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Tree planner · free tool

Christmas Tree Calculator

How many lights, how much garland and ribbon, and how many ornaments your tree needs.

Example values · replace them with yours

Shape
Look
Already have some lights?

Enter the bulb count, including any pre-lit lights. We subtract it from the shopping estimate.

Mini lights–
Ornaments–
Garland–
Ribbon–

Try looks in the tree game

What that looks like in your cart

Quantities update with your tree.

  • Green wire lights300 count clear Christmas tree lights with green wire, 60 ft, warm white
    Check price
  • Shatterproof ornamentsSea Team 86 shatterproof ornaments, champagne
    Check price
  • Velvet ribbonVintage burgundy velvet ribbon, 1 inch x 25 yd
    Check price
  • Cable knit skirtSattiyrch 48 inch cable knit tree skirt
    Check price
  • Topper bowRed wine velvet tree topper bow with streamers
    Check price

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Frequently asked questions

How many lights for a 7.5 ft Christmas tree?

About 750 mini lights for a classic look on a standard tree, 450 for a soft glow and 1,100 or more for a really bright tree. Slim trees need about a third less, full trees about a quarter more.

How many lights per foot of tree?

Our rule of thumb is 100 mini lights per foot of height for a classic look, 60 for soft and 150 for bright, times 0.7 for slim trees or 1.25 for full ones.

How do you work out the garland length?

Most trees are about 0.6 times as wide as they are tall. We treat the tree as a cone: one loop at average width is π × width ÷ 2, loops sit every 9 to 19 inches depending on the look, plus 15% for draping.

How many ornaments do I need?

About 14 per foot of height on a standard tree for a classic look: roughly 100 for a 7.5 ft tree. Mix three sizes and a few statement pieces. Big ones go deep in the branches, small ones near the tips.

What size tree skirt do I need?

About as wide as the bottom branches, or a bit smaller so it tucks under: 36 inches for 4 to 5 ft trees, 48 inches for most 6 to 7.5 ft trees and 56 to 60 inches for big 9 ft trees.

How many light strands can I connect?

It depends on the set. The box or tag says how many sets connect end to end. Never go over that number.

What goes on first?

Lights first, from the bottom up, weaving from the trunk to the tips. Then garland or ribbon, then big ornaments deep in the branches, then small ones, picks and the topper.

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