What size tree skirt do I need? Measure the tree, not the box

Have you ever put a new tree skirt under your tree and it completely disappeared? If you look up what size skirt a 7.5 ft tree needs, almost every chart says 48 inches. But when you put a 48 inch skirt under a full 7.5 ft tree, it ends up hidden under the bottom branches! That’s exactly what happened to me. Those charts are sized to cover the stand, so the skirt never actually shows. Today I’m sharing the rule I use instead so you can get a skirt that looks right under your tree!

My rule is to measure the widest point of your tree and buy a skirt at least 6 inches bigger. A full 7.5 ft tree is usually 52 to 60 inches across at the bottom, so that means a 56 to 60 inch skirt. If you’re shopping, this 56 inch skirt and this 60 inch skirt are both right in that range.

What You’ll Need:

1. Tape Measure

2. Your tree, set up and fluffed

How to Measure

Step 1.

Set up and fluff the tree first. A tree straight out of the box is way narrower than it will be once the bottom branches are pulled out, so measuring before you fluff gives you the wrong number.

Step 2.

Run your tape measure straight across the bottom row of branches at their widest point, tip to tip.

Step 3.

Add 6 inches if you want a little ring of skirt showing, or up to 12 inches if you want a wide border for presents.

Step 4.

Round up to the next skirt size. You’ll mostly see skirts in 36, 48, 56, 60 and 72 inch sizes, with a few in between.

It only takes about two minutes! If your tree isn’t up yet, check the product page. Most trees list a base diameter, and it’s usually right next to the height.

Tree Skirt Size Chart

Tree height	Full tree width (approx.)	Skirt for a full tree	Skirt for a slim tree
4.5 ft	30 to 35 in	36 to 42 in	30 to 36 in
6 ft	40 to 47 in	48 in (56 if it’s wide)	36 to 42 in
6.5 ft	43 to 51 in	48 to 56 in	42 to 48 in
7 ft	46 to 55 in	56 to 60 in	48 in
7.5 ft	52 to 60 in	56 to 60 in	48 in
9 ft	60 to 70 in	72 in	56 to 60 in

These widths are based on a full tree being roughly 55 to 65 percent as wide as it is tall. That matches the listings I’ve checked (a pretty standard 7.5 ft fir is listed at 55 inches). Slim trees vary a ton by brand. I’ve seen 7.5 ft “slim” trees anywhere from 30 to 42 inches wide, so if yours is slim, definitely measure.

For a pencil tree, a 30 or 36 inch skirt is plenty. A big skirt under a skinny tree looks like the tree is standing in a puddle!

When 48 Inches Works

If you don’t care about seeing the skirt and just want the stand hidden, the old charts work fine. A 48 inch skirt covers just about any artificial stand, and the presents sit on top of it under the branches. It’s also the better pick if your tree is going in a tight corner or next to a walkway. A skirt sticking out past the branches there will get kicked and tripped on all season.

Covering the Stand

The skirt also has to lie nicely over the stand, and big stands can make skirts look lumpy. These two things help:

1. Put something under it. Crumpled packing paper or newspaper around the stand gives the skirt a soft shape so you don’t see every leg of the stand. That’s the whole trick behind my easy faux fur tree skirt, which is just two yards of faux fur fabric wrapped over a little padding.
2. Check the center opening. Most skirts have a slit and a center hole. On a real tree in a big stand, you need to be able to get to the water. A skirt with ties or a velcro closure along the slit is so much easier to open than one you have to lift off.

For a real tree, I’d also put a waterproof tray or mat under the stand before the skirt goes down. Fabric soaks up every drip from watering, and you won’t see it until you pick the skirt up in January.

Sizing a Tree Collar

A collar is sized completely differently because it sits around the stand instead of spreading out under the branches. I went back and forth on this and wrote it all up in tree collar vs tree skirt, but this is the short version:

Step 1.

Measure the stand at its widest point, feet included. Don’t measure the tree! The collar’s inside opening has to be bigger than this number.

Step 2.

Measure from the floor to your lowest branch. The collar has to fit under it, or you’ll be bending the bottom row up to make room.

Step 3.

Check where the cord comes out. Some collars have a cut-out for the light cord. Without one, you’ll have to lift an edge.

Most collars are 22 to 27 inches across the outside. That covers a lot of standard artificial stands, like this 27 inch woven collar that I love on a natural, farmhouse style tree. But the wide-legged stands that come with bigger trees can measure 26 or 28 inches on their own. For those you need something like this 36 inch extra large collar, which also has a cord cut-out built in.

If you have a one-piece collar (no hinge or panels), it has to go around the stand before the tree goes in. I learned that one the hard way!

Quick Recap

For a full tree, buy the tree width plus 6 inches and round up. For a slim tree, 48 inches covers most of them. For a collar, measure the stand width instead of the tree width. And always measure after you fluff!

Are you using a skirt or a collar this year? I hope this helped you find the right size! If you find the perfect skirt for 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.