Lately, I’ve been getting a lot of questions about the canvas size in Power BI. Or maybe I’ve just been seeing too many reports that look... off. Some are stretched across massive screens like a Hollywood blockbuster, while others are crammed into tiny spaces where insights have to fight for air.
Here’s the thing: there’s no one-size-fits-all solution. Choosing the right canvas size in Power BI is like picking the right space—are you working with a compact office, a spacious open workspace, or a full-scale presentation hall? The size you choose defines what fits, how users navigate it, and how effective it will be.
The same goes for your Power BI report—get the size wrong, and your users will struggle with cluttered visuals, excessive scrolling, or awkward gaps. Or worse, you’ll create a report that looks amazing on your screen but completely breaks when someone else opens it.
Trust me, I’ve seen it—an ultrawide masterpiece designed for the boss’s fancy monitor… except no one else at the company had that monitor.
So let’s break it down: when to stick with the defaults, when to go custom, and how to make sure your report is actually user-friendly.
Start With Your Users, Not the Defaults
Power BI’s default canvas size is 1280x720 (16:9)—which technically works, but let’s be honest… who’s still using 720p displays in 2025? 🙃
If you want your reports to feel polished and professional, bump it up to 1920x1080 (16:9). It's the same aspect ratio, but with way more pixels! That means:
✔ More space for visuals without feeling cluttered.
✔ Crisper text and sharper charts for better readability.
✔ A modern, high-res look that matches today’s screens.
Why stick to 16:9?
It’s the standard aspect ratio for most laptops and monitors.
It scales beautifully across different screen sizes without weird cutoffs or unnecessary scrolling.
Power BI already defaults to 16:9, so keeping this ratio ensures consistency—just with more pixels for a cleaner look.
💡 Heads-up: If you resize a report from 1280x720 → 1920x1080, your visuals might need adjusting. Some elements may look too small, so take a moment to resize and rearrange to make the most of the extra space.
When to Customize Canvas Size in Power BI
Your users aren’t one-size-fits-all, so your canvas shouldn’t be either. Here’s how to adapt it based on your audience:
1. Everyday Laptop Users → Stick with 1920x1080 (16:9)
Why? It’s spacious enough for visuals without overwhelming your audience.
💡 UX Tip: Design with a no-scroll mindset—your key insights should be immediately visible. Nobody wants to hunt for them.
2. Mobile or Tablet Users → Optimize for Smaller Screens
Why? A desktop report crammed onto a mobile screen = frustration.
How? Use Mobile View in Power BI to rearrange visuals for a swipe-friendly layout of the most important insights.
💡 UX Tip: Mobile users need bite-sized, scannable insights—not just a mini version of your desktop report.
3. Infographic-Style or Print-Ready Reports → Use A3 (or Larger)
Why? A3-sized canvases (297x420 mm or 1122x1587 px) are great when designing infographics, executive summaries, or reports meant for high-quality printing.
Best Use Cases:
Infographic-style reports that need more space for storytelling.
Reports that will be printed in high resolution for boardrooms or conferences.
Multi-section reports where fitting everything onto one page is a priority.
Be Careful: While A3 is great for print, it’s not ideal for digital viewing. Large pages may require zooming or scrolling, making interactive analysis harder.
💡 UX Tip: If you’re designing for both print and digital, consider making two versions—one A3 for print, and one 1920x1080 for on-screen readability
4. Big Displays (e.g., Kiosks, TVs) → 2560x1440 or Larger
Why? Your visuals need to look crisp and readable from a distance.
💡 UX Tip: Test it on the actual display before the big presentation—you don’t want surprises!
5. Tooltip Pages → Keep It Small (e.g. 320x240 or 400x300 px)
Why? Tooltips should pop up seamlessly without overwhelming the main report.
💡 UX Tip: Keep tooltips minimal—highlight only the most critical metrics or visuals.
Key UX Design Principles for Canvas Size
A well-designed Power BI report isn’t just about picking the right canvas—it’s about making sure users can navigate and interact with it effortlessly.
User-Centric Design → Think about where and how your audience will view the report. A CEO glancing at their phone needs something different from an analyst deep-diving into data on a desktop.
No Scrolling, No Guessing → Design with clarity. Your insights should be front and center—no endless scrolling, no hiding key metrics behind interactions.
Optimize Readability → Bigger isn’t always better. Pick a canvas size that fits the content without overwhelming your users.
Test Across Devices → Open your report on the same screens your users will be using—laptops, external monitors, or mobile. Power BI’s 'Fit to Page' can help catch layout issues before publishing.
Final Thoughts: Keep It Simple, Keep It Smart
When in doubt, stick to 1920x1080 (16:9). It works for most users, scales well, and keeps your report looking clean and professional.
For tooltips? Think small and sharp—tiny canvases with just enough information.
And always, design for your users, not for the tool. Because whether it’s someone with an ultrawide monitor or a team squinting at their laptops, the real question to ask is:
Who am I designing this for?
Your Turn!
How do you choose the right canvas size for your Power BI reports? Have you ever designed a report that looked amazing on your screen but broke on someone else’s? Let’s chat in the comments!
And as always, don't forget to subscribe to MoonStory! Happy Designing!