Page layout and canvas settings in Power BI - Step-by-Step Guide

Introduction

Page layout and canvas settings in Power BI help you arrange your report pages and control the size and background of the canvas. This makes your reports look neat and fit well on different screens or printed pages.

When you want to change the size of your report page to match a specific screen or paper size.

When you need to add a background color or image to make your report visually appealing.

When you want to set the page orientation to portrait or landscape for printing.

When you want to control the margins and spacing around your visuals on the page.

When you want to create a consistent look across multiple report pages.

Steps

Step 1: Click

- Format pane

The formatting options for the current report page appear on the right side of the screen

Step 2: Select

- Page information section in the Format pane

Page layout and canvas settings options become visible

Step 3: Click

- Canvas settings dropdown

Options to change page size, orientation, and background appear

Step 4: Choose

- Page size dropdown

The report page resizes to the selected dimension (e.g., 16:9, Letter, Custom)

💡 Use Custom size to set exact width and height in pixels

Step 5: Select

- Orientation option

The page switches between portrait and landscape layout

Step 6: Click

- Background section

Options to add background color or image appear

Step 7: Pick

- Background color or image upload

The canvas background updates to the chosen color or image

Before vs After

Before

Report page is the default 16:9 size with white background and landscape orientation

After

Report page is resized to Letter size, portrait orientation, with a light blue background color

Settings Reference

Page size

📍 Format pane > Page information > Canvas settings

Sets the width and height of the report page to fit different screens or print sizes

Default: 16:9

Orientation

📍 Format pane > Page information > Canvas settings

Changes the page layout direction for better viewing or printing

Default: Landscape

Background color

📍 Format pane > Page information > Background

Adds a color behind all visuals on the page to improve design or readability

Default: No background color

Background image

📍 Format pane > Page information > Background

Adds an image behind all visuals to enhance the report's look

Default: No background image

Common Mistakes

Choosing a very large custom page size without checking screen resolution

The report may not display properly on standard screens or may require scrolling

Select a page size that matches common screen or print sizes, or test the custom size on target devices

Setting a background image with low contrast to visuals

Visuals become hard to read or see clearly

Use a subtle background image or adjust transparency to keep visuals clear

Summary

Page layout and canvas settings control the size, orientation, and background of your Power BI report pages.

Use these settings to make your reports look good on different devices and when printed.

Be careful to choose sizes and backgrounds that keep your data easy to read.