How much ribbon you need for a Christmas tree (by height and style)

Have you ever run out of ribbon two-thirds of the way down your tree? I’ve done it more times than I’d like to admit, and it’s always at 10pm when every store is closed! So I sat down and worked out how much ribbon each style actually takes. Today I’m sharing my numbers so you can buy the right amount the first time!

For ribbon that wraps or zigzags around the tree, plan on about 3 yards of ribbon per foot of tree. On a 7.5 ft tree, that’s about 23 yards. Cascading strands take a little less, and a layered look with two or three ribbons takes more.

Ribbon Chart

Tree height	Cascading strands (2.5 yd/ft)	Wrapped or zigzag (3 yd/ft)	Layered, 2 to 3 ribbons (4 yd/ft)
4.5 ft	11 yd	14 yd	18 yd
6 ft	15 yd	18 yd	24 yd
6.5 ft	16 yd	20 yd	26 yd
7 ft	18 yd	21 yd	28 yd
7.5 ft	19 yd	23 yd	30 yd
9 ft	23 yd	27 yd	36 yd

These numbers are for a normal full tree with 2.5 inch ribbon. A slim tree takes less (I saw one narrow 7.5 ft tree done with just 12 yards!). A really wide tree with narrow ribbon can take a lot more. I’ve seen a full 7.5 ft tree use 30 yards of 1.5 inch ribbon. So if your tree is on the wide side, buy toward the next row down.

Ribbon Styles

1. Cascading Strands

This is the look where ribbon runs from the top of the tree down to the bottom in vertical waves. It’s usually 4 strands on a slim tree and 5 or 6 on a full one. Each strand is about the height of the tree times 1.5, because you lose length every time you tuck it in and puff it out. On a 7.5 ft tree that’s around 11 feet per strand, so five strands is about 19 yards.

2. Wrapped or Zigzag

The ribbon goes around the tree, either in a spiral from top to bottom or in diagonal swoops that tuck in and out. This one takes more because you’re going around the widest part of the tree, and the bottom third of a 7.5 ft tree is roughly 15 feet around. This is the method I use in my DIY ribbon designs, where I tuck it in, leave about a foot of slack, and tuck again.

3. Layered

This is two or three ribbons used together: a wide main ribbon, a supporting one, and a narrower accent. Plan the main and supporting ribbon at about 3 yards per foot together, then add roughly 10 yards of accent ribbon on a 7.5 ft tree. It’s the prettiest look, but it will definitely use up the most ribbon!

4. Bows Only

If you’re skipping ribbon runs and just tucking bows into the tree, plan about two bows per foot of tree. A simple four loop bow with short tails takes about 1.5 yards of 2.5 inch ribbon, so 15 bows on a 7.5 ft tree is roughly 23 yards. (That’s basically the same as wrapping! Bows look smaller than you’d think once they’re made.)

Topper Bow

If you’re doing a big bow at the top with streamers running down the tree, don’t count it in your tree total. A full topper bow with long tails can use a whole 10 yard roll by itself. I always buy a separate roll for it so I’m not stealing from the bottom of the tree to finish the top.

Check the Roll Length

This one got me! Ribbon rolls aren’t all the same length. You’ll see 25 foot rolls (about 8.3 yards), 10 yard rolls, and big 50 yard rolls, and they’re often sitting right next to each other at the store looking almost the same size. Three 25 foot rolls is 25 yards, but three 10 yard rolls is 30. That difference is the whole bottom row of your tree!

I also always buy one more roll than I think I need, all at the same time. Ribbon gets discontinued all the time, and the “same” ribbon from a different batch can be a slightly different color. (My leftover ribbon turns into gift bows, so it never goes to waste.)

Which Width to Buy

1. 2.5 inch is perfect for a 6 to 7.5 ft tree. If you only buy one width, buy this one.
2. 4 inch is great for a 9 ft tree, or as the main ribbon in a layered look. This 4 inch wired velvet ribbon comes in a 50 yard roll, which covers even a 9 ft tree with some left over.
3. 1.5 inch is the narrowest I’d use, and only as an accent or on a small tree. Anything thinner just disappears into the branches.

Wired ribbon is a must for your tree! It holds the loops exactly where you shape them. Unwired ribbon lies flat and slowly sinks into the branches. I love this 2.5 inch wired burlap ribbon with jingle bells on a farmhouse tree. If you want more places to shop, I put together a list of where to find the best ribbon for your tree.

Tips to Make Your Ribbon Go Further

1. Put the ribbon on before ornaments. It goes on after lights and before anything else. That way you’re not tucking around ornaments and losing length.
2. Tuck deep. Every tuck should go a few inches into the tree. Shallow tucks pop back out, and then you have to re-tuck and use more ribbon.
3. Use wire on a real tree. Real branches don’t grip ribbon the way fake ones do. A short piece of green floral wire at each tuck will hold it.
4. Start a new roll where the last one ended. Tuck the old end and the new end into the same spot and nobody will ever know!

Which ribbon style are you doing this year? I hope this helped you figure out how much to buy! If you ribbon your tree, be sure to post on Instagram and tag me @sugardesignco because I love seeing the beautiful decor y’all create!

-Ciera

Made something with this? Tag me @sugardesignco — I love seeing them.