INTRODUCTION, The Canva Assumption That Can Ruin Your Print

You open Canva.
You click “Poster.”
You start designing.

But here’s the twist

Not all Canva posters are automatically A3.

And this small misunderstanding is one of the biggest reasons businesses end up with blurry prints, wrong proportions, or posters that look smaller than expected.

What most business owners don’t realise is this:

👉 Canva lets you choose the size it doesn’t lock you into A3.

If you design without checking dimensions, you could be printing the wrong format.

Let’s clear this up properly.

Is Canva Poster A3?

Short answer:

👉 It can be but only if you choose A3.

When you select “Poster” in Canva, the default size is typically:

42 × 59.4 cm (A2 size)

Not A3.

That surprises many people.

Here’s the breakdown:

Canva Poster Type	Dimensions	Equivalent Size
Default “Poster”	42 × 59.4 cm	A2
A3 Option	29.7 × 42 cm	A3
Custom Size	User defined	A1, A0, etc.

So if you assumed Canva posters are automatically A3 they’re not.

How to Create an A3 Poster in Canva

If you specifically want A3:

1. Click Create a Design
2. Select Custom Size
3. Enter:
   • 29.7 cm × 42 cm
     OR
   • 297 mm × 420 mm
4. Set resolution to high quality (PDF Print)

Simple.

But here’s what most people don’t realise

Designing correctly for print requires more than just size.

Why Canva Posters Sometimes Print Blurry

This is where many businesses lose money.

Common mistakes:

🚫 Designing in low resolution
🚫 Uploading small images
🚫 Scaling A4 designs up to A2
🚫 Not exporting as PDF Print
🚫 Ignoring bleed settings

Canva is great for layout.

But professional printing requires correct DPI (300 DPI for print) and proper bleed margins.

If you’re unsure about size scaling, read our guide on what is A1, A2, A3 and A4 to understand how dimensions affect design balance.

5 Benefits of Choosing the Right Canva Size (And the Pain It Solves)

1. Crisp Print Quality → Avoids blurry posters
2. Correct Readability → Prevents tiny text
3. Stronger Brand Authority → Stops amateur look
4. Better Visibility → Gets noticed faster
5. Higher ROI → Prevents reprinting costs

Loss aversion truth:

If your competitor prints a sharp A1 and yours looks pixelated
They instantly look more professional.

Should You Use A3, A2 or A1 in Canva?

Choose A3 if:

• It’s indoors
• Viewing distance is close (under 2 metres)
• It’s informational

Choose A2 if:

• It’s for retail display
• You want more impact
• It’s event marketing

Choose A1 if:

• It’s for shop windows
• You need street visibility
• It’s a key promotion

For high-visibility campaigns, our large format printing service ensures your Canva design is correctly prepared for bigger formats.

Because here’s the reality

Scaling incorrectly can make even a great design fail.

The #1 Canva Printing Mistake

Designing everything in A4
Then “making it bigger” later.

When you scale up:

• Text feels too small
• Spacing changes
• Images lose clarity
• Layout hierarchy breaks

Professional designers create artwork specifically for the final print size.

That’s why businesses working with experienced teams like Social Media Max often see better performance from print marketing.

Before vs After

Before:
Quick Canva design. Printed without checking size. Blurry. Low engagement.

After:
Correct size selected. Proper export. Professionally printed. Strong impact.

The difference isn’t Canva.

It’s knowing how to use it strategically.

Final Thoughts

So, is Canva poster A3?

No, not automatically.

Canva’s default poster is usually A2.
But you can create A3, A1, or custom sizes easily.

The key is choosing the right size for visibility and exporting correctly for print.

If you wait to optimise your poster size, your competitor might already be using larger, sharper formats.

And attention goes to whoever looks more professional.

👉 Ready to grow your business with professional poster printing?

Contact Social Media Max today.
Don’t wait your competitors won’t.