Whether fake or real, flocked or natural, your Christmas tree is the center of attention during the holidays. Sure, we love a garland and a beautifully designed advent calendar as much as the next person, but nothing ever really measures up to the shining evergreen, especially once it's all lit up. But unless you chose a pre-lit artificial Christmas tree, you'll have to wrangle the string lights before you can get to the fun part: all the ornaments.
String lights can quickly become unwieldy—they tangle, snag, stretch, and pull until you're really not feeling the Christmas spirit. There is a better way. Below, we break down how to put lights on a Christmas tree four easy ways. Whether you decide to go from the ground up or work in quadrants, we promise these simple methods will put the joy back into your Christmas tree decorating tradition.
What You'll Need
A good rule of thumb is to buy 100 lights for every foot of the tree, but you can add more lights (or use fewer) to get the look you prefer.
- Christmas lights
- A ladder
- Green floral wire or tape
- An extra hand or two
Before You Get Started
There's nothing worse than stringing your lights perfectly only to realize that they're the dead set you meant to throw away last year. To avoid this, plug in the lights to ensure all the bulbs are working before you put them on the tree. We also recommend leaving them on while you work so you can see how they look on the tree and so you can easily tell if the plug will reach the socket when you're finished.
How to Put Lights on a Christmas Tree Vertically
Used by the experts who put lights on the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree, the vertical method is the go-to for professional decorators.
Step One: Divide the tree into three sections from top to bottom around the tree's cone. This helps to ensure that each area is fully covered and that you won't be stepping on and off the ladder every five minutes.
Step Two: Put the lights on the tree, starting the first string at the bottom of the tree and pulling it up to the top, then back down, like you're reaching up and down. Continue to zigzag up and down the tree.
Step Three: Once you've wrapped the tree, tuck the strands farther in on the branches to make room for ornaments. Or pull a few strands towards the front for a more three-dimensional look.
How to Put Lights on a Christmas Tree With the Zigzag Method
Step One: Divide the tree into vertical quadrants. You'll work on one quadrant at a time.
Step Two: Working either from top to bottom or bottom to top (your preference), begin to weave the lights in a zigzag motion across one quadrant of the tree.
Step Three: Once you've reached the top or bottom of that section, begin to move the lights through the next quadrant until the tree is complete. If you want more lights, repeat this step in the opposite direction (so bottom to top if you previously started at the top) to avoid too much overlap.
How to Put Lights on a Christmas Tree Bottom to Top
Step One: Starting at the bottom, wrap Christmas tree lights around the tree, weaving over and under the branches to avoid an obvious spiral. Place some lights deeper into the branches and place some closer to the front to create depth.
Step Two: Once you reach the top, you can either tuck the extra lights into the back of the tree or begin to wrap them around the tree, back towards the bottom.
How to Put Lights on a Christmas Tree Top to Bottom
Step One: Starting at the top of the tree, intertwine the lights on top of and under branches. Work your way down and around the tree, hanging lights back toward the trunk as well.
Step Two: Continue to wrap the lights around, working your way through the branches in an over-and-under motion. When you reach the bottom, hide any extra lights behind the tree.
Step Three: If you want to add more lights, simply do another pass, starting again at the top and working your way down. This time, start from the opposite side to avoid placing the lights in the exact same spots.
Christmas Tree Lights FAQ
What Is the Best Way to Hang Lights on a Christmas Tree?
We're partial to the zigzag method. Start at the bottom and zigzag Christmas tree lights up through the tree in quadrants instead of working around and around it.
How Do I Keep My Christmas Lights Safe?
Most Christmas lights these days emit no heat, so they aren't a fire hazard. Still, avoid plugging more than two strings of lights into a single power strip, and be sure to opt for a surge protector. When shopping, choose LED string lights instead of traditional filament Christmas lighting, because LEDs operate at an extra-low voltage, which significantly reduces the risk of electric shock. LED lights also use much less power, generating little heat and reducing the risk of fire and burns.
Kate McGregor
SEO Editor
Kate McGregor is House Beautiful's SEO Editor, writing in-depth home renovation cost guides, design inspiration stories while overseeing gardening content through routine plant care guides. With over five years in the shelter industry creating content for brands like Domino, Real Simple, and Architectural Digest’s Clever, Kate has developed a passion for uncovering the personal stories that often lie behind the inspiration for people’s spaces. She previously worked as the assistant market editor at ELLE Decor, where she identified top products and brands in the industry as well as interviewed emerging designers about their thoughts on the latest interior design trends. Kate holds a bachelor’s degree from Belmont University. When not researching the specificities of begonia plant care, you can find Kate scouring vintage markets for the ideal wrought-iron chair, knitting yet another cardigan, or reading historical nonfiction.
