How Many Lights Do I Need for a Christmas Tree?

The rule: 100 lights per foot of height

Christmas tree lights are sized by the tree's height, not its width, because a standard tree gets wider in step with its height. Pick the look you want and multiply:

• Subtle (50 per foot): a soft glow that lets the ornaments stand out.
• Classic (100 per foot): the traditional, evenly lit tree. Start here if you're unsure.
• Bright (150–200 per foot): the dense, store-display look.

So a 7.5 ft tree needs 7.5 × 100 = 750 lights for a classic look.

Christmas tree lights chart by height

Strand counts are rounded up. If your sets hold 50 lights, double the strand number. For 200-light sets, halve it.

Adjust for the shape of your tree

The chart assumes a standard full tree. Some trees need a correction:

• Slim or pencil trees: use about two-thirds of the chart figure. A 7.5 ft slim tree looks fully lit with around 500 lights.
• Extra-full or wide trees: add about 25%. A wide 7.5 ft tree needs closer to 950 for the classic look.
• Pre-lit trees: the box lists how many lights are built in. Compare that with the chart. If a 7.5 ft tree came with 500 lights and you want the classic look, add about 250 more.

How many feet of lights is that?

A standard 100-light mini set is roughly 20 feet of lit wire. That puts a classic 7.5 ft tree at around 150 feet of lights, which is why it feels like you're wrapping forever. Wide-angle LED sets are similar. C6 and C7 sets space their bulbs further apart, so you need more feet for the same number of bulbs.

How to put lights on a Christmas tree

1. Test every strand before it goes on the tree. Finding a dead set halfway up is a classic December frustration.
2. Start at the bottom, nearest the outlet, so the plug end is where you need it.
3. Weave along the branches. Run the strand out toward the tip of a branch and back in toward the trunk before moving to the next. This gives the depth you see on professionally lit trees. Spiraling around the outside is faster and uses fewer lights, but looks flatter.
4. Work in sections. Light the tree in vertical wedges, one strand per wedge, instead of one long spiral. It's easier to fill gaps, and easier to replace one strand later.
5. Step back and squint. Dark patches show up clearly when your eyes are half closed. Fix them before the ornaments go on.

Plugging it in safely

• LED vs incandescent: LED mini sets draw a fraction of the power, so you can usually link many more of them end-to-end. Incandescent mini sets often allow only a few. See how many strands you can safely connect.
• Use lights listed by a safety lab (UL, ETL or CSA), and throw out any set with cracked wires or broken sockets.
• Keep a real tree watered. A dry tree is a fire risk, and warm incandescent bulbs dry it out faster.
• Turn the lights off when you go to bed or leave the house. A plug-in timer does this for you.

Lighting a tree in the yard instead? Outdoor trees are lit by wrapping the trunk and branches, which works differently. See how many string lights to wrap a tree.

Frequently asked questions