The Christmas Tree Calculator helps you estimate the numbers associated with CHRISTMAS!
Covered
Natural
Sparse
Brilliant
Dense
Christmas Decoration Calculators
- Ideal Number of Christmas Tree Lights for a Christmas Tree
- Appropriate Height of Christmas Tree Angel or other top ornament
- Spiral Length of Christmas Garland Around a Pole, Rail or Banister
- Length of Garland on a Christmas Tree
- There are [[Day until Christmas (12/25/2024), 40 days]]!
These equations calculate the best number of ornaments, best approximate height of a tree topper, and the best lengths for strings of garland and lights to use in order to achieve the perfect look on your Christmas Tree.
How many lights?
The Christmas nerds at vCalc have added to the Sheffield work with the Christmas Tree Lights equation (#4 above). If one asks, "how many lights do you need for your Christmas tree?" It depends! How big is your tree? How spread-apart do you want your lights? This calculator helps you figure these things out. First, you need to know the approximate size of your tree. The examples in this calculator will have a tree that is 8 feet (96") high and 60 inches wide. The next question is how dense do you want the lighting? Here's a guide to Christmas Light Density:
- Brilliant - one light every 4 square inches
- Dense - one light every 9 square inches
- Covered - one light every 16 square inches
- Natural - one light every 36 square inches
- Sparse - one light every 144 square inches
Product Facts
Christmas tree lights typically come in stringers of length:
- 17ft
- 25 ft
- 35 ft (e.g. Lowe's Holiday Living 450 Minis)
- 43 ft (e.g. GE Pro-Line 150-Count White Minis)
The stringers can potentially have different bulb separations:
- 3"
- 6"
- 8"
- 12"
Advice
Safety first: Make sure you don't create a health and safety hazard. Here's a link to a government guide on inspecting your lights.
Nonetheless, conventional wisdom says to start on either the top or bottom and work in a spiral progressing from one to the other (bottom to top or vice versa). A good trick to spacing is to step back and squint. This makes the images of the bulbs blurred and enlarged, and can help you identify areas that you've missed.