How to Subtract Shapes in PowerPoint

How To Subtract Shapes In PowerPoint

Updated on:

May 25, 2026

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Use this interactive demo to learn how to cut shapes into custom designs using PowerPoint's Merge Shapes tool.

Quick summary

The Subtract feature in PowerPoint's Merge Shapes tool lets you cut one shape out of another to create custom cut-out effects. It takes just a few clicks using the Shape Format tab, with no design software required.

Steps

Insert the shapes you want to use onto your PowerPoint slide.
Place the shape you want to subtract on top of the other shape.
Hold Ctrl and select both shapes to multi-select them.
Go to the Shape Format tab in the PowerPoint ribbon.
Click Merge Shapes to open the merge options menu.
Choose Subtract from the dropdown options.
The top shape will be removed from the bottom shape, creating a cut-out effect.

📌 Why this matters

PowerPoint's Subtract feature inside Merge Shapes gives presenters and designers the ability to create custom cut-out shapes directly in PowerPoint — no Adobe Illustrator or third-party design tools needed. This built-in shape subtraction capability makes it easy to produce professional, visually unique graphics for slides, saving time and keeping all design work inside a single familiar tool. For anyone building branded presentations or custom icons, mastering shape subtraction unlocks a new level of visual creativity within PowerPoint.

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