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How to Change Margins in Canva: A Step-by-Step Guide

Q: Can I hide the margins and guides temporarily without removing them?

Yes, you can go to File and uncheck Show Margins or Show Guides to temporarily hide them. Re-selecting them will bring them back without losing their position.

January 6, 2025

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How to Change Margins in Canva

Go to File > Show Margins to display the default margins. Go to File > Show Rulers and Guides to display the guides. Adjust the guides on the margin lines to keep your text within the margin area.

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Step 1: Open the Margin and Guide options

Access the File menu: Start by clicking on the File option in the top menu of Canva.
Show Margins: In the dropdown, select Show Margins.
You’ll notice a faint gray line appears around the edges of your design canvas. This gray line represents the default Canva margin, which serves as a boundary to help keep your content within a safe area.

Step 2: Add Rulers and Guides

Enable Rulers and Guides
Go back to the File menu, then click on Show Rulers and Guides. This will display rulers on the top and left sides of your design area.
Drag in a Guide
Click on the ruler, then drag a guide onto your canvas. The guide will appear as a purple line, which you can position anywhere on the design.

Step 3: Align Guides with Margins

Place guides along the gray margins
To create a visual boundary, drag guides to align with the gray margin line. This can help you easily see the margin area and avoid placing important content outside of it.

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Step 4: Lock Guides to prevent accidental movement

To keep the guides from moving while adjusting other elements, go back to the File menu and select Lock Guides. This feature prevents accidental shifting of the guides, making it easier to adjust design elements within the margins.

Step 5: Adjust elements within the guides

Move elements within margins
Select any text or image that might be outside the guides and drag it inward until it fits within the guides. This helps ensure that your content stays safely within the visible area of your design, preventing any cut-offs during printing or downloading.
Double-check alignment
Review your design to make sure all elements are correctly aligned within the guides. Adjust as necessary to ensure nothing essential goes beyond the margin.

If you print from Canva, you can also add bleed and crop marks to keep your design within the margins.

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FAQ: How to Adjust Margins in Canva

Can I change the thickness or color of the margin line in Canva?

No, Canva’s default margin line is a fixed thin gray line, and its thickness or color cannot be customized. However, you can use guides to add additional boundaries in different colors.

Can I create multiple margin areas on one design page?

Yes, you can add multiple guides to create different margin zones on the same page, which can help divide sections or create layered boundaries.

Can I set a specific numerical distance for guides in Canva?

Canva doesn’t offer a way to set exact numerical distances for guides or margins. You can use the rulers to add guides visually.

Can I hide the margins and guides temporarily without removing them?

Yes, you can go to File and uncheck Show Margins or Show Guides to temporarily hide them. Re-selecting them will bring them back without losing their position.

Can I change the margin in cm in Canva?

You can only add guides and match them with the margins. You can edit these guides only.

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