How To Change Size Of Slide In Powerpoint

Change PowerPoint Slide Size (Widescreen, Standard or Custom)

by Avantix Learning Team | Updated Oct 9, 2021

Applies to: Microsoft^® PowerPoint^® 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019 and 365 (Windows)

You tin change the slide size or aspect ratio of a PowerPoint presentation in all versions. The default slide size or dimensions in 2013, 2016, 2019 or 365 is widescreen (16:9 attribute ratio) and in 2010 and earlier versions, the default is standard (4:3 aspect ratio). You tin can also enter a custom slide size if you prefer (including entering slide size in pixels). The best fourth dimension to set slide size is when you first gear up upwards your PowerPoint presentation before yous add any content. If you change the size later in the procedure, y'all may accept to deal with distorted pictures and you may also need to accommodate the position and size of various objects on slides in Normal View and in the slide master(south) and layouts in Slide Master View.

The well-nigh common slide sizes or aspect ratios are typically used equally follows:

Widescreen or sixteen:9 aspect ratio is frequently used for onscreen presentations using a projector, monitor or a widescreen Boob tube. Older projectors used the standard attribute 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 newspaper.

You should never change slide size just before running a presentation every bit y'all may not be satisfied with the results. If you already accept a presentation with images and other content, it's also a good thought to change slide size on a copy of the presentation so you lot 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 too affected past screen size and display settings.

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

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To modify slide size in 2013, 2016, 2019 or 365, click Slide Size on the Design tab in the Ribbon:

To alter slide size in 2010, click Page Setup on the Design tab in the Ribbon:

Page setup button on the Design tab in PowerPoint 2010 to change slide size.

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

Irresolute slide size in PowerPoint 2016, 2019 or 365

To alter slide size in PowerPoint 2016, 2019 or 365:

In Normal View, click the Design tab in the Ribbon.
Click Slide Size in the Customize grouping. A drib-down card appears.
Select Widescreen, Standard or another option from the driblet-downwardly carte du jour. If y'all'd similar to set a custom size, select Custom Slide Size. A dialog box appears.
Enter the desired dimensions or select another pick nether Slide Size.
Click OK. In 2016 and afterward versions, a dialog box appears with options to maximize content or scale to fit (this dialog appears only if yous are moving from a larger to a smaller slide size).
Select the desired selection.
Click OK.

In 2016 and afterward versions, PowerPoint offers to maximize content or scale to fit only when you change slide size to a smaller size (such every bit 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 volition not exist resized when y'all alter to the smaller slide size.

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

Changing slide size in PowerPoint 2013

To set up or alter slide size in PowerPoint 2013:

In Normal View, click the Design tab in the Ribbon.
Click Slide Size in the Customize group. A drop-downwardly carte appears.
Select Widescreen, Standard or another selection from the drop-downwards menu. If you'd similar to fix a custom size, select Custom Slide Size. A dialog box appears.
Enter the desired dimensions or select another choice under Slide Size.
Click OK.

Changing slide size in PowerPoint 2010

To set or alter slide size in PowerPoint 2010:

In Normal View, click the Pattern tab in the Ribbon.
Click Page Setup in the Page Setup group. A dialog box appears.
Select an option from the drop-down menu under Slide Size. If yous'd like to set a custom size, enter the desired dimensions.
Click OK.

Entering custom slide sizes

If you have selected Page Setup in 2010 or Slide Size and and then Custom Slide Size in 2013 and afterward versions, y'all tin can use custom slide sizes. Simply choose options from the Slides sized for driblet-downward bill of fare in the dialog box (such as A4 paper size) or enter custom dimensions.

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

The following dialog box appears in 2010 when you select Page Setup:

PowerPoint Page Setup dialog box in 2010 to change slide size.

The following dialog box appears in 2013 and afterward versions when y'all 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 past entering a custom slide size such equally 36 inches broad past 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 practise, ready the slide size earlier adding content to the poster.

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

Dealing with problems when changing slide size

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

Pictures may exist distorted as PowerPoint tries to conform images to fit slide size. Images on slides in Normal View volition exist affected every bit well as images on the slide master(due south) and layouts. If pictures are distorted, you will need to either manually resize each image or delete them and insert them once more.
Objects such as placeholders and shapes that have been created in PowerPoint are not in the position you'd like. You may need to motion objects or reset one or more slides (on the Home tab in the Ribbon, click Reset in the Slides group).
Extra infinite is created if you alter to a larger slide size. You may need to motility or resize objects and adjust the slide master(south) or layouts in Slide Main View.
If y'all accept changed to a smaller slide size, you may need to increase font size for placeholders and text boxes.

Dimension differences between PowerPoint 2010 and later versions

In PowerPoint 2010, when widescreen (16:9) format is selected, the slide dimensions are x inches wide by 5.63 inches loftier or 25.4 cm wide by 14.29 cm high. When standard (4:3) format is selected, the dimensions are 10 inches wide by 7.5 inches loftier or 25.4 cm high past 19.05 cm high.

In PowerPoint 2013 and later versions, widescreen (xvi:9) format measurements are different and are gear up to 13.33 inches broad by seven.5 inches loftier or 33.867 cm wide by 19.05 cm high. This matches the height of the four:3 format.

If you want PowerPoint 2010 to employ the same dimensions for widescreen format equally newer versions, yous'll demand to enter the same dimensions as 2013 in the Folio Setup dialog box.

Summary

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

Try to set slide size as a first pace after you create a presentation and before you take entered any content. In 2013 and after versions, the default is widescreen (16:9 aspect ratio).
If you accept changed slide size in a presentation with content, review your slides to exist sure you are satisfied with the results. You should also cheque the slide chief(south) and layouts in Slide Master View.
Never change slide size but earlier running a presentation as yous may not be pleased with the results and y'all won't accept time to fix your slide deck.
If you have created a presentation with content, make a copy of the presentation first and alter slide size on the copy.

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

This commodity was first published on October half dozen, 2019 and has been updated for clarity and content.

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