How many lights do you need for a Christmas tree?
Want to know how many lights you need for your tree? Use our interactive tool that doesn't just tell you, it shows you what they'll look like too. Choose from indoor or outdoor Christmas trees, select your tree size, how you want to decorate it and how much coverage you want and we'll do the rest.
It's important to understand that the number of lights needed for a Christmas tree is subjective. This tool is advisory and is intended to be used as a guide. We've included the visuals to indicate what your tree will look like, but no two trees are the same - this is particularly true for outdoor trees.
When it comes to wrapping outdoor trees, people generally underestimate the number of lights required. Our tool uses mathematical formulas to calculate the length of lights required for tree wrapping based on the trunk diameter selected. To increase the coverage when wrapping trees with lights, it's as simple as reducing the distance between each 'row' of lights. On our tool, that's achieved by selecting 'deck the halls' coverage.
If you are unsure of the number of lights needed when wrapping or draping lights on any Christmas tree or outdoor branched tree, our advice is always to order slightly more than you think you might need, if you're able to do so. You can always return what you don't need and this way there's no chance of the lights going out of stock, leaving you short.
Types of Christmas tree lights
Indoor trees are generally dressed using fixed length sets of lights, whereas for outdoor trees, connectable lights will be used.
There are two predominant types of Christmas tree lights, which are detailed below. Which one you choose shouldn't have a huge bearing on the length of lights that you require to dress your Christmas tree, but cluster lights do - as the name suggests - include more LEDs for each length of lights, so will create a greater density of lights if wrapped as tightly as regular tree lights.2
Our tool suggests a length of lights and a number of LEDs (based on 10 LEDs per metre of lights). This - and the image generated - is based on using classic fairy lights. For clusters, you are able to use less.
Classic Fairy Lights
Traditional Christmas tree fairy lights are exactly how you would picture them. A single string of lights, evenly spaced; these are always available in countless colours and lengths and remain the default choice for tree lights.
Cluster Lights
Christmas cluster lights are where LEDs are clustered together with many more bulbs than their traditional counterparts. As the LEDs sprout for all sides of the cable, the overall light density is increased, giving a brighter, fuller appearance.
Number of Christmas lights needed for different tree sizes
How many lights for a 6ft tree?
We suggest that 30m of lights are needed for a 6ft tree, assuming you want good coverage all the way round your tree. If you want excellent coverage, consider upping this to somewhere in the region of 45m.How many lights for a 7ft tree?
We generally advise that about 35m of lights are needed for a 7ft tree if you want good coverage all the way round your tree. If you really want to fill your tree with lights with no gaps at all, consider upping this to 50-55m.How many lights for a 7.5ft tree?
As with 7ft trees, for 7.5ft Christmas trees we would advise that you use 35-40m of lights which will provide good, even coverage. If you really want to push the boat out, consider upping this to 55m.How many lights for an 8ft tree?
45m of tree lights are what we would recommend using for an 8ft tree, unless you really want your room to glow, in which case go with closer to 70m.How many lights for a 9ft tree?
You don't want a 9ft tree to look too sparse, so for good coverage all the way round your tree consider using 50m of lights. If you want excellent coverage, up this to 75m.