How many lights do you need for a tree? (2024)

It's important to understand that the number of lights needed for a Christmas tree is subjective. This tool is advisory and is intended to be used as a guide. We've included the visuals to indicate what your tree will look like, but no two trees are the same - this is particularly true for outdoor trees.

When it comes to wrapping outdoor trees, people generally underestimate the number of lights required. Our tool uses mathematical formulas to calculate the length of lights required for tree wrapping based on the trunk diameter selected. To increase the coverage when wrapping trees with lights, it's as simple as reducing the distance between each 'row' of lights. On our tool, that's achieved by selecting 'deck the halls' coverage.

If you are unsure of the number of lights needed when wrapping or draping lights on any Christmas tree or outdoor branched tree, our advice is always to order slightly more than you think you might need, if you're able to do so. You can always return what you don't need and this way there's no chance of the lights going out of stock, leaving you short.

Indoor trees are generally dressed using fixed length sets of lights, whereas for outdoor trees, connectable lights will be used.

There are two predominant types of Christmas tree lights, which are detailed below. Which one you choose shouldn't have a huge bearing on the length of lights that you require to dress your Christmas tree, but cluster lights do - as the name suggests - include more LEDs for each length of lights, so will create a greater density of lights if wrapped as tightly as regular tree lights.2

Our tool suggests a length of lights and a number of LEDs (based on 10 LEDs per metre of lights). This - and the image generated - is based on using classic fairy lights. For clusters, you are able to use less.