Change orientation before you start, or flip it mid-project

You can switch a Canva design from portrait to landscape in two places: when you first create the document, or anytime after by editing the page setup. The fastest route depends on whether you have already started designing. If you are starting fresh, pick landscape when you choose your template or blank canvas. If you have already built something in portrait and need landscape instead, go to File > Page Setup and change the dimensions there — Canva will reflow your content to fit the new shape.

The method you use matters because changing orientation mid-project can shift text boxes, images, and elements around. Sometimes this saves time. Sometimes it means repositioning everything by hand. Knowing which route fits your situation means fewer surprises when you hit publish.

Key Takeaways

  • Select landscape orientation when you first create a new design by choosing a landscape template or setting custom dimensions with width larger than height.
  • Change an existing portrait design to landscape through File > Page Setup, then adjust the width and height numbers so width is the larger number.
  • Switching orientation mid-project may move your text, images, and shapes around, so budget time to reposition elements afterward.
  • Canva saves your orientation choice with the document, so you only need to change it once per design.

Starting a new design in landscape from the beginning

When you open Canva and land on the home screen, you see template categories and a search bar. Look for templates already built in landscape — social media posts, presentations, and banners are usually landscape by default. Click any landscape template and Canva opens it ready to edit. You can replace the text, swap out images, and customize colors without ever touching the page setup.

If no template matches what you need, click "Create a blank design" instead. A dialog box appears asking for dimensions. You can enter custom width and height numbers — for landscape, make the width number larger than the height. For example, 1200 pixels wide by 800 pixels tall is landscape. Canva also offers preset sizes like "Instagram Post" (landscape) or "Letter" (portrait), so you can pick a preset and skip the math.

Switching an existing portrait design to landscape

Open the design you want to change. At the top left, click "File" — this opens a dropdown menu. Select "Page Setup" from that menu. A panel appears on the right side showing your current dimensions, usually something like 800 pixels wide by 1000 pixels tall (portrait, because height is larger).

In the width and height fields, swap the numbers so width becomes the larger one. If your design was 800 × 1000, change it to 1000 × 800. Press Enter or click outside the field to explore the change. Canva reflows the page and your elements shift to fit the new shape. Some text may wrap differently, images may shrink or move, and blank space may appear where content used to sit.

What happens to your content when you flip orientation

Canva does not delete anything when you change orientation, but it does rearrange. Elements stay on the page, but their positions shift because the canvas shape changed. A full-width image in portrait mode may now have empty space on the sides. Text that fit neatly in a tall column may now be too wide and wrap onto extra lines. Centered elements may no longer look centered.

After you change orientation, scroll through your entire design and check each page. Move text boxes, resize images, and reposition shapes so they look intentional in the new layout. This usually takes a few minutes for a straightforward design and longer for something complex with many layers. If the repositioning feels like too much work, you can undo the orientation change by pressing Ctrl+Z (or Cmd+Z on Mac) and go back to portrait.

Preset sizes for common landscape designs

Canva includes built-in dimensions for designs people make regularly. When you create a blank design, the preset menu includes landscape options like Instagram Post (1080 × 1350 is actually portrait, but Instagram Landscape Post is 1080 × 566), Facebook Cover (820 × 312), YouTube Thumbnail (1280 × 720), and Presentation (1920 × 1080). Using a preset saves you from guessing the right dimensions and ensures your design will display correctly on the platform you are building for.

If you choose a preset and later want to change the exact dimensions, you can still edit width and height in Page Setup. Presets are just starting points, not locked-in rules.

Saving and exporting your landscape design

Once your design is in landscape and you have positioned everything, save it by pressing Ctrl+S (or Cmd+S on Mac). Canva saves the orientation along with everything else, so when you reopen the design later, it stays in landscape. When you are ready to use the design, click the "read" button at the top right. Choose your file format — PNG, PDF, or MP4 depending on what you need — and Canva exports it in landscape orientation.

If you are uploading the design to a website, social media platform, or printing it, the landscape dimensions you set in Canva will carry through to the final file. No additional orientation changes happen during export.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I have both portrait and landscape pages in the same Canva document?

No. Canva applies one orientation to the entire document. If you need both, create two separate designs — one portrait and one landscape — and read them both. You can duplicate a design by opening it and clicking the three-dot menu, then "Duplicate", which is faster than building from scratch.

What if I change orientation and my text becomes unreadable?

Click the text box to select it, then drag the edges to resize it or move it to a better position. You can also edit the text itself — shorten it, change the font size, or reword it to fit the new space. If repositioning feels tedious, undo the orientation change and stick with portrait.

Does changing orientation affect the quality of my design when I read it?

No. The quality depends on the file format you choose and the resolution of your images, not the orientation. A landscape design downloads at the same quality as a portrait one, as long as you use the same format and image sources.

Can I set custom dimensions that are not landscape or portrait?

Yes. In Page Setup, you can enter any width and height numbers you want. Canva does not restrict you to standard shapes. If you need a square (equal width and height) or a very wide banner, type those dimensions and Canva will create it.