Your tree: 6 ft (183 cm)
Example for a 6 ft (183 cm) tree – enter your own height above.
| Lights – Minimal | 300 |
|---|---|
| Lights – Classic | 600 |
| Lights – Very bright | 900–1200 |
| Baubles – Classic | 90–120 |
| Garland or tinsel | 11–18 ft (3.5–5.5 m) |
| Ribbon | 11–18 ft (3.5–5.5 m) |
| Width at the bottom | 3.5 ft (110 cm) |
| Tree topper | 7–9 in (18–23 cm) |
| Tree skirt (diameter) | 4–4.5 ft (120–130 cm) |
Know what your tree needs? Now decorate the tree online.
The rules of thumb behind the numbers
- These are rules of thumb with ranges, not official numbers: trust your eye and the space you have.
- Lights: about 50 (minimal), 100 (classic) or 150–200 (very bright) per foot (30 cm) of height.
- Baubles: 10–15, 15–20 or 20–25 per foot (30 cm) of height.
- Garland and ribbon: 2–3 times the height – a tree is about 0.6 times as wide as it is tall and takes 6–8 turns.
- Topper: 1/10 to 1/8 of the height; tree skirt: the width of the tree plus 10–20 cm (4–8 in).
- Ceiling: leave about 15 cm (6 in) for the stand and 20 cm (8 in) for the topper.
Safety and decorating tips
- Use LED lights only: they stay cool and use far less power.
- Check the rating on the cable and the plug, and never connect more sets than the box allows.
- Water a real tree every day – a dry tree catches fire easily.
- Keep the tree away from radiators, the fireplace and candles.
- Put the lights on first, then the garland, then the baubles.
- Measure the doorway and the ceiling before you buy the tree.
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