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Academic Posters

  Academic Posters in PowerPoint (Written and Video Guides)

OS Selection

  Hint: Use this to change the instructions for your particular device (it will save your setting automatically)

 

Changing Slide Size

Head to the 'Design' tab, click 'Slide Size' on the far right, and then click 'Custom Slide Size'.

 

A screenshot displaying the location of the Design tab on PowerPoint.
A screenshot displaying the open 'Slide Size' option, and the location of the 'Custom Slide Size' option.

 

Enter the width and height that your poster needs to be (dimensions can be found below these instructions).

If you need to change the orientation of your Poster (after entering the dimensions), you can either click the 'Landscape' or 'Portrait' options under the 'Orientation' and 'Slides' option, then click 'OK', and then click the 'Ensure Fit' button.

 

A screenshot of the 'Slide Size' dialog, displaying the location of the Width and Height boxes and the 'OK' button.
A screenshot displaying the location of the 'Ensure Fit' button.

 

  Hint: The dimensions below are for Portrait posters, if you need a Landscape poster, swap the Width and Height dimensions or click the 'Landscape' option on the 'Custom Slide Size' dialog.
  • A0
    • Width: 84.1 cm
    • Height: 118.9 cm

 

  • A1
    • Width: 59.4 cm
    • Height: 84.1 cm

 

  • A2
    • Width: 42.0 cm
    • Height: 59.4 cm

 

  • A3
    • Width: 29.7 cm
    • Height: 42.0 cm

 

  • A4
    • Width: 21.0 cm
    • Height: 29.7 cm

 

For more dimensions, we recommend the two sites Papersizes.io and Papersizes.org, both sites allow you to view the dimensions of all paper sizes and types, in addition to changing the units they are displayed in.

  Hint: On both websites, the units option is a dropdown displayed in the top-right of the webpage.

 

  Next Steps: After you have adjusted your slide size, you are now ready to start creating your Academic Poster. Below you will find some recommendations and advice.

Recommended font sizes

 Note: Depending on the size of your poster, there are some recommended font sizes for you to use and those are listed below.
  Hint: Use clear and easy to read fonts, for example: Arial, Aptos, or Calibri
  • A0
    • Headings/Titles: 96 - 125 pt
    • Standard/Body Text: 44 - 60 pt

 

  • A1
    • Headings/Titles: 72 - 96 pt
    • Standard/Body Text: 32 - 44 pt

 

  • A2
    • Headings/Titles: 60 - 72 pt
    • Standard/Body Text: 24 - 32 pt

 

  • A3
    • Headings/Titles: 40 - 60 pt
    • Standard/Body Text: 18 - 24 pt

 

  • A4
    • Headings/Titles: 40 - 28 pt
    • Standard/Body Text: 14 - 18 pt

 

Further Recommendations


To make this guide shorter (and tidier), we have moved the 'Further Recommendations' section to its own page.


Using PowerPoint Stock Images.


To make this guide shorter (and tidier), we have moved the 'Using PowerPoint Stock Images' section to its own page.


Saving and Exporting in PowerPoint


To make this guide shorter (and tidier), we have moved the 'Saving and Exporting in PowerPoint' section to its own page.


 

Changing Slide Size

Head to the 'Design' tab, click 'Slide Size' on the far right, and then click 'Page Setup'.

 

A screenshot displaying the location of the Design tab on PowerPoint.
A screenshot displaying the open 'Slide Size' option, and the location of the 'Page Setup' option.

 

Enter the width and height that your poster needs to be (dimensions can be found below these instructions).

If you need to change the orientation of your Poster, you can click one of the two buttons under the 'Orientation' setting, specifically the 'Slides' option, the button to the left is for Portrait, and the button to the right is Landscape. (Screenshots with ALT text and further instructions can be found below).


Portrait Icon:

An icon of a blue arrow pointing up, with a piece of paper to the right of the arrow, with lines on the paper travelling horizontally

Landscape Icon:

An icon of a blue arrow pointing up, with a piece of paper to the right of the arrow, with lines on the paper travelling vertically

 

When you have entered your dimensions and chosen the orientation, click 'OK', and then click the 'Scale' option.


A screenshot of the 'Slide Size' dialog, displaying the location of the Width and Height boxes, the orientation options, and the 'OK' button.
A screenshot displaying the location of the 'Scale' button.

 

  Hint: The dimensions below are for Portrait posters, if you need a Landscape poster, either swap the Width and Height dimensions or click the 'Landscape' option on the 'Custom Slide Size' dialog.
  • A0
    • Width: 84.1 cm
    • Height: 118.9 cm

 

  • A1
    • Width: 59.4 cm
    • Height: 84.1 cm

 

  • A2
    • Width: 42.0 cm
    • Height: 59.4 cm

 

  • A3
    • Width: 29.7 cm
    • Height: 42.0 cm

 

  • A4
    • Width: 21.0 cm
    • Height: 29.7 cm

 

For more dimensions, we recommend the two sites Papersizes.io and Papersizes.org, both sites allow you to view the dimensions of all paper sizes and types, in addition to changing the units they are displayed in.

  Hint: On both websites, the units option is a dropdown displayed in the top-right of the webpage.

 

  Next Steps: After you have adjusted your slide size, you are now ready to start creating your Academic Poster. Below you will find some recommendations and advice.

Recommended font sizes

 Note: Depending on the size of your poster, there are some recommended font sizes for you to use and those are listed below.
  Hint: Use clear and easy to read fonts, for example: Arial, Aptos, or Calibri
  • A0
    • Headings/Titles: 96 - 125 pt
    • Standard/Body Text: 44 - 60 pt

 

  • A1
    • Headings/Titles: 72 - 96 pt
    • Standard/Body Text: 32 - 44 pt

 

  • A2
    • Headings/Titles: 60 - 72 pt
    • Standard/Body Text: 24 - 32 pt

 

  • A3
    • Headings/Titles: 40 - 60 pt
    • Standard/Body Text: 18 - 24 pt

 

  • A4
    • Headings/Titles: 40 - 28 pt
    • Standard/Body Text: 14 - 18 pt

 

Further Recommendations


To make this guide shorter (and tidier), we have moved the 'Further Recommendations' section to its own page.


Using PowerPoint Stock Images.


To make this guide shorter (and tidier), we have moved the 'Using PowerPoint Stock Images' section to its own page.


Saving and Exporting in PowerPoint


To make this guide shorter (and tidier), we have moved the 'Saving and Exporting in PowerPoint' section to its own page.


 

Changing Slide Size

 Note: If you are using an iPad/Android tablet, the app version of PowerPoint does not allow you to change the slide size, so to avoid this problem, it is recommended to access the online version of PowerPoint through your web browser (this being Safari, or Chrome, Edge, etc.) and creating your poster there.

Head to the 'Design' tab, click 'Slide Size' on the far right, and then click 'Custom Slide Size'.

 

A screenshot displaying the location of the Design tab on PowerPoint.
A screenshot displaying the open 'Slide Size' option, and the location of the 'Custom Slide Size' option.

 

 Note: For the online version, you need to enter your dimensions as inches as opposed to centimetres.

 

Enter the width and height that your poster needs to be (dimensions can be found below these instructions).

If you need to change the orientation of your Poster (after entering the dimensions), you can either click the 'Landscape' or 'Portrait' options under the 'Slide Orientation' option, leave the default option of 'Scale to Fit' selected, and, when you have adjusted your settings, click 'OK'.

 Note: Please ignore the 'Slide size for' dropdown as this will not have an effect when entering a custom width and height into the boxes.
A screenshot of the 'Slide Size' dialog, displaying the location of the Width and Height boxes, the orientation options, and the 'OK' button.

 

 

  Hint: The dimensions below are for Portrait posters, if you need a Landscape poster, swap the Width and Height dimensions or click the 'Landscape' option on the 'Custom Slide Size' dialog.

 

 Note: Remember, the online version of PowerPoint uses 'Inches' instead of 'Centimetres' as used on the desktop version, so please use the dimensions below for the online version of PowerPoint.

 

  • A0
    • Width: 33.1" (inches)
    • Height: 46.8" (inches)

 

  • A1
    • Width: 23.4" (Inches)
    • Height: 33.1" (Inches)

 

  • A2
    • Width: 16.5" (Inches)
    • Height: 23.4" (Inches)

 

  • A3
    • Width: 11.7" (Inches)
    • Height: 16.5" (Inches)

 

  • A4
    • Width: 8.3" (Inches)
    • Height: 11.7" (Inches)

 

For more dimensions, we recommend the two sites Papersizes.io and Papersizes.org, both sites allow you to view the dimensions of all paper sizes and types, in addition to changing the units they are displayed in.

  Hint: On both websites, the units option is a dropdown displayed in the top-right of the webpage.

 

  Next Steps: After you have adjusted your slide size, you are now ready to start creating your Academic Poster. Below you will find some recommendations and advice.

Recommended font sizes

 Note: Depending on the size of your poster, there are some recommended font sizes for you to use and those are listed below.
  Hint: Use clear and easy to read fonts, for example: Arial, Aptos, or Calibri
  • A0
    • Headings/Titles: 96 - 125 pt
    • Standard/Body Text: 44 - 60 pt

 

  • A1
    • Headings/Titles: 72 - 96 pt
    • Standard/Body Text: 32 - 44 pt

 

  • A2
    • Headings/Titles: 60 - 72 pt
    • Standard/Body Text: 24 - 32 pt

 

  • A3
    • Headings/Titles: 40 - 60 pt
    • Standard/Body Text: 18 - 24 pt

 

  • A4
    • Headings/Titles: 40 - 28 pt
    • Standard/Body Text: 14 - 18 pt

 

Further Recommendations


To make this guide shorter (and tidier), we have moved the 'Further Recommendations' section to its own page.


Using PowerPoint Stock Images.


To make this guide shorter (and tidier), we have moved the 'Using PowerPoint Stock Images' section to its own page.


Saving and Exporting in PowerPoint


To make this guide shorter (and tidier), we have moved the 'Saving and Exporting in PowerPoint' section to its own page.


 

Example Poster

 Note: The example poster below has not been marked or approved by any lecturer and should only be seen as a rough example of a poster.

Please DO NOT copy the layout / style exactly, as it may not be correct for your particular assignment / module, since some posters may require the addition or removal of certain elements, for example, reference lists and titles.

You should ALWAYS refer to your Module Handbook or ask your lecturer before starting your poster to ensure you will be meeting the requirements set.

 

Video Guides

  Hint: We have designed our video guides to be quick to follow, however, we understand if you don't want to/need to watch the entire thing, so you can skip to specific parts of the video without feeling lost.
  Please Explain: Above each video, you will find a toggle button, where after clicking it, you will be shown a table of contents, which lets you know the length of the entire video, and what times specific sections of the video are at (including how long that part is) so that you can skip around if needed.

 

Creating a PowerPoint file, resizing to a poster size, and saving your file


 

 Note: Where the videos listed below are for presentations, the information is still relevant to academic posters as the tools in the 'Insert' and 'Home' tab do not change when creating an Academic Poster.

Basic formatting and design


 

Inserting images, tables, charts, SmartArt, icons, and shapes


The Wrexham University Logo in White

This guide was last updated: Oct 14, 2025 4:30 PM