What Christmas Tree Size Do I Need?

This post about Christmas Tree Size was updated in October of 2023.

This holiday season, go faux and say goodbye to tangled lights, brittle branches and dropped needles. Everlasting greenery is better than ever (it’s getting harder and harder to tell the difference), and there are so many beautiful options for decking your home’s halls.

Before you make the switch to a hassle-free holiday, there are a few things to keep in mind when shopping for the right Christmas tree size for your space.

A beautifully decorated tree can really make a room come alive and feel festive. Naturally, it has a lot to do with the decorations and lights, but having a tree that perfectly fits the space makes a huge difference, too. So, just as if you were shopping for a piece of furniture, you should make sure your Christmas tree size and scale is proportional to the appointed space. In other words, not too big or too small, but just right.

1. How Tall Should My Christmas Tree Be?

Generally, it’s best to allow 1 ½ feet to six inches minimum between the top of the tree and your ceiling. And don’t forget to account for the height of your tree stand and the tree topper you want to use.

8 Foot Ceilings

• If you have standard 8-foot ceilings and want the tallest Christmas tree your room will allow, you can choose a 7 ½-foot tree and still have a six-inch clearance for your tree stand and topper.

9 Foot Ceilings

• A 7 ½-foot Christmas tree is the perfect size for 9-foot ceilings. You can be sure the tree won’t hug the ceiling, and you’ll have plenty of space to top the tree with a shining star.

10 Foot Ceilings

• If you have 10-foot ceilings, it’s safe to size up and choose a 9-foot tree. You’ll have one foot of space between the ceiling and the tip of your tree.

2. What Shape Should My Christmas Tree Be?

Evergreen trees come in all shapes and sizes to fit a variety of spaces. And one thing to consider when it comes to finding the right Christmas tree size to fit your space is its shape, or girth. You want a tree that will fill your space without crowding out your furniture or climbing up your walls.

64” Diameter Tree

• When you’re measuring your space, give yourself a three-inch cushion between the walls and the tree. Therefore, the total space you need to comfortably fit a 64-inch diameter tree is 67 inches.

69” Diameter Tree

• Accounting for three inches of space between the walls and your tree, the total space you need to comfortably fit a 69-inch diameter tree is 72 inches. As long as you don’t have furniture nearby, the larger tree will look great.

Time to Decorate

Now that you’ve figured out which tree size you need, it’s time for the fun part – decorating it! From ornaments to lights, garland, and tree toppers, there are so many ways you can add personality and style to your tree. Unfortunately, the decorating process isn’t as easy as it seems.

It can take multiple assessments to realize that you missed hanging an ornament on a branch or you need an extra strand of lights. This is why we’ve gathered a foolproof formula to help you achieve your desired Christmas tree look.

 

3. How Many Strands of Lights Do You Need?

We always recommend starting with your lights first. If you love Christmas trees that are professionally done, invest in good LED lights. For that professional look, you’ll want to work the lights in and out of the branches. Take the lights all the way in to the core of the tree and zig zag the lights outward and cover the EACH branch.

7.5 Foot Tree

• For a 7.5-foot tree, we suggest using at least 1,000 incandescent lights. If you want your tree to be very well lit, you’ll want to use 5,000 LED lights.

9 Foot Tree

• 9-foot trees will need at least 1,500 incandescent lights and 6,000 LED lights for that professionally lit look.

10 Foot Tree

• For 10-foot trees, we suggest using 2,500 incandescent lights and 8,5000 LED lights for a well lit tree.

4. How Many Ornaments Do You Need?

Ornaments all come down to your your personal preference. While some love very full trees, there are others who prefer a more minimalist approach. No matter which you prefer, always make sure you are mixing sizes and finishes. We love to use filler ornaments like solids and metallics to fill the inside of the tree. Use your large metallic ornaments and push them inside the holes in the tree so they fill the negative space, but also reflect the light from the strands and sparkle. Save your special memory ornaments and collector pieces to showcase on the outer branches. You want to have those special pieces front and center.

7.5 Foot Tree

• For a 7.5-foot tree we would recommend 105 ornaments for light coverage. If you like a heavier coverage, we suggest 140 ornaments.

9 Foot Tree

• For a 9-foot tree we recommend 175 ornaments for lighter coverage and 210 ornaments for fuller coverage.

10 Foot Tree

• A 10-foot tree will need around 200 ornaments for light coverage and 250 pieces for heavier coverage.

Did you find this article about finding the best sized Christmas tree for your home helpful? Browse all of our Christmas Trees and find more holiday inspiration from these helpful posts below:

• How to Have Holiday Fun at Home
• 5 Festive Front Door Ideas to Welcome the Holidays
• 13 Creative Christmas Decorating Ideas
• How to Add Festive Holiday Touches to Every Room
• The History of Christmas Tree Decorating

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