Christmas Tree Lights Guide
Christmas tree lights are the foundation of a beautifully decorated tree. Before the baubles, ribbons and finishing decorations go on, the lighting determines how much depth, warmth and sparkle the finished tree will have.
But how many Christmas lights do you actually need? Is 1,000 enough for a 7ft tree? Are ClusterBright lights better than TreeBright lights? Should you choose warm white, vintage gold or multicoloured? And what is the best way to put lights onto the tree?
At Johnstown Garden Centre, our Christmas tree lighting range covers everything from traditional nostalgic string lights to densely packed TreeBright and ClusterBright LED sets, with options ranging from 40 lights right up to 5,000 LEDs. Our TreeBright range alone includes 500, 1,000, 1,500, 2,000 and 3,000-light sets, while ClusterBright options range from 480 to an impressive 5,000 LEDs.
Explore our complete range of Christmas Lights.
How Many Christmas Lights Do I Need?
There isn't one correct number of lights for every Christmas tree. The height of your tree gives you a useful starting point, but its width and the finished effect you want will also influence how many lights you choose.
Our TreeBright size guide gives a recommended minimum number of LEDs for each tree height. For a 5ft tree, start with at least 500 LEDs. A 6ft tree needs approximately 750 LEDs, while a 7ft tree needs a minimum of around 1,000 LEDs.
For larger trees, the recommended minimum increases to 1,500 LEDs for an 8ft tree, 2,000 LEDs for a 10ft tree and 3,000 LEDs for a 12ft tree.
These figures are starting points rather than maximums. If you love the intensely illuminated appearance of a professionally dressed Christmas tree, you can use considerably more. A 7ft tree, for example, will look beautifully lit with 1,000 TreeBright LEDs, while 2,000 or even 3,000 LEDs can create a much denser and more dramatic display.
Tree width matters too. A broad, full tree has considerably more foliage than a slim tree of the same height and may benefit from additional lights.
Most importantly, don't concentrate all of your LEDs around the outside of the tree. Work the lights in and out of the branches, positioning some deeper towards the trunk and others closer to the tips. This creates depth and allows the entire tree to glow rather than simply lighting its outer surface.
1,000 Lights or 3,000 Lights on a 7ft Tree?
For a 7ft Christmas tree, 1,000 TreeBright LEDs provide excellent coverage and are the recommended minimum for a beautifully lit finish. By working the lights in and out of the branches, you can distribute the LEDs throughout the foliage rather than simply lighting the outside of the tree.
But 1,000 lights certainly isn't the limit. If you love a tree with an abundance of sparkle, increasing the number of LEDs can create a much more dramatic effect.
The tree pictured above is a 7ft Christmas tree decorated with 3,000 Vintage Gold TreeBright lights. The additional lights allow hundreds of LEDs to sit deeper within the foliage as well as towards the branch tips, creating that rich, densely illuminated appearance across the entire tree.
Vintage Gold also gives the tree a particularly warm, golden glow. Paired with metallic decorations and reflective baubles, the thousands of individual LEDs create layers of light throughout the branches.
So, while 1,000 LEDs is an excellent starting point for a 7ft tree, 3,000 LEDs can look spectacular if you prefer a heavily lit Christmas tree. The number you choose ultimately depends on the effect you want to create.
Which Type of Christmas Tree Lights Should I Choose?
The number of LEDs is only part of the decision. Different types of Christmas lights distribute those LEDs differently, which can completely change the finished appearance of your tree.
Within the Johnstown range, there are three particularly useful styles to consider:
TreeBright Lights, ClusterBright Lights and Nostalgic Lights.
TreeBright Christmas Lights
TreeBright Christmas lights are specifically designed for densely lighting Christmas trees.
The LEDs are spaced along a long cable, allowing you to distribute hundreds or thousands of individual points of light throughout the branches.
As an example, our 1,500 TreeBright Lights have 1,500 LEDs across 37.5 metres of illuminated cable, with close 2.5cm bulb spacing. This particular set is recommended for Christmas trees up to 8ft.
TreeBright sets are available in our range with 500, 1,000, 1,500, 2,000 and 3,000 LEDs, giving you plenty of flexibility depending on the size of your tree and the density of lighting you prefer.
They are a particularly good choice when you want to work the lights deeply throughout the tree rather than simply wrapping a bright garland around its exterior.
ClusterBright Christmas Lights
ClusterBright lights create a much more concentrated band of illumination.
Instead of spacing the LEDs along a longer string, the bulbs are packed extremely closely together. Our 960 ClusterBright Red & Warm White Christmas Lights, for example, position 960 LEDs across just 12.4 metres, with only 1.3cm between bulbs.
Compare that with TreeBright's 2.5cm spacing and you can begin to see why the two styles produce different effects.
ClusterBright lights create an intense garland of closely packed LEDs. They're particularly effective when you want the lighting itself to become a major decorative feature.
Our range includes 480, 720, 960, 2,000, 3,000 and 5,000 LED ClusterBright options, with numerous colour choices and both green and clear cable available on selected sets.
For very large displays, our 5,000 White ClusterBright Christmas Lights provide an extraordinary 62.5 metres of illuminated length.
Nostalgic Christmas Tree Lights
Not every Christmas tree needs thousands of tiny LEDs.
For a more traditional appearance, our range also includes Classic LED Christmas String Lights in warm white and multicoloured versions, available with 40, 80, 120 and 240 LEDs.
These are particularly suited to anyone who prefers the appearance of the larger, more recognisable Christmas bulbs associated with traditional Christmas trees.
Rather than creating the almost continuous sparkle of ClusterBright lights, nostalgic string lights allow each individual bulb to become part of the tree's decoration.
They're an excellent option for traditional decorating schemes, smaller Christmas trees or anyone trying to recreate the warm appearance of Christmas trees from years gone by while still using modern LED lighting. Explore our full range of Nostalgic Christmas Lights to find the right style for your Christmas tree.
How to Put Lights on a Christmas Tree
The way you position your lights can make just as much difference as the number you use. Instead of simply circling the outside of the tree, work the lights in and out along the branches to create greater depth and a more professionally lit appearance. Once your Christmas tree is fully assembled and shaped, begin towards the bottom. Start close to the centre of the tree, near the trunk, and take the cable out along a branch towards the tip.
Rather than continuing around the outside, work the cable back towards the centre before taking it out along the next branch. Repeat this pattern as you move around the tree and gradually work upwards. This technique positions LEDs at different depths throughout the foliage. Lights closer to the trunk illuminate the tree from within, while those towards the branch tips add sparkle across the outside.
The result is a Christmas tree that appears fuller, deeper and more evenly illuminated, with light running throughout the branches rather than sitting only on the surface.
Put the Lights on Before the Decorations
Fully assemble and shape your Christmas tree before adding any lights.
Once the tree has been properly shaped, test the complete light set and then start positioning the cable. Doing this before adding baubles gives you unrestricted access to every branch.
Switch the lights on occasionally while you're working and stand several metres away from the tree. It is much easier to identify a dark area from across the room than while standing directly beside the branches.
Only start decorating once you're satisfied that the lighting looks balanced.
Which Colour Christmas Tree Lights Should I Choose?
The colour of your lights can completely change the character of your Christmas tree. Our TreeBright and ClusterBright ranges offer a wide selection of colours, including Warm White, White, Vintage Gold, Multicoloured, Red & Warm White, White & Warm White Mix and Enchanted, making it easy to match your lighting to your decorations and the overall Christmas look you want to create.
Warm White produces the familiar soft golden glow that works beautifully with almost any decorating scheme, particularly traditional red, gold, burgundy and natural decorations. Vintage Gold has an even warmer, richer tone and is ideal for creating a luxurious golden appearance alongside champagne, bronze and metallic decorations.
For something brighter and cooler, White lights create a crisp sparkle that pairs particularly well with snowy Christmas trees, silver decorations and icy colour schemes. White & Warm White Mix combines both tones across the tree, adding contrast and depth while retaining some of the warmth of traditional Christmas lighting.
If you want colour within the tree itself, Red & Warm White combines rich red LEDs with a warm golden glow, making it a natural match for traditional red and gold decorating schemes. Multicoloured lights offer a completely different character, combining several vibrant colours for the cheerful, nostalgic appearance many people associate with Christmas trees from years gone by.
Whichever colour you choose, consider how the lights will work with your decorations rather than viewing them separately. The lights form the backdrop for the entire tree, so choosing a colour that complements your baubles, ribbons and other decorations can help the finished display feel much more cohesive.
Static, Twinkling or Multi-Action Lights?
Most of our TreeBright and ClusterBright ranges aren't restricted to a single lighting effect. Selected sets include eight lighting functions, including Static, Slow Glo, Sequential, Combination, Twinkle/Flash, Slow Fade, Chasing/Flash and Wave, allowing you to change the character of your Christmas tree at the touch of a button.
Static provides a classic continuous glow, while Slow Glo, Slow Fade and Twinkle/Flash introduce gentler movement and sparkle. For something livelier, Sequential, Wave and Chasing/Flash create more noticeable movement through the lights, while Combination cycles through different effects.
Many sets also include a convenient 8-hour timer, keeping the lights on for eight hours before switching them off for 16 hours and repeating the cycle automatically each day.
Which Christmas Tree Lights Should I Choose?
If you want an evenly illuminated tree with plenty of cable to work throughout the branches, TreeBright lights are an excellent all-round choice.
If you prefer an extremely dense concentration of LEDs and a more intense sparkling effect, look at ClusterBright lights.
If your idea of the perfect Christmas tree is more traditional, with individual bulbs clearly visible amongst the branches, consider our Classic LED Christmas String Lights.
For a standard 7ft tree, around 1,000 TreeBright LEDs is an excellent starting point. Move upwards if you have a particularly broad tree or want a more dramatic result. There is absolutely nothing wrong with putting 2,000 or 3,000 LEDs onto a 7ft or 7.5ft tree if that intensely illuminated appearance is what you love.
Whichever lights you choose, don't just wrap them around the surface. Work the cable in and out along the branches and distribute the LEDs from the trunk right through to the tips. That simple change in technique can make as much difference as adding hundreds of extra lights.
Explore our complete range of Christmas Lights at Johnstown Garden Centre, including TreeBright, ClusterBright and traditional Christmas string lights.
If you're choosing a new tree as well as your lights, read our Complete Guide to Choosing an Artificial Christmas Tree.
