How to resize an artboard in Photoshop

Open the Artboard Tool from the left toolbar (it looks like a rectangle with corner marks), then click on the artboard you want to resize. In the options bar at the top, you'll see width and height fields showing the current dimensions. Change these numbers to your target size, or drag the corner handles on the artboard itself to resize it visually. Press Enter to confirm the change.

If you don't see the Artboard Tool in your toolbar, go to Tools > Artboard Tool, or press Shift+O on your keyboard. The tool works the same way whether you're resizing a single artboard or one of several on the same canvas.

When you resize an artboard, the content inside it stays put — the artboard boundary straightforward moves. If you want to crop the content to fit the new size, you'll need to do that separately using the crop tool or by flattening and trimming the layer.

Key Takeaways

  • Select the Artboard Tool (Shift+O) and click the artboard you want to change.
  • Type new width and height values in the top options bar, or drag the corner handles to resize visually.
  • Resizing an artboard moves its boundary but does not automatically crop the layers inside it.
  • You can rename an artboard by double-clicking its name in the Layers panel and typing a new one.
  • Multiple artboards on the same canvas can have different sizes — change them one at a time.

Using the options bar to set exact dimensions

The fastest way to set a precise size is through the options bar. With the Artboard Tool selected and your artboard clicked, look at the top of the screen. You'll see W (width) and H (height) fields with the current measurements. Click in either field, clear the number, and type your new dimension.

Photoshop remembers common sizes — if you click the preset dropdown (usually showing a dimension like "1920 x 1080"), you can choose from standard web, mobile, print, and video formats. This is faster than typing if you're working to a known spec like Instagram post size or standard print dimensions.

After you type a new dimension, press Tab to move to the next field or Enter to explore the change. The artboard will resize when ready, and you can undo with Ctrl+Z (Windows) or Command+Z (Mac) if the result isn't what you wanted.

Dragging artboard corners to resize visually

If you prefer to resize by eye rather than by numbers, click and drag any corner or edge handle of the artboard. Dragging a corner handle resizes both width and height at once. Dragging a side or top handle changes only that dimension.

Hold Shift while dragging a corner to maintain the aspect ratio — useful if you're resizing a square to stay square, or a 16:9 rectangle to stay 16:9. This prevents the artboard from becoming distorted if you're trying to scale it proportionally.

The canvas will pan and zoom as needed to keep the artboard visible while you drag. If you make a mistake, undo when ready with Ctrl+Z or Command+Z.

What happens to layers when you resize an artboard

Changing artboard size does not move, crop, or delete the layers inside it. If your artboard was 1000 × 1000 pixels and you shrink it to 500 × 500, any layers that extend beyond the new boundary will still exist — they'll just be hidden by the artboard edge in the final export.

This matters because if you export the artboard as a PNG or JPG, only the content within the artboard boundary will appear in the file. Content outside the boundary is invisible in the export but still takes up space in your Photoshop file. If you want to permanently remove it, use Image > Crop to Selection after selecting the artboard, or delete the layers manually.

If you want to scale the content inside the artboard along with the artboard itself, select all layers first (Ctrl+A or Command+A), then use Image > Scale Image to resize everything proportionally.

Resizing multiple artboards on the same canvas

Photoshop lets you have several artboards in one file, and each can be a different size. To resize one without affecting the others, make sure only that artboard is selected in the Layers panel. Click it once to highlight it, then use the Artboard Tool to change its dimensions.

You can see all your artboards at once by zooming out (Ctrl+Minus or Command+Minus) or by going to View > Fit All in Window. This helps you see how they're arranged and whether you need to move any of them to avoid overlap after resizing.

To move an artboard without resizing it, hold Ctrl (Windows) or Command (Mac) while dragging it with the Artboard Tool. This separates the move action from the resize action.

Common artboard sizes for different projects

Web design typically uses 1920 × 1080 for desktop mockups or 375 × 667 for mobile. Social media posts vary by platform — Instagram feed posts are 1080 × 1080, stories are 1080 × 1920, and Twitter headers are 1500 × 500. Print design depends on your output: standard letter is 8.5 × 11 inches at 300 DPI, and business cards are 3.5 × 2 inches.

You can create a custom artboard size by typing any width and height you need. If you work in inches or centimeters instead of pixels, type the unit after the number — for example, "8.5in" for 8.5 inches. Photoshop will convert it based on your document's DPI setting.

Save artboard presets you use often by creating a custom size, then clicking the preset dropdown and selecting Save Preset. This saves time on future projects with the same dimensions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I resize an artboard without resizing the content inside it?

Yes. The artboard boundary is separate from the layers. Resize the artboard using the Artboard Tool, and the layers stay the same size — they'll just be partially hidden if they extend beyond the new boundary. To crop the layers to match, select them and use Image > Crop to Selection.

What's the difference between artboard size and canvas size?

Canvas size is the overall working area of your entire Photoshop file. Artboard size is the boundary of one individual artboard within that canvas. You can have multiple artboards of different sizes on the same canvas. Change canvas size in Image > Canvas Size; change artboard size with the Artboard Tool.

How do I make sure my artboard is the right size for print?

Check your printer's specs or ask your print vendor for the exact dimensions they need. Most print shops want dimensions in inches at 300 DPI. Type the size into the Artboard Tool options bar — for example, "8.5in" for width and "11in" for height — and Photoshop will calculate the pixel equivalent based on your document's DPI.

Can I resize an artboard after I've already added content to it?

Yes. Resize the artboard anytime using the Artboard Tool. Content that was inside the original boundary stays in place. If it extends beyond the new boundary, it won't export with the artboard, but it remains in your file and can be moved or deleted manually.

How do I rename an artboard?

Double-click the artboard name in the Layers panel on the right side of the screen. Type a new name and press Enter. This doesn't change the size — it's just a label to help you organize multiple artboards.