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Using company logos correctly in presentations is one of those details that separates amateur slide decks from professional ones. Whether you're creating a sales pitch, investor presentation, or internal company report, proper logo usage demonstrates brand awareness, design competence, and attention to detail.
Using company logos correctly in presentations is one of those details that separates amateur slide decks from professional ones. Whether you're creating a sales pitch, investor presentation, or internal company report, proper logo usage demonstrates brand awareness, design competence, and attention to detail.
This guide walks through everything designers, marketers, founders, and business professionals need to know about incorporating logos into PowerPoint, Google Slides, and other presentation formats. We'll cover placement strategies, sizing guidelines, technical implementation, legal considerations, and common mistakes to avoid.
By the end, you'll understand not just the mechanics of adding logos to slides, but the design principles that make presentations look polished and professional.
Logos aren't just decorative elements. They serve critical functions in business communication that directly impact how your presentation is received and remembered.
Brand recognition is the most obvious benefit. According to research from the University of Loyola, Maryland, color increases brand recognition by up to 80%, and logos are primary carriers of brand colors and visual identity. When used consistently across presentations, logos reinforce brand memory and make your materials instantly recognizable.
Professional credibility is equally important. A well-placed logo signals that you understand professional communication standards. It shows you've taken time to represent your brand properly, which audiences interpret as a proxy for how seriously you take your work overall. Presentations without proper branding often get dismissed as drafts or amateur work, regardless of content quality.
Visual consistency across your presentation deck creates a cohesive experience. When logos appear in predictable locations with consistent sizing, audiences can focus on your content rather than being distracted by design inconsistencies. This is especially crucial in longer presentations where dozens of slides need to feel like a unified whole.
Finally, logos contribute to trust building. Seeing recognizable brand marks from established companies lends authority to your presentation. This is why co-branded presentations with partner logos are so common in B2B contexts. The visual endorsement matters.
Understanding logo types helps inform placement decisions. Wordmark vs symbol logos have different visual weights, which affects how they balance on slides. Text-based wordmarks work well in headers, while compact symbol marks fit better in corners.
Logo placement isn't arbitrary. Different positions serve different purposes and create different visual hierarchies. Here's how to think strategically about where logos belong.
The top right corner is the most common position for recurring logos in corporate presentations. This placement follows natural reading patterns in Western cultures where eyes scan left to right, top to bottom. Placing logos in the top right keeps them visible without competing with slide content that typically anchors to the top left.
This position works particularly well for:
Keep the logo small at this position, typically 0.5 to 1 inch in height for standard slides. Any larger and it starts dominating the visual hierarchy inappropriately.
Footer placement centers or left-aligns the logo at the bottom of slides. This approach works best when:
Footer logos should be similarly sized to top corner logos (0.5 to 1 inch), though you can go slightly larger if the footer has ample white space. Many minimalist logo designs work particularly well in footer positions because their clean aesthetic doesn't overwhelm the bottom of the slide.
Your cover slide is the exception to the subtlety rule. This is where logos can and should be larger and more prominent, often 2 to 4 inches or more depending on the overall design. The cover sets the visual tone for your entire presentation.
Cover slide logo placement options include:
The cover slide is also where you might incorporate multiple logo variations. You might use a colored version of your logo prominently on the cover, then switch to more subtle black or white versions on interior slides.
When presenting with partners or featuring client logos, co-branding requires careful balance. The general rule is equal sizing and spacing for logos of equal importance.
Best practices for co-branded slides:
For presentations with many partner logos, a dedicated "partners" or "clients" slide works better than cramming multiple logos onto working slides.
When to avoid repeating logos on every slide: If your presentation is internal or the audience already knows your brand, consider limiting logos to the cover slide, section dividers, and closing slide. This creates a cleaner look and lets content breathe. Many tech companies use this approach for product demos and internal reports.
Logo sizing in presentations follows different rules than logo sizing for websites or print materials. The key principle is proportional presence without dominance.
For recurring logos that appear on most slides:
For cover slide logos:
These measurements assume standard 16:9 presentation dimensions. For 4:3 slides, reduce proportions by roughly 15%.
Always maintain safe margins around logos to prevent them from feeling cramped or being cut off by projectors or different display ratios.
Standard safe margin rules:
These margins also create visual breathing room that makes logos appear more intentional rather than accidentally pushed to the edge.
White space (or negative space) around a logo is just as important as the logo itself. According to research published in the Journal of Marketing Research, adequate white space increases comprehension by up to 20% because it reduces cognitive load.
For logo spacing specifically:
This principle applies whether you're working with complex brand symbols or simple wordmark designs.
With high-resolution displays becoming standard, retina scaling matters more than ever. A logo that looks sharp on your laptop might appear pixelated when projected or viewed on a 4K display.
Best practices for retina-ready logos:
Understanding logo file formats is crucial here. Vector formats scale infinitely without quality loss, while high-resolution PNGs provide good results when vectors aren't available.
PowerPoint offers several methods for adding logos, but using the Slide Master ensures consistency across your entire presentation. Here's the complete technical process.
For a one-time logo placement:
This method works for unique placements like cover slides, but it's inefficient for logos that need to appear on multiple slides.
The Slide Master is PowerPoint's template system. Logos added here automatically appear on all slides using that master layout.
Step-by-step process:
Now the logo appears automatically on all slides using that master. You can still override individual slides if needed.
To prevent accidental movement:
This locks the logo position even when slide content shifts.
Never stretch or squash logos. This is one of the most common and egregious mistakes in presentation design.
To ensure proper scaling:
For detailed guidance on working with logos in PowerPoint, see our complete PowerPoint design guide.
When sharing presentations, logo quality can degrade if export settings are wrong.
Best export practices:
Google Slides handles logos differently than PowerPoint, with some limitations but also some advantages for cloud collaboration.
To add a logo to a single slide:
Google Slides provides several formatting controls for images:
Accessing format options:
Key settings:
For logos that appear on every slide, use the Master Slide:
Changes made to the master automatically apply to all slides using that layout. This is particularly useful for creating branded templates that teams can reuse.
File format matters in Google Slides, though less than in some other applications.
PNG (Portable Network Graphics):
SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics):
Practical recommendation: Use high-resolution PNG files (at least 2x your intended display size) for reliable results in Google Slides. If you need to understand different logo formats more deeply, review explanations of EPS files and other professional formats.
Google Slides excels at collaborative logo management:
Understanding the legal and ethical boundaries around logo usage is crucial. Using another company's logo without permission can result in trademark infringement claims, cease and desist letters, and in serious cases, legal action.
Internal use (within your own organization for your own brand):
External use (representing someone else's brand):
When creating presentations for clients (as an agency or consultant):
When creating presentations about clients (referencing them as customers or partners):
Educational contexts have more flexibility under fair use doctrine:
These uses are generally protected because they're:
Important: Fair use is a legal defense, not a guarantee. When in doubt, credit the source and use logos minimally.
To stay on the safe side of trademark law:
According to USPTO guidelines on trademark use, trademark law primarily concerns commercial use that could confuse consumers about the source of goods or services. Many legitimate business uses fall outside this scope.
If you can't get permission to use a specific logo:
For presentations that need professional polish but lack logo permissions, browse quality logo resources to understand what properly licensed logos look like and how to request them appropriately.
This is not legal advice. These are general best practices. For specific situations involving valuable intellectual property or high-stakes presentations, consult with a legal professional specializing in trademark law.
Even experienced designers make these logo mistakes. Avoiding them immediately elevates your presentation quality.
The number one logo sin: distorting aspect ratios. When you drag a logo by its side handles instead of corner handles, you stretch or compress it. This makes logos look amateurish and shows disrespect for the brand.
Stretched logos communicate:
Always resize from corner handles while holding Shift (in most applications). Better yet, input exact dimensions and lock the aspect ratio.
Pixelated logos scream "unprofessional." With modern 4K displays and high-resolution projectors, this problem has gotten worse even as technology improved.
Signs your logo resolution is too low:
Solution: Use vector formats (SVG, EPS, AI) whenever possible, or raster images at least 2-3x your intended display size. A logo that will display at 1 inch should be saved at 2-3 inches at 300 DPI.
Every company has an official logo. Using unofficial versions, recreations, or "close enough" alternatives damages brand integrity.
Common unofficial version mistakes:
Solution: Always download logos from official sources: company brand portals, press kits, or directly from brand guidelines. Many companies offer professionally formatted logo files for public or partner use.
More logos don't mean more professional. Overbranding clutters slides and makes presentations feel more like advertisements than business communication.
Signs of overbranding:
Solution: Use logos strategically. Cover slide, key section dividers, and closing slide often suffice. For internal presentations to audiences familiar with your brand, less is more.
Logos need to stand out from their backgrounds. Poor contrast makes logos difficult to see and reduces their effectiveness.
Common contrast mistakes:
Solution: Use white logos on dark backgrounds, black logos on light backgrounds. When using colored logos, ensure sufficient contrast with the background color. Test your presentation in the actual presentation environment when possible.
Even perfectly sized, properly contrasted logos fail when placed over complex background images, patterns, or textures.
Solution: Create a "safe zone" for logos by:
Co-branded presentations require diplomatic design. You're representing multiple organizations simultaneously, which means careful balance and clear hierarchy.
When organizations have equal standing (partnerships, collaborations, co-marketing):
Size logos identically:
Exception: If logos have very different shapes (one vertical, one horizontal), match them by visual weight rather than exact dimensions. A tall, narrow logo might need to be slightly larger in actual measurements to feel equivalent to a wide, short logo.
Horizontal alignment for side-by-side logos:
Vertical stacking when logos must go one above another:
Spacing rhythm: The space between logos should feel related to the space around the logo group. A common ratio is 1:2 or 1:1.5 (if logos are 0.5 inches apart, have 0.75-1 inch between the logo group and slide edges).
Co-branded slides benefit from neutral backgrounds that don't favor one brand's color scheme over another.
Best neutral background choices:
Avoid:
Sometimes organizations don't have equal standing. The primary brand should be visually dominant without completely overshadowing secondary brands.
For presentations where your company is primary:
For client presentations where the client is primary:
Visual hierarchy techniques:
For presentations featuring many partner logos (industry events, collaborative projects):
Create a dedicated partner slide:
On working slides:
Alphabetical ordering works well for equal partners (avoids implied hierarchy), though you can also organize by category, region, or contribution level.
Finding and using high-quality logos is often the difference between professional and amateur presentations. Here's where to source properly formatted logos.
Always start with official sources:
Official sources provide:
When official sources aren't available or practical, curated logo resources provide high-quality alternatives:
By color scheme:
By category and format:
Choose the right format for your presentation software and use case:
For PowerPoint presentations:
For Google Slides:
For print materials (when presentations get printed):
Understanding the best logo formats for different contexts ensures you're using appropriate files for your specific needs.
Tech company presentations: Tech startups and enterprise software companies often need logos from partners, clients, and ecosystem players. Look for technology-focused logo collections.
Finance and professional services: Banking, insurance, and consulting presentations require logos from regulatory bodies, financial institutions, and professional associations.
E-commerce and retail: Product presentations often showcase brand partnerships, supplier relationships, and retail channels.
Healthcare and pharmaceuticals: Medical presentations need logos from hospitals, research institutions, regulatory agencies, and pharma companies.
Having the right logos in the right formats saves time and prevents last-minute scrambles before important presentations.
Modern design workflows often involve multiple applications. Understanding how to use logos in Figma and other design tools helps when creating presentations assets or building slide templates.
The presentation you're creating is part of a larger brand ecosystem. Consistent logo usage across PowerPoint, Figma, website design, and marketing materials creates a cohesive brand experience.
No, you cannot freely use any company's logo without considering trademark law and usage rights. Unauthorized commercial use of company logos can constitute trademark infringement. However, several legitimate use cases exist: using your own company's logo (you own it), using logos in educational contexts under fair use (analyzing or teaching about companies), including client logos when you have explicit permission through contracts, and referencing companies factually in contexts that don't imply endorsement. Always check if the company provides brand guidelines or usage policies on their website.
The top right corner is the most conventional placement for recurring logos throughout a presentation, positioned 0.3 to 0.5 inches from both edges. This location keeps the logo visible without competing with slide content. Alternative placements include the footer area (centered or left-aligned), which works well for report-style presentations, and the cover slide, where logos should be larger and more prominent (2-4 inches). For co-branded presentations, place partner logos at equal heights with equal spacing, typically in opposite corners or side-by-side in the footer.
Not necessarily. While adding logos to most slides maintains brand consistency, you don't always need logos on every single slide. Skip logos on transitional slides, quote slides, or full-image slides where logos would clutter the design. For internal presentations to audiences familiar with your brand, limit logos to the cover slide, major section dividers, and closing slide. This creates a cleaner aesthetic and allows content to be the focus. External presentations to unfamiliar audiences benefit from more consistent logo presence.
PNG format is the most reliable choice for presentation logos across both PowerPoint and Google Slides. PNG files support transparency (crucial for logos), display consistently across platforms, and handle well at appropriate resolutions. For PowerPoint 2016 and newer, SVG (vector) format offers perfect scaling at any size, though older versions may not support it. Export PNG logos at 2-3x your intended display size at 300 DPI to ensure sharpness on high-resolution displays. Avoid JPG for logos with transparency or text elements, as the compression can create artifacts.
No, you should never modify a company's logo. Editing, stretching, recoloring, or altering logos violates brand guidelines and potentially trademark rights. This includes changing colors, cropping elements, stretching to fit spaces, adding effects, combining with other graphics, or recreating the logo in a similar style. If a logo doesn't fit your design, adjust your design instead. Use different logo orientations (horizontal vs vertical) provided by the brand, request alternate versions from the company, or create more space in your layout. Maintaining logo integrity shows respect for brand identity and professionalism.
Use the Slide Master feature for automatic logo placement across all slides. In PowerPoint, go to View > Slide Master, insert your logo on the master slide at the top of the hierarchy, position and size it appropriately, then close Master View. The logo now appears on all slides using that master. In Google Slides, open Slide > Edit Master, select the master layout, insert your logo, then close master editing. This method ensures consistency, saves time when building multi-slide presentations, and allows you to change the logo globally by editing it once in the master.
Yes, presentation logos should be high resolution to avoid pixelation on modern displays. With 4K monitors and high-resolution projectors becoming standard, logos need to be sharp at display size. Use vector formats (SVG, EPS) that scale infinitely without quality loss, or raster formats (PNG) at least 2-3x your intended display size at 300 DPI minimum. A logo displaying at 1 inch should be saved at 2-3 inches. Test presentations on the actual display equipment when possible, as projectors sometimes reveal quality issues not visible on your laptop screen.
The primary differences involve file format support and master slide functionality. PowerPoint offers better support for vector formats (SVG, EPS) in recent versions and has more sophisticated master slide controls with granular layout options. Google Slides provides simpler master editing but excels in collaboration, allowing teams to share logo resources through Google Drive integration. PowerPoint preserves logo quality better in PDF exports, while Google Slides automatically converts some formats. For consistent results across both platforms, use high-resolution PNG files and test your presentation in both applications before finalizing.
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