Poster size guide
A0 vs 36×48: set the real poster size before you design.
A0 and 36×48 inches are close in overall area, but they are different dimensions and different aspect ratios. Treat the conference specification as the source of truth.
A0 and 36×48 are not interchangeable
ISO A0 measures exactly 841 × 1189 mm. In inches, that is approximately 33.1 × 46.8. A 36 × 48 inch poster measures exactly 914.4 × 1219.2 mm. For landscape orientation, swap width and height; the physical sheet does not otherwise change. The 36 × 48 format is about 2.9 inches wider and 1.2 inches taller than A0 in portrait orientation.
| Format | Portrait (mm) | Portrait (in) | Landscape (in) |
|---|---|---|---|
| A0 | 841 × 1189 | 33.1 × 46.8 approx. | 46.8 × 33.1 approx. |
| 36 × 48 | 914.4 × 1219.2 | 36 × 48 exact | 48 × 36 exact |
Because their proportions differ, resizing a finished A0 layout to 36 × 48 can alter line breaks, spacing, image scale, and margins. Choose the specified format first instead of relying on a print shop to stretch or crop the file.
Set a custom PowerPoint page
- Open a new one-slide presentation in desktop PowerPoint.
- Choose Design → Slide Size → Custom Slide Size.
- Enter the required width and height. Use 33.11 × 46.81 inches for an A0 portrait slide when your PowerPoint installation accepts inches, or enter 841 mm × 1189 mm where metric input is available. Use 36 × 48 inches only when that is the stated requirement.
- Choose portrait or landscape, then confirm the change. On a blank file, either scaling prompt is harmless; on an existing layout, inspect every object after choosing.
- Reopen Slide Size and verify the stored dimensions. Keep the presentation to one poster slide so PDF export cannot accidentally include unrelated slides.
PowerPoint displays dimensions according to operating-system and regional settings. A decimal-inch conversion may be rounded in the interface, so check the exported PDF page size as part of preflight.
Check the rules before layout
- Is the published measurement a required size or a maximum board area?
- Does the width appear before the height, and is the required orientation explicit?
- Are headers, poster numbers, logos, or disclosure statements mandatory?
- Does the venue require a safety margin, bleed, crop marks, or a particular PDF standard?
- Will you print locally, carry a tube, or use the conference printer, and what is its cutoff?
Save the organizer’s current presenter instructions with your project. If the conference and printer disagree, ask both parties before exporting. Then use the PowerPoint poster preflight checklist to inspect fonts, figures, margins, and the PDF. If your schedule is compressed, follow the late-breaking poster sequence.