Gixo Lumen · deck how-to
PowerPoint Slide Dimensions
PowerPoint's default is 16:9 widescreen at 13.333 × 7.5 inches. The 4:3 standard is 10 × 7.5 inches. The size that matters is the one the room's projector expects — and changing it after the deck is built is where the damage happens.
Last reviewed: August 2026
Standard slide sizes
| Format | Inches | Centimetres | Pixels at 96 DPI |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16:9 widescreen (default) | 13.333 × 7.5 | 33.87 × 19.05 | 1280 × 720 |
| 16:9 at higher resolution | 13.333 × 7.5 | 33.87 × 19.05 | 1920 × 1080 |
| 4:3 standard | 10 × 7.5 | 25.4 × 19.05 | 960 × 720 |
| A4 portrait | 8.27 × 11.69 | 21.0 × 29.7 | 794 × 1123 |
| A4 landscape | 11.69 × 8.27 | 29.7 × 21.0 | 1123 × 794 |
How to change slide size
What actually matters about slide size
- 16:9 is right for almost everything now. Modern projectors, TVs and video calls are widescreen; 4:3 leaves black bars.
- Ask before a conference talk. Some venues still run 4:3, and discovering that on stage is expensive.
- Portrait is for documents, not talks. A4 portrait decks are for printed leave-behinds and reports.
- Pixel dimensions only matter for export. PowerPoint works in inches or centimetres; pixels apply when exporting images.
- Never rescale a finished deck if you can avoid it. Rebuilding at the right size is often faster than repairing a rescaled one.
Free Gixo tools for this
Each of these runs in the browser and needs no account.
Frequently asked questions
What is the standard PowerPoint slide size?
16:9 widescreen at 13.333 × 7.5 inches, which is 33.87 × 19.05 cm. It has been the default for modern PowerPoint versions, replacing the older 4:3 standard of 10 × 7.5 inches.
What size is a 16:9 slide in pixels?
1280 × 720 at 96 DPI, or 1920 × 1080 if you need full HD for image export. PowerPoint itself works in inches or centimetres; pixel size only becomes relevant when exporting.
Should I use 16:9 or 4:3?
16:9 for almost everything, because modern displays and video calls are widescreen. Use 4:3 only when you know the venue's projector requires it.
How do I change slide size without breaking the deck?
Set the size before building. If you must change it later, choose 'Ensure Fit' to scale content down, then check every slide — grouped shapes, images and charts usually need manual repair.
What size should a printed deck be?
A4 or Letter in portrait if it is a document to be read. Presenting decks and printed leave-behinds are different formats and are worth building separately.
Build the deck, not just the slide
Gixo Lumen turns your material into a sequenced deck across 30 slide layouts and 37 themes. Building manually from a blank deck is free and unlimited, and PPTX export carries no paywall.