How To Change Slide Size In Powerpoint 2010

Modify PowerPoint Slide Size (Widescreen, Standard or Custom)

by Avantix Learning Team | Updated October 9, 2021

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

You lot tin alter 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:nine aspect ratio) and in 2010 and before versions, the default is standard (4:3 aspect ratio). Y'all tin also enter a custom slide size if you prefer (including inbound slide size in pixels). The best time to set slide size is when yous first set up your PowerPoint presentation before you add any content. If y'all change the size later in the process, you may have to deal with distorted pictures and y'all may also need to conform the position and size of various objects on slides in Normal View and in the slide chief(s) and layouts in Slide Primary View.

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

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

You should never alter slide size just before running a presentation as you may not be satisfied with the results. If you already accept a presentation with images and other content, it's also a practiced 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 announced with slightly dissimilar names if you are working with PowerPoint 365 and accept a smaller screen or different brandish settings. Buttons on the Ribbon may appear every bit icons but and are likewise affected by screen size and display settings.

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

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

To change slide size in 2010, click Page Setup on the Pattern 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 use, you should go through your slides later yous modify slide size to be sure yous are satisfied with the results. Be certain to check the slide main(s) and layouts in Slide Master View besides.

Changing slide size in PowerPoint 2016, 2019 or 365

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

In Normal View, click the Design tab in the Ribbon.
Click Slide Size in the Customize group. A driblet-down carte du jour appears.
Select Widescreen, Standard or another option from the drop-downwards menu. If you lot'd similar to set a custom size, select Custom Slide Size. A dialog box appears.
Enter the desired dimensions or select some other selection under Slide Size.
Click OK. In 2016 and after 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 subsequently versions, PowerPoint offers to maximize content or scale to fit just when yous 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 volition not be resized when y'all change to the smaller slide size.

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

Changing slide size in PowerPoint 2013

To set or alter slide size in PowerPoint 2013:

In Normal View, click the Pattern tab in the Ribbon.
Click Slide Size in the Customize group. A drop-down carte appears.
Select Widescreen, Standard or another option from the drib-down bill of fare. If y'all'd like to ready a custom size, select Custom Slide Size. A dialog box appears.
Enter the desired dimensions or select another pick under Slide Size.
Click OK.

Changing slide size in PowerPoint 2010

To gear up or change slide size in PowerPoint 2010:

In Normal View, click the Design tab in the Ribbon.
Click Folio Setup in the Page Setup grouping. A dialog box appears.
Select an option from the drib-downward menu under Slide Size. If you'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 then Custom Slide Size in 2013 and later versions, yous can use custom slide sizes. Merely choose options from the Slides sized for driblet-downwards menu in the dialog box (such equally A4 paper size) or enter custom dimensions.

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

Y'all tin can create posters in PowerPoint past inbound 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. Equally a best practice, ready the slide size before adding content to the affiche.

Many PowerPoint users are non 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 equally using PowerPoint to create social media posts. If you enter slide size in pixels (such equally 200px), when you tab to another box or close the dialog box, PowerPoint changes the pixels to the equivalent in the current measurement system.

Dealing with issues when changing slide size

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

Pictures may be distorted every bit 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 main(s) and layouts. If pictures are distorted, you volition 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 similar. 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 space is created if y'all modify to a larger slide size. Y'all may need to move or resize objects and suit the slide master(due south) or layouts in Slide Master View.
If you 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 afterwards versions

In PowerPoint 2010, when widescreen (sixteen:ix) format is selected, the slide dimensions are 10 inches wide by five.63 inches high or 25.4 cm wide by 14.29 cm high. When standard (four:3) format is selected, the dimensions are 10 inches broad by seven.v inches high or 25.4 cm high by 19.05 cm high.

In PowerPoint 2013 and later versions, widescreen (16:9) format measurements are unlike and are set to xiii.33 inches wide by 7.5 inches high 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 use the same dimensions for widescreen format as newer versions, you'll need to enter the same dimensions as 2013 in the Page Setup dialog box.

Summary

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

Endeavour to gear up slide size as a starting time step after you create a presentation and earlier y'all take entered whatever content. In 2013 and later on versions, the default is widescreen (xvi:ix attribute ratio).
If you have inverse slide size in a presentation with content, review your slides to be certain you are satisfied with the results. Y'all should also cheque the slide master(s) and layouts in Slide Master View.
Never change slide size but before running a presentation as yous may non exist pleased with the results and you won't have time to set up your slide deck.
If you have created a presentation with content, brand a copy of the presentation first and change slide size on the copy.

Keep in mind that widescreen is usually used for on screen presentations and standard is oftentimes used for printed presentations.

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

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