What size Christmas tree fits your room?
3 min read
How to work out the right height and width of real Christmas tree for your ceiling and floor space, with a simple measuring method.
The most common mistake is buying a tree that looked modest outdoors and turns out to fill the room. Two measurements prevent it: ceiling height and floor space.
Height: measure the ceiling, then subtract
Most modern British homes have ceilings of about 2.4 metres, a little under 8 feet. Older houses, including many Victorian terraces, are often higher.
From your ceiling height, take off:
- About 15 cm (6 in) for the stand, which lifts the tree off the floor.
- About 15 to 30 cm (6 to 12 in) for the star or topper, plus a little clear space above it.
| Your ceiling | Tree to buy |
|---|---|
| 2.3 m (7 ft 6 in) | 5 to 6 ft |
| 2.4 m (7 ft 10 in) | 6 ft, or 7 ft with a small topper |
| 2.7 m (8 ft 10 in) | 7 ft |
| 3 m and over | 8 ft or more |
Trees are sold by height band, measured from the base of the trunk to the tip of the leading shoot, so a “6 ft” tree may be a few inches either side.
Width: the part people forget
A tree is roughly two-thirds as wide as it is tall at its lowest branches, so a 6 ft tree needs a circle of floor about 1.2 metres (4 ft) across. A Nordmann fir is generally wider than a Norway spruce of the same height.
To check, mark the footprint on the floor with tape or a few sheets of newspaper where the tree will go. Make sure doors still open and there is room to walk past.
Where to stand it
- Away from radiators and fires. Heat dries a tree faster than anything else.
- Near a socket, so the lights do not need a trailing extension lead.
- Out of the main walkway, where branches will be brushed and needles knocked off.
- Not blocking a window you open, or a door.
Small spaces
In a flat or a small sitting room, a 5 ft tree raised on a low table or sturdy box gives the height of a larger tree with a smaller footprint. A slimmer species helps too; see our guide to tree types.
Getting it through the door
A netted tree is easy to carry, even up stairs. If you live above the ground floor, measure the tightest turn on the staircase: anything up to 7 ft will usually go round, but an 8 ft tree may not.