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 the stated DPI |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16:9 widescreen (default) | 13.333 × 7.5 | 33.87 × 19.05 | 1280 × 720 at 96 DPI |
| 16:9 at higher resolution | 13.333 × 7.5 | 33.87 × 19.05 | 1920 × 1080 at 144 DPI |
| 4:3 standard | 10 × 7.5 | 25.4 × 19.05 | 960 × 720 at 96 DPI |
| A4 portrait | 8.27 × 11.69 | 21.0 × 29.7 | 794 × 1123 at 96 DPI |
| A4 landscape | 11.69 × 8.27 | 29.7 × 21.0 | 1123 × 794 at 96 DPI |
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.
More presentation guides
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 26 slide layouts and 34 themes. Building manually from a blank deck is unlimited and uses no generation capacity with an active Lumen trial or plan, and PPTX export carries no paywall.
Updated