Step by Step How-to Choose a Pre-Lit Christmas Tree (size + light guide)

If you are overwhelmed by all of the pre-lit Christmas tree options, this guide is for you! I’ll help you find the best tree for your space and make sure it has the perfect light count too.

You may not realize that the right pre-lit Christmas tree comes down to two simple things: size and light count.

When both are right, your tree feels perfectly balanced in your room. When they’re off, it can look too sparse, too crowded, or way too bright.

After years of decorating 9-ft trees, both real and artificial, I finally figured out how to choose the right pre-lit tree. 

This is your easy, decorator-approved guide to finding the right height, width, and amount of sparkle for your space.

This post is sponsored by Lowe’s Home Improvement. All content and opinions are my own 🙂

Contains hand selected products, with affiliate marketing links where I may earn a small commission if a purchase is made. {full disclosure here}

The Struggle I Faced Choosing a Pre-lit Tree

A couple of years ago I purchased a beautiful UNLIT 9-ft artificial tree. My plan was to make my own “pre-lit” tree, so I could easily replace a strand if one failed. 

I took the time to wrap each tree section with LED string lights – about 1,400 lights total. Woven deep into the branches for that layered sparkle. 

I left the lights in place permanently so it would be “ready to go” every Christmas.

My plan worked… mostly. Even though the lights stayed on from year to year, reconnecting everything was a hassle. Each section had its own plug and I even labeled them with blue painter’s tape. BUT, it was never as simple as I hoped.

What bothered me most was seeing the cords. No matter how carefully I wrapped them, the strands showed from tip to tip, breaking the refined visual twinkle I craved. 

That’s when I started thinking about a pre-lit tree. One that looked just as realistic, but saved me the annual plug-and-hide routine.

What to Look for in a Pre-Lit Christmas Tree

As you probably do, I started my search online to see what pre-lit trees were available at my local Lowe’s store. 

Pre-Lit Christmas Tree Shopping Check List:

• Sort by height that works with your ceilings
• Pay attention to the diameter of the tree
• Find the most realistic branch look and fullness
• Look at the overall light count
• What are the light features: color changing, LED micro or full bulb, twinkle effects, remote control, foot control
• Does it fit your budget?

My priorities were to find a 9ft tree that wasn’t too wide, but still had a good amount of sparkle. I wanted a good number of white lights and it was a bonus if they twinkle!

How to Find the Right Size Christmas Tree for Your Space

Before you fall in love and click to buy a tree, PLEASE MEASURE the space you have in your room.

I display my Christmas tree in a small corner, so making sure it would fit was critical.

Pre-Lit Christmas Tree Size Measuring Guide:

1. Measure your ceiling height
Measure floor to ceiling, then subtract 6 to 8 inches for a tree topper. 

10-foot ceilings are ideal for a 9-foot tree and 9-foot or 8-foot ceilings are ideal for a 7 to 7.5-foot tree. 

• My ceilings are 10 feet and perfect for a 9-foot tree with topper. 

2. Measure your display area
Measure out in all directions from any walls or furniture in the space. 

Also measure diagonally. If you plan to move furniture, factor that into the total space. 

• Since my tree is displayed in a corner, diagonally the measurement is 58 inches, without moving furniture. 

4. Use painter’s tape to visualize
Outline the tree diameter on the floor with painter’s tape to see how it interacts with furniture and traffic flow. 

Or lay your tape measure the full diameter of the tree and walk it in a circle, to see if it fits.

5. Make sure you have enough space to decorate
When your tree sits in a corner, you’ll decorate about three sides. Leave enough room to reach around the back branches comfortably. 

• Before I decorate, I move the furniture and push it back when finished. 

What’s the Right Light Count on a Pre-Lit Christmas Tree?

This is where I REALLY struggled to figure out how “sparkly” a pre-lit tree would be based on the light count. 

When adding string lights, my old rule of thumb was: 150 lights per foot of tree. I like to weave them into the center of the tree. It gives the tree lots of sparkle and depth. 

That meant I typically added between 1,200 and 1,400 lights depending on how wide the tree was. 

What’s helpful about using this formula, is that you can gauge how the lights will look by the number of tree branch tips.

NOT by the number of lights, which can be deceiving on pre-lit trees. More doesn’t necessarily equal better.  

Perfect Pre-Lit Tree for a Small Corner

Here are the 9ft trees I found on Lowes.com and wanted to see in-person.

Lowe’s had the BEST display of trees this year and it was really easy to shop. They had toppers and hang tags that told me the exact name, size, features and price.

• GE 9-ft Montana Fir Pre-lit Artificial Christmas Tree (1800 lights 4136 branch tips)
• GE 9-ft Madison Fir Pre-lit Artificial Christmas Tree (4000 lights 6638 branch tips)
• Tree Classics by Balsam Hill 9-ft Classic Fraser Fir (1050 lights 2713 branch tips)

What? Lowe’s now carries Balsam Hill trees? That’s my favorite brand because they look so REAL.

It was nice to see how the branches and lights looked in person. Surprisingly, the lights looked similar even with the big difference in count. 

What Pre-Lit Tree Did I Choose? 

The 9-ft Tree Classics by Balsam Hill (Lowe’s Exclusive) This tree had all the details I cared about:

• 2,713 branch tips that look natural and full, with Simple Shape® memory wire so there’s less “fluffing”.
  
• 1,050 color-changing LumaDazzle Twinkle LED lights with a foot pedal and remote. There are 11 light settings, from steady warm white to festive color sparkle.
  
• Quick Set® feature that lights up automatically when the poles connect. No cords to plug together – yay!
  
• A 56-inch base diameter, which is just right for my small corner next to the armoire and TV.
  
• Sturdy metal stand and storage bag included. Bonus points!

When I did the math, 1,050 lights on 2,713 tips equals about 0.39 lights per tip: that sweet spot between cozy and bright.

The glow is evenly distributed throughout the branches instead of concentrated on the outer edges, so it feels warm and balanced from every angle.

For my setup in a corner and next to the TV, it was the ideal mix of brightness, realism, and proportion. It was more than I wanted to spend, but it literally checked all of my priorities. 

SHOP TREE CLASSICS BY BALSAM HILL

How to Make Sure Your Pre-Lit Tree Looks Great in Your Space

Before you click “add to cart,” take a few measurements. Trust me, what looks perfect online can feel overwhelming, once it’s in your living room.

1. Measure your ceiling height: Measure from floor to ceiling, then subtract at least 6 inches for your topper.
   
2. Measure your display area: Corners can make a tree look smaller than it really is. Measure from the wall out to where you want the tree to stop on each side.
   
3. Check the tree’s diameter: Tree width matters as much as height.
   
4. Use painter’s tape to visualize: Outline the tree’s base on the floor with painter’s tape to see how much space it will take up.
   
5. Make sure you can decorate comfortably: When a tree sits in a corner, you’ll only decorate about three sides. Leave enough space to reach behind the branches without squeezing.
   
6. Consider your furniture and lighting: If your tree sits near the TV, go for a tree with a balanced number of lights to branches.

If you’re shopping for a new tree this year, my advice is simple: measure your space, know your light count, and don’t be afraid to spend a little more for the right look. Sometimes that extra $100 makes all the difference!

Now have fun decorating your own tree! Check out my post: How-to Decorate a Christmas Tree WITH Sentimental Family Ornaments!