How many lights for a Christmas tree?
A classic look needs about 100 mini lights per foot of tree height, a full look about 150 and a dense look about 200. A 7.5 ft tree is therefore about 750, 1,125 or 1,500 lights. Pick your height and look below to see how many strands to buy.
Lights needed by tree height
These are rules of thumb. Tree width matters as much as height: a very full 7.5 ft tree has far more branch area than a slim one. The calculator above adjusts for slim and wide shapes.
| Tree height | Classic (100/ft) | Full (150/ft) | Dense (200/ft) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4.5 ft | 450 | 675 | 900 |
| 5 ft | 500 | 750 | 1,000 |
| 6 ft | 600 | 900 | 1,200 |
| 6.5 ft | 650 | 975 | 1,300 |
| 7 ft | 700 | 1,050 | 1,400 |
| 7.5 ft | 750 | 1,125 | 1,500 |
| 9 ft | 900 | 1,350 | 1,800 |
| 12 ft | 1,200 | 1,800 | 2,400 |
How to put the lights on
- Test every strand before it goes on the tree. Plug each one in and replace any that do not light.
- Start at the bottom, near the outlet, and work up. Plug in the first strand and connect each next one to the end of the last as the package allows.
- Weave the strand in and out along each branch from the trunk to the tip and back, rather than wrapping around the outside. Lights set deeper into the tree give depth.
- Step back every few branches to check for gaps.
- Finish at the top and tuck the last plug end out of sight. Put every cord run on the back of the tree.
Strand size, count and total power
Strands come in 100, 200, 300 and 400 light counts. Fewer, longer strands mean fewer plugs, but a single burnt-out section can affect more lights. Most LED sets keep working when a bulb fails, while older incandescent sets may not.
Check the package for the maximum number of sets you can connect end to end. LED mini sets often allow 20 or more, while incandescent sets usually allow only 3 or 4. See how many strings can you plug together.
Buy all your strands in one batch. White tones vary between batches and brands, and a warm white next to a slightly yellower warm white is easy to see.
Wiring a 7.5 ft tree: chains, watts and the season bill
A full look on a 7.5 ft tree is 1,125 lights, which rounds up to 6 strands of 200. The same tree built from 100-light incandescent sets takes 12 sets and has to be split into chains of 3, because CPSC says never to join more than three incandescent sets.
| LED mini | Incandescent mini | |
|---|---|---|
| Sets | 6 sets of 200 | 12 sets of 100 |
| Typical load | about 60 W | about 480 W |
| Separate chains | One chain if the box allows 6 sets | 4 chains, each into its own outlet or splitter |
| Season cost, 6 ft tree (Department of Energy) | $0.27 | $10 |
Tree safety that goes with the lights
- Water a live tree every day. CPSC says to water live trees and to look for the fire-resistant label on an artificial one (CPSC).
- Energy.gov points out that incandescent bulbs get hot as they burn brighter, while LED strands stay cooler and are much less likely to break (Energy.gov), which matters against dry needles.
- Unplug the tree when you leave the house or go to bed.
Warm white, multicolor or both
Warm white gives a traditional look and works with any ornament color. Multicolor is the retro look and shows off colored ornaments. Some people use warm white inside the tree and one strand of colors at the tips. See warm white versus multicolor for the full comparison.
Outside the house, use the Christmas light calculator for roof edges, windows and trunks.
Frequently asked questions
How many lights do I need for a 6 ft Christmas tree?
About 600 for a classic look, 900 for a full look and 1,200 for a dense look. That is 3, 5 or 6 strands of 200 lights.
How many lights do I need for a 7.5 ft tree?
About 750 for classic, 1,125 for full and 1,500 for dense. Most people buy 1,000 to 1,500 lights for a 7.5 ft tree.
How many lights for a 9 ft tree?
About 900 for classic, 1,350 for full and 1,800 for dense. Plan on 5 or more strands of 300 lights.
How many lights on a 5 ft tree?
About 500 for classic or up to 1,000 for a very dense look. Three to five strands of 200 lights is typical.
Is it 100 lights per foot of tree?
That is a common rule of thumb for a traditional look, and some tree makers suggest more. Use 150 to 200 per foot for a fuller, more modern look.
How many strands can I plug together on a tree?
Read the label. LED mini strands often allow 20 or more connections end to end, but incandescent sets usually allow only 3 or 4. For the math, see how many strings can you plug together.
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