Michael Anderson
Former journalist turned tech writer with a passion for helping professionals enhance productivity through AI.
Introduction
Ever found yourself tweaking a presentation in Google Slides and wishing it fit the screen better? Maybe you’re printing handouts and need A4 size, or you’re designing something unique with custom dimensions. Whatever the case, changing the slide size in Google Slides is super easy and can make your work stand out.
In this post, I’ll walk you through switching to widescreen, setting up A4, and creating custom sizes—all with simple steps. Let’s make your next presentation perfect!
Standard Slide Sizes Explained
Google Slides comes with a few built-in options for slide sizes, and each one has its own vibe:
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Widescreen 16:9: This is the popular pick for most folks. It’s wide and works great on modern screens like laptops or projectors—ideal for online meetings too.
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Standard 4:3: A bit old-school, this size suits older screens or printing needs. It’s less wide, so it’s handy if you’re avoiding a stretched look.
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Widescreen 16:10: Not as common, but it’s awesome for taller designs. Think tablets or displays that need a little extra height.
Picking the right one depends on how you’ll use your slides. Widescreen 16:9 is usually a safe bet for most situations.
Step-by-Step: Changing Slide Size
Ready to adjust your slides? Here’s how to do it in Google Slides:
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Open your presentation.
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Click File at the top.
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Choose Page setup from the menu.
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A box pops up with options: Widescreen 16:9, Standard 4:3, Widescreen 16:10, or Custom.
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Click the one you want. (If you pick Custom, you’ll type in your own numbers—more on that soon.)
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Hit Apply or OK, and you’re done!
One thing to know: this changes every slide in your deck. You can’t mix and match sizes, so double-check it works for all your content.
How to Set Slide Size to A4
Need to print your slides on A4 paper? No problem—A4 is 8.27 x 11.69 inches, and here’s how to set it up:
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Go to File > Page setup.
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Select Custom from the dropdown.
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Type 8.27 inches for width and 11.69 inches for height. (Or use centimeters: 21 cm x 29.7 cm.)
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Click Apply or OK.
After this, your slides might look a little wonky—text or pictures could shift. Just drag things around a bit to tidy it up, and you’ll be ready to print.
Quick Tips for Success
Changing sizes is easy, but here are some tricks to keep everything looking sharp:
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Fix your content: After resizing, check each slide. Move images or text that don’t fit anymore.
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Backup first: Save a copy of your original file before you start messing with sizes—just in case!
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Match the screen: If you’re presenting, pick a size that fits the projector or monitor to avoid weird borders.
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Printing prep: For handouts, stick to A4 or your paper’s size so it prints without extra tweaking.
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Team heads-up: Working with others? Tell them the slide size so everyone’s on the same page.
These little habits can save you headaches and make your slides pop.
Conclusion
There you go—you’re now a pro at changing slide sizes in Google Slides! Whether it’s widescreen for a big screen, A4 for printing, or custom dimensions for something special, you’ve got the know-how.
FAQ: Changing Slide Size in Google Slides
Q1: How do I make my Google Slides widescreen?
A: Go to File > Page Setup > Widescreen (16:9). This is the best format for modern projectors, laptop screens, and Zoom presentations. It prevents black bars and fills most displays perfectly!
Q2: Can I set Google Slides to A4 for printing?
A: Go to File, pick Page Setup, and select Custom, then type 8.27 by 11.69 inches. It’s A4 size! Press Ctrl or Cmd + Z if things look weird or stretched out. Check your slides before you print them!
Q3: Why can’t I use different slide sizes in one deck?
A: Google Slides applies sizing to all slides uniformly. For mixed formats, create separate decks or use design workarounds like image backgrounds that mimic size variations.
Q4: What custom dimensions work for social media?
A: Use 1080 by 1080 pixels for Instagram posts to make them square. It’s a clean look! For LinkedIn carousels, set slides to 1920 by 1080 pixels for a wide shape. Match the platform’s size to avoid weird cropping!
Q5: My text looks messy after resizing. How do I fix it?
A: Resizing can shift text boxes/images. Quickly tidy up by:
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Selecting misaligned elements
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Using arrow keys for precision nudging
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Holding Shift while resizing images to keep proportions
Q6: Is 16:9 or 4:3 better for presentations?
A: Widescreen (16:9) fits most screens and YouTube videos perfectly. It’s super common! Pick Standard (4:3) for old projectors or printable handouts needing extra height. That’s when it works best!
Q7: Can I save custom sizes to reuse later?
A: While Google Slides doesn’t save presets, note your pixel dimensions or inch measurements in a template slide. Copy-paste it into new decks for consistent sizing!
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