Guides
How to Make an A0 Poster in Canva for Printing
Quick answer: To make an A0 poster in Canva, create a design with Custom size set to 841 × 1189 mm (portrait) before you add content. Use high-resolution images, then download it as a PDF with the Print preset (Share > Download > PDF Print). Do not download it as PNG Standard or PDF Standard, as these are too low in quality for A0.
Canva is one of the most popular ways to design a conference or research poster, and it can produce excellent A0 prints. The steps below take you from a blank design to a print-ready PDF. If you use PowerPoint instead, see our PowerPoint A0 poster guide.
Step 1: Create the design at the right size
- On the Canva home page, select Create a design (or + Create) and choose Custom size.
- Change the unit from px to mm.
- Enter the width and height from the table below.
- Select Create new design.
| Poster size | Portrait (width × height) | Landscape (width × height) |
|---|---|---|
| A0 | 841 × 1189 mm | 1189 × 841 mm |
| A1 | 594 × 841 mm | 841 × 594 mm |
| A2 | 420 × 594 mm | 594 × 420 mm |
Check whether your conference wants portrait or landscape before you start. Our UK conference poster sizes guide lists what 18 UK conferences ask for.
Tip: If you started from a Canva poster template, check the size under Resize (or File). Many templates are in inches (for example 24 × 36 in), which is a different shape from A-sizes and will not fit A0 without white edges or cropping.
Step 2: Turn on margins and guides
Go to File > Settings (in some versions, File > View settings) and turn on Show rulers and guides and Show margins. Keep text, logos and figure labels at least 2 cm from every edge, so nothing important is too close to the trim.
Step 3: Use text sizes that can be read from a distance
Canva font sizes are relative to the design size, so a size that looks large on screen may still be small on paper. Zoom to 100% and check that body text is comfortable to read. As a guide for A0:
- Title: large enough to read from 5 metres away.
- Section headings: clearly larger than body text.
- Body text: readable from about 1.5 metres away.
Print a section on A4 at actual size if you are not sure. Text that is easy to read on that A4 test will be easy to read on the poster.
Step 4: Add images at high resolution
- Upload originals: use Uploads > Upload files and upload the original photo, figure or logo, not a screenshot.
- Graphs and charts: export from Excel, R, Python or GraphPad as SVG or a large PNG (at least 300 DPI at the size it will appear on the poster). SVG files stay sharp at any size.
- Do not stretch small images: a photo that will be 20 cm wide on the poster needs to be about 2,400 pixels wide.
- Logos: use the official high-resolution file from your university brand page.
To check, zoom in to 200% in Canva. If an image looks blurry or pixelated, it will print that way.
Step 5: Check colours and backgrounds
Screens are brighter than paper, so very bright neon colours may print slightly duller. Avoid pale yellow or light grey text on white, and keep strong contrast between text and background. If you use a coloured background, make it cover the whole design to the very edge.
Step 6: Download as PDF Print
- Select Share, then Download.
- Under File type, choose PDF Print (in newer versions: PDF, then the Print preset).
- Open Advanced settings if it is shown, and turn on Flatten PDF. This keeps effects, shadows and fonts looking exactly as designed.
- You do not need crop marks for a poster. If you have Canva Pro and see a colour profile option, either RGB or CMYK is fine.
- Select Download.
PDF Print keeps text and shapes sharp and saves images at high quality (Canva Help). PNG Standard and PDF Standard are made for screens and are too low in quality for A0.
Step 7: Check the PDF before you order
- Open the PDF and check the page size is 841 × 1189 mm for A0 (or 594 × 841 mm for A1). In most PDF readers this is under File > Properties.
- Zoom in to 200% on text, graphs and photos and check nothing is blurry.
- Check that nothing has moved and no text is cut off at the edges.
- Ask a colleague to read it for spelling, names and affiliations.
Then upload the PDF on our A0 poster printing or A1 poster printing page. We accept PDF (best), JPG or PNG files up to 150MB. For a full list of final checks, see our academic poster checklist.
Common Canva problems and fixes
| Problem | Fix |
|---|---|
| Poster was designed from an inches template (such as 24 × 36 in) | Create a new A0 design (Step 1) and copy your content across, then check every element fits. |
| Canva says the size is too large | Design at A1 (594 × 841 mm) instead. A-sizes have the same shape, so an A1 PDF prints correctly at A0, as long as your images are high enough in resolution. |
| Images look blurry in the PDF | Upload the original files again instead of screenshots, and download as PDF Print, not PDF Standard. |
| Shadows or transparent effects look wrong | Turn on Flatten PDF in the download settings. |
| White edge on one side | Make sure the background fills the whole design and the design size matches the paper size exactly. |
Ready to print?
We print A0 posters from £34.99 and A1 posters from £29.99, including free UK delivery in 2–3 working days. Orders placed before 12PM Monday to Friday are printed the same day, with Next Day delivery available. Not sure which paper to choose? See matte vs satin poster paper.
Frequently asked questions
Can I print an A0 poster from Canva?
Yes. Create a custom design at 841 × 1189 mm, use high-resolution images, and download it as a PDF with the Print preset. Then upload the PDF when you order.
Which Canva download option is best for printing?
PDF Print. It keeps text sharp and saves images at high quality. PNG Standard and PDF Standard are made for screens and can look blurry at A0.
Do I need Canva Pro to print an A0 poster?
No. Custom sizes and PDF Print downloads are available on the free plan. Canva Pro adds extra features, but you do not need it to make a print-ready poster.
Can I send you a Canva link instead of a file?
Please download the design as a PDF and upload it with your order. A PDF keeps your fonts, layout and images exactly as designed.
