Home Improvement

How to Put Lights on a Christmas Tree

Fantastic Team
Published: Dec 01/2020
Last update: Nov 14/2025Array
7min read
Views: 528

We all love that festive cheer, light, and spirit that the Christmas holidays bring. Have you already decorated your Christmas tree? Or maybe you are about to do it any day now? Whatever it is, putting the lights on the Christmas tree is perhaps the most difficult and time-consuming part of the process.

So, we have prepared this article to answer the question of how to put Christmas lights on a Christmas tree correctly and get ready for the holiday season.

Table of Contents:

How to put lights on a Christmas tree like a professional
How many lights do you need for a Christmas tree?
Types of Christmas lights
Safety tips on hanging Christmas tree lights

Read on if you’d like to learn:

How to put lights on a Christmas tree;
How many lights do you need for a Christmas tree;
What are the different types of Christmas lights;
How to hang Christmas tree lights safely.

How to put lights on a Christmas tree like a professional

Decorating a Christmas tree is an art, but with the right technique, your tree can look as beautiful as any showroom display. So, let’s look at the…

Best way to put lights on a Christmas tree

Using the layering approach when arranging the lights is one of the best ways to achieve a polished appearance. If you’ve ever wondered do you put lights on the Christmas tree first or last, the answer is first. The reason Christmas lights go on first, before ornaments or garlands, is because it makes it easier to wrap the tree evenly and test the lights safely.

Gather your materials – Check that you have enough lights. Around 100 per foot of tree is a good rule to follow. Then obtain twist ties or light clips. This is so you can keep the lights in place. If your tree is tall, get a ladder as well.
Start at the base of the trunk – Many people ask do you start at the top or bottom when putting lights on a Christmas tree? The anwear is you start at the bottom so you don’t have to run extension cords from the top. Wrap the lights around the base of the trunk, where you’ll plug them in.
Keep the lights plugged in – When you keep them on, you see where they glow and where dark spots appear. This helps you spot gaps that need more coverage and even out brightness across the tree. That is why you decorate a Christmas tree with lights on and not off. And check for burnt-out bulbs or faulty strands before you finish.
Work from bottom to top for main branches – Divide the tree into three vertical sections to help maintain an even light distribution. Weave the lights up and down each section, moving from the inner branches outward. Aim to wrap lights around individual branches to highlight the natural structure of the tree.
Alternate with zig-zag or spiral patterns – For added dimension, use a combination of weaving and a soft zig-zag or spiral pattern. Zig-zagging helps fill gaps between branches, while the spiral keeps the lights evenly spread. This method works well for both real and artificial trees and prevents uneven lighting.
Step back regularly – Periodically step back to observe how the lights look from different angles. This helps you spot and adjust any overly bright or dim areas for a consistent appearance.
Top it off – Once you reach the top, gently adjust the lights to ensure they’re securely in place, especially if you’re adding a tree topper. Ensure the topper itself is illuminated for a seamless, bright finish.
Hide plugs and outlet connections – If you’re using more than one string of lights, push any plugs or connections deep into the branches. This hides unsightly green plugs or outlet joins and keeps the tree looking neat.

Choose your light tone and colour! Professionals often stick to a single colour or tone, such as warm white, for a classic look. For a more modern style, opt for cool white or mix colours subtly for a playful yet polished effect.

Check out our comprehensive guide on how to flock a Christmas tree and pair it with some lights for an outstandingly beautiful tree for the festive season!

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How many lights do you need for a Christmas tree?

The answer to this question depends on the size of the tree. The bigger the Christmas tree the more lights you’ll need. Most experts recommend the rule of 100-150 mini lights per foot. So, for example a 4 ft (1.2 m) tree equals around 400 lights, while a 7 ft (2.1 m) Christmas tree would require around 700 lights.

Maybe you already have lights available from previous years or have purchased brand-new ones. Either way, make sure to plug them in before hanging them on the tree to check if they are properly working. It’ll be very unfortunate to put up all the lights only to find out they are actually faulty.

Types of Christmas lights

There are different types of Christmas lights to consider when making your choice. The most common and popular ones are:

Mini string lights – We have all had this type of beautiful, twinkling lights on our Christmas trees at one point or another. They are the most popular and widely spread Christmas lights. Mini string lights come in many different colours and are quite easy to handle.
LED Christmas tree lights – Their popularity is growing since they are durable and significantly more efficient than the traditional Christmas lights. LED lights have a warm light and produce a specific colour.
Large bulb lights – They are also a traditional choice. Large bulb lights come in different colours and are suitable if you prefer moderate to low light.
Icicle Lights – They are generally one main string to which many other light-covered strings are attached. Icicle lights are also very beautiful. They are usually suitable for outside decoration, but could easily be used to put on a Christmas tree, as well.

Safety tips on hanging Christmas tree lights

You now know how to put lights on a Christmas tree so it looks awesome, but you should also know how to do it safely.

Always plug the lights in to test if they are working before hanging them on the tree;
Use LED lights instead of traditional lights. The latter are covered with glass and heat up easily, while the LED lights are safer because of the sturdier lenses used to cover them;
Make sure the wattage of the lights you use is the same. Also, consider the maximum wattage capacity of the house circuit you plug them into;
Dispose of any old Christmas lights.

If you don’t feel confident in your ability to decide what is the best tree size to choose for your property, or you simply don’t have the time to do everything by yourself, you can always trust the Fantastic professionals to help you out.

We can deliver and install real premium-grade Nordmann Fir or pot-grown Norway Spruce trees. After the holidays are over, we can also handle the removal and disposal of the tree.

Takeaways:

Let’s sum up how to put lights on a christmas tree the proper way

Decide what kind of lights you like and prefer;
Decide what tree you will have – a real one or an artificial one;
Check how big the tree is – the unwritten rule is to have 100-150 lights per foot of your tree.
Always plug in the lights before hanging them on the tree to make sure they are working;
Follow all safety tips and recommendations to ensure your and your family and home’s safety.

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image source: Shutterstock / 3523studio