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How to Do a Custom Size on Canva?

Published in Canva Design Dimensions 4 mins read

Creating a custom-sized design in Canva allows you to perfectly tailor your graphics for specific platforms, print needs, or unique projects, giving you complete control over your design's dimensions.

Whether you're using Canva on a desktop browser or the mobile app, the process for setting custom dimensions is straightforward, enabling you to start with a blank canvas that fits your exact requirements.

Steps to Create a Custom Size Design

The method to access the custom size option varies slightly between the desktop and mobile versions of Canva, but the core steps remain consistent.

On the Mobile App:

  1. Locate the Button: From your Home screen, look for a prominent button, typically a plus sign (+) located in the bottom corner.
  2. Tap Custom Size: Tapping this button will open options, one of which will be "Custom size." Tap on it.
  3. Set Dimensions: A window will appear where you can input your desired width and height.
  4. Select Unit: To choose your design's dimension unit (e.g., px, in, cm, mm), tap on the dropdown menu usually found next to the dimension input fields.
  5. Create Design: Enter your exact width and height, select the unit, and then confirm to open your new custom-sized canvas.

On the Desktop Version:

  1. Click "Create a Design": On the Canva homepage, you'll usually find a "Create a design" button in the top right corner.
  2. Select "Custom size": Clicking this will reveal a dropdown menu. At the bottom of this menu, you'll find the "Custom size" option.
  3. Enter Dimensions: Input your desired width and height into the respective fields.
  4. Choose Unit: Use the dropdown menu next to the dimension fields to select your preferred unit (e.g., px, in, cm, mm).
  5. Create New Design: Once dimensions and units are set, click "Create new design" to open your blank custom canvas.

Understanding Dimension Units

Selecting the correct unit is crucial for ensuring your design appears as intended, whether for digital display or print.

  • Pixels (px): This is the standard unit for all digital designs, including social media graphics, website banners, and presentations. It defines the number of individual dots of color that make up an image.
  • Inches (in), Centimeters (cm), Millimeters (mm): These units are essential for print materials such as flyers, posters, business cards, and invitations. They ensure your design prints to the correct physical size.

Practical Tips for Custom Sizing

  • Know Your Target: Always confirm the exact dimensions and units required for your project before you start. For instance, specific social media platforms or print services often have precise size guidelines.
  • Consider Resolution for Print: If designing for print, even when using inches or centimeters, consider that a higher pixel density (e.g., 300 DPI equivalent) generally results in sharper print quality. While Canva handles many conversions, understanding this helps ensure your output is crisp.
  • Save Your Sizes: Canva often remembers your recently used custom dimensions, making it convenient to reuse them for consistent branding or recurring projects.
  • Preview and Test: Before finalizing, especially for print or specific web placements, always preview your design to ensure all elements fit correctly within your custom dimensions and nothing is cut off or distorted.

Common Custom Size Scenarios

Custom sizes are invaluable for a wide range of applications. Here are a few examples:

Purpose Example Dimensions Unit Notes
Unique Social Banner 1200 x 600 Pixels For blog headers or specific ad sizes
Small Business Flyer 5.5 x 8.5 Inches Common half-letter size for print
Custom Website Graphic 960 x 300 Pixels Specific section on a webpage
Print Invitation 5 x 7 Inches Standard size for cards and invitations
Digital Ad Banner 300 x 250 Pixels Common size for web advertising

For more general guidance on creating designs in Canva, you can refer to the Canva Help Center.