How to Make a Poster in PowerPoint

Create printable posters in any size you need

by
Scott Orgera
Scott Orgera
Writer
Scott Orgera is a former writer who covering tech since 2007. He has 25+ years experience as a programmer and QA leader, and holds several Microsoft certifications.
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Scott Orgera
Updated on September 11, 2020

PowerPoint is a great tool for creating slideshows and other types of presentations. It also displays multimedia in formats not readily available in its companion Microsoft Office applications like Word or Excel. Another useful yet lesser-known feature in PowerPoint is the ability to create printable posters, both large and small in size.

Information in this article applies to PowerPoint for Microsoft 365, PowerPoint 2019, PowerPoint 2016, PowerPoint 2013, and PowerPoint for Mac.

Define Your PowerPoint Poster Size

When creating a poster in PowerPoint, the first thing you need to do is define its size.

The maximum slide size in PowerPoint is 56x56 inches. If you need a larger poster, set the dimensions to half the size of your desired output in width and height. Then, when you print the poster, set the output to 200%.

  1. Open PowerPoint.

    Microsoft PowerPoint icon on macOS

  2. Choose an existing template or open a blank presentation.

    Template chooser for Microsoft PowerPoint in macOS

  3. Select the Design tab, located near the upper-left corner of the PowerPoint interface.

    Design tab in Microsoft PowerPoint for Windows 10

    On a Mac, select File > Page Setup and enter a custom poster size.

  4. Select Slide Size > Custom Slide Size.

    Select Slide Size and then Custom Slide Size

  5. In the Slide Size dialog box, select Portrait or Landscape, enter the width and height for your poster, then select OK.

    Slide size dialog box

    Common poster sizes (in inches) include 11x17, 18x24, 24x36, 27x41, 48x36 and 56x36. Your printer must support these sizes.

  6. A message asks if you want to maximize the size of the content or scale it down to ensure it will fit on the new slide. Select Ensure Fit.

    Ensure fit button in Slide Size dialog for Microsoft PowerPoint in Windows 10

    On a Mac, go to File > Page Setup > Options > Paper Size. Select Manage Custom Sizes, and then enter the page size for your poster. Select OK. In Page Setup, enter the width and height, then select Portrait or Landscape.

  7. You've successfully set your poster size.

Add Content to Your PowerPoint Poster

Back in the main PowerPoint interface, it's time to create your poster content. You'll use only one slide for a poster, so make sure all the content fits.

Creating content for a PowerPoint poster is essentially the same as creating content for a presentation slide. What you see is what you get. Take your time with details such as background and fonts as well as image and text placement, making sure your poster will stand out once it's printed.

Print Your PowerPoint Poster

If you've defined the slide size and completed the design, it's time to print your poster. Make sure you have the proper paper loaded and that the printer is online and seen by your computer.

To print a poster:

  1. Go to File > Print.

    Go to File > Print

    On a Mac, in the Print dialog box, check the print settings, select Scale to Fit Paper, and then select Print.

  2. Select Print Full Page Slides.

    Select Print Full Page Slides

  3. Check the preview and settings, and then select Print.

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