The fastest way to change your document size

Open your document in Adobe Illustrator, then go to File > Document Setup. In the dialog box that opens, you will see the Width and Height fields under the Artboard section. Change these numbers to your new dimensions, choose your unit of measurement from the dropdown (inches, centimeters, pixels, points, or picas), and click OK. Your artboard resizes when ready.

If you have multiple artboards in the same document, this method changes only the artboard you currently have selected. To change all artboards at once, select all of them first by clicking the first artboard, then holding Shift and clicking the others in the Artboards panel on the right side of your screen.

Key Takeaways

  • Document Setup (File > Document Setup) is where you change width and height for your artboard.
  • You can type in any unit of measurement — Illustrator converts automatically between inches, centimeters, pixels, points, and picas.
  • If your document has multiple artboards, you must select each one individually or select all of them before resizing.
  • The Artboard tool in the left toolbar lets you resize and reposition artboards by dragging their edges directly on the canvas.
  • Changing document size does not automatically resize objects already on your artboard — they stay their original size unless you scale them separately.

Using the Artboard tool to resize visually

If you prefer to resize by dragging rather than typing numbers, use the Artboard tool. Click it in the left toolbar (it looks like a rectangle with corner handles), then click the artboard you want to resize. The artboard now shows corner and edge handles you can drag to make it larger or smaller.

Drag any corner handle to resize both width and height at once while keeping the artboard proportional. Drag an edge handle to change only that dimension. You can also move the entire artboard by clicking and dragging inside it. This method is useful when you want to see your content in real time as you adjust the size.

Changing units of measurement

Illustrator lets you type dimensions in any unit, and it converts automatically. In Document Setup, you can enter 8.5in for 8.5 inches, 21.6cm for 21.6 centimeters, or 72pt for 72 points — the software understands all of them. This is faster than converting units yourself or changing your default measurement system.

If you want to change the default unit for your entire workspace, go to Edit > Preferences (on Windows) or Illustrator > Preferences (on Mac), then select Units from the left menu. Choose your preferred unit for rulers and type, and it will explore to all new documents you create.

What happens to your content when you resize

Changing the artboard size does not move or scale the objects you have already drawn. If your artboard was 8 inches wide and you shrink it to 4 inches, any shapes or text that extend beyond the new edge will still be there — they will just be outside the visible artboard boundary. You can still see and edit them; they straightforward will not print or export unless you move them back inside.

If you want to scale everything on your artboard proportionally when you resize, you must do that separately. Select all objects with Ctrl+A (Windows) or Cmd+A (Mac), then use Object > Transform > Scale to resize them as a group.

Resizing for specific print or web sizes

Illustrator includes preset sizes for common formats. In Document Setup, click the Preset dropdown at the top of the dialog. You will see options like Letter (8.5 × 11 inches), A4 (210 × 297 millimeters), and various social media dimensions. Select one and your artboard changes to that size when ready. You can still edit the width and height manually if the preset is close but not exact.

For web work, common presets include 1920 × 1080 pixels for desktop and 1080 × 1920 pixels for mobile. For print, Letter and A4 are standard for documents, while 8.5 × 11 inches at 300 DPI is typical for high-quality printing. Choose the preset closest to your needs, then adjust if necessary.

Handling multiple artboards

If your document contains multiple artboards of different sizes, you can resize them individually or in groups. Click the artboard you want to change in the Artboards panel (on the right side of your screen), then open Document Setup and change its dimensions. Only that artboard resizes.

To resize several artboards to the same size at once, select them all in the Artboards panel by clicking the first one, then holding Shift and clicking the others. Now when you open Document Setup and change the dimensions, all selected artboards resize together. This is useful when you are creating a series of graphics that need to be the same size.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change the artboard size without affecting my artwork?

Yes. The artboard is just a boundary — changing its size does not move or scale anything you have drawn. Objects stay exactly where they are. If they extend beyond the new artboard edge, they remain editable but will not print or export unless you move them back inside the boundary.

What if I need a non-standard size that is not in the presets?

Type the exact dimensions you need directly into the Width and Height fields in Document Setup. You can use any unit (inches, centimeters, pixels, points, picas) and Illustrator converts automatically. There is no limit to custom sizes.

How do I resize all artboards in my document at once?

Open the Artboards panel on the right, select all artboards by clicking the first one and then Shift-clicking the others, then open Document Setup and change the dimensions. All selected artboards resize together to the new size.

Does changing document size affect my export settings?

No. The artboard size determines what gets exported, but your export format, resolution, and color settings remain unchanged. When you export, Illustrator uses the current artboard boundaries to determine what is included in the file.

Can I save a custom size as a preset for future documents?

Illustrator does not have a built-in way to save custom presets in Document Setup, but you can save your document as a template. Create a document with your preferred size and settings, then go to File > Save as Template. The next time you create a new document, your template will appear in the template list.