing cards to the first position
- Use insights to inform future carousel creative strategy
- Test different headlines and descriptions based on data
Can I edit carousel ads after they're created?
Can I edit carousel ads after they're created?
Limited editing options:
- You cannot add/remove cards from existing carousel ads
- You cannot change the media in existing cards
- You can edit text elements (headline, description, primary text)
- You can change the landing URLs
- Create a new carousel ad with updated content
- Pause the old ad and activate the new one
- Use A/B testing to compare performance
How do I use Google Drive images in carousel templates?
How do I use Google Drive images in carousel templates?
Simple Google Drive setup:For carousel media:
- Upload your images to Google Drive
- Right-click on each image file
- Select “Share” → “Anyone with the link” (Viewer permissions)
- Copy the link and paste directly into your template
- Organize images in a dedicated Google Drive folder
- Use consistent naming (product-1-square.jpg, product-1-story.jpg)
- Ensure all images have proper sharing permissions
- Test a few links before bulk uploading