How to fix a leaning Christmas tree (real or artificial)
A Christmas tree usually leans because the trunk isn't sitting flat on the bottom of the stand, the screws were tightened unevenly, or the floor under the stand isn't level. Loosen every screw, lift the tree and set it back down flat and centered, then have someone check it from across the room while you tighten opposite screws a little at a time. If it still leans, shim the low leg of the stand, and anchor the tree to the wall with fishing line or a strap either way.
Is your Christmas tree leaning no matter how many times you straighten it? A tree almost always leans for one of three reasons: the trunk isn’t sitting flat on the bottom of the stand, the screws got tightened unevenly, or the floor under the stand isn’t level. Today I’m sharing how to fix it for both real and artificial trees, since they lean for different reasons!
The quick version: start over instead of fighting it. Loosen every screw, lift the tree, and set it back down flat and centered. Then have someone stand across the room and call out “left” or “right” while you tighten opposite screws a little at a time. If it still leans after that, shim the low leg of the stand. And either way, anchor it to the wall.
First, figure out where it’s leaning
Stand at least 10 feet back and look at the trunk, not the branches. A tree can look crooked because one side is fuller or because the top tip bends, even when the trunk is perfectly straight. Check from two directions, the front and one side, because a lean toward the wall is hard to see from the front.
If you have a level, hold it against the trunk (on a real tree) or the pole (on an artificial tree). That settles any arguments fast!
Real Trees
Step 1. Set it back down flat
Loosen all the screws until the trunk moves freely. Lift the tree an inch or two and set it straight back down so the bottom of the trunk sits flat on the bottom of the bowl, and on the center spike if your stand has one.
A lot of leaning happens because the trunk is resting on the edge of the spike or on a piece of bark, so it’s already tipped before you tighten anything.
Step 2. Tighten opposite screws a little at a time
This is a two person job. One person holds the tree straight, and the other lies on the floor and tightens.
- Snug every screw by hand first, just until it touches the trunk.
- Then tighten in opposite pairs, half a turn each, going around.
- If it leans, loosen the screw on the side it’s leaning toward and tighten the one across from it.
For years I would crank one screw all the way in, then the next. The first screw pushes the trunk over, and every screw after that is working against it!
If your stand has cables and a foot pedal instead of screws, like the Krinner Tree Genie, hold the tree straight while you pump the pedal. The cables tighten evenly from all sides at once, which is the whole reason I bought it.
Step 3. Re-cut a crooked bottom
If the tree keeps tipping the same direction no matter what you do, look at the bottom of the trunk. If the cut is at an angle, the trunk is balancing on a slope.
Take it back out and saw a fresh cut straight across, at a right angle to the trunk. A folding pruning saw does this in about thirty seconds. Take off about a half inch, and get it back in water within a couple of hours. A fresh cut also helps the tree drink, which I talk about more in how to keep a real tree alive past the first week.
Step 4. Work with a curved trunk
Some trunks just curve. If yours does, don’t center the bottom of the trunk in the stand. Shift the base off-center, toward the outside of the curve, so the top of the tree ends up over the middle. Screw stands let you do this. Tighten the screws so they hold the trunk where it is instead of trying to force it straight.
Then turn the tree so the curve faces the wall. Nobody will ever know!
Step 5. Make sure the stand fits the tree
A stand that’s too small will never hold a tree straight. Check two things on the stand’s box or listing: the maximum trunk diameter and the maximum tree height. Then check how much water it holds, because a real tree drinks about a quart a day per inch of trunk diameter. If your stand is at its limit on any of those, you need a bigger stand. More tightening won’t fix it.
Artificial Trees
Fake trees lean for different reasons, and it’s almost never the tree itself.
Step 1. Push the pole all the way into the stand
The bottom section’s pole should go all the way down into the stand. Pull it out and set it back in, then tighten the thumb screw firmly. Those screws loosen over the season as the tree settles.
Step 2. Check where the sections meet
If the tree is straight at the bottom and tilts higher up, one of the sections isn’t all the way in. Lift the upper section out and set it back in, pushing down until it stops. Some are snug and need a firm push and a little twist.
Step 3. Look at the stand
Flip the stand over. Plastic legs crack, and metal folding stands can bend a little if the tree was ever knocked over. A cracked leg means you need a new stand (or a call to the manufacturer if the tree is still under warranty). Shims won’t fix it.
Step 4. Thick carpet and uneven floors
On plush carpet, the stand legs sink in unevenly. Set the stand on a square of plywood or a large flat tray so it has a firm base. On hard floors, put a level on the stand itself, then go to the shim step below.
Step 5. Balance the weight
If the pole is straight but the tree still looks like it’s leaning, one side is probably heavier. Move a few heavier ornaments to the other side, or use green floral wire to pull a few branches across and tie them where you want them.
Shim the Low Leg (Both Kinds)
Floors aren’t always level, especially in older houses. If the trunk is straight in the stand but the whole stand tilts, slide a wood shim or a folded piece of cardboard under the low leg until the trunk is straight. Shim the stand, not the trunk.
Anchor It Every Time
Even a straight tree should be tied off. A full real tree in a gallon of water is heavy and top-heavy, and it only takes one person brushing past it (or one kid pulling on a branch) to tip it over.
- Fishing line: Tie clear fishing line around the trunk about two thirds of the way up. Run it back to a small screw eye in the wall, ideally into a stud, or into the window trim. Pull it snug, but not tight. You’ll never see it!
- Straps: If you don’t want holes in the wall, TipNot adhesive anti-tip straps stick to the wall and loop around the stand. If you’re okay with one screw, a KidCo anti-tip strap screwed into a stud and looped around the trunk or pole is what I use with my daughter around.
I talk more about anchoring in how to toddler-proof a Christmas tree. Seriously, just tie it off. Cleaning up a tipped tree and two gallons of water is not how you want to spend an evening!
Is your tree standing straight now? I hope this helped! 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.
Questions I get asked
- Which screw do I tighten if my tree leans?
- Loosen the screw on the side the tree is leaning toward and tighten the one directly across from it. Go a half turn at a time, and keep the screws on the other sides snug so the trunk doesn't just swing to a new angle.
- Why does my real Christmas tree keep leaning after I straighten it?
- Either the trunk isn't resting on the bottom of the stand (or the center spike), or the cut on the bottom isn't straight across. A trunk balanced on an angled cut will keep tipping. Take it out and saw a fresh, flat cut, then set it back in.
- How do I fix a leaning artificial tree?
- Check that the pole is pushed all the way into the stand and every section is all the way in, then tighten the stand's thumb screw. Look for a cracked leg or a stand sitting on thick carpet. If the tree itself leans because one side is heavier, move some ornaments around or wire a few branches across.
- Can I put shims under my Christmas tree stand?
- Yes! Put them under the low leg of the stand, not under the trunk. A couple of wood shims or a folded piece of cardboard under one leg will level a stand on an uneven floor.
- How do I keep my tree from falling over?
- Anchor it. Tie clear fishing line around the trunk about two thirds of the way up and run it to a small screw eye in the wall or window trim behind the tree, or use an anti-tip strap. You can't see it from the room, and it's what keeps a tree up if someone bumps it.