What Size Christmas Tree Do I Need?
Trees look smaller in an open field than they do in your living room, so the most common mistake at a choose-and-cut farm is a tree that is too tall or too wide. A tape measure and two numbers from home solve it.
Measure two things at home
Height. Measure from the floor to the ceiling where the tree will stand. Then subtract the stand, which raises the tree by a couple of inches (MSU Extension), and the height of your star or angel. NC State Extension recommends accounting for both before you shop so you do not have to cut a lot off the top at home (NC State Extension).
Width. Measure the floor space too. The tree should not touch walls, windows or the ceiling (University of Minnesota Extension).
How wide is a Christmas tree?
Farm-grown trees are sheared into a cone. NCTA says most are shaped to an 80% taper, so a 10-foot tree is about 8 feet wide at the bottom (NCTA). Michigan State University Extension suggests a 6-foot tree needs a space roughly 4 feet wide (MSU Extension). Plan for a width of roughly two-thirds to four-fifths of the tree's height. Narrower species such as some firs need less room than a full, bushy pine or spruce.
Measure the tree at the farm
Bring the tape measure into the field and measure the tree before you cut it, rather than guessing against a person's height. Picking a tree that is too tall is one of the most common mistakes (Illinois Extension). A typical tree sold in the US is 6 to 7 feet tall (Illinois Extension), which suits a standard 8-foot ceiling. Many farms mark heights on poles or price trees by height, which helps.
Leave enough trunk for the stand
Leave 6 to 8 inches of straight trunk below the lowest branches so the base fits into the stand and sits in water (Illinois Extension). You can remove a lower whorl of branches at home if you need to. Do not shave the bark to make a thick trunk fit a small stand, because the outer layers carry water (Penn State Extension). Buy a stand to fit the tree instead.
Choose a stand that holds enough water
A tree drinks up to a quart of water a day for every inch of trunk diameter, so most trees need a stand that holds at least a gallon (NCTA FAQ). Small decorative stands often hold too little for a 7-foot tree. Our guide to keeping a tree fresh has the details.
Frequently asked questions
What size Christmas tree fits an 8-foot ceiling?
A tree of about 6½ to 7 feet usually fits an 8-foot ceiling once you add a couple of inches for the stand and room for a star or angel on top. Measure your topper and subtract it from the ceiling height before you go.
How do I measure a Christmas tree at the farm?
Bring a tape measure, hold it from the ground to the top of the leader, the single shoot at the top of the tree, and remember to leave 6 to 8 inches of bare trunk at the bottom for the stand. Many farms also have measuring poles in the fields.
Before you go
- How to Cut Down Your Own Christmas TreeWhat to bring to a choose-and-cut farm, how to pick a fresh tree, where to make the cut and how to get it home and standing, step by step.
- Christmas Tree Types: Which Real Tree Should You Choose?Fraser, balsam, Douglas, noble and concolor fir, spruces, pines and cypress compared for scent, needle retention, soft needles and ornament strength.
- How to Keep a Real Christmas Tree FreshHow much water a Christmas tree drinks, when to recut the trunk, why additives don't help and how long a fresh-cut tree lasts, from extension research.
- When to Cut Your Christmas TreeWhen cut-your-own Christmas tree farms open, how long a fresh-cut tree lasts indoors and the best weekend to go for selection and freshness.
- How Much Does a Real Christmas Tree Cost?What a real Christmas tree costs in the US, what cut-your-own farms charge, and how flat, per-foot and by-size pricing work, with farm price data.