Pinterest has evolved significantly over the past few years, and one of the biggest changes has been the way it handles Pin formats. If you’ve been wondering whether to create Idea Pins or Standard Pins in 2026, the answer is simpler than it used to be.

Pinterest has merged these formats into a unified Pin creation experience, but understanding how different types of Pins perform is still essential if you want to grow your audience, drive website traffic, or increase sales.

What Happened to Idea Pins?

Idea Pins were introduced as Pinterest’s answer to short-form, engaging content. They allowed creators to publish multi-page stories using images, videos, stickers, and text without linking users away from Pinterest.

Since then, Pinterest has combined Idea Pins with regular Pins into a more flexible format. Today, creators can publish:

Single-image Pins
Video Pins
Multi-page Pins combining images and videos

All of these are created through the same Pin publishing process, making content creation much more straightforward.

Single Pins vs Multi-page Pins

Although the old “Idea Pin” label is gone, the content style still matters.

Single Pins

Single Pins are ideal for driving traffic to your website. They typically feature one high-quality vertical image or video with a compelling title and a direct link to your blog post, product page, or landing page.

These Pins work especially well for:

Blog articles
Affiliate marketing
Online shops
Lead generation
Digital products

Because Pinterest functions as a visual search engine, keyword-rich titles and descriptions help these Pins appear in search results for months or even years.

Multi-page Pins

Multi-page Pins are designed to keep users engaged within Pinterest. Instead of presenting one image, they guide viewers through several pages of content.

They’re excellent for:

Step-by-step tutorials
DIY projects
Recipes
Beauty routines
Educational guides
Before-and-after transformations
Product demonstrations

These Pins often receive more saves and longer engagement because users spend more time interacting with the content.

Which Format Is Better?

The best format depends on your goals.

If your primary objective is website traffic, single Pins remain the strongest option. They encourage users to click through to your content while continuing to rank in Pinterest search results.

If your goal is building an audience and increasing engagement, multi-page Pins are often more effective. Their interactive nature encourages users to save, share, and revisit your content.

Rather than choosing one over the other, successful Pinterest creators use both strategically.

A Winning Pinterest Strategy for 2026

To maximise your results, combine different Pin types in your content plan.

A balanced strategy might include:

Around 70–80% single-image or single-video Pins focused on driving traffic.
Around 20–30% multi-page Pins designed to educate, inspire, or entertain your audience.

This combination allows you to reach people at different stages of their journey while building both visibility and engagement.

Pinterest SEO Still Matters

No matter which format you publish, Pinterest remains a search engine first.

To improve your reach:

Use keywords naturally in your Pin title.
Write clear, descriptive Pin descriptions.
Add relevant keywords to your boards.
Design eye-catching vertical graphics.
Publish fresh, original content consistently.

Pinterest rewards quality and relevance over quantity, so it’s better to create fewer, high-value Pins than many repetitive ones.

Final Thoughts

In 2026, the debate between Idea Pins and Standard Pins is no longer about choosing one format over another. Pinterest has streamlined the experience into a single, versatile publishing system that supports images, videos, and multi-page content.

The real question is how you use these formats to achieve your goals.

If you want more website visitors, prioritise single Pins with strong visuals and keyword optimisation. If you’re focused on growing your brand and increasing engagement, incorporate multi-page Pins that educate and inspire.

By combining both approaches, you’ll be well positioned to grow your presence on Pinterest and make the most of everything the platform has to offer.