How to Change Google Slides Dimensions Step by Step

When you are seeking solutions on how to change Google Slides dimensions, you may need to make your slides fit the display screen, print them as handouts, or upload them to a vertical-displaying social media platform. Luckily, Google Slides gives diverse dimensions for you to choose from: 4:3, 16:9, or 16:10. You can even customize the slide size as you want.

In the following parts, you can see a detailed introduction for each default dimension and when to use it. Moreover, steps for changing the size of Google Slides are provided as well.

What are the Dimensions of a Google Slides by Default?

Before going to the steps for changing the Google Slides sizes, let’s have a further understanding of each size, like its pixel and inch sizes, so that you can choose the most suitable one to apply to your slides.

Dimension	Introduction	Pixel Size	Inch Size
Standard 4:3	The Standard 4:3 is a traditional, more square-like format for presentations in Google Slides. It is taller than the other 2 default dimensions.	1024 x 768 pixels	10 x 7.5 inches
Widescreen 16:9	The Widescreen 16:9 is the default size when you create a new slide deck on Google Slides. This size can match most modern displays.	1920 x 1080 pixels (Full HD)	10 x 5.63 inches
Widescreen 16:10	This dimension is less common compared with the above 2 dimensions. However, it is the right size for high-end computer monitors and many business laptops.	1920 x 1200 pixels	10 x 6.25 inches

Google Slides Dimensions for Different Scenarios

After reading the previous part, you must have a basic impression of Standard 4:3, Widescreen 16:9, and Widescreen 16:10. But when to use these dimensions? There are some scenarios you can refer to.

➤ Standard 4:3

This dimension is a standard size for older devices. If your device is old or you need to cast the slides to an old TV, it is a good choice.
The 4:3 size is near a square. Therefore, you can have much space in vertical, which is perfect for displaying the entire texts, large diagrams, and detailed charts.
You can easily convert slides in this size to standard paper size, like US Letter or A4, making it convenient for printing.

➤ Widescreen 16:9

16:9 is wider than 4:3, making it ideal for content that benefits from a horizontal layout, such as high-resolution photos, videos, timelines, and charts.
This dimension can fit most modern displays. If you change the slide dimension to 16:9, it can fill the entire screen without stretching or squishing.

➤ Widescreen 16:10

You just need a dimension a little taller than 16:9.
Your presentation is primarily going to be viewed or presented from a laptop or desktop monitor, which displays images in 16:10.
The slides need a border. Thus, you need a taller dimension than 16:9.

How to Change Google Slides Dimensions [Default Size]

After gaining a clear understanding of the sizes and usages of each dimension, the crucial next step is learning how to change size of a Google Slides. Regardless of whether you intend to switch to one of the default dimensions, the steps are the same.

Step 1. Open Google Slides and navigate to the “File” option in the upper-left corner.

Step 2. Click on the “File” button, scroll the dropdown menu, and select “Page Setup“.

Step 3. In the pop-up window, click the downward arrow to choose Standard 4:3, Widescreen 16:9, or Widescreen 16:10 at your will.

Step 4. Click “Apply” to apply the selected dimension to your slides.

💡 Note: The default measurement unit in Google Slides is inches. If you prefer other units, you can:

Select “Tools” in the upper bar.
Choose “Preferences“.
Scroll the pop-up window and choose Inches, Centimeters, or Pixels under “Use measurement unit preferences“. Then, click “OK” to apply it.

Although switching dimensions is easy to practice, it is recommended to choose the most suitable dimension or template before adding the content to the slides, in order to avoid text shifting, image stretching, or misaligned elements. For example, if you plan to export the slides as a video, you can choose 16:9. Or, if you want to print them, 4:3 is a better option.

How to Change Google Slides Dimensions [Custom Size]

On Google Slides, except for choosing the default dimension, you can also customize the slide dimension with your preferred width and height.

Step 1. Open Google Slides and go to the “Page Setup” window.

Step 2. Click the downward arrow and “Custom“.

Step 3. Fill the width and height boxes with your preferences. Here you can change the measurement unit to Inches, Centimeters, Points, or Pixels.

⭐ 1 inch = 2.54 centimeters = 72 points = 96 pixels (Windows standard) / 72 pixels (old macOS or design standard) / 300 pixels (print quality)

Step 4. Tap on the “Apply” button to use this dimension for your slides.

💡 Note: If you plan to convert your slides to vertical, when you add content to them, use bigger fonts to make your audience see clearly.

Conclusion

In this post, you can see the details of 3 default Google Slides dimensions as Standard 4:3, Widescreen 16:9, and Widescreen 16:10. Whether you want to change to which dimension, you can go to: File > Page Setup and select a suitable dimension. Moreover, you can set a customizable dimension by entering the width and height.

Additionally, switching the slide dimension may bring some unexpected changes. Therefore, consider the presentation purpose, content layout, output format, and image quality before practicing the steps.