What Size Christmas Tree Do I Need?
Getting the size right is the most common worry when people order a tree online, and it's the easiest thing to get right with a tape measure and two minutes.
Start with the ceiling
Measure from the floor to the ceiling where the tree will stand. Then take off about 30cm (a foot) to leave room for the stand, which lifts the tree a few inches, and for a star or angel on top.
| Ceiling height | Tree size to go for |
|---|---|
| Around 8ft (2.4m) | 5–6ft or 6–7ft |
| Around 9ft (2.7m) | 7–8ft |
| Around 10ft (3m) | 8–9ft |
| 11ft (3.3m) or more | 9–10ft |
What that means for different homes
Ceiling heights vary, so always measure your own. As a rough guide:
- Victorian and Edwardian terraces often have downstairs ceilings of 2.7–3m (9–10ft), so a 7–8ft or 8–9ft tree can work.
- Interwar and post-war semis are usually around 2.4–2.5m (8ft), which suits a 6–7ft tree.
- Newer houses are typically 2.4m (8ft) too.
- City-centre flats vary, so measure the room and check the lift or stairwell as well.
Don't forget the width
A Nordmann Fir is full and bushy, and the bottom branches take up more floor space than people expect. As a rough rule, allow a width of at least half the tree's height, plus space to walk round it while you decorate and to reach the stand to top up the water.
Our sizes
- 5–6ft Nordmann Fir (£71): smaller living rooms, hallways, or a tree on a table or low unit
- 6–7ft Nordmann Fir (£81): the right height for most rooms with an 8ft ceiling
- 7–8ft Nordmann Fir (£95): rooms with ceilings of about 9ft
- 8–9ft Nordmann Fir (£105): high-ceilinged rooms and period properties
- 9–10ft Nordmann Fir (£125): very high ceilings, halls and communal spaces
Delivery is free on trees up to 8ft. For the 8–9ft and 9–10ft trees, you'll see the delivery cost at checkout.
If you're thinking of a large tree
An 8–9ft or 9–10ft tree looks spectacular in the right room, but it needs a bit more planning.
- Measure twice. A 9–10ft tree needs a ceiling of at least 11ft once you allow for the stand and topper.
- Get the right stand. Our Cinco stand is designed for trees up to 8ft, so you'll need a larger stand for the two biggest sizes.
- Plan the route in. We deliver to your door but can't carry trees inside or set them up, for insurance reasons. A large tree is a two-person lift, so have someone to help and clear the way to where it's going.
- Allow for more lights than you'd use on a standard tree.
If it turns out a little too tall
Take the extra off the bottom, not the top. Cutting a few centimetres off the base of the trunk is easy with a saw and doesn't spoil the shape. Cutting the top removes the leading shoot your star or angel sits on.
For more on choosing a tree, see our Christmas tree buying guide and our advice on when to order a Christmas tree.