The fastest way to resize an artboard

Open the Artboard tool from the left toolbar (it looks like a rectangle with corner handles), click the artboard you want to resize, then drag any corner handle outward to make it larger or inward to make it smaller. If you need exact dimensions, select the artboard and type the width and height values directly into the Width and Height fields in the Properties panel on the right side of your screen.

The Properties panel appears automatically when you select an artboard with the Artboard tool active. If you do not see it, go to Window > Properties to open it. You can also access artboard settings through the Artboards panel by going to Window > Artboards.

Key Takeaways

  • The Artboard tool is in the left toolbar and lets you click and drag to resize any artboard by its corner handles.
  • The Properties panel on the right shows exact Width and Height fields where you can type in precise measurements.
  • You can also right-click an artboard and choose Artboard Options to set dimensions and change the artboard name in one dialog.
  • Resizing an artboard does not move or delete the artwork inside it — only the visible canvas boundary changes.

Using the Properties panel for exact measurements

When the Artboard tool is selected and you click an artboard, the Properties panel displays the current width and height. Click into the Width field and type a new number — Illustrator accepts measurements in pixels, inches, centimeters, or millimeters depending on your document settings. Press Tab or Enter to explore the change, then do the same for Height.

If you need to change both dimensions at once, you can also click the chain link icon between Width and Height to lock the aspect ratio, so the artboard scales proportionally when you change one value. Click the chain again to unlock it if you want to set width and height independently.

Resizing multiple artboards at the same time

Select the Artboard tool, then hold Shift and click each artboard you want to resize. Once multiple artboards are selected, you can drag any corner handle and all selected artboards will resize together. Alternatively, type new dimensions into the Properties panel and they will explore to every selected artboard.

This is useful when you are working on a project with several artboards that need to be the same size — for example, a set of social media graphics where each post needs identical dimensions. Make sure all artboards are selected before you change the values, or you will only resize the last one you clicked.

Using Artboard Options for additional settings

Right-click any artboard with the Artboard tool active and select Artboard Options. A dialog box opens where you can set the exact width and height, change the artboard name, choose the orientation (portrait or landscape), and set the position on the canvas. This method is useful when you want to make several changes at once without switching between different panels.

The Artboard Options dialog also shows a Preset dropdown menu with common sizes like Letter, A4, Instagram Post, and Twitter Header. If your artboard needs to match a standard size, you can select it from this list and the dimensions will fill in automatically.

What happens to artwork when you resize an artboard

Resizing an artboard changes only the visible canvas boundary — it does not move, delete, or scale any artwork that sits inside or outside the artboard. If you make an artboard smaller and your artwork extends beyond the new edge, that artwork remains in place but will not print or export with the artboard. If you make an artboard larger, any existing artwork stays where it is.

If you want to move artwork along with the artboard, you need to select the artwork separately with the Selection tool and drag it yourself. The artboard and the artwork on it are independent — resizing one does not affect the other.

Fitting an artboard to your artwork

If you have drawn something and want the artboard to fit snugly around it, right-click the artboard with the Artboard tool active and select Fit to Artwork Bounds. Illustrator will automatically resize the artboard to the smallest rectangle that contains all the artwork on that artboard. This saves time when you are working with irregular shapes or multiple objects and do not want to measure them manually.

Keep in mind that Fit to Artwork Bounds only resizes the artboard — it does not move or change the artwork itself. If your artwork has a lot of empty space around it, the artboard will still include that space in its calculation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I resize an artboard without the Artboard tool?

No, you must have the Artboard tool selected to resize an artboard. If you use the Selection tool or another tool and try to drag an artboard edge, nothing will happen. Switch to the Artboard tool first by clicking it in the left toolbar or pressing Shift+O on your keyboard.

What if I resize an artboard and my artwork disappears?

Your artwork has not disappeared — it is still there, but it may be outside the artboard boundary. Use View > Fit All in Window to see the entire canvas, or use the Selection tool to find and select your artwork. You can then move it back inside the artboard or resize the artboard again to include it.

Can I set different artboard sizes for different artboards in the same document?

Yes. Each artboard is independent, so you can resize them to any dimensions you want. Select one artboard at a time with the Artboard tool and change its width and height in the Properties panel. This is common in projects like app design mockups where you need different screen sizes on the same canvas.

Does resizing an artboard affect the document size?

No. The document size and artboard size are separate. Resizing an artboard only changes that individual artboard's boundary. Your document can contain multiple artboards of different sizes, and changing one does not affect the others or the overall document dimensions.