Dashboard design

Canvas Size (16:9)

Also called: Page size, Report page size, Dashboard size (Tableau), Aspect ratio

Canvas size is the fixed width and height of a report page. Power BI defaults to a 16:9 page of 1280 × 720 pixels, and every visual's position and size is set within it.

Power BI page sizes drawn to scale: the default 16:9 page at 1280 × 720 pixels with a dashboard layout, 4:3 at 960 × 720, portrait Letter at 816 × 1056, and the small Tooltip page at 320 × 240.

How it looks in each tool

Same idea, different name. Here's the canvas size (16:9) (or its equivalent) in each BI tool.

Power BI Format page pane with Canvas settings expanded: Type 16:9, height 720, width 1280, vertical alignment Top.
Power BI Canvas settings Presets: 16:9, 4:3, Letter, Tooltip, or Custom.
Tableau dashboard Size setting set to Desktop Browser (1000 x 800), with the options Fixed size, Automatic and Range.
Tableau Dashboard Size Fixed, Automatic (fills the window) or a min/max Range.

Illustrations, not screenshots. Product names are trademarks of their owners.

How it works

Every report page has a width and height in pixels. Visuals are positioned and sized within that space, and the BI tool scales the whole page to fit the viewer’s screen.

Power BI’s page size presets, drawn to scale above:

  • 16:9, 1280 × 720. The default. Matches most laptop and monitor screens, and slides.
  • 4:3, 960 × 720. Squarer, for older displays or embedding in a narrower space.
  • Letter, 816 × 1056. Portrait, for reports that will be printed or exported to PDF.
  • Tooltip, 320 × 240. For tooltip pages that pop up over a visual.
  • Custom. Any size, such as a long page for scrolling.

Pick the size before placing anything. Changing it later means repositioning every visual on the page.

Plan the grid in canvas pixels

A 1280 × 720 canvas planned as a grid with 16 px margins and gaps: a 1248 × 56 header, four 300 × 120 KPI cards, and two 616 × 480 charts. Four cards plus three gaps plus two margins add up to 1,280 pixels

Knowing the exact canvas size lets you plan a grid that adds up. On a 1280 × 720 page with 16 px margins and gaps, four KPI cards are 300 px wide each (4 × 300 + 3 × 16 + 2 × 16 = 1,280), and two charts below are 616 px wide. Vertically, 16 + 56 + 16 + 120 + 16 + 480 + 16 = 720. Put those numbers in your report style guide so every report uses the same grid.

In Power BI vs. Tableau

Power BITableau
WhereFormat page > Canvas settingsDashboard pane > Size
Default16:9, 1280 × 720Fixed size, Desktop Browser (1000 × 800)
Options16:9, 4:3, Letter, Tooltip, CustomFixed size, Automatic, Range
MobileSeparate mobile layout viewDevice layouts (Device Designer)

Best practices

  • Standardise one size. Pick a canvas size for the team and use it on every report, so layouts and templates are reusable.
  • Design for the real screen. If most viewers open reports on a laptop, check the page at laptop size, not only on a large monitor.
  • Use Letter for print. If a report will be exported to PDF or printed, design it in portrait from the start.
  • Don’t scroll by accident. A custom tall page is fine on purpose, but readers often miss what’s below the first screen. Put the headline in the top left, as in a Z or F layout.

Mocking up at the right size

Set the canvas size on the mockup so the layout you agree is the layout you build. Mockko’s canvas presets include Power BI’s 16:9, Letter and Tooltip sizes. See why to mock up Power BI reports before you build.

See it in a real layout

These free Mockko templates use it. Open one and edit it in your browser.

Executive KPI Overview Template preview

Executive KPI Overview

Single-page executive view of the metrics leadership cares about — built for the first client meeting.

 Sales Performance Dashboard Template preview

Sales Performance

Revenue, win rate, pipeline value, and rep performance across regions — the layout most sales teams build first.

Related terms

Common questions

What is the default canvas size in Power BI?
16:9 at 1280 × 720 pixels. You can change it per page under Format page > Canvas settings, choosing 4:3 (960 × 720), Letter (816 × 1056), Tooltip (320 × 240) or a custom size.
Should I design Power BI reports at 1920 × 1080?
It's the same 16:9 shape as 1280 × 720 with more room, so some teams prefer it. But when the page is scaled to fit a typical screen, text and visuals appear smaller than the sizes you set, so you'll need larger fonts. Pick one size as a team standard and stick to it.
What size should a Tableau dashboard be?
Use a fixed size that matches the screen most viewers use, so the layout looks the same for everyone. Automatic resizes to the window but can squash or stretch the layout. Range sets a minimum and maximum and is a middle ground.

Mock it up before you build it

Lay out your Power BI or Tableau dashboard in Mockko, get sign-off, then build. Free to start.

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