How to Make a Pin on Pinterest (Complete 2026 Guide)

Creating a pin on Pinterest is simple, but doing it right makes all the difference.

Whether you're sharing a recipe, promoting a blog post, or showcasing products, this guide covers everything you need to know about creating pins in 2026.

How to Create a Pin on Desktop

According to Pinterest's official Help Center, you can upload images or videos directly from your computer.

Image Pin (Desktop):

Log in to pinterest.com
Click Create (top left)
- For business accounts: Click hamburger menu → Create → Create Pin
Click the upload icon or drag and drop your image
- Upload up to 10 images at once (each becomes a separate pin)
Add pin details:
- Title: Up to 100 characters (first 40 show in feeds)
- Description: Up to 500 characters
- Link: Add destination URL (your website, blog, product page)
- Board: Choose existing board or create new one (if you need to delete a board, see our guide on how to delete a Pinterest board)
- Tag related topics: Up to 10 topics for better discovery
- Publish later: Schedule up to 30 days ahead (business accounts only)
- Advanced settings: Turn comments/shopping recommendations on/off
Click pencil icon to edit image (add text, change aspect ratio, filters)
Click Done → Publish

Video Pin (Desktop):

Same process as image pins, with these additions:

Select Edit cover to choose video thumbnail
Upload up to 10 videos (MP4 or MOV format)
Maximum file size: 20MB (desktop), 32MB (mobile app)
Video length: Up to 5 minutes

How to Create a Pin on Mobile

iOS/Android:

Open the Pinterest app
Tap the + icon (bottom center)
Tap Pin
Select image/video from device
- Tap camera icon to take new photo or record video
- Select multiple images/videos to create a video pin mashup
Tap Next
Use editing tools (optional):
- Add text overlays
- Apply stickers and effects
- Add filters
- Draw on image
- Adjust colors
Tap Next when done editing
Add pin details:
- Title
- Description (can include hashtags, but keywords work better)
- Link
- Tag products: Up to 5 product tags per pin
- Board
- Tag related topics
- Publish later (business accounts)
Tap Create

How to Create and Schedule Pins with Genviral

While Pinterest's native tools work great for individual pins, using a scheduling platform like Genviral streamlines your workflow when you need to create and schedule multiple pins consistently.

Why Use a Pinterest Scheduler?

Time Efficiency:

Batch create and schedule pins for weeks ahead
No need to manually post every day
Maintain consistent posting even when busy

Better Organization:

Visual content calendar to see your entire Pinterest strategy
Media library to store and reuse your pin graphics
Manage multiple Pinterest accounts from one dashboard

SEO Optimization:

Built-in keyword suggestions for pin titles and descriptions
Optimize each pin for Pinterest search visibility
Track which pins drive the most traffic

How Genviral Works for Pinterest

1. Connect Your Pinterest Account

Securely connect via OAuth (same secure method Pinterest uses)
Support for both personal and business accounts
Manage multiple Pinterest accounts if you have different brands

2. Upload and Create Pins

Upload your pin graphics to Genviral's media library
Write SEO-optimized titles and descriptions
Add destination links to drive traffic to your website
Select which board to pin to (or create new boards)

3. Schedule Strategically

Use the visual calendar to plan your pinning schedule
Schedule pins at optimal times when Pinterest users are most active
Space out pins automatically to avoid spam filters
Set up recurring schedules for seasonal campaigns

4. Monitor Performance

Track which pins get the most saves and clicks
See which boards drive the most traffic
Identify your best-performing pin designs

Key Features for Pinterest Marketers

Multi-Account Management: Perfect for agencies or businesses managing multiple Pinterest accounts. Switch between accounts and boards seamlessly from one dashboard.

Bulk Pin Upload: Upload multiple pin images at once and schedule them across different times and boards. Create a week's worth of pins in one session, then let Genviral handle the posting.

Team Collaboration: If you work with a team, Genviral's workspace features let you collaborate on Pinterest content with role-based permissions and approval workflows.

Cross-Platform Scheduling: Since Genviral supports multiple platforms, you can schedule the same content (or variations) to Pinterest, Instagram, TikTok, and other channels from one place.

When to Use Genviral vs. Native Pinterest Tools

Use Genviral when:

You need to schedule 3+ pins per day consistently
You manage multiple Pinterest accounts or boards
You want to batch create content on weekends and schedule for the week
You need team collaboration features
You're running seasonal campaigns that require advance planning

Use Pinterest's native tools when:

You're posting 1-2 pins occasionally
You prefer the native Pinterest interface
You need Pinterest's built-in editing tools for quick tweaks

For most serious Pinterest marketers posting 3-5 pins daily, a scheduling tool like Genviral saves hours per week while maintaining the consistency Pinterest's algorithm rewards.

Optimal Pin Sizes for 2026

Pinterest recommends a 2:3 aspect ratio for optimal performance.

Best dimensions:

1000 x 1500 pixels (recommended)
1080 x 1620 pixels (high resolution alternative)

Acceptable ratios:

2:3 (1000 x 1500) - Standard, most recommended
1:1 (1000 x 1000) - Square, works but not ideal
9:16 (1080 x 1920) - Full-screen vertical video

Avoid:

Pins longer than 1:2.1 ratio will be truncated in feeds
Extremely tall "giraffe pins" (8x or 10x taller than wide) are suppressed by Pinterest's algorithm

File requirements:

Format: PNG or JPEG
Max size: 20MB (desktop), 32MB (mobile)
Minimum: 600 pixels wide for clarity

Create Multiple Pins from One Upload

You can upload up to 10 images or videos at once on desktop. Each file creates a separate pin, all with the same title, description, and board assignment. This is useful for batch creating pins from a photoshoot or blog post.

Note: To combine multiple images/videos into a single video pin, you must use the mobile app.

Pin Creation Best Practices (2026 Update)

1. Design Quality

Use vertical formats - 2:3 aspect ratio performs best
High-quality images - Clear, well-lit, visually appealing
Text overlays - Keep concise, use readable fonts
Branding - Include logo or brand name (not overwhelming)
Diverse imagery - Show products/ideas in realistic settings

2. Write for Discovery

Pinterest is a visual search engine, not social media. Optimize for search:

Use keywords in titles and descriptions (not hashtags)
Front-load important info - First 40 characters of title matter most
Be specific - "Easy 15-Minute Vegan Dinner Recipes" beats "Dinner Ideas"
Add 10 topic tags - Helps Pinterest categorize your pin
Optimize board names - Use keyword-rich board titles

3. Add Destination Links

Always add a link to:

Your blog post
Product page
Website landing page
YouTube video
Recipe page

Pins with links drive 3x more engagement and actually help your pin rank higher.

4. Pin to Relevant Boards

Save pins to keyword-optimized boards matching your content
Don't spam the same pin to every board you own
Pinterest's 2026 algorithm penalizes repetitive pinning

5. Create Fresh Content

Don't just repin old content with minor changes
Create 3-5 unique pin designs per piece of content
Space them out over weeks/months
Change both image AND font style to make truly "new" pins

6. Scheduling Strategy

Pin once to one relevant board, then move to next pin design
Avoid pinning same pin to 10+ boards in one day
Use Pinterest's native scheduler or third-party tools
Best times: Early morning (7-9 AM), evenings (8-11 PM)

For more advanced strategies on creating high-performing pins, optimizing text overlays, and leveraging Pinterest SEO, check out our Pinterest tips and tricks guide with 15 proven tactics.

Save Pins as Drafts

Pinterest allows you to save unfinished pins as drafts.

Draft limitations:

Expire after 30 days
Cannot edit across devices (finish where you started)
Need 100MB storage on mobile device
Desktop: Save up to 50 drafts, publish all at once
Mobile: One at a time

To access drafts:

Desktop: Create → Pin drafts section Mobile: Tap + icon → Pin → Folder icon (bottom right)

Common Pin Types

1. Standard Image Pin

Single image with title, description, and link.

2. Video Pin

Single video or multiple images/videos combined. Autoplays in feed.

3. Carousel Pin

Up to 5 images in one swipeable pin. Great for:

Step-by-step tutorials
Product variations
Multiple angles of same item

To create: Upload 2-5 images → Select "Carousel" option

4. Product Pin (Rich Pin)

Automatically syncs product info from your website:

Price
Availability
Product details
Buy button

Requires: Schema markup on your website + claimed domain

5. Recipe Pin (Rich Pin)

Auto-includes:

Ingredients
Cook time
Servings
Ratings

Requires: Recipe schema markup on your site

6. Article Pin (Rich Pin)

Shows:

Headline
Author
Story description

Requires: Article schema markup on your site

Schedule Pins in Advance

Pinterest Native Scheduling (Free for business accounts):

Schedule up to 30 days ahead
Edit scheduled pins before they publish
Limited to smaller queues

How to schedule:

Create pin as normal
Select "Publish at a later date"
Choose date and time
Click Schedule

What You Cannot Edit After Publishing

Once a pin is published, you cannot change:

Image or video content
Audio (for video pins)
Aspect ratio

What you CAN edit:

Title
Description
Destination link
Board location
Comment settings

To change the image/video, you must create a new pin.

Common Questions

How many pins should I create per day? Quality over quantity. Aim for 3-5 high-quality pins per day spread throughout the day. Pinterest's 2026 algorithm prioritizes fresh, original content over volume. Posting 30 identical pins to different boards is considered spam. For a complete posting strategy including seasonal campaigns and batch workflows, see our Pinterest posting strategy guide.

Do hashtags work on Pinterest? Hashtags have limited value on Pinterest compared to keywords. Focus on using keywords in titles, descriptions, and topic tags instead. Pinterest is a search engine, not social media-keywords drive discovery, not hashtags.

Can I delete a pin and repost it? Yes, but it's not recommended. When you delete a pin, you lose all engagement (saves, clicks, comments). It's better to create a new variation and leave the original live. Pins can drive traffic for months or years, so don't delete performing content. If you need to delete pins, see our guide on how to delete Pinterest pins. For pins you've saved from others, see our guide on how to unsave pins on Pinterest.

How long do pins last? Pins have a long lifespan compared to other platforms. A pin can continue driving traffic for months or even years after posting. The average pin lifespan is 3-4 months, but popular pins can perform indefinitely.

Should I use Pinterest's editing tools? Yes, for quick text overlays and basic edits. However, for professional-quality pins, use design tools like Canva or Adobe before uploading. Pinterest's native editor is convenient for last-minute tweaks, but dedicated design software offers more control.

Can I make a pin without an image? No. Every pin requires either an image or video. Pinterest is a visual platform-text-only pins are not supported. If you want to share text-based content, create an image with text overlay using a design tool.

What makes a pin go viral? No guaranteed formula, but high-performing pins typically have: eye-catching visuals, clear value proposition, keyword-optimized titles, linked to quality content, posted to relevant boards, and shared during peak times. Consistency matters more than virality-focus on steady growth.

Do I need a business account to create pins? No, personal accounts can create pins. However, business accounts get: Pinterest Analytics, scheduling features, rich pins, product tagging, ad capabilities, and trend insights. It's free to convert, so it's worth upgrading if you're serious about Pinterest marketing. For more advanced strategies, check out our Pinterest tips and tricks guide with 15 proven tactics.

Create Pins That Drive Traffic

Pinterest is unique-it's a visual discovery engine where people actively search for ideas, inspiration, and solutions. Every pin you create is an opportunity to:

Drive traffic to your website
Build brand awareness
Generate sales
Grow your audience
Establish authority in your niche

The key is consistency. Create high-quality, keyword-optimized pins regularly, and Pinterest's algorithm will reward you with increased visibility and long-term traffic growth. To expand your reach beyond your own boards, consider joining group boards on Pinterest.

Want to streamline your Pinterest strategy? Create your pins in Canva, then use Genviral to schedule and post them automatically to Pinterest along with your other social channels. This keeps your Pinterest feed active even when you're busy, helping you maintain consistency and maximize reach.