The holidays are almost here and most of us have a Christmas tree in the horizon. Naturally, that means we also have to hunt for the best Christmas tree stand to keep it tall and proud until the new year.
While you may think shopping for a tree stand is easy, there are a lot of things to consider before picking the right one.
Will it fit the diameter of your tree’s trunk? Can it support a tall or artificial tree? Honestly, it can be a little jarring when you think about it all. Fortunately, we’re here to give you the 411 on everything Christmas tree stand related, along with some great picks to consider.
You bet it does!
In fact, choosing the wrong size stand can lead to disaster. Before choose yours, it’s important to determine whether it will be used for a tall or short tree, as well as the tree’s diameter. Remember, the stand not only provides water for the tree but support. Choosing one that’s too small will result in the tree toppling over. Yikes!
The good news is that most tree stands come with details on what size tree it’s best for.
One of our favorite stands for large trees is the Good Tiding Cinco Classic Christmas Tree Stand ($40.43). Along with being able to hold 2 gallons of water, it can support a tree 6 inches in diameter.
For smaller Christmas trees (like the one from Charlie Brown!) we like the Blissun Metal Christmas Tree Stand ($23.99). It can hold a trunk as small as 2 inches in diameter and has an easy set up.
It’s important for your tree to make contact with the bottom of the stand for stability. Some stands, like the Krinner Tree Genie have spikes in the bottom to help hold everything steady.
If you’re working with a very large tree, it’s helpful to turn it on its side, slide the stand on and firmly push it in place. This may make the process easier than trying to plunk the tree straight down. Don’t forget to secure the tree with its screws before letting it stand on its own. It’s the best way to make sure it doesn’t coming crashing down, needles and all.
If you prefer real over artificial trees, we’re going to recommend the Krinner Tree Genie (from $93.31) You can read more about it below, but we love that it doesn’t have any screws (it uses a claw-like device instead), comes in a variety of size options and holds a lot of water.
For something more vintage-inspired, we’d say go with the Heirloom Cast Iron Christmas Tree Stand from L.L.Bean. If you can’t tell by its name, it’s made of — little drummer boy roll, please — cast iron and very sturdy.
If you search the best Christmas tree stands, you’ll see the name Krinner Tree Genie over and over again. The base is large and heavy enough to support a large, natural tree, and it doesn’t have any screws to deal with. Instead, it uses a foot petal to open the mouth of the stand and a claw-like mouth to hold the trunk tight. Plonk the tree inside and you’re good to go. Capable of holding up to 2.5 gallons of water, there’s also a handy level indicator to tell when it’s time to refill the base. More than 7,000 happy customers on Amazon give is a 5 star rating.
Review: “What an unbelievable product! Where has it been all my (adult) life as we struggled and twisted and turned with a Christmas tree that just wouldn’t cooperate. I’m 5-feet nothing, weigh in at 110 pounds soaking wet, and I put up a tree my myself this past Christmas — and this was no shrinking violet! The tree was well over 7 feet and quite a breadth across. I dropped the tree into the receptacle, pumped it with my foot as required, and then locked it. That’s it, and that’s all. Taking the tree down was too easy for words. I unlocked the mechanism at its base, steadied the tree, popped the mechanism with my foot and … voilà … tree released. Oh my, Christmas will never be the same. No more tears or fears putting up the Christmas tree!”
Additional specs: Medium stand supports a 7 feet tall tree with a trunk of 4.7 inches. Large stand supports 8 feet tall trees, up to 7 inches in diameter. Extra Large stand supports a 12-feet tree with a trunk of 7 inches.
For those who prefer their tree faux, this Christmas tree stand will make it seem more lively. It fully rotates, even when the tree’s lights are on, thanks to its three 2-pronged outlets. Simply string the cord through, and then turn on for a jolly sight. Rotation is slow (about every 70 seconds) to keep ornaments from spinning off, and there are three different settings to switch between. According to the manufacturer, it should be able to support artificial trees of 7.5 feet tall or under, though some customers do note that their larger trees tend to lean. However, many still love it enough to earn a 4.3 out of 5 star rating on Amazon.
Review: “This rotating tree stand was just what I wanted. It holds the tree snugly and rotates slowly so you can see all the ornaments. It also makes it much easier to decorate the tree as well. Price was ideal.”
Additional specs: Suitable for 7.5 feet tall trees with a trunk of 0.9- 1.25 inches.
For a Christmas tree that revivals The Griswolds, you’ll need a sturdy base stand. This one has helpful spikes at the bottom of the base to hold your balsam steady and a mouth that can fit a trunk of up to 6 inches. You’ll have to screw it into position, but that’s the deal with many tree stands. Another selling point is that it holds up to 2 gallons of water to keep your tree from drying out before the holiday.
Review: “Okay, I have to admit I was skeptical about this tree stand being any different from ones we have tried before. But I was wrong. This stand has everything to make putting the tree up easy. The spikes at the bottom, the quick ratchet bolts the high sided [base]. Super sturdy once the tree is up. Very impressed with it. Highly recommend.”
Additional specs: Suitable for trees up to 10 feet tall with a trunk of 6 inches.
For smaller trees we recommend this tree stand. Its holder is plastic but its legs are made of sturdy metal, which can later be removed for storage. It doesn’t hold a tremendous amount of water (about 0.65 gallons), but that should do for a sapling size tree. It’s good for fake and real, and is also a bit more attractive than bulkier, plastic models.
Review: “I used this for about a 5 feet tall tree. At that height it was very sturdy, and easy to put together. There was definitely room for a thicker trunk, but I don’t know how far I would push this thing to carry a lot more weight. It was perfect for the job that I needed.”
Additional specs: Suitable for trees 8 feet tall with a trunk of 2 to 5.3 inches in diameter.
If you’re ready to turn your tree into an awe inspiring moment, throw some tunes into the mix. Along with being a stand, this pic plays as it rotates, creating a very memorable experience. It only turns 150 degrees both ways, which makes the name of the product somewhat misleading. On the positive, we like that it works for real trees, even those on the medium side of the scale.
Additional specs: Supports trees between 4 to 7 feet tall.
In the market for the best Christmas tree stand for your cat? Or more accurately, a stand that keeps your cat — or dog — away? Try this one from L.L.Bean. It’s on the pricier side, but it’s crafted durable cast iron and has a small enough mouth that should make it difficult for little paws or snouts to get inside. There are also spikes at the base to help stabilize the tree, and the base has a lovely design.
Additional specs: Supports trees of 8 feet tall with a 5 inch trunk.
Not all tree stands have that done to death green and red holiday theme. Some, like this one from Tree Nest, are actually stylish. We love its thick legs, which lay flat for stability, and the fact it comes in white, as well as silver. Its adjustable screws work best with a smaller trunk, but it can accommodate real trees as high as 7 feet.
Review: “Perfect Christmas tree stand. It arrived well packed in a timely manner; well before we needed it. The base is a lovely blond wood, assembled by fitting together the two ‘legs’ crosswise. Our 6 feet tree was securely supported and is easy to mount in the stand by drilling a small hole in the flat cut base, which slides over the peg sticking up from the center of the white metal water trough. The four securing screws are easy to use, too. The entire base can be de-assembled for storage in the box it arrives in. Highly recommend it.”
Additional specs: Supports a tree of 7 feet with a trunk of 1.2 -3.6 inches.
Move your tree from here to there with this rollable Christmas stand. The feet are retractable and the wheels lock into place whenever you find the perfect spot. According to several happy customers on Amazon, the stand is easy to put together, though some said the instructions left much to be desired. Regardless, we like how simple it makes it to move your fake fir from room to room.
Review: “This is the style that I got to replace one that was absolute trash. This one works so well. It has been holding a fake tree upright even after being moved around the room several times for several months now. It works fantastically and is very stable.”
Additional specs: Supports a tree of 2.4 – 7.5 feet with a trunk of 0.7 -3.5 inches.
Some tree stands don’t accommodate for a tree skirt, which is why we like this one. Its large base and deep crimson hue makes the other accessory completely unnecessary, plus its mouth is small enough to keep pets from drinking the water out. Made from cast iron, expect this baby to last a long time!
Additional specs: n/a
We’re willing to bet a few of you had this Christmas tree stand growing up, and it’s still a great option in our book. It’s sturdy, has a traditional screw set up (we recommend having a helper), and looks decent with a tree skirt over it. The bowl is on the smaller side, so expect to refill on a regular basis. However, it’s affordable and should last for years.
Review: “We received a live tree for free unexpectedly, so we needed a stand. I didn’t want a plastic one under any circumstances and metal options [can be] lacking, but this ended up working perfectly for our needs. We only had a 3.5 feet tree. Its easier if you have two people to put the tree in, so the trunk is straight and you don’t have a tilty tree. I expect it should last us forever.”
Additional Specs: n/a
For a giant artificial tree, go for something as sturdy as this. Recently redesigined in 2020, the stand can not accommodate the thinnest poles, so don’t worry about anything wiggling out of place. The legs are thicker for stability, too, and it all folds up when you need to pack things up for the season.
Review:” I’ve been struggling with the base of my artificial tree for years! Duct tape to hold it open, shims to straighten the tree. I thought of replacing the tree many times, but I love it so much. Finally, this year I had the idea, “I wonder if you can get replacement bases?” Amazon to the rescue! I looked at many, but this one looked solid, and it IS. Well worth the extra cost. So we’ll made. I can keep enjoying the tree I love for the rest of my days. Absolutely perfect! No more precariously leveled, unstable tree for me!”
Additional specs: Supports a 4- 8 feet tree with a 1.25 inch diameter.
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