what is the size of a presentation slide

Change the size of your slides

Basic steps.

To change the slide size:

Select the Design tab of the toolbar ribbon.

Slide Size icon

Select Standard (4:3 aspect ratio) or Widescreen (16:9) or Custom Slide Size .

Comparison of standard and widescreen slide-size ratios

For more about the predefined sizes (including formats like Overhead, A3, A4, Banner, B4, and B5) or your own custom sizing, click a heading below to expand it and see the details .

Detailed steps

Choose the standard or widescreen slide size.

On the Design tab of the Ribbon, locate Slide Size in the Customize group, near the far right end of the toolbar.

The Slide Size button is at the far right end of the Design tab of the toolbar ribbon

Select Slide Size , and then select either Standard (4:3) or Widescreen (16:9) .

Slide Size button in the Customize group

When PowerPoint is unable to automatically scale your content, it prompts you with two options:

Maximize : Select this option to increase the size of your slide content when you are scaling to a larger slide size. Choosing this option could result in your content not fitting on the slide.

Ensure Fit : Select this option to decrease the size of your content when scaling to a smaller slide size. This could make your content appear smaller, but you’ll be able to see all content on your slide.

Ensure or maximize fit

The 16:9 widescreen setting is the default value for new presentations you create. When you change the slide size for a presentation, the size you choose only applies to that presentation.  However, you can make it easy to create a new 4:3 presentation for yourself whenever you want—by defining a custom theme that uses the 4:3 aspect ratio. See the section below named "Make a default size to start from when creating new presentations."

Choose another size, such as A3, B4, or Overhead

Select Slide Size , and then select Custom Slide Size .

Custom Slide Size menu option

In the Slide Size box, click the down arrow next to Slides sized for and select an option. Their dimensions are listed below:

Overhead provides an aspect ratio very close to the standard 4:3 slide size.

There are two options for 16:9 aspect ratios:

On-screen Show (16:9) sets the slide dimensions to 10 in x 5.625 in.

Widescreen sets it to 13.333 in x 7.5 in.

Both of these options are the same aspect ratio so they will look the same in Normal View , since PowerPoint automatically adjusts the zoom level. Widescreen (13.333 in x 7.5 in.) provides more slide surface area for the content, so that is the best choice for presentations. Widescreen won’t fit on an 8.5" x 11" sheet of paper without you having to scale it down.

Widescreen or On-screen Show 16:9

Select OK to accept the dimensions and close the Slide Size dialog box.

Choose custom dimensions (in inches, centimeters, or pixels)

The Slide Size dialog box opens.

In the Slide Size dialog box, ensure the orientation is set the way you want it.

In the Height and Width boxes, PowerPoint accepts measurements in inches , centimeters , or pixels . Type a number followed by a space and then the appropriate abbreviation: in , cm , or px .

PowerPoint then converts measurements, if necessary, to the type of unit your operating system uses.

You can change the unit of measure that is shown in PowerPoint dialog boxes if you like.

Make a default size to start from when creating new presentations

This version of PowerPoint has a default size of 16:9 for new presentation, but you can create a different default for yourself.

Start PowerPoint.

On the File tab of the toolbar ribbon, select New . Then double-click the Blank Presentation to create a new, empty presentation.

Then on the Design tab, click Slide Size and choose the size you want for a default.

(If you want a different default slide size than what's listed there, select Custom Slide Size and then choose your size in the Slide Size dialog box, and then click OK .)

More arrow

Select Save Current Theme .

Give your theme a name that you'll remember easily and click Save . Don't change the folder that the new theme is to be saved in.

On the Design tab, click the More arrow again in the bottom-right corner of the Themes group. You'll see your newly saved theme under a Custom heading.

Right-click that new custom theme under the Custom heading, and then select Set as Default Theme :

Right-click the new theme listed under the "Custom" heading, and then choose "Set as Default Theme".

Close PowerPoint. Don't save any files if it prompts you.

Open PowerPoint again. On the File tab of the toolbar ribbon, select New .

The custom theme that you just saved is listed at the top left corner, named Default Theme . The thumbnail image looks like a widescreen slide, but in reality, when you create a new presentation based on that theme, the presentation has the aspect ratio that you've defined for this default theme.

The next time you open PowerPoint, you'll see your default theme in the upper-left of the theme gallery. When you select it, all the slides will be the custom size you chose by default.

Sizing applies to all slides in a presentation

PowerPoint isn't able to resize one slide within a presentation. All slides in a presentation are the same size.

If this is a feature you’d like to request, please send us your feedback to help us prioritize new features in future updates. See  How do I give feedback on Microsoft 365  for more information.

Orientation applies to all slides in a presentation

PowerPoint isn't able to change the page orientation of certain slides. All slides in a presentation have the same page orientation.

Change the page orientation in PowerPoint between landscape and portrait

Use portrait and landscape slide orientation in the same presentation

Reduce the file size of a picture

On the File menu, select Page Setup .

In the Page Setup dialog box, under Slides sized for , select the predefined size you want, or choose Custom and specify the dimensions you want.

The Slide Size button is at the far right end of the Design tab on the toolbar

Select Slide Size .

Shows the Slide Size button

Select Standard (4:3) or Widescreen (16:9) .

Shows the Slide Size menu

PowerPoint may prompt you about scaling your content. Choose one of the following options:

Scale: Select this option to decrease or increase the size of your slide content. When scaling to a smaller slide size, this could make your content appear smaller, but you’ll be able to see all content on your slide.

Don't Scale: Select this option to maintain the size of your slide content. Choosing this option could result in your content not fitting on the slide.

When you change slide sizes, PowerPoint asks whether to scale your content to fit on the slide.

Choose Page Setup from the menu that appears.

Page Setup gives you an assortment of predefined slide/page size options. The options and their dimensions are listed below:

In the Slide Size box, click the down arrow next to Slides sized for and select an option.

Widescreen sets the dimensions to 13.333 in x 7.5 in.

There are several predefined slide-size options in the Page Setup dialog box

Choose custom dimensions (in inches, centimers, or pixels)

Select Slide Size , and then click Page Setup .

Shows the Page Setup option on the Slide Size menu

The Page Setup dialog box opens.

In the Width and Height boxes, PowerPoint accepts measurements in inches , centimeters , or pixels . Type a number followed by a space and then the appropriate abbreviation: in (inches) or cm (centimeters) or px (pixels).

PowerPoint then converts the measurements, if necessary, to the unit of measurement your operating system uses.

Make a new slide size the default for new presentations

Select Slide Size , and then select Page Setup .

Follow the steps in the prior section to choose the slide size you want.

On the Design tab, click the More arrow below the standard themes.

Shows the More arrow under the standard themes

Click Save Current Theme at the bottom of the window.

Shows the Save Current Theme option on the More menu

Give your theme a name that you'll remember easily and click Save .

On the Design tab, click the More arrow below the standard themes again. You'll see your newly saved theme under Custom .

Shows a new theme in the Custom group

Right-click your new custom theme, and then click Set as Default Theme .

Shows the Set as Default Theme option for a custom theme

The next time you open PowerPoint, you'll see your default theme in the upper-left of the theme gallery. When you select it, all the slides will be the size you chose for your default theme.

Some folks have asked about resizing one slide within a presentation. PowerPoint isn't able to do that. All slides in a presentation are the same size.

Some folks have also asked about changing the page orientation of certain slides. PowerPoint isn't able to do that. All slides in a presentation have the same page orientation.

On the Design tab of the toolbar ribbon, click Slide Size in the Customize group.

Options for slide size are available near the right end of the Design tab of the toolbar ribbon in PowerPoint Online

Click Standard (4:3) or Widescreen (16:9) .

When PowerPoint for the web is unable to automatically scale your content, it prompts you with two options:

Select Maximize to take full advantage of the space available, or select Ensure Fit to make sure that your content fits on the vertical page

The 16:9 widescreen setting is the default value for new presentations you create. When you change the slide size for a presentation, the size you choose only applies to that presentation. 

You can also change the orientation of all the slides in your presentation. See Change the page orientation for instructions.

Slide-size options in PowerPoint Online

Choose custom dimensions

In the Width and Height boxes, type a measurement in inches . PowerPoint doesn't accept measurements outside the minimum and maximum shown below:

Facebook

Need more help?

Want more options.

Explore subscription benefits, browse training courses, learn how to secure your device, and more.

what is the size of a presentation slide

Microsoft 365 subscription benefits

what is the size of a presentation slide

Microsoft 365 training

what is the size of a presentation slide

Microsoft security

what is the size of a presentation slide

Accessibility center

Communities help you ask and answer questions, give feedback, and hear from experts with rich knowledge.

what is the size of a presentation slide

Ask the Microsoft Community

what is the size of a presentation slide

Microsoft Tech Community

what is the size of a presentation slide

Windows Insiders

Microsoft 365 Insiders

Was this information helpful?

Thank you for your feedback.

  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer

LMFD logo

Laura M. Foley Design

Cheat Death by PowerPoint!

What size should my slides be, 16:9 or 4:3?

July 3, 2017 by Laura Foley 2 Comments

Deciding on a slide format used to be easy when there was only one choice. Nowadays, you can choose between 4:3 format or 16:9. What do these numbers mean and which size should you choose for your presentations?

What the numbers mean

The above notation is called the “aspect ratio,” or the ratio of the width to the height of the slide. In the 4:3 aspect ratio, the dimensions are 1024 x 768 pixels (10.67″ x 8″); the height is 3/4 of the width. Back in the Ye Olde Days of PowerPoint, it was your only choice. Why? Because that’s the aspect ratio of actual slides, pictured above, television screens, and early computer monitors.

When high-definition screens came on the scene in the early 2000s, they were built in a 16:10 aspect ratio. But as more and more high-definition screens were manufactured, it became clear that screens with a 16:9 aspect ratio were cheaper to manufacture. So the 16:9 aspect ratio (1920 x 1080 pixels or 13.3″ x 7.5″) became the new standard.

What size should you choose?

From boardrooms to computer monitors to smartphone screens, 16:9 is the default screen aspect ratio so that’s the slide size I always go with. The 16:9 format gives you a lot of slide real estate to play around with! The legacy 4:3 aspect ratio, while still used, creates smaller slides and doesn’t look that great on newer screens.

How do you change an old 4:3 deck to the new 16:9 format?

Oh, this is super-fun to do and you’re a lucky duck if it becomes your job.

To resize your slides go to the Design tab on the ribbon and select Slide Size/Widescreen on the right side of the screen.

slide size

After you select the new size, this window will appear:

Slide scaling window

Now you’re faced with either everything on the slides being stretched out or squished to fill the space. Oh boy! Either way, after you make your selection you’ll need to go through the presentation slide by slide to ensure that everything looks good. This can be fairly straightforward if the creator of the presentation stayed within the template or a real pain in the rear if he/she didn’t. But do go through the deck to ensure that everything looks right.

If you’re a production artist that charges by the hour, reformatting an organization’s slides from 4:3 to 16:9 could be a nice little gig for you!

Other slide sizes for special events

Now, the 16:9 format is great for everyday use but what if you’re designing a presentation for an event? Last year, I was designing slides for a corporate conference where the setup included multiple, massive screens. For that event, the slides measured 52″ x 17″ and had a “leave this space blank” area on the bottom. Each event is different, so if you’re working on slides like these you need to become friends with the AV folks and find out what size slides they recommend for optimal viewing on that particular setup. The last thing you want to see on a gigantic stage are distorted graphics!

Bottom line

Unless you’re told otherwise, use the 16:9 format. You get a lot more space on each slide for your visuals and it’s really the way things are going.

Share this:

Critical PowerPoint Shortcuts – Claim Your FREE Training Module and Get Your Time Back!

nuts and bolts speed training logo

How to Change Your PowerPoint Slide Size (16:9 vs. 4:3)

  • PowerPoint Tutorials
  • March 10, 2019

In this tutorial, you’ll learn how to change your slide size in PowerPoint.

That way you can create slides for any situation including on-screen presentations, printed documents, posters, postcards, handouts, etc.

First off, the two most used PowerPoint slide sizes are:

  • 16:9 ratio  for onscreen presentations and new overhead projectors. This is the default setting for the latest versions of PowerPoint.
  • 4:3 ratio  for printing slides on standard 8.5 x 11 pieces of paper as handouts.

When starting with a blank PowerPoint presentation, changing your slide size is super easy and straightforward. If not, there are a few issues you’ll need to deal with, each covered below.

That’s why it’s worth figuring out what slide size you need BEFORE you build your presentation. If you later convert your presentation to a different size, it can be painful!

It’s just like the old carpenter saying, “measure twice and cut once.” In PowerPoint, you’ll want to “ask twice (to double confirm the required size) and build once.”

Changing your PowerPoint slide size does not make your PowerPoint presentation larger or smaller. To reduce your PowerPoint file size, you need to learn how to compress a PowerPoint presentation .

Table of Contents

How to change your powerpoint slide size.

By default, new PowerPoint presentations start in the 16:9 slide size format.

This is the NEW standard for most modern overhead projects and monitors and is recommended for most presentations. That said, you can easily change your slide size to something else.

To change your PowerPoint slide size, click the Design tab, open the Slide Size dropdown and choose the size for your slide

To change your slide size in PowerPoint, simply:

  • Navigate to the  Design tab
  • Open the  Slide Size  drop down menu
  • Select  4:3 ,  16:9  or  Custom Slide Size  (see options below)

When starting with a blank presentation, you are now good to go. You will not have to worry about any of the conversion issues discussed below.

Notice too, how much wider the 16:9 slide size is versus the 4:3 slide size in the picture below. The new size gives you more room for the content on your slides.

Comparison between the four by three and sixteen by nine slide sizes in PowerPoint

When you are converting an existing presentation to a new slide size, you will additionally be given the following prompt:

“You are scaling to a new slide size. Would you like to maximize the size of your content, or scale it down to ensure it will fit on the new slide?

what is the size of a presentation slide

Maximize  leaves all your content as is on your slide, even if it no longer fits on the new slide size that you selected.

Ensure Fit  scales down your content in proportion to the new slide size you have selected. You will only see this option when moving from a larger slide size to a smaller one.

Custom PowerPoint slide sizes

Choosing  Custom  for your slide size gives you additional options to work with. Inside the dialog box you can choose your size on the left and your orientation on the right.

what is the size of a presentation slide

On top of that, you can also input your own custom slide size. However, I recommend using one of the preset PowerPoint dimension options.

  • On-screen show (4:3)
  • Letter Paper (8.5×11 in)
  • A3 Paper (297×420 mm)
  • B4 (ISO) Paper (250×353 mm)
  • B5 (ISO) Paper (176×250 mm)
  • 35mm Slides
  • On-screen Show (16:9)
  • On-screen show (16:10)

For your orientation options on the right-hand side of the dialog box, you can choose between  Landscape  and  Portrait .

In most situations, you will want one of the default settings. Best practice is  Landscape  for your presentation slides and  Portrait  for your printed notes, handouts and outlines.

Comparison of the portrait and landscape orientation for PowerPoint slides

Issues when converting 4:3 to the 16:9 slide size in PowerPoint

When converting an existing 4:3 presentation with content into the 16:9 format, you are not given any conversion options. Instead, PowerPoint simply does the conversion for you, which can create several problems.

There are two issues you will face in the new 16:9 slide size.

When converting from four by three into the sixteen by nine slide size, your images will be stretched and distorted

The first issue is that all the images on your slide master (including company logos) will be stretched to fit the new, larger slide size.

To fix the stretched images, you will need to fix those images (or reinsert them) on your slide master, as if you were creating a PowerPoint template from scratch.

what is the size of a presentation slide

The second issue you will face in the larger 16:9 slide size is that you will have a lot of extra white space on your slides.

While you can leave the space blank, doing so will make your content look weird. Ideally you don’t want a lot of white empty space like that on your slides. Especially since all your font sizes will be so small.

That’s why if you have the time, I recommend resizing your content to fill in the white space. You can do this by either increasing the font size of your content, or adding additional visuals that support your message.

Issues when converting 16:9 to the 4:3 slide size in PowerPoint​

When converting an existing 16:9 presentation to the 4:3 slide size, you are given the option to either  Maximize  or  Ensure Fit  (both covered below).

1. The Maximize option

This option means that the content on your slides will not be resized to fit the 4:3 slide size. The same is true if you move to any smaller slide size.

when converting from the sixteen by nine to the four by three slide size, none of your content will be properly resized to fit the smaller slide size

Maximize Issue #1:  All the images on your slide master (including your company logo) will be distorted.

You might also have issues with other content placeholders, slide backgrounds or anything else that was built on your slide master.  For these issues, you’ll first need to navigate to your Slide Master. Once you are there, you either adjust (or rebuild) your PowerPoint template so that everything fits properly.

Maximize Issue #2:  Your content will not be scaled down to the smaller slide size. Instead, you’ll have overhanging content as pictured above.

For these kinds of spacing issues, you will need to work through your slides to adjust your content.

One recommendation as you move from the larger 16:9 slide size to 4:3, is to break up your slides. Take the contents from one larger slide and break it into two (or even three) separate slides.

Breaking up your content is preferable to just cramming more content on the smaller slide space. Doing so will make your content easier to read when presented on an overhead projector.

2. The Ensure Fit option

This option means that PowerPoint will scale down your content to fit the smaller slide size based on the size you selected.

when converting from the sixteen by nine to the four by three slide size, your images will be distored and you will have extra white space around the content of your slides

Ensure Fit Issue #1:  Distorted images, slide backgrounds and anything else that PowerPoint had to automatically resize on your slide master.

To fix these issues, you’ll need to navigate to your slide master and adjust (or rebuild) your template to make everything fit.

Ensure Fit Issue #2:  Your content will be scaled down to fit your new slide size, leaving you with a lot of white space. In addition, all your font sizes will be smaller, making them hard to read.

For small content like this, you’ll need to work through your slides and resize your content accordingly. Keep in mind the people at the back of the room too when choosing a new font style and size.

Saving your custom slide size as a PowerPoint theme

If want to use your own custom slide size for all your future PowerPoint presentations, you can save and set it as a PowerPoint theme.

This is a two-step process as discussed below.

1. Save your custom slide size as a theme

To save your custom slide size as a PowerPoint theme, from the Design tab, select save current theme, name the theme and click save

To save your custom slide size (and settings) as your own custom PowerPoint theme, simply:

  • Open the M ore options
  • Click  Save Current Theme
  • Name your Theme (and don’t change the file location it saves to)
  • Click  Save

2. Set your custom theme as the default

To set your custom theme as the default theme, from the design tab, find your custom theme, right-click the theme and select set as default theme

To set a custom PowerPoint theme as the default for all your future presentations, simply:

  • Open the  More options
  • Right-click  your custom theme
  • Select  Set as Default Presentation
  • Close out of PowerPoint (and do not save any presentations if it prompts you)

Once you’ve set your own custom theme as the Default Presentation, it will open every time you start PowerPoint. This saves you from always having to switch your slide sizes.

So that’s how you can change your PowerPoint slide size, either before or after you create your presentation.

And although you are given a lot of flexibility in the slide sizes you can choose from, I recommend using the default slide sizes as used by most people.

It’s also important to remember that switching slide sizes after you have built your presentation can be a total pain. So, to the extent possible, figure out your PowerPoint slide size first before you build out your presentation.

If you enjoyed the depth of this article, you’ll love our PowerPoint training courses and other free resources that you can learn more about here .

🔒 Unlock the PowerPoint Shortcuts Trusted by Industry Leaders KKR, American Express, HSBC, and More!

Join over 114,880 professionals from diverse fields including consulting, investment banking, advertising, marketing, sales, and business development who have supercharged their PowerPoint game with our proven methods.

✅ Customize compelling presentations effortlessly.

✅ Master time-saving techniques for faster deck creation.

✅ Boost your career prospects with top-notch PowerPoint skills.

Get FREE access to the Critical PowerPoint Shortcuts module of our premium training course by entering your name and email below.

DISCLAIMER: PC Users Only!

We respect your privacy and will keep your info safe and confidential.

Related Articles

About the author.

' src=

Popular Tutorials

  • How to Strikethrough Text (l̶i̶k̶e̶ ̶t̶h̶i̶s̶) in Word, Excel & PowerPoint
  • How to Make Animated Fireworks in PowerPoint (Step-by-Step)
  • Strikethrough Shortcut (l̶i̶k̶e̶ ̶t̶h̶i̶s̶) for Word, Excel & PowerPoint
  • How to Create a Flash Card Memory Game in PowerPoint (Like Jeopardy)
  • Keyboard Shortcuts Not Working: Solved

PowerPoint Tutorial Categories

  • Strategies & Opinions
  • Shortcuts & Hacks
  • Presentation Design
  • Pictures, Icons, Videos, Etc.
  • New Features
  • Miscellaneous
  • Charts & Data Viz

We help busy professionals save hours and gain peace of mind, with corporate workshops, self-paced courses and tutorials for PowerPoint and Word.

Work With Us

  • Corporate Training
  • Presentation & Template Design
  • Courses & Downloads
  • PowerPoint Articles
  • Word Articles
  • Productivity Resources

Find a Tutorial

  • Free Training
  • For Businesses

We help busy office workers save hours and gain peace of mind, with tips, training and tutorials for Microsoft PowerPoint and Word.

Master Critical PowerPoint Shortcuts – Secure Your FREE Training Module and Save Valuable Time!

⌛ Master time-saving expert techniques.

🔥 Create powerful presentations.

🚀 Propel your career to new heights.

We value your privacy – we keep your info safe.

Discover PowerPoint Hacks Loved by Industry Giants - KKR, AmEx, HSBC!

Over 114,880 professionals in finance, marketing and sales have revolutionized their PPT skills with our proven methods. 

Gain FREE access to a full module of our premium PowerPoint training program – Get started today!

We hate spam too and promise to keep your information safe.

You are currently viewing a placeholder content from Facebook . To access the actual content, click the button below. Please note that doing so will share data with third-party providers.

How-To Geek

How to change slide size in powerpoint.

PowerPoint allows you to change your presentation's slide sizes, which you may need to do to change how your slides are displayed or printed. Here's how.

Quick Links

Changing powerpoint slide sizes, changing to a custom powerpoint slide size.

PowerPoint allows you to format and present the content of your slides in different ways. If you want to print out or display your PowerPoint slides in a bigger or smaller-than-average size, you can change the slide sizes to match.

PowerPoint has two common slide sizes. The first, 4:3, is a good option if you're using older hardware to present your slides. If you're planning on presenting your PowerPoint presentation using a modern projector or display, then the 16:9 slide size should be your preferred choice.

By default, PowerPoint will default to the 16:9 side slide. To print your slides (full size, one per page), you'll likely need to use a custom slide size, rather than one of these options.

Switching to another size is thankfully an easy process---open your PowerPoint presentation to begin and then click the "Design" tab on the ribbon bar.

In the "Customize" section of the "Design" tab, select the "Slide Size" button. This will display the two common slide sizes in a drop-down menu.

Click either the "Standard (4:3)" or "Widescreen (16:9)" option to switch all of your PowerPoint slides to that size.

Unfortunately, it isn't possible to use multiple slide sizes in a PowerPoint presentation. Just as if you were making PowerPoint slides vertical , any changes you make to your PowerPoint slide sizes will apply to all slides.

Related: How to Make Slides Vertical in PowerPoint

It's possible to use a custom PowerPoint slide size if the default 4:3 or 16:9 options are unsuitable. You might choose to use a custom slide size if you're printing full-size PowerPoint slides using a custom page layout, for instance.

To do this, select Design > Slide Size > Custom Slide Size to display the "Slide Size" options menu.

Various preset slide sizes, such as A3 or A4 paper sizes, are shown under the "Slides Sized For" drop-down menu.

Select one of these preset options, or set your slide dimensions manually using the "Width" and "Height" option boxes. From there, click the "OK" button to save.

If you're scaling down to a smaller size, PowerPoint will ask you how it should handle any slide content.

Choose "Maximize" if you want the slide contents to remain at a similar scale, but with the risk that some of the content may be cut. Alternatively, click "Ensure Fit" to scale the slide contents down in size to match the new slide size without losing any content.

Once saved, the custom slide size you selected will be immediately applied to all of your slides, with slide content being resized or cut to match.

Avantix Learning

How to Change Slide Size or Dimensions in PowerPoint

Change slide size or dimenstions in PowerPoint represented by widescreen or standard aspect ratio displayed on screen

Change PowerPoint Slide Size (Widescreen, Standard or Custom)

by Avantix Learning Team | Updated September 7, 2023

Applies to: Microsoft ® PowerPoint ® 2016, 2019, 2021 and 365 (Windows)

You can change the slide size or aspect ratio of a PowerPoint presentation in all versions. The default slide size or dimensions in 2013, 2016, 2019, 2021 or 365 is widescreen (16:9 aspect ratio). You can also enter a custom slide size if you prefer (including entering slide size in pixels). The best time to set slide size is when you first set up your PowerPoint presentation before you add any content. If you change the size later in the process, you may have to deal with distorted pictures and you may also need to adjust the position and size of various objects on slides in Normal View and in the slide master(s) and layouts in Slide Master View.

The most common slide sizes or aspect ratios are typically used as follows:

  • Widescreen or 16:9 aspect ratio is frequently used for onscreen presentations using a projector, monitor or a widescreen TV. Older projectors used the standard aspect ratio but most new projectors are designed for widescreen.
  • Standard or 4:3 aspect ratio is often used if slides are intended to be printed on letter size paper.

Slide size changes affect the entire presentation. You cannot change slide size for single slides.

You should never change slide size just before running a presentation as you may not be satisfied with the results. If you already have a presentation with images and other content, it's also a good idea to change slide size on a copy of the presentation so you can keep the original deck and slide size.

Note: Some Ribbon tabs may appear with slightly different names if you are working with PowerPoint 365 and have a smaller screen or different display settings. Buttons on the Ribbon may appear as icons only and are also affected by screen size and display settings.

Recommended article: How to Reduce the Size of PowerPoint Presentations (10 Ways to Compress Your PowerPoint Decks)

Do you want to learn more about PowerPoint?  Check out our virtual classroom or live classroom  PowerPoint courses >

Regardless of the version of PowerPoint you use, you should go through your slides after you change slide size to be sure you are satisfied with the results. Be sure to check the slide master(s) and layouts in Slide Master View as well.

Change slide size to widescreen or standard

To change slide size to widescreen or standard size:

  • In Normal View, click the Design tab in the Ribbon.
  • Click Slide Size in the Customize group. A drop-down menu appears.
  • Select Widescreen, Standard or another option from the drop-down menu. A dialog box appears with options to maximize content or scale to fit (this dialog appears only if you are moving from a larger to a smaller slide size).
  • Select the desired option.

Slide Size appears on the Design tab in the Ribbon:

Slide Size menu in PowerPoint

The following dialog box appears in PowerPoint to maximize content or scale to fit only when you change slide size to a smaller size (such as widescreen to standard):

PowerPoint dialog box to maximize or ensure fit when changing slide size to a smaller size.

If you select Maximize, the slide content will not be resized when you change to the smaller slide size.

If you select Ensure Fit, PowerPoint will scale your content to fit the smaller slide size.

Change slide size to a custom size

You can use custom slide sizes. Simply choose options from the Slides sized for drop-down menu in the dialog box (such as A4 paper size) or enter custom dimensions.

To change slide size to a custom size:

  • Choose Custom Slide Size from the drop-down menu. A dialog box appears.
  • Select an option from the Slides sized for drop-down menu or enter the desired slide size in the Height and Width boxes.
  • A dialog box appears with options to maximize content or scale to fit (this dialog appears only if you are moving from a larger to a smaller slide size).

Note that the measurement system in PowerPoint dialog boxes is based on your system settings. If you would like to change the measurement system, check out our article on How to Change the Measurement System in PowerPoint.

The following dialog box appears when you select Slide Size and then Custom Slide Size:

PowerPoint Slide Size dialog box to change slide size in 2013, 2016, 2019 and 365.

You can create posters in PowerPoint by entering a custom slide size such as 36 inches wide by 56 inches high or 91.44 cm wide by 142.24 cm high. The maximum slide size in PowerPoint is 56 inches or 142.24 cm. As a best practice, set the slide size before adding content to the poster.

Many PowerPoint users are not aware that you can enter slide size in pixels (simply enter the measurement with px beside the number). This is useful in a number of situations such as using PowerPoint to create social media posts. If you enter slide size in pixels (such as 200px), when you tab to another box or close the dialog box, PowerPoint changes the pixels to the equivalent in the current measurement system.

Deal with issues when changing slide size

When changing slide size in existing presentations with content, 4 common issues occur:

  • Pictures may be distorted as PowerPoint tries to adjust images to fit slide size. Images on slides in Normal View will be affected as well as images on the slide master(s) and layouts. If pictures are distorted, you will need to either manually resize each image or delete them and insert them again.
  • Objects such as placeholders and shapes that have been created in PowerPoint are not in the position you'd like. You may need to move objects or reset one or more slides (on the Home tab in the Ribbon, click Reset in the Slides group).
  • Extra space is created if you change to a larger slide size. You may need to move or resize objects and adjust the slide master(s) or layouts in Slide Master View.
  • If you have changed to a smaller slide size, you may need to increase font size for placeholders and text boxes.

Dimension differences between different slide sizes

In PowerPoint 2013 and later versions, widescreen (16:9) format measurements are different and are set to 13.33 inches wide by 7.5 inches high or 33.867 cm wide by 19.05 cm high. This matches the height of the 4:3 format.

Avoid issues when changing slide size

To avoid issues in PowerPoint related to slide size, you should:

  • Try to set slide size as a first step after you create a presentation and before you have entered any content. In 2013 and later versions, the default is widescreen (16:9 aspect ratio).
  • If you have changed slide size in a presentation with content, review your slides to be sure you are satisfied with the results. You should also check the slide master(s) and layouts in Slide Master View.
  • Never change slide size just before running a presentation as you may not be pleased with the results and you won't have time to fix your slide deck.
  • If you have created a presentation with content, make a copy of the presentation first and change slide size on the copy.

Keep in mind that widescreen is normally used for on screen presentations and standard is often used for printed presentations.

This article was first published on October 6, 2019 and has been updated for clarity and content.

Subscribe to get more articles like this one

Did you find this article helpful? If you would like to receive new articles, JOIN our email list.

More resources

How to Blur Text on a PowerPoint Slide

How to Get Slide Design Ideas Using PowerPoint Designer

How to Change Picture Brightness or Contrast in PowerPoint

How to Insert Slide Numbers in PowerPoint Presentations (Step-by-Step)

Where to Find Free Images for Your PowerPoint Presentations (10 Great Stock Photo Sites)

Related courses

Microsoft PowerPoint: Intermediate / Advanced

Microsoft PowerPoint: Design for Non-Designers

Microsoft PowerPoint: Animations Bootcamp

Microsoft Excel: Intermediate / Advanced

VIEW MORE COURSES >

Our instructor-led courses are delivered in virtual classroom format or at our downtown Toronto location at 18 King Street East, Suite 1400, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (some in-person classroom courses may also be delivered at an alternate downtown Toronto location). Contact us at [email protected] if you'd like to arrange custom instructor-led virtual classroom or onsite training on a date that's convenient for you.

Copyright 2024 Avantix ® Learning

You may also like

10 Keyboard Shortcuts in PowerPoint's Outline View

10 Keyboard Shortcuts in PowerPoint's Outline View

The outline has been an integral part of Microsoft PowerPoint for many years. It is dynamically linked to slide placeholders and is organized in a hierarchical way.

How to Change the Thumbnail for a Video in PowerPoint (using the Poster Frame Tool)

How to Change the Thumbnail for a Video in PowerPoint (using the Poster Frame Tool)

If you have inserted a video on a PowerPoint slide, you can display a custom thumbnail (or Poster Frame) for the video during a slide show. The thumbnail will display when you run a PowerPoint slide show and disappears when you start the video. For most videos, the thumbnail that displays is the first frame of the video clip. You can use the Poster Frame command to display a different frame in the video clip or a picture from another source as a thumbnail. A picture thumbnail could be either an image or an icon.

How to Use the Built-in Laser Pointer in PowerPoint (with Shortcuts)

How to Use the Built-in Laser Pointer in PowerPoint (with Shortcuts)

During a PowerPoint slide show, you can change your mouse into a laser pointer to focus attention on a specific area on your slide. You can show or hide the built-in laser pointer using keyboard shortcuts or by using the context menu.

Microsoft, the Microsoft logo, Microsoft Office and related Microsoft applications and logos are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in Canada, US and other countries. All other trademarks are the property of the registered owners.

Avantix Learning |18 King Street East, Suite 1400, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5C 1C4 | Contact us at [email protected]

How to Change Slide Size or Dimensions in PowerPoint

Our Courses

Avantix Learning courses are offered online in virtual classroom format or as in-person classroom training. Our hands-on, instructor-led courses are available both as public scheduled courses or on demand as a custom training solution.

All Avantix Learning courses include a comprehensive course manual including tips, tricks and shortcuts as well as sample and exercise files.

VIEW COURSES  >

Contact us at  [email protected]  for more information about any of our courses or to arrange custom training.

Privacy Overview

Pin it on pinterest.

  • Print Friendly

Art of Presentations

How to Change Slide Size in PowerPoint? [A Helpful Guide!]

By: Author Shrot Katewa

How to Change Slide Size in PowerPoint? [A Helpful Guide!]

Microsoft PowerPoint is a powerful software. You can not only create a standard presentation design, but you can also create documents of various sizes using PowerPoint! However, that requires you to have a good understanding of various slide sizes available in PowerPoint. You may be wondering, how to change the slide size in PowerPoint?

To change the slide size in PowerPoint, click on the “Design” tab. Then, click on “Slide Size”. From the dropdown, choose “Standard” or “Widescreen”. You can also click on “Custom Slide Size” to change the size of the slides in PowerPoint to A3, A4 or a completely custom size.

In this article, I will walk you through the nuances of changing a slide size in PowerPoint. We will go into the steps in detail with pictures so that you get the best understanding of the subject!

So, let’s get started!

A Quick Note Before We Begin – for this article, I will be using one of the presentation templates from Envato Elements . With Envato Elements, you get access to thousands of presentation designs with unlimited downloads so you never run out of options again. Plus, you get free previews so you know exactly what you’re getting before buying! It is also very affordable.

1. How to Change Slide Size in PowerPoint? 

Changing the size of your slides in Microsoft PowerPoint is actually a lot easier than you think! All you have to do is go to the ‘Design’ tab from the ribbon, click on the ‘Slide Size’ button at the top right corner of your screen and select the slide size you want.

Below, I’ll be discussing how to change the size of slides in different versions of Microsoft PowerPoint as well as in different device including Mac, iPad and Android:

1a. Change Slide Size in PowerPoint 2016 and 2019

Follow the steps below to change the slide size in Microsoft PowerPoint 2016, PowerPoint 2019 and Office 365:

Step 1: Click on the ‘Design’ tab

At first, click on the ‘Design’ tab, which is the fourth option on your ribbon to get access to the design section of your PowerPoint presentation.

Step 2: Click on ‘Slide Size’ option

what is the size of a presentation slide

Go to the top right of the ‘Design’ tab in the ‘Customize’ section and ‘Left click’ on the ‘Slide Size’ button and a drop-down menu will open.

Step 3: Select the desired slide size from the ‘Slides sized for’ option.

what is the size of a presentation slide

Now, another dialogue box will show up in the middle of your screen. Click on ‘Ensure Fit’ to adjust your slide contents. (we will talk about the difference between the “Maximise” and “Ensure Fit” options later in the article)

If you choose to click on the ‘Custom Slide Size’ option, you may see a different dialogue box first. We will get to that in a moment and I will share with you how to customize the slide sizes in addition to the default options provided by PowerPoint.

1b. How to Change Slide Size in PowerPoint 2010? 

The process of changing slide size in Microsoft PowerPoint 2010 is described below:

Step 1: Click on the ‘Design’ tab and go to ‘Page Setup’ option

Click on the ‘Page Setup’ option located in the ‘Page Setup’ section of the ‘Design’ tab. This will open up a new dialogue box.

Step 2: Choose the slide size you want from the drop-down menu after clicking on ‘Slides sized for’.

‘Left click’ on the ‘Slides sized for’ menu to get the options of slide size. Choose your preferred style and then click on the ‘Ok’ button.

1c. How to Change the Slide Size in PowerPoint 2007? 

The process of changing slides in Microsoft PowerPoint 2007 is identical to the process in PowerPoint 2010. For reference, here’s how to change the slide size in PowerPoint 2007:

1d. How to Change Slide Size in PowerPoint on Mac

The process of changing slide size in PowerPoint on Mac is described in simple steps below:

Step 1: Click on the ‘File Menu’ and then on ‘Page setup’

what is the size of a presentation slide

Click on the ‘File’ menu which is located in the ‘Quick Access’ toolbar above the ‘Home’ tab and a drop-down menu will appear. Click on the ‘Page Setup’ option from the drop-down menu which will open up another dialogue box.

Step 2: Choose your new slide size from the dialogue box

Click on your preferred slide size and then press the ‘Ok’ button. PowerPoint will prompt you to choose between “Scale” or “Don’t Scale”. This is similar to the Maximise or Ensure Fit options Windows users see.

Go with the “ Scale ” option as this will adjust the sizes of all shapes and text for each slide. You can also choose to go with “Don’t Scale” option and adjust everything manually as per your requirement.

Your slide size will change accordingly.

If you are using Office 365 or later versions of PowerPoint on Mac, you an also find the option to change the slide size from widescreen to standard by click on the Design tab, and then clicking on “Slide Size” as showcased earlier.

1e. How to Change Slide Size in PowerPoint on iPad? 

Follow the steps below to change slide size in PowerPoint on iPad:

Step 1: Go to the ‘Home’ menu after opening your PowerPoint Presentation file

At the bottom right corner of the screen, you will find the ‘three dots’ icon, which is the ‘Options’ menu. Tap on the ‘Options’ menu and then select the ‘Home’ option.

Step 2: Change your size after tapping the ‘Slide Size’ option

A ‘Design’ option will now appear on your screen. Tap on it and then tap on the ‘Slide Size’ option. After that, change your slide size to ‘Standard’ or ‘Widescreen.’

1f. How to Change Slide Size in PowerPoint on Android?

Unfortunately, you cannot change the size of your presentation slides using PowerPoint on Android. However, there is another application for Android called ‘ WPS Office ’, which you can use to change the size of your slides from ‘Standard (4:3)’ to ‘Widescreen (16:9).’

Simply open your PowerPoint Presentation using this app and go to the ‘Settings’ option at the bottom left corner. Then scroll rightwards to the ‘Design’ tab, where you will find the ‘ Slide Size’ option. From there, you will be able to select your desired slide size.

2. How to Change Slide Size to A4 in PowerPoint?

To change the slide size of your PowerPoint presentation to A4, follow the steps below:

Step 1: Click on ‘Custom Slide Size’ located in the ‘Design’ tab

what is the size of a presentation slide

Click on the ‘Design’ tab and then from the ‘Slide size’ menu, click on the ‘Custom Slide Size’ button.

Step 2: Choose the ‘A4 Paper (210x297mm)’ option to change the slide size

what is the size of a presentation slide

From the pop-up window, click on the ‘Slides sized for’ button and a drop-down menu will show you the different slide sizes available. Now all you have to do is select the ‘A4 Paper (210x297mm)’ size option and hit the ‘ Ok ’ button.

what is the size of a presentation slide

Here’s how the A4 slide size will look in the portrait orientation in PowerPoint.

3. How to Change Slide Size to A3 in PowerPoint?

You can modify the slide size to A3 in Microsoft PowerPoint by following the easy steps below:

Step 1: Selecting the ‘Custom Slide Size’   button to change slide size

At first, click on the ‘Slide Size’ option in the ‘Design’ tab. From the drop-down menu select the ‘Custom Slide Size’ option.

Step 2: Select the ‘A3 Paper’ and Click on OK

what is the size of a presentation slide

Expand the ‘Slides sized for’ drop-down menu by clicking on it. Then, ‘Left click’ on the ‘A3 Paper (297x420mm)’ paper option. Press the ‘Ok’ button at the bottom right of the pop-up window and then click on the ‘Ensure Fit’ button to resize the content accordingly to the slides.

4. How to Create Custom Slide Size in PowerPoint?

Follow the easy steps described below to create custom slide size in PowerPoint:

Step 1: Selecting ‘Custom Slide Size’ to create a custom size for your presentation

what is the size of a presentation slide

Click on the ‘Slide Size’ option in the ‘Design’ tab. From the drop-down menu select the ‘Custom Slide Size’ option.

Step 2: Input the Height and Width in the dialogue box and click ‘Ok’

what is the size of a presentation slide

After clicking on the ‘Custom Slide Size’ option, a pop-up window will appear. To input a custom slide size, click on the ‘Slides sized for’ button and from the drop-down menu, select ‘Custom .’

After adding the desired Height and Width for the slide, click on the ‘Ok’ button and then click on the ‘Ensure Fit’ button.

5. How to Change Slide Size from Widescreen to Standard?

To change the slide size from Widescreen to Standard, just follow the steps below:

Step 1: Click on the ‘Design’ tab which is on the top left of your presentation

what is the size of a presentation slide

The first step is to go to the ‘Design’ tab which is the fourth tab on the ribbon of your PowerPoint window.

Step 2: Click on ‘Slide Size.’

Click on the ‘Slide Size’ button located in the ‘Customize’ section of the ‘Design’ tab. A drop-down menu will appear once you click on it.

Step 3: Change your slide size from Widescreen to Standard and adjust slide content

The slide size is set to ‘Widescreen 16:9’ by default. To change it, ‘Left click’ on ‘Standard (4:3)’ . This will open up a dialogue box, where you will find the ‘Maximize’ and ‘Ensure Fit’ options.

If you click on the ‘Maximize’ option, your content will not be sized down to fit your slide and images may get distorted. On the other hand, clicking on the ‘Ensure Fit’ option will resize the contents of the down to your preferred size.

6. How to Increase Slide Size in PowerPoint When Printing? 

When printing, sometimes PowerPoint just doesn’t print to the edge of the page. Meaning, there is a white bleed (border or margin) when you try to print it or when you try to convert it into a PDF.

You can fix this problem by either increase or adjusting the slide size before printing.

Here’s a video that explains the process in detail –

Although the video is for Mac, you can easily adjust the settings for the slide size for Windows just the same way.

It is important to remember to make sure that you don’t increase the slide size of your entire presentation but only adjust the printing size of the slides.

7. Can You Change Orientation of Just One Slide in PowerPoint?

There is currently no direct way to change the orientation of just one slide in PowerPoint. However, you can circumvent this issue by either creating a hyperlink to an external file or adding a portrait PDF file directly in PowerPoint.

We wrote a detailed article on the exact steps and processes that you need to follow in order to do this. Make sure you read that article on How to Change Orientation of Just One Slide in PowerPoint !

More PowerPoint Related Topics

  • How to Use a Presentation Clicker to Deliver Presentations Effectively!
  • How to Crop a Picture in PowerPoint? [Complete Step-by-Step Tutorial!]
  • How to Give a Presentation on Zoom? A Helpful Resource!
  • How to Convert a PowerPoint to PDF? [A Simple Guide!]
  • PowerPoint vs Google Slides: Which is Better? [ULTIMATE Test!]
  • How to Change Bullet Style in PowerPoint? A Complete Guide

Credit to Diana.grytsku (on Freepik) for the Featured Image of this Article (edited further)

  • Skill Assessments
  • AI Course Builder
  • Free Courses
  • PowerPoint 2019 Basic

PowerPoint Slide Size

PowerPoint 2019 Basic

Start Free Trial

Or log in with:

How to Change Slide Size in PowerPoint

PowerPoint Slide Size

PowerPoint allows you to change the aspect ratio of your presentation. The widescreen slide size is best when presenting on modern displays with a 16:9 aspect ratio. If you’ll be presenting on an older display with a 4:3 aspect ratio, you’ll want to use the standard slide size instead.

Change the Slide Size

  • Click the Design tab.
  • Expand the Customize group.

To change the slide orientation, click the Slide Size button and select Custom Slide Size . Change the slide settings and click OK .

  • Widescreen : 16:9 ratio is much wider than it is tall and works well for wide, high definition screens.
  • Standard : 4:3 ratio is only slightly wider than it is tall and works best for traditional screens.

Slide Size

  • Maximize : Crops your content and fills all the available space on the slide.
  • Ensure Fit : Scales content down and leaves additional space at the top and bottom of the slide.

Slide Size

The entire presentation is resized to fit the new format.

PowerPoint Quick Reference

FREE Quick Reference

Free to distribute with our compliments; we hope you will consider our paid training.

  • LinkedIn-ready certificate
  • Skill assessments
  • Bite-sized, interactive lessons
  • Saved progress

How to change the size of slides in Microsoft PowerPoint

The actual size(s) of the slide is less important than the aspect ratio. By default, slides in presentations that you create from the Blank Presentation template are set to Widescreen size.

To change the size of your presentation slides, on the Design tab, in the Customize group, click the Slide Size button and then:

Notes : The Standard slide size:

  • 1600 x 1200
  • 2048 x 1536
  • 2560 x 1920
  • Matches the aspect ratio of standard tablet screens
  • Exactly fills the screen in the Slide pane and when printed on a tablet.

Notes : The Widescreen slide size:

  • 1920 x 1080
  • 2048 x 1152
  • 2560 x 1440
  • Does not match the aspect ratio of standard tablet screens
  • Has empty space above and below when printed on a 4:3 screen.
  • Click Custom Slide Size... :

Custom Slide Size in PowerPoint 365

In the Slide Size dialog box:

Slides sized for drop-down list in PowerPoint 365

  • Choose the slide orientation in the Orientation group.

After choosing the necessary options, click OK . The Microsoft PowerPoint dialog box will show two options on how to scale the existing slides to a new slide size:

Scaling options in PowerPoint 365

Maximize the content size or scale it down to Ensure Fit it on the new slide.

Note : It is impossible to change the size or orientation just for some slides.

Please, disable AdBlock and reload the page to continue

Today, 30% of our visitors use Ad-Block to block ads.We understand your pain with ads, but without ads, we won't be able to provide you with free content soon. If you need our content for work or study, please support our efforts and disable AdBlock for our site. As you will see, we have a lot of helpful information to share.

How to compress pictures in the presentation

How to compress pictures in the presentation

SketchBubble Review - Engaging Presentations at Your Fingertips

SketchBubble Review - Engaging Presentations at Your Fingertips

Embed fonts to view presentation on different PCs

Embed fonts to view presentation on different PCs

Determining the Size of a PowerPoint Slide in Pixels: A Guide

Have you ever wondered what the size of your PowerPoint slide is in pixels? It’s actually pretty simple to figure out, and you can do it with just a few clicks. In this article, I’ll walk you through the steps so you can determine the pixel dimensions of your presentation slides.

Step by Step Tutorial: Determining the Size of a PowerPoint Slide in Pixels

Before we dive into the steps, let’s understand why this is important. Knowing the pixel size of your slides can help you design better presentations that look great on any screen. Plus, if you’re creating content for the web or digital platforms, pixel dimensions are crucial for ensuring your work displays correctly.

Step 1: Open PowerPoint and go to the ‘Design’ tab

Click on the ‘Design’ tab located at the top of the PowerPoint window.

When you’re working on your PowerPoint presentation, the Design tab is where you’ll find all the options for customizing the look and feel of your slides. It’s the gateway to adjusting the size of your slides.

Step 2: Click on ‘Slide Size’

Look for the ‘Slide Size’ button on the right-hand side of the toolbar and click on it.

The ‘Slide Size’ button gives you access to various options for adjusting the size of your PowerPoint slides, including the ability to see and change the pixel dimensions.

Step 3: Select ‘Custom Slide Size’

In the drop-down menu that appears, select ‘Custom Slide Size’ to open the Slide Size dialog box.

The ‘Custom Slide Size’ option allows you to specify the exact dimensions for your slides, including width and height, in various units of measurement including pixels.

Step 4: Check the pixel dimensions

In the Slide Size dialog box, look for the width and height measurements in pixels.

The Slide Size dialog box will show the current size of your slides. If it’s set to a different unit of measurement, you can easily switch to pixels.

Step 5: Adjust the slide size if necessary

If you need to adjust the size of your slides, enter the desired dimensions in pixels and click ‘OK’.

You can customize the size of your PowerPoint slides to fit specific requirements or to ensure that your presentation looks its best on different devices or resolutions.

Once you’ve completed these steps, you’ll have successfully determined the pixel size of your PowerPoint slides. This information can be incredibly useful for graphic design purposes, ensuring that your presentation looks sharp and professional on any screen.

Tips for Determining the Size of a PowerPoint Slide in Pixels

  • Always make sure you’re working with the latest version of PowerPoint for the most accurate size adjustments.
  • If your presentation will be displayed on a large screen, aim for higher pixel dimensions to maintain image quality.
  • Remember that changing the slide size can affect the layout of your content, so double-check your presentation after resizing.
  • Consider the aspect ratio when customizing slide size; common ratios include 4:3 for standard screens and 16:9 for widescreens.
  • Use pixel dimensions that match common screen resolutions to ensure your presentation looks great on most devices.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the default size of a powerpoint slide in pixels.

The default size of a PowerPoint slide is 960 pixels wide by 540 pixels high for a widescreen (16:9) aspect ratio.

Can I change the pixel dimensions for all slides in my presentation at once?

Yes, when you adjust the slide size, the changes will apply to all slides in your presentation.

Will changing the slide size affect the quality of my images?

If you increase the slide size, you may need to use higher resolution images to maintain quality.

What should I do if the content on my slides gets distorted after resizing?

You may need to manually adjust the content on your slides to fit the new dimensions.

How do I know what pixel dimensions to use for my presentation?

Consider the device or screen where your presentation will be displayed and use dimensions that match its resolution.

  • Open PowerPoint and go to the ‘Design’ tab
  • Click on ‘Slide Size’
  • Select ‘Custom Slide Size’
  • Check the pixel dimensions
  • Adjust the slide size if necessary

Determining the size of a PowerPoint slide in pixels is a piece of cake once you know where to look. Whether you’re a seasoned presenter or new to the game, understanding the pixel dimensions of your slides can make a world of difference in how your presentation is perceived. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can ensure that your slides are perfectly tailored to any screen size, making your message resonate with clarity and impact. Plus, with a few extra tips up your sleeve, you can easily navigate through any presentation design challenges that come your way. Remember, the devil is in the details, and in this digital age, knowing your pixels from your points can truly set you apart. So, go ahead, give it a try and watch your presentations transform from good to great!

Matt Jacobs Support Your Tech

Matt Jacobs has been working as an IT consultant for small businesses since receiving his Master’s degree in 2003. While he still does some consulting work, his primary focus now is on creating technology support content for SupportYourTech.com.

His work can be found on many websites and focuses on topics such as Microsoft Office, Apple devices, Android devices, Photoshop, and more.

Share this:

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)

Related Posts

  • How to Rotate a Powerpoint Slide Presentation
  • How to Change Paper Size in Google Docs Quickly [5 Steps + Infographic]
  • How to Download a Google Slides Presentation as a Powerpoint File
  • How to Make Google Slides Vertical (5 Quick Steps)
  • How to Do a Powerpoint Google Slides Presentation Conversion
  • Adobe Photoshop: How to Change Ruler Units to Pixels from Inches
  • How to Make a Powerpoint Slide Vertical in Powerpoint 2013: A Step-by-Step Guide
  • How to Change Slide Size in Powerpoint 2016
  • How to Delete a Slide in Powerpoint 2010: Step-by-Step Guide
  • How to Add a New Slide in Google Slides: A Step-by-Step Guide
  • How to Hide a Slide in Powerpoint 2010: A Step-by-Step Guide
  • How to Delete Multiple Slides in Google Slides: A Step-by-Step Guide
  • How to End Powerpoint on Last Slide in Powerpoint 2010: A Step-by-Step Guide
  • How to Insert Slides from Another Presentation: Powerpoint 2024 Guide
  • How to Add a Hyperlink on Google Slides
  • How to Convert Powerpoint to Google Slides: A Tech Solution
  • How to Remove Slide Numbers in Powerpoint 2019: Easy Steps
  • Can You Print a Google Slide?
  • How to Hide Background Graphics in Powerpoint 2013: A Step-by-Step Guide
  • Can You Save a Powerpoint as a Video in Powerpoint 2013? Find Out Here!

Get Our Free Newsletter

How-to guides and tech deals

You may opt out at any time. Read our Privacy Policy

Home Blog Google Slides Tutorials Google Slides Dimensions: What Size is Google Slides and How to Change Slide Size?

Google Slides Dimensions: What Size is Google Slides and How to Change Slide Size?

Cover for how to change dimensions in Google Slides

Slide dimensions can play an important role when displaying information on large screens or according to the type of content on the slide. A large screen would require a widescreen orientation, and you might even need to customize it to fit the screen size. Similarly, some infographics and illustrations require making necessary adjustments to slide orientation to display the content during the presentation correctly. Like PowerPoint, you can also change slide dimensions in Google Slides.

How to Change Slide Size in Google Slides

Google Slides allow setting different slide dimensions according to user needs, including a Standard, Widescreen, or Custom size. To change Google Slide dimensions, go to File > Page Setup .

Accessing Page Setup in Google Slides - how to change the size of a google slide

You can adjust the Google Slides page size from the pop-up menu displayed via Page Setup. The available options include switching to Standard 4:3, Widescreen 16:9, Widescreen 16:10, and a custom slide size. Select the desired slide size and click Apply .

Selecting pre-set page sizes in Google Slides - How to change size of Google Slides presentation

What Size is Google Slides?

If you’re wondering what Google Slides size is right for you, pick a Google Slides resolution that best goes with your screen type. If it’s an old monitor or small screen, you might want to use a Standard orientation, whereas modern monitors or projectors often suit the Widescreen orientation. 

Standard Orientation (4:3)

The Standard 4:3 slide orientation displays content in a smaller size compared to widescreen orientations. This orientation was commonly used in legacy versions of PowerPoint and Google Slides, as projectors and screen monitors did not offer the utility to project a widescreen slide correctly. However, this orientation is still used for smaller slides and screens. Where the slide content might be smaller and better suited to a Standard slide size. This might include pictures, illustrations, tables, and other types of slide content that might appear too stretched on a widescreen slide orientation.

Standard orientation for slides in Google Slides

Widescreen (16:9)

The 16:9 widescreen resolution is quite commonly used, and might even be considered the standard size for modern presentations. This is because 16:9 was the replacement for the 4:3 aspect ratio post-2008, as screen sizes and display standards evolved for monitors, projectors, and television channels globally.

Widescreen 16:9 resolution for slides in Google Slides

Widescreen (16:10)

While 16:10 is not as widely used as 16:9; it is commonly used in tablets and computer monitors. The ratio is closer to the Golden Ratio of 1.618, but the higher manufacturing cost of devices has meant that manufacturers mainly stick to 16:9 for electronic devices.

Widescreen 16:10 resolution for slides in Google Slides

Custom Orientation

Google Slides also provides a Custom orientation option, where you can also choose to pick the slide size in inches, centimeters, points, or pixels. This option can be useful if you intend to edit the slide orientation according to a specific document, picture, infographic, etc. For example, you can switch to 8.5 x 11 inches for Letter orientation or 8.27 inches for A4 size. Similarly, you can make changes in pixels, points, or centimeters.

Custom size for slides in Google Slides - Change the size of Google Slides presentation by configuring Page setup

When considering how to edit slide size on Google Slides according to your display monitor or presentation requirements, you might want to run a mock presentation with a colleague. If it’s a remote meeting, the slide size would automatically adjust due to the responsive UIs of various devices. However, one orientation or another might appear more convenient for your audience based on your presentation needs. For example, suppose your remote meeting participants are mainly using mobile devices. In that case, you might want to test out a lower resolution, compared to when you are presenting before an audience using a widescreen monitor.

what is the size of a presentation slide

Like this article? Please share

Google Slides, Presentation Skills Filed under Google Slides Tutorials

Related Articles

How to Print Multiple Slides on One Page in Google Slides

Filed under Google Slides Tutorials • April 26th, 2024

How to Print Multiple Slides on One Page in Google Slides

Discover how to print multiple slides on one page in Google Slides to optimize your presentation handouts.

How to Align Objects in Google Slides

Filed under Google Slides Tutorials • April 23rd, 2024

How to Align Objects in Google Slides

Optimize your layouts by learning how to align objects in Google Slides presentations. Step-by-step guide with screenshots.

How to Find Trash on Google Slides

Filed under Google Slides Tutorials • April 19th, 2024

How to Find Trash on Google Slides

Don’t worry if you accidently delete a presentation file. Learn how to find trash on Google Slides with this guide.

Leave a Reply

what is the size of a presentation slide

  • WordPress Tutorials
  • Graphic Design
  • Presentations
  • Shopify Knowledge Base
  • Theme Collections

PowerPoint Slide Sizes: General Information + Instructions for Resizing a Slide

The customization of standard powerpoint slide sizes.

  • The customization PowerPoint slide dimensions

PowerPoint templates from TemplateMonster

Microsoft PowerPoint is a program that allows you to create unique and creative presentations. This product is perfect for beginners and professionals alike. Microsoft PowerPoint has all the editing tools you would expect from an Office product, as well as an impressive selection of options for presentation, such as transitions and animations. You can also add and edit many other non-text elements such as images, videos, audio, hypertext, and graphics. This guide is about powerpoint slide size.

what is the size of a presentation slide

Overall, PowerPoint is an amazing product. It is user-friendly and easy to use, but with advanced functions that are necessary to make truly professional presentations.

If you want to create a presentation as quickly as possible, without much effort and time spent, then pay attention to PowerPoint presentation templates from TemplateMonster. These are original and unique templates for different purposes and projects.

Now, let’s talk about PowerPoint slide dimensions.

The PowerPoint slides size depends on where and how you show this presentation. For example, it can be a PowerPoint presentation on:

  • laptop screens (most laptop screens have an aspect ratio of 16:9, MacBook 16:10)
  • projectors (many projectors have a 4:3 aspect ratio, while others imitate widescreen laptop monitors)
  • large-format monitors (here the aspect ratio is usually 16:9)

The same PowerPoint file will be displayed differently on each device, as the aspect ratio may vary. Therefore, again, TemplateMonster offers templates that adapt to the size of the screen.

PowerPoint gives the possibility to change the size of the slides for any purpose. Most often, users change the current format to portrait or landscape. This is very easy to do. First, we will tell you how to change the standard PowerPoint slide size. So:

  • Open the PowerPoint presentation, and among the various tabs ( Insert, Transitions, Animations, Slide Show, etc.) select the Design tab.
  • Here you will see the themes, their variants, and Format Background . You should click Slide Size . In PowerPoint 2016, this button is located in the last field that is called Customize . In other versions of PowerPoint, Slide Size can be found in Page Settings .
  • By clicking on Slide Size , you will see a menu with Standard (4:3) and Widescreen (16:9) options. The variant will be selected here depending on your presentation.

Here is the example:

powerpoint change slide size

Basically, this is all about changing the standard PowerPoint slide size.

Powerpoint templates

The customization of PowerPoint slide dimensions

Next, we would like to share with you a quick guide on how to set up the exact dimensions for your slides. To do this, you need to take some similar actions that were specified above, namely:

monsterone powerpoint bundle

  • Open the PowerPoint presentation, and select the Design tab .
  • Among the suggested options, click Slide Size .
  • Next, you need to select the Custom Slide Size . This will bring up a special window where you can select Slide Size for Width, Height, Number Slides From, Orientation, Notes, handouts & outline.
  • In the Slide Size for box, you can choose from a variety of predefined slide sizes. For example A3, A4, B5, Letter Paper, Overhead, Custom, Banner, etc.
  • Next, in the Height and Width , you can customize the desired size for your presentation, or project.
  • At the end, click OK , and the changes will be saved and applied to your slides.

slide size click ok

After resizing PowerPoint slides, be sure to check everything, and make certain that the elements of the presentation are within its scope. Keep yourself out of trouble.

The PowerPoint slide is both a normal page (absolute values measured in centimeters) and a screen form (values measured in pixels). You can specify the height and width of the slide in inches, centimeters, and pixels. For PowerPoint slide size pixels, you need to specify the desired size and add “px” in the column with numbers. If you want to specify the size in inches you must add “in,” and if centimeters then “cm.” PowerPoint then converts the sizes (if it is necessary) into the type of units used by the operating system.

We would also like to clarify that the PowerPoint slide sizes in pixels can be 1366 x 768; 1280 x 720; 1024 x 600; 640 x 480.  The larger the size - the better the quality.

Since we've already figured out the issue of PowerPoint slide sizes, we now offer you a list of the best PowerPoint templates from TemplateMonster.

2019 Pitch Deck PowerPoint Template

2019 Pitch Deck PowerPoint Template

2019 Pitch Deck PowerPoint Template is truly one of the best templates that TemplateMonster offers. Among the most important features:

  • over 200 unique, fresh and stylish slides
  • 12 additional color schemes (you can customize the colors, and choose the appropriate scale for you)
  • 16:9 HD aspect ratio, ideal for wide screens
  • additional instructions that you can use to quickly and easily set up the template
  • fully customizable and editable PowerPoint template elements
  • 24/7 technical support
  • bright and memorable slides with graphs, diagrams, tables, etc.

We advise you to consider this alternative!

Infographic PowerPoint Template

Infographic PowerPoint Template

Infographic PowerPoint Template is a cool example of a powerful template for presenting any business project. Choosing this template you will get more than 600 unique, and professional templates, 2 aspect ratio (4:3 and 16:9), a huge number of vector icons, a wide variety of color schemes (you even have the opportunity to choose your favorite colors, and create schemes), additional and free fonts, calendars, maps, graphs, tables, various types of diagrams, schemes, and columns. There are also many available layouts. All elements are fully customizable. The quality of the slides is at the highest level, so you will not have any problems in working with this template.

Multipurpose Business Infographic Presentation - PowerPoint Template

Multipurpose Business Infographic Presentation - PowerPoint Template

Multipurpose Business Infographic Presentation is also one of the best PowerPoint templates available. It includes a huge number of unrealistically cool elements, such as:

  • 30,000 slides, approximately 500 of which are unique and stylish
  • more than 20 color schemes that can be easily edited
  • the presence of a light and dark version of the template
  • easily customizable elements
  • unusual graphs, charts, tables
  • a huge number of fonts and maps that can be used for free access
  • different vector icons, and more

Albireo Powerpoint Template PowerPoint Template

Albireo Powerpoint Template PowerPoint Template

Another variant of the best template is the Albireo PowerPoint Template . This is a huge collection of slides with different charts, maps, tables, schemes, and diagrams. This PowerPoint presentation template is perfect for presenting business projects or reports. This theme is available in light and dark formats. You will also receive more than 5 ready-made color schemes, free fonts, 24/7 technical support, additional instructions, and information about setting up and using the template.

Redline Creative PowerPoint Template

Redline Creative PowerPoint Template

Redline Creative PowerPoint Template is also a great example of a template for any kind of presentation. Redline Creative has a fairly large number of bright, high-quality, and memorable templates. By choosing this template, you will get access to Google maps and fonts, additional bonus icons, unusual charts, schemes, and diagrams. In this template you can easily change the color, the position of the elements on the page, the size of these elements, etc. You can also use ready-made slide layouts. Redline Creative is an easy to use a theme to present any of your plans, ideas, and projects!

21 Easy Tips To Create A Powerful Presentation For Your Business [Free Ebook]

By clicking the button you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms and Conditions .

100 Best Business Presentation Templates. Cool! Great! Awesome!

25 Business PowerPoint Presentation Templates

Featured PowerPoint Templates And Themes

The Best Fonts for PowerPoint Presentations

Daria

Hi there! I'm a freelance copywriter with a passion for languages. Loving to write useful posts, to be creative in any task, and to develop myself.

Get more to your email

Subscribe to our newsletter and access exclusive content and offers available only to MonsterPost subscribers.

what is the size of a presentation slide

Related Posts

Best digital products award 2023 – honored by templatemonster, making a successful presentation: how to print google slides with notes, 15 clever color combinations that make your presentation professional, leave a reply cancel reply.

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Stack Exchange Network

Stack Exchange network consists of 183 Q&A communities including Stack Overflow , the largest, most trusted online community for developers to learn, share their knowledge, and build their careers.

Q&A for work

Connect and share knowledge within a single location that is structured and easy to search.

How can I determine the size of individual slides in a PowerPoint slide deck?

I have a powerpoint file containing images and it has gotten too big for emailing and I need to decide which slides to cut out. But how can I tell which slides are consuming all the space? There could be just a few slides containing over-large images, but how do I know which slides they are? Is there any way to know the filesize of individual slides?

  • microsoft-powerpoint
  • microsoft-powerpoint-2013

Gary Barrett's user avatar

6 Answers 6

There is a built-in way to measure slides! Publish all slides and use Windows Explorer.

Publishing all slides to an empty folder creates as many presentations as slides you have. Each new presentation stands for one slide and its Windows Explorer file size shows you which slide has the biggest pictures/audio/video.

enter image description here

In my sample I had 3 slides with different kinds of media. And the first slide with 12 MB was indeed the biggest one.

Máté Juhász's user avatar

  • 3 One caveat: Suppose you have a large image on slide 1 and you've copied it to several other slides. PowerPoint only stores the image once per presentation, but if you publish to multiple presentations, each presentation that includes this image would get a copy of it. It'd look quite large, but deleting it from the original presentation wouldn't have nearly such a large effect on overall size. –  Steve Rindsberg Apr 6, 2014 at 15:33
  • 4 Another caveat - the names of the slides are "slide IDs" which are not the same as the slide numbers. If you've copied or reordered slides it could get confusing. –  Rob I Jul 16, 2015 at 15:51
  • 4 Another caveat - the Publish option requires a Professional version of PowerPoint. –  Mark Cramer Dec 2, 2015 at 19:52
  • @SteveRindsberg: Your comment that PowerPoint stores only a single copy of a reused image is indeed correct. However, would that reused image need to be copied over if each slide is made into its own presentation using the technique shown here? Presentation_002.pptx would need its own copy of the image, since it is now a standalone, one-slide presentation on its own without any way to reference copied images from other slides, would it not? –  JeffFerguson Mar 23, 2016 at 20:48
  • When you save/export a slide/slides, PPT takes care of the accounting for reused images. That is, if the slide references a reused image, the standalone version of the slide will get a copy of the image. That's why I mentioned that the size might be misleading. –  Steve Rindsberg Mar 24, 2016 at 3:44

This might depend on the specific version of PowerPoint, but in the version I'm using it is possible to save the presentation as 'Strict Open XML Presentation' file type, which is essentially a zip file with all the elements represented as files within the archive (in some cases this would actually be the default, so no need to 'save as'). So, one can rename the file from .pptx to .zip, open it, and see the sizes of the different element (as well as compression ratio). A good candidate place would be to look under ppt/media. Besides just large images (which can be then easily found and compressed or modified/removed within PowerPoint), in some cases it may contain images from unused master slides, and you may not even know they exist (especially if you are reusing presentations based on someone else's templates). In this case the way to handle it would be to open View -> Slide Master, and browse the master slides to find the one comprising the pictures (and potentially just delete it, if it is not used by any of the slides).

Alex Glikson's user avatar

  • 1 Just a note to duplicate the file before you rename it and go digging so you have a solid backup. Also on the Mac you can open a .pptx with something like The Unarchiver (free) directly and it will expand it into the package contents without requiring renaming first. –  Matt Sanders Jul 18, 2018 at 21:56

The easiest way in the latest Powerpoint 365 or any other version is: Save a copy of your presentation with ending PPTX. Rename the ending to .ZIP Unzip the file, and you will see all individual content. Your pictures will be in the folder under the directory ppt/media. Usually, I found PNG files to be largest, so avoid them. sort your files by size, and convert the largest to jpg. Then remove your original pictures in the PPT file and use the jpg files to replace them.

Andre's user avatar

To make your slide deck smaller, quickly, try PowerPoint > File > Compress Pictures. This process just reduced a Mac PowerPoint file (version 16.11) that's photography-heavy from 40MB to 14MB with no degradation in presentation quality.

Eric Zimmerman's user avatar

  • 2 Welcome to Super User! This doesn't answer the question which OP asked, which is about determining the sizes of images, not necessarily compressing them. –  bertieb Apr 4, 2018 at 15:15
  • This is related enough that I think it is reasonable to retain as an answer. The main reason that most people want to know image size is to optimize or remove those images. For some users this capability will be adequate to meet their needs without them needing to identify the individual culprits. –  Matt Sanders Jul 18, 2018 at 22:00

I wrote a small UNIX script that will unzip a pptx file and then shows you the list of larger images (over 100K) sorted by size. It will also have an "open" command (on the Mac) and it will tell you what slides each of the large images are in.

https://gist.github.com/dmccreary/7734b7148f523771adb38597bcbe5732

Feedback welcome.

Dan McCreary's user avatar

I'm using Powerpoint 365 and I really, really miss the publish slides feature. The zip instructions in this thread didn't work for me but gave me and idea that worked which was using the 'Package Presentation for CD' feature. Open your PPT, go to Export, Package Presentation for CD, Package for CD, change name if you need to, PPT name should be selected in box, hit Copy to Folder, choose where to save files and remember location, hit OK, hit Yes for linked items. Go to your new set of folders, unzip/extract the zip file, and there should be one with all of your images which you can view by details and sort by file size. My path: PresentationCD\PPT_Name\ppt\media

Kelly's user avatar

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for browse other questions tagged microsoft-powerpoint microsoft-powerpoint-2013 ..

  • The Overflow Blog
  • Supporting the world’s most-used database engine through 2050
  • What language should beginning programmers choose?

Hot Network Questions

  • Ben Hur set reference in Good Omens?
  • Taking a scene from a video I made
  • Is it an independent and additional offence to have a fake passenger (e.g., a mannequin) to try to avoid HOV violation detection?
  • "You'll set me off"
  • How to Write an Involuntary Secret Reveal
  • Integral of the product of a Gaussian and a exponential of a hyperbolic function
  • How to animate a solid block cracking
  • Are there any languages where conditions are not first-class expressions?
  • Does the movie depict Oppenheimer quoting, "Now I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds"?
  • Parents' house repairs and siblings future inheritance
  • What would you call the ground floor if you were in a country where it is the first floor?
  • How is 时机 being used in 就可能预测病人发病的时机?
  • Why does the frequency sampling method for FIR filter design operate in this manner?
  • Ways to refuel nuclear powered cars
  • How are "strong" and "weak" typing defined?
  • Why protest against the war in Gaza on the campus of Columbia University?
  • Help needed for Lean4 book Interlude exercise
  • When submitting a letter to an agent for publication of a novel, what does it mean to say that your manuscript is "complete"?
  • Do Starfleet officers retain the privileges of their rank if they time travel to other Starfleet vessels?
  • Infer pluses and minuses
  • Enumerate all matches of a regex
  • Is there a different way to measure speed, other than with time?
  • Did God "design" logic?
  • Reference for a statement from Gaitsgory's thesis

what is the size of a presentation slide

All Formats

Graphic Design

Presentation sizes.

Presentations may not look as pleasant as how you design them with pictures, animations, videos, and other graphic designs without considering the proper sizes. Often measured in either fullscreen or widescreen aspect ratios, the standard presentation sizes are actually categorized according to the number of content slides per presentations .

what is the size of a presentation slide

Presentation Sizes Standard

Short presentation size, standard presentation size, long presentation size, presentation sizes for digital, presentation sizes for print, presentation sizes for business, presentation sizes for microsoft powerpoint, presentation sizes for google slides, presentation sizes for apple keynote, presentation sizes faqs, what is the golden rule of powerpoint presentations, what is the standard size of a presentation, what are the best presentation sizes in pixels, what is the 5-5-5 rule for presentations, what are the two top aspect ratios of ms powerpoint, what are the 7cs of a presentation, what is the 16:9 powerpoint slide size in inches and centimeters, what is the 4:3 powerpoint slide size in pixels and inches, what are the 4ps of a presentation in public speaking, what is the 80/20 rule in a presentation, what is the 4 × 4 rule in presentations, more in graphic design, esport gaming presentation template, project presentation template, simple chart presentation template, architecture infographic presentation template, health presentation template, exploring the earth presentation template, electric bike campaign presentation template, graduation presentation template, marketing agency presentation template, fashion designer portfolio presentation template.

  • How To Make/Create an Invitation in Google Docs [Templates + Examples]
  • How To Create an ID Card in Google Docs [Template + Example]
  • How to Make an ID Card in Microsoft Word [Template + Example]
  • How To Make a Letterhead in Google Docs [Template + Example]
  • How To Make a Letterhead in Microsoft Word [Template + Example]
  • How To Create a Chart Design in Google Docs [Template + Example]
  • How To Create a Chart Design in Microsoft Word [Template + Example]
  • How To Make/Create a Calendar Design in Google Docs [Templates + Examples]
  • How To Make/Create a Calendar Design in Microsoft Word [Templates + Examples]
  • How To Make/Create a Book Cover in Google Docs [Templates + Examples]
  • How To Make/Create a Book Cover in Microsoft Word [Templates + Examples]
  • Vacancy Sizes
  • Wedding Album Ideas
  • Tarot Ideas

File Formats

Word templates, google docs templates, excel templates, powerpoint templates, google sheets templates, google slides templates, pdf templates, publisher templates, psd templates, indesign templates, illustrator templates, pages templates, keynote templates, numbers templates, outlook templates.

what is the size of a presentation slide

  • SUGGESTED TOPICS
  • The Magazine
  • Newsletters
  • Managing Yourself
  • Managing Teams
  • Work-life Balance
  • The Big Idea
  • Data & Visuals
  • Reading Lists
  • Case Selections
  • HBR Learning
  • Topic Feeds
  • Account Settings
  • Email Preferences

How to Make a “Good” Presentation “Great”

  • Guy Kawasaki

what is the size of a presentation slide

Remember: Less is more.

A strong presentation is so much more than information pasted onto a series of slides with fancy backgrounds. Whether you’re pitching an idea, reporting market research, or sharing something else, a great presentation can give you a competitive advantage, and be a powerful tool when aiming to persuade, educate, or inspire others. Here are some unique elements that make a presentation stand out.

  • Fonts: Sans Serif fonts such as Helvetica or Arial are preferred for their clean lines, which make them easy to digest at various sizes and distances. Limit the number of font styles to two: one for headings and another for body text, to avoid visual confusion or distractions.
  • Colors: Colors can evoke emotions and highlight critical points, but their overuse can lead to a cluttered and confusing presentation. A limited palette of two to three main colors, complemented by a simple background, can help you draw attention to key elements without overwhelming the audience.
  • Pictures: Pictures can communicate complex ideas quickly and memorably but choosing the right images is key. Images or pictures should be big (perhaps 20-25% of the page), bold, and have a clear purpose that complements the slide’s text.
  • Layout: Don’t overcrowd your slides with too much information. When in doubt, adhere to the principle of simplicity, and aim for a clean and uncluttered layout with plenty of white space around text and images. Think phrases and bullets, not sentences.

As an intern or early career professional, chances are that you’ll be tasked with making or giving a presentation in the near future. Whether you’re pitching an idea, reporting market research, or sharing something else, a great presentation can give you a competitive advantage, and be a powerful tool when aiming to persuade, educate, or inspire others.

what is the size of a presentation slide

  • Guy Kawasaki is the chief evangelist at Canva and was the former chief evangelist at Apple. Guy is the author of 16 books including Think Remarkable : 9 Paths to Transform Your Life and Make a Difference.

Partner Center

Presentation font size: Dos and don’ts

  • Categories: PowerPoint design , Google Slides
  • Comments: 1

what is the size of a presentation slide

It’s no secret that at BrightCarbon we generally recommend keeping text on slides to a minimum . The main reason you need to avoid lots of text in presentations is because it’s virtually impossible to read and listen to someone speaking at the same time. In a presentation, you want to allow the audience to listen to the presenter while looking at an appropriate visual or diagram with minimal words, so that it all comes together seamlessly. Whereas, with documents like reports – while you can create them in PowerPoint – they aren’t presentations; there won’t be anyone talking over them. So you can (and possibly should) have a lot more text.

So, when you are using text in a presentation or document, how do you decide what size it should be? We’ve found there’s no hard-and-fast rule for how big or small text on slides should be. Each presentation has its own unique requirements – it all depends on what you’re using the slides for, what you’re hoping to achieve with them, and how your audience will be viewing them. Accessibility considerations also come into play, as well as readability across different typefaces and devices.

Determining appropriate text size

One way to decide on the right size for your text is to consider the height of each line of text in proportion to the total height of the slide . For example, in a sales or training presentation, the height of the title (per line) should take up approximately 4% of the slide’s total height; headers around 3%; and copy text around 2%.

Example slide showing a guide to the correct proportions for presentation font size

This principle can be applied to text appearing in other types of presentation, too. For example, in a keynote presentation, the height of the text should take up around 6.5% of the slide’s total height. And in a document or report, aim for the height of the title text to take up around 4% of the slide’s total height; headers around 3%; and copy text around 1.5%.

When deciding on the right font size for a face-to-face presentation, it’s also worth considering how close audience members should be seated to the screen in order to be able to read the text easily. Check out presentation expert Dave Paradi’s table on comfortable viewing distances for text in presentation visuals [1] for more on this.

Our text size recommendations

We called upon our team of designers to determine what size they would make the text in a set of example slides. To create the slides, we used PowerPoint’s default widescreen slide size (19.05cm x 33.86cm, or 7.5”13.33”), and Arial – one of the most commonly used fonts.

The examples covered three different use-cases where text is sometimes used:

  • A sales or training presentation. Small amounts of text can be used to point out key features and emphasise value and benefits.
  • A keynote presentation. You want the audience to focus on the presenter during a keynote presentation, so the amount of text on each slide should be kept to a minimum. This means any text you do use can be much larger.
  • A document or report. Text can generally be slightly smaller in stand-alone, static documents like reports, as readers will jump around the page to find the information they’re looking for.

Based on our team’s responses, we’d make the following recommendations:

Use-case 1: Presentation font size for a sales or training presentation

Top tip : As a general rule, aim to keep the number of different font sizes you use across your presentation to a minimum – ideally, no more than three different sizes per slide. And try to use font sizes consistently. For example, if you’ve used 20pt for headers on one slide, make sure headers on other slides are the same size.

Use-case 2:  Presentation font size for a  keynote presentation

Top tip : If you’re also using text labels or callouts in a keynote presentation, then make sure the font is slightly smaller than the rest of your text – ideally no smaller than 28pt.

Use-case 3: Font size for a document or report

Top tip : It’s also worth using visual hierarchies to help readers navigate documents like these – check out our blog post for tips on how to do this.

Hopefully, our recommendations help you to decide what size text on your slides should be. Remember, every presentation is different and will have its own individual requirements – for guidance on your particular use-case, get in touch and we’ll be happy to look over your slides. And if you want more help with upping your sales presentations’ font game, have a read of our article packed with typography tips and tricks!

[1] PARADI, D. 2008. Comfortable Viewing Distance for Text on Presentation Visuals [online]. Available from: https://thinkoutsidetheslide.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/ViewingDistanceTable16x9.pdf [Accessed 14 November 2022].

Related articles

Mastering high-impact conference presentations.

  • PowerPoint design / Visual communication

Conference presentations are really hard to get right compared to day-to-day presentations. How do you tackle bigger stages, bigger rooms, bigger audiences and higher stakes?

what is the size of a presentation slide

Insights from a presentation templates expert

  • PowerPoint design / Industry insights

A PowerPoint template is the foundation on which polished and professional presentations are built. We interview BrightCarbon’s new Templates Lead, Gemma Leamy, and pick her brains on the ideal process for creating robust PowerPoint templates.

what is the size of a presentation slide

115 PowerPoint Christmas cards to download and share!

  • PowerPoint design
  • Comments: 45

It's Christmas! After a late night with too much eggnog and brandy snaps we set ourselves a challenge to see who could come up with the wildest PowerPoint Christmas card! So it's the day after the night before, and through blurry eyes we can reveal our efforts...

what is the size of a presentation slide

thank you so much that was helpful

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Save my name and email in this browser for the next time I comment.

Join the BrightCarbon mailing list for monthly invites and resources

BrightCarbon has created several animations for us. The result was always the same: a very clear “wow” effect. I highly recommend BrightCarbon for making complex topics come to life on screen! Isabel Figge Intergraph

what is the size of a presentation slide

IMAGES

  1. powerpoint page size

    what is the size of a presentation slide

  2. Choosing a Presentation Size

    what is the size of a presentation slide

  3. Powerpoint Slide Size

    what is the size of a presentation slide

  4. presentation slide size

    what is the size of a presentation slide

  5. Changing Slide Dimensions in PowerPoint

    what is the size of a presentation slide

  6. PowerPoint Slide Size

    what is the size of a presentation slide

VIDEO

  1. How To Change the Size of Powerpoint Slide

  2. Change ppt slide size or orientation

  3. Inserting Shapes in PowerPoint

  4. How to change font size in PowerPoint slide

  5. How to change slide size in wps presentation mobile

  6. Is 8-inch or 9 inch cake better?

COMMENTS

  1. What Are the Right Dimensions (Size) for Your PowerPoint PPT Slides

    Click on the Design tab on PowerPoint's ribbon. The available options will change on the ribbon. Find the Customize section on the ribbon and click on the Slide Size icon. A drop-down menu opens with several options. Click on Custom Slide Size to open the Slide size menu and change your presentation's dimensions.

  2. What is the Size of a PowerPoint Slide in Pixels?

    The standard size of a PowerPoint slide is 1024×768 pixels and the widescreen PowerPoint slide is "1920×1080" pixels. It can also be adjusted based on your preferences or the requirements of the platform on which you plan to present your slides. In this article, we will discuss the standard size of a PowerPoint slide in pixels or inches ...

  3. Change the size of your slides

    The 16:9 widescreen setting is the default value for new presentations you create. When you change the slide size for a presentation, the size you choose only applies to that presentation. However, you can make it easy to create a new 4:3 presentation for yourself whenever you want—by defining a custom theme that uses the 4:3 aspect ratio.

  4. What size should my slides be, 16:9 or 4:3?

    The above notation is called the "aspect ratio," or the ratio of the width to the height of the slide. In the 4:3 aspect ratio, the dimensions are 1024 x 768 pixels (10.67″ x 8″); the height is 3/4 of the width. Back in the Ye Olde Days of PowerPoint, it was your only choice. Why?

  5. How to Change Slide Size in PowerPoint (Step-by-Step)

    To change your slide size in PowerPoint, simply: Navigate to the Design tab. Open the Slide Size drop down menu. Select 4:3 , 16:9 or Custom Slide Size (see options below) When starting with a blank presentation, you are now good to go. You will not have to worry about any of the conversion issues discussed below.

  6. How to change the PowerPoint Slide Size: All you need to know

    The PowerPoint Slide Size pop-up in Windows 10. While you can use the options on the right of the window to tweak the Orientation options, the settings related to the size of a PowerPoint slide are on the left side of the Slide Size pop-up. Click or tap the "Slides sized for:" field to access a dropdown menu with other presets you can use for your PowerPoint slide dimensions.

  7. What Are the Right Dimensions for Your PowerPoint Slides?

    In this screencast, we'll help you decide the right dimensions for your PowerPoint slides. Download unlimited PPT templates with Envato Elements: https://e...

  8. How to Change Slide Size in Powerpoint

    In the "Customize" section of the "Design" tab, select the "Slide Size" button. This will display the two common slide sizes in a drop-down menu. Click either the "Standard (4:3)" or "Widescreen (16:9)" option to switch all of your PowerPoint slides to that size. Unfortunately, it isn't possible to use multiple slide sizes in a PowerPoint ...

  9. PowerPoint Slide Dimensions: A 5-Minute "How To" Guide

    Open a pre-existing PowerPoint presentation that you want to adjust the slide size of. Or, if you don't have a presentation, open a new one by going to File->New. Step 2. Click on Design at the top of your screen. You'll see a ribbon of options appear. Click on Page Setup. Step 3. A dialog box will pop-up that says slides sized for. Here ...

  10. How to Change Slide Size or Dimensions in PowerPoint

    Simply choose options from the Slides sized for drop-down menu in the dialog box (such as A4 paper size) or enter custom dimensions. To change slide size to a custom size: In Normal View, click the Design tab in the Ribbon. Click Slide Size in the Customize group. A drop-down menu appears.

  11. How to Choose the Perfect PowerPoint Slide Size

    When altering the PowerPoint slide size on a Mac, the options are remarkably similar to Windows. Head to the Design tab and select the slide size option on the right. Click on the PowerPoint Slide Size button, and a drop-down menu will appear with three options for you to choose from. The first two options in the design tab will not differ from ...

  12. How to Change Slide Size in PowerPoint? [A Helpful Guide!]

    Step 1: Go to the 'Home' menu after opening your PowerPoint Presentation file. At the bottom right corner of the screen, you will find the 'three dots' icon, which is the 'Options' menu. Tap on the 'Options' menu and then select the 'Home' option. Step 2: Change your size after tapping the 'Slide Size' option.

  13. PowerPoint Slide Size

    To change the size of your presentation slides, on the Design tab, in the Customize group, click the Slide Size button and then choose one of the pre-defined sizes. Common PowerPoint Slide Sizes. Standard (4:3) was the default slide size in older versions of Microsoft PowerPoint, like 2003 or 2007. Standard (4:3) slides have a size of 10 x 7.5 ...

  14. PowerPoint Slide Size

    PowerPoint allows you to change the aspect ratio of your presentation. The widescreen slide size is best when presenting on modern displays with a 16:9 aspect ratio. If you'll be presenting on an older display with a 4:3 aspect ratio, you'll want to use the standard slide size instead. Change the Slide Size. Click the Design tab.

  15. How to change the size of slides in Microsoft PowerPoint

    To change the size of your presentation slides, on the Design tab, in the Customize group, click the Slide Size button and then: Choose one of the pre-defined sizes: Standard (4:3) was the default slide size in older versions of Microsoft PowerPoint, like 2003 or 2007. Standard (4:3) slides have a size of 10 x 7.5 inches or 25.4 x 19.05 cm.

  16. Determining the Size of a PowerPoint Slide in Pixels: A Guide

    Step 1: Open PowerPoint and go to the 'Design' tab. Click on the 'Design' tab located at the top of the PowerPoint window. When you're working on your PowerPoint presentation, the Design tab is where you'll find all the options for customizing the look and feel of your slides. It's the gateway to adjusting the size of your slides.

  17. Presentation Sizes

    Dimension. 4:3. 1,024 × 768 px. 16:9. 1,920 × 1,080 px. For your next presentation, keep your audience engaged with slides that are compatible with the device or screen you're presenting with. The purpose of your presentation and the viewing platform or format will help determine the size that you should use for your presentation.

  18. Google Slides Dimensions: What Size is Google Slides and ...

    How to change the size of a Google slide. You can adjust the Google Slides page size from the pop-up menu displayed via Page Setup. The available options include switching to Standard 4:3, Widescreen 16:9, Widescreen 16:10, and a custom slide size. Select the desired slide size and click Apply. How to change size of Google Slides presentation

  19. PowerPoint Slide Sizes: General Information + Instructions for Resizing

    Open the PowerPoint presentation, and among the various tabs ( Insert, Transitions, Animations, Slide Show, etc.) select the Design tab. Here you will see the themes, their variants, and Format Background. You should click Slide Size. In PowerPoint 2016, this button is located in the last field that is called Customize.

  20. Presentation Size: PPT Slides, Screen, Background Sizes Guide

    Presentation. SIZE. DIMENSION. 16:9 4:3. 6.4 × 3.6 in. 3.41 × 2.56 in. Slides are the visual representation of your presentation. They are a medium in which you can display graphics, images, video, and text. In most cases, slides contain a small amount of text, and the focus of the slide is the graphic that is paired with it.

  21. How can I determine the size of individual slides in a PowerPoint slide

    File, Save & Send, Publish Slides, Publish Slides (button) Select All - I recommend using Select All the first time so you can see the size of all your slides. Choose destination Windows folder. Publish. Review sizes and you can launch each individual-slide powerpoint file to see which one it is and whether you can reduce the size.

  22. Presentation Size

    You might say a slide presentation is impossible as a print document but that isn't true because the presentation pitch decks or slides can be printed as solid handouts. Simply follow the standard paper sizes from the letter size (8.5″ × 11″), legal size (8.5″ × 14″), and A4 size (8.3″ × 11.7″) whereas you minimize the size of ...

  23. How to Make a "Good" Presentation "Great"

    Images or pictures should be big (perhaps 20-25% of the page), bold, and have a clear purpose that complements the slide's text. Layout: Don't overcrowd your slides with too much information.

  24. Presentation font size: Dos and don'ts

    To create the slides, we used PowerPoint's default widescreen slide size (19.05cm x 33.86cm, or 7.5"13.33"), and Arial - one of the most commonly used fonts. The examples covered three different use-cases where text is sometimes used: A sales or training presentation.