The Christmas Tree Lights formula computes the number of lights needed for a Christmas tree based on the tree's size and your desired spacing (density).
INSTRUCTIONS: Choose units and enter the following:
Number of Lights (nL): The calculator returns the total number of lights needed to cover the tree (cone) with lights.
Covered Natural Sparse Brilliant Dense
How many lights do you need for your Christmas tree? It depends! How big is your tree? How spread-apart do you want your lights? This calculator helps you figure these things out. First, you need to know the approximate size of your tree. The examples in this calculator will have a tree that is 8 feet (96") high and 60 inches wide. The next question is how dense do you want the lighting? Here's a guide:
Christmas tree lights typically come in stringers of length:
The stringers can potentially have different bulb separations:
Safety first: Make sure you don't create a health and safety hazard. Here's a link to a government guide on inspecting your lights.
Nonetheless, conventional wisdom says to start on either the top or bottom and work in a spiral progressing from one to the other (bottom to top or vice versa). A good trick to spacing is to step back and squint. This makes the images of the bulbs blurred and enlarged, and can help you identify areas that you've missed.