The right size of artificial Christmas tree depends on three measurements, not one: your ceiling height, the floor space the tree will take up, and the width you can live with once the branches are fluffed out. This guide walks through each, with the sizes we stock at Sapcote Garden Centre and what they suit.

How tall should an artificial Christmas tree be?

Measure from the floor to the ceiling and take off 30cm (about a foot). That gap leaves room for a star or angel on top and stops the tree looking jammed against the ceiling. Most UK homes have ceilings of around 2.3m to 2.4m, which makes a 1.8m (6ft) or 2.1m (7ft) tree the natural choice; that is why they are our two best-selling heights. In a modern flat or a room with a low ceiling, a 1.5m (5ft) tree looks far better than a 6ft tree with its top bent over. If you have a tall Victorian room or a hallway with a stairwell, a 2.3m (7.5ft) or 2.4m (8ft) tree fills the space properly.

Remember that the stand adds a few centimetres and that the heights on the box are to the tip of the top branch, so a “6ft” tree is roughly 1.8m before the topper goes on.

How wide will the tree be?

Width is the measurement people forget. A full-shaped 2.1m (7ft) tree is typically 1.2m to 1.5m across at the base once it is shaped, so it needs a clear space of about 1.5m square. Every tree on our website lists its girth (the width at the widest point) on the product page, and you can use the Tree Shape filter to choose between:

• Full trees, the classic shape with a wide base: 51 of our 65 trees.
• Slim trees, typically 0.9m to 1.1m across, for bay windows, alcoves and rooms where the tree has to share space with the sofa: 13 trees.
• Pencil trees, under 0.8m across, for hallways and landings.

Which size suits which room?

• Table-top and small spaces (80cm to 1.2m): a sideboard, a porch, a child’s bedroom or an office desk. Our fibre-optic trees and the smaller pre-lit trees sit in this range.
• Flats and smaller living rooms (1.5m / 5ft): enough presence to be the centrepiece without taking over the room.
• Most living rooms (1.8m / 6ft): the all-rounder. Our 1.8m range includes the classic green Barneswood and Dunhill Fir and the snowy Woodcote Spruce.
• Larger living rooms and dining rooms (2.1m / 7ft): the most popular size in the garden centre, with 16 trees to choose from at this height alone.
• Tall rooms and hallways (2.3m to 2.4m / 7.5ft to 8ft): the Carrington Fir 2.28m and the Imperial Pine 2.4m are the usual picks.

Will it fit through the door and in the loft?

Artificial trees come in sections that slot into the stand, so a boxed 2.4m tree is about the size of a large suitcase and goes up a loft ladder in one piece. Keep the box: it is the easiest way to store the tree and the branches keep their shape better when they are not crushed.

See them before you decide

All 65 of our artificial Christmas trees are up and lit on the shop floor at Sapcote Garden Centre on Hinckley Road, Sapcote, between Leicester and Hinckley, so you can stand next to a 6ft and a 7ft tree and judge the difference. Every tree can also be ordered online for £10 delivery to mainland UK in 3 to 5 working days. If you are choosing between a lit and an unlit tree, our pre-lit or unlit guide covers the trade-offs, and how many lights you need explains the numbers for an unlit tree.

Quick answers

What is the most popular artificial Christmas tree size in the UK?

1.8m (6ft) and 2.1m (7ft) trees are the two best-sellers, because they suit the 2.3m to 2.4m ceilings in most UK homes while leaving room for a topper.

How much floor space does a 7ft artificial tree need?

A full-shaped 7ft tree is usually 1.2m to 1.5m wide once shaped, so allow a clear 1.5m square. A slim 7ft tree needs about 1m.

How much gap should there be between the tree and the ceiling?

About 30cm. That leaves space for the star or angel and stops the tree looking squashed.

Andrew Porwol

Andrew Porwol is an expert on gardening, plants, garden design, and outdoor furniture. He is the owner of Sapcote Garden Centre, Sharnford Garden Centre, and Garden Centre Shopping. He’s regularly featured in expert publications, like Forbes, MSN, and Better Homes & Gardens.