What Size Christmas Tree Do I Need? A Ceiling Height Guide

Trees look smaller outdoors. As the National Christmas Tree Association (NCTA) points out, a tree in a field looks small because the sky is its ceiling. So before you pick a size, spend five minutes with a tape measure in the room where the tree will stand.

TreeDrop sells two sizes of fresh cut tree, 6 ft for $465 and 8 ft for $589, plus taller trees by special order. Here is how to match one to your room.

What size Christmas tree do I need for my ceiling?

Take your ceiling height and subtract about a foot, and that is roughly the tallest tree that fits. The stand lifts the tree a few inches off the floor, and your topper needs the rest of that space. For TreeDrop trees, it works out like this.

The 6 ft and 8 ft names are size classes. Real trees vary, so a 6 ft tree is about 5½ to 6½ ft tall and an 8 ft tree is about 7½ to 8½ ft, measured before the stand. If your ceiling is under 8 ft, measure carefully, because even the 6 ft tree can be up to about 6½ ft.

How do you measure ceiling height for a Christmas tree?

Measure from the floor to the ceiling at the exact spot where the tree will stand, not in the middle of the room. Ceilings are rarely as even as they look.

• Stand where the trunk will go and measure straight up.
• Check for anything that hangs lower, like a ceiling fan, light fixture, beam or soffit, and measure to the lowest one.
• On a sloped ceiling, measure right where the tree goes and note which side is lower.
• Measure how far your topper rises above the tip of the tree.
• While the tape is out, measure the width of the spot, wall to wall or wall to furniture.

Why leave about a foot?

The stand lifts the tree a few inches, and a topper adds more. A foot of space covers both and keeps the tip from pressing against the ceiling. If your star or angel is extra tall, leave a little more.

How wide will the tree be?

Plan for a tree that can be about 80 percent as wide as it is tall. The NCTA says most farm trees are trimmed to an 80 percent taper, so a 10 ft tree is about 8 ft wide at the bottom. It also warns that a tree that fits a room top to bottom can still be far too big side to side.

At that taper, our 6 ft tree can spread close to 5 ft across at the lowest branches, and our 8 ft tree about 6½ ft. That spread is a circle, so the tree reaches out into the room as far as it reaches along the wall. In a corner, the trunk needs to sit about half that spread out from each wall, roughly 2½ ft for the 6 ft tree and a bit over 3 ft for the 8 ft tree.

Where should you put a Christmas tree?

Put it at least 3 ft from anything that gives off heat, near an outlet, and out of doorways and walkways. Pick the spot before delivery day, so the crew can set the stand right where you want it.

• Keep it at least 3 ft from fireplaces, radiators, space heaters, candles and heat vents, as the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) advises. Heat also dries a tree out faster.
• Skip the spot in front of a sunny window. The NCTA's care tips list direct sunlight right alongside fireplaces and heat vents as sources of heat to keep trees away from.
• Choose a spot near an outlet so cords do not have to cross the room. The USFA's electrical safety tips say to avoid putting cords where they can be damaged or pinched, like under a carpet or rug.
• Make sure the tree does not block an exit, which the USFA also warns against, and keep it out of the paths people use every day.
• Leave a clear way to reach the stand. You will be adding water daily, and you should not have to move furniture to do it.
• Protect the floor. A waterproof mat or tray under the stand catches drips when you top off the water, so lay it down before delivery day.

Will the tree fit through the door and up the stairs?

That depends on the tightest spot between the street and the stand, so walk that path before you order. The crew carries the tree inside, which means narrow hallways, sharp turns, tight stairs and low landings all count.

Tell us about anything unusual when you order, like a long walk from the street or a staircase up to the living room. If a home has unusual access, any extra charge is confirmed before checkout. And remember that the tree leaves the same way it came in, during January pickup.

What size tree fits a vaulted ceiling or two story room?

A vaulted or two story room can usually take a tree taller than 8 ft, which TreeDrop offers as a special order. Trees 9 ft and up get a custom quote and are subject to availability and a look at access to your home.

Measure at the spot where the tree will stand, since a sloped ceiling can be several feet lower on one side. The spread grows with the height, too: at the NCTA's 80 percent taper, a 10 ft tree is about 8 ft wide. And plan how you will reach the top for lights and a topper, because decorating is up to you.

Still between two sizes?

In a 9 ft room, go with the 6 ft tree if you have a tall topper or a tight spot, and the 8 ft tree if the room is open and your topper is small. Both sizes come in Noble Fir and Fraser Fir at the same price.

Once you know your size, the rest is quick. Compare the varieties in our noble fir vs Fraser fir guide, learn how to keep a real tree fresh in Southern California, see how Christmas tree delivery works, then choose your size and delivery date.