Creating a pin takes three steps: design or upload an image, add text and a link, then publish it to a board

A pin on Pinterest is a single post that links to a webpage, product, or idea. You create it by uploading an image, adding a description and destination link, and choosing which board to post it to. The whole process takes about two minutes once you know where the buttons are.

You can create a pin from scratch using Pinterest's built-in design tool, or upload an image you already have. Either way, you'll write a title, add a link to where you want people to go, and select a board. The pin then appears on your profile and in the feeds of people who follow that board.

Key Takeaways

  • Start a new pin by clicking the plus icon in the top left corner of Pinterest, then choose "Create a pin."
  • You can design a pin using Pinterest's templates and text tools, or upload a photo or graphic file from your computer.
  • Add a title, description, and destination link — the link is what happens when someone clicks your pin.
  • Choose which board the pin goes to, or create a new board right from the publishing screen.
  • Once you publish, the pin appears on your profile and shows up for followers of that board.

How to start a new pin in Pinterest

Open Pinterest and look for the plus icon in the top left corner of the screen. Click it and select "Create a pin" from the menu. This opens the pin creation screen where you'll design or upload your image.

If you're on a phone or tablet, the plus icon is usually at the bottom of the screen. Tap it and choose "Create a pin" the same way. The layout is slightly different on mobile, but the steps are the same.

Uploading or designing your pin image

You have two options: upload an image you already have, or use Pinterest's design templates. To upload, click "Upload an image" and select a file from your computer or phone. Pinterest accepts JPG, PNG, and GIF files. The image should be at least 1000 pixels wide for best quality.

To design a pin using templates, click "Create a design" and browse the template library. Pinterest offers thousands of templates organized by category — choose one that matches your topic, then edit the text, colors, and images to match your brand. You can add your own photos, change fonts, and rearrange elements by clicking and dragging them.

If you're uploading your own image, make sure it's clear and visually interesting — pins that stand out in a crowded feed get more clicks. Vertical images (taller than they are wide) perform better on Pinterest than horizontal ones.

Adding a title, description, and link

After you've chosen or designed your image, you'll see fields for "Title" and "Description." The title is what appears directly on the pin itself, so keep it short — 40 characters or fewer works best. The description is longer text that appears when someone hovers over or clicks the pin.

In the description field, write 100 to 200 words explaining what the pin is about. Include keywords related to your topic, because Pinterest's search function looks at descriptions to decide which pins to show. For example, if you're pinning a recipe, write "Easy chocolate chip cookie recipe" rather than just "Cookies."

Paste a link into the "Destination URL" field. This is where people go when they click your pin — it could be a blog post, product page, or any webpage you want to drive traffic to. The link must start with "http://" or "https://" or Pinterest won't accept it.

Choosing a board for your pin

Scroll down to the "Board" section and select which board this pin belongs to. If you don't have a board yet, or want to create a new one for this pin, click "Create a board" and give it a name. Board names should describe what the board contains — "Dinner Recipes," "Home Office Ideas," or "Marketing Tips" are clear examples.

You can also set the board to private (only you see it) or public (anyone can see it and repin it). Most people keep boards public so their content reaches a wider audience, but private boards are useful for personal collections or work-in-progress ideas.

Publishing your pin and what happens next

Once you've filled in the image, title, description, link, and board, click the "Publish" or "Save" button at the bottom right. Pinterest processes the pin and adds it to your chosen board within a few seconds.

After publishing, the pin appears on your profile under that board's name. It also shows up in the feeds of anyone who follows that board. If you have a business account, you can check how many people saved, clicked, or shared your pin by looking at the pin's analytics — click the pin and look for the "Outbound clicks" or "Saves" numbers.

You can edit or delete a pin anytime by clicking on it, then clicking the three-dot menu and selecting "Edit pin" or "Delete pin." Changes take effect immediately.

Common mistakes to avoid when creating pins

The most common mistake is forgetting to add a destination link, which means people can't click through to your content. Always paste a working URL into the destination field before publishing.

Another mistake is using a title that doesn't match the image or description. If your title says "Chocolate Cake Recipe" but the image shows a salad, people will feel misled and won't trust your future pins. Make sure the title, image, and description all describe the same thing.

Avoid uploading images that are too small or blurry. Pinterest shows pins at different sizes depending on where they appear, so a low-quality image will look worse on larger screens. Test your pin by viewing it on a phone and a computer before publishing if you want to see how it looks in different places.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I schedule a pin to post at a specific time?

Yes, if you have a business account. Instead of clicking "Publish," click "Schedule" and choose the date and time you want the pin to go live. Pinterest will post it automatically at that time. Personal accounts cannot schedule pins.

What size should my pin image be?

Pinterest recommends 1000 x 1500 pixels (a vertical rectangle). Pins can be anywhere from 600 x 900 to 1200 x 1800 pixels and still look good. Avoid square images — vertical pins get more clicks and take up more space in feeds.

Can I pin something from another website without uploading an image?

Yes. Click the plus icon and choose "Create a pin," then paste a link into the URL field instead of uploading an image. Pinterest will pull the image from that webpage automatically. This is called "pinning from a link" and is useful for sharing other people's content.

Do I need a business account to create pins?

No, personal accounts can create and post pins. Business accounts have extra features like scheduling, analytics, and the ability to run ads, but they're not required to start pinning.

What happens if I pin the same image twice?

Pinterest allows duplicate pins to different boards or at different times. However, pinning the exact same image to the same board multiple times in a short period may trigger Pinterest's spam filters and could limit how many people see your pins. Space out repins of the same content by at least a few weeks.