Open the Document Setup dialog to resize your canvas

To change your document size in Adobe Illustrator, go to File > Document Setup. This opens a dialog box where you can adjust the width and height of your artboard. The measurements appear in the fields labeled Width and Height—change these numbers to whatever size you need, then click OK.

The unit of measurement (inches, centimeters, pixels, or points) appears next to each number. If you need a different unit, click the dropdown menu next to the measurement and select from the list. For example, if your document shows inches but you need millimeters, click the dropdown and choose Millimeters.

Your artboard resizes when ready after you click OK. Any artwork already on the canvas stays in place—the canvas straightforward grows or shrinks around it. If your artwork extends beyond the new artboard edge, those parts remain but won't print or export unless you move them back onto the visible canvas.

Key Takeaways

  • Document Setup is found under File menu and controls the overall artboard size for your entire document.
  • You can change width and height separately and switch between measurement units (inches, centimeters, pixels, points) using the dropdown menu.
  • Resizing the document does not move or delete artwork—it only changes the canvas boundary.
  • If you have multiple artboards, Document Setup changes only the active artboard; use the Artboards panel to resize others individually.

Resize a single artboard using the Artboards panel

If your document contains multiple artboards and you want to change only one, use the Artboards panel instead. Open it by going to Window > Artboards. The panel shows a list of all artboards in your document. Click the artboard you want to resize to select it.

Once selected, look at the right side of the Artboards panel for the artboard properties. You will see fields for Width and Height. Enter your new dimensions directly into these fields and press Enter. The selected artboard resizes while all others remain unchanged. This method is faster than Document Setup if you only need to adjust one artboard.

Use the Artboard tool to resize by dragging

For a visual approach, select the Artboard tool from the left toolbar (it looks like a rectangle with corner handles). Click on the artboard you want to resize. The artboard now shows corner and edge handles—small squares at the corners and midpoints of the artboard boundary.

Drag any corner handle to resize both width and height at once. Drag an edge handle to resize only that dimension. Hold Shift while dragging a corner to maintain the aspect ratio as you resize. This method is useful when you want to see the change happen in real time on your canvas.

Set a preset document size when creating a new file

If you are starting a new document, you can choose a preset size before you begin. Go to File > New. The New Document dialog shows a list of presets on the left side: Print, Web, Mobile, Film & Video, and Art & Illustration. Click any category to see preset sizes within it.

For example, clicking Print shows options like Letter, Legal, A4, and A3. Clicking Web shows preset dimensions for common screen sizes. Select the preset that matches your project, and Illustrator creates a new document at that size. You can still adjust the width and height manually in the dialog before clicking Create if the preset is not exactly what you need.

Understand the difference between artboard size and canvas size

In Illustrator, artboard size and canvas size are not the same thing. The artboard is the visible, printable area—what you see as the white rectangle on screen. The canvas is the entire workspace, which extends beyond the artboard. You can place artwork outside the artboard, but it will not print or export unless you move it back inside.

When you change document size using File > Document Setup, you are changing the artboard size. The canvas itself is infinite and does not have a size limit. This distinction matters if you are working with artwork that extends beyond your intended print area—you can keep it on the canvas for reference without it affecting your final output.

Export your resized document at the correct dimensions

After you resize your document, make sure your export settings match your new artboard size. Go to File > Export As (or Export in older versions). In the export dialog, look for an option that says Use Artboards or All Artboards. Check this box if you want to export at the artboard dimensions you just set.

For formats like PDF or PNG, the export will use your artboard size by default. For other formats, you may need to specify the export size manually. Always preview the export settings before saving to confirm the dimensions are correct. A quick way to check is to open the exported file and measure it—most image viewers and PDF readers show file dimensions in the properties or info panel.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens to my artwork when I make the artboard smaller?

Your artwork stays in place. If it extends beyond the new artboard edge, those parts remain on the canvas but fall outside the printable area. You can move the artwork back onto the artboard by selecting it with the Selection tool and dragging it, or you can reposition the artboard itself using the Artboard tool.

Can I have different artboard sizes in the same document?

Yes. Each artboard can have its own dimensions. Use the Artboards panel or the Artboard tool to resize individual artboards independently. This is useful when you are designing multiple layouts—for example, a business card, a letterhead, and a poster all in one file.

How do I change the document size for print?

Go to File > Document Setup and set the width and height to match your print specifications. Common print sizes are Letter (8.5 × 11 inches), A4 (210 × 297 millimeters), or custom dimensions your printer requires. Make sure your artwork fits within the artboard boundary before sending to print.

What unit should I use for web design?

Pixels are the standard unit for web and screen design. In Document Setup, change the unit dropdown to Pixels and set your dimensions to match your target screen size—for example, 1920 × 1080 for a desktop layout or 375 × 667 for a mobile design.

Can I undo a document size change?

Yes. Press Ctrl + Z (Windows) or Command + Z (Mac) when ready after resizing to undo the change. You can also go to Edit > Undo Document Setup if you made other changes in between.