The 8 Best Christmas Tree Stands of 2022

Our top pick is the Krinner Tree Genie XXL Christmas Tree Stand

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The 6 Best Christmas Tree Stands, Tested By The Spruce

The Spruce / Chloe Jeong

Once you’ve selected a fir fit for your holiday festivities, you’ll need one small thing before you can put it into place and get to work trimming or decorating your tree: a tree stand. But any old stand won’t do—you need quality support built to withstand the weight of such a lush, beautiful tree, lest it comes crashing down in the middle of your celebration.

To help you make the best decision for your tree, we researched and road-tested a few from top brands, evaluating stability, sturdiness, and ease of installation.

Ahead, the best Christmas tree stands on the market.

Our Top Picks

Best Overall

Krinner Tree Genie XXL

4.9
Krinner Tree Genie XXL

Amazon

What We Like
  • Attractive and simple look

  • Includes water level indicator

  • Clever foot pump mechanism

  • Quick and easy setup

What We Don't Like
  • Expensive

  • Narrow opening for water

The Krinner Tree Genie stand accommodates hefty trees up to 12 feet tall, and there’s no assembly required (no screws to fiddle with while tightening!). Instead, you simply place your tree in the stand, hold it in place, and then pump the foot pedal until the built-in claws get a good grip on the tree’s trunk. Our tester found that the most helpful instructions were on the Krinner website, but once she mastered that, setup was a breeze. "Honestly, I was astounded at how quickly and easily I got my tree into the stand—and at how evenly the mechanism rights the tree. I’ve never gone from loading the tree into the car to decorating with ornaments so fast," they said.

That’s not all this model offers, though. It has an automatic water level indicator that holds up to 2.5 gallons of liquid to help you keep your tree healthy all season long. However, the opening to the basin is a bit small so spilling can happen occasionally. Still, the sturdiness and innovation make this stand worth the high price tag.

Price at time of publish: $120

Dimensions: 20 x 20 x 6 inches | Weight: 7 pounds | Material: Metal | Capacity: 2.5 gallons of water

Best Budget

Good Tidings Cinco Express Tree Stand

4.2
Good Tidings Cinco Express Tree Stand

Amazon

What We Like
  • Installs quickly

  • Spill guard keeps floors dry

What We Don't Like
  • Might not last a long time

This affordable model proves that just because you don’t want to spend a ton of money on a tree stand doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice size or quality. This stand, which holds trees up to an impressive 10 feet tall and 6 inches around, has four strong galvanized pins in the center of the base to help center and lock the tree into place.

The ease of assembly challenges our top pick. Our tester loved the quickness, saying "I set up the tree completely by myself, and it was so easy. In fact, it was the quickest tree setup I’ve ever experienced." There are some nice added features, too, like a 2-gallon reservoir with a deep spill guard to keep any water contained within the base.

Price at time of publish: $40

Dimensions: ‎20 x 20 x 8 inches | Weight: 2.77 pounds | Material: Plastic | Capacity: 2 gallons

Best Rotating

Best Choice Products 360-Degree Rotating Adjustable Christmas Tree Stand

Best Choice Products 360-Degree Rotating Adjustable Christmas Tree Stand

Walmart

What We Like
  • Allows you to decorate while tree is spinning

  • Includes 3 built-in outlets

  • Easy to set up

What We Don't Like
  • Makes a faint rotating noise

You can have your tree rotate and swivel while you decorate or when guests come over so you can show off all the festive ornaments you took the time to put on. This rotating tree stand has a weight capacity of up to 80 pounds and can support artificial Christmas trees up to 7.5 feet tall.

The swivel Christmas tree stand rotates 360 degrees and features three built-in outlets at the base to connect Christmas lights. One issue with the location of the outlets, however, is that it causes a slight knocking sound while the tree swivels in motion—but it's not something some faint music or the TV can't fade out.

Price at time of publish: $50

Dimensions: 26 x 26 x 7.5 inches | Weight: 2.9 pounds | Material: Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) plastic | Capacity: Holds artificial trees up to 7.5 feet tall and up to 80 pounds

Best for Large Trees

JACK-POST Steel Christmas Tree Stand

4.3
JACK-POST Steel Christmas Tree Stand

Amazon

What We Like
  • Simple and classic style

  • Quick and easy setup

  • Wide water basin

What We Don't Like
  • Setup can be a bit challenging for one person

When you have a larger-than-life Christmas tree, you’re going to need to bring in the big guns. This sturdy, welded steel stand will do just the trick for any grand spruces up to 12 feet tall and 6.5 inches in diameter.

In addition to its sturdy construction, the stand has a wide leg base that provides extra stability and four reliable eye bolts to lock massive tree trunks into place—no worry about shifting throughout the season. Our tester loved that it took little time to master. "Righting it was easier than normal. I was expecting to make a million adjustments to get the tree fully vertical, but amazingly, it only took one tiny tweak to get it into position. All in all, it took about five minutes. It wasn’t completely stress-free but pretty close," they said.

The stand has other convenience features, too, like a 1.7-gallon water reservoir, so you’ll spend less time crouching under the tree refilling the basin. There’s no worry about rusting, either—the base is reinforced with zinc-dichromate hardware to prevent premature deterioration.

Price at time of publish: $98

Dimensions: 22.5 x 22.5 x 6.75 inches | Weight: 2.3 pounds | Material: Steel | Capacity: 1.7 gallons of water

Best for Small Trees

Good Tidings C163 Cinco Tabletop Christmas Tree Stand

Good Tidings C163 Cinco Tabletop Christmas Tree Stand

Amazon

What We Like
  • Affordable price

  • Withstands low temperatures for outdoor display

  • Good for smaller trees

What We Don't Like
  • Better for tabletop displays than floors

Even small trees need a little support to stand upright. But, since they're much lighter in weight, you don’t have to spend nearly as much. In this case, a small plastic stand is perfectly suitable.

Don't be deterred by the low price and the lightweight material. The stand has three tempered steel rust-proof spikes and is made of a no-break polypropylene that’s incredibly durable and can withstand low temperatures (perfect if you want to display your tree on a porch!). It also features a raised bolt post and cut-away sides that don’t require you to cut away any bottom branches.

Price at time of publish: $19

Dimensions: 14 x 14 x 8 inches | Weight: 1 pound | Material: Polypropylene | Capacity: 0.79 gallons

Best Rolling

National Tree Company Rolling and Folding Tree Stand

National Tree Company Rolling and Folding Tree Stand

Amazon

What We Like
  • Rolls in place for best tree position

  • Folds up for easy storage

  • Available in two sizes

What We Don't Like
  • For artificial trees only

Don’t worry: Your tree won’t go slipping and sliding all over your living room—the stand has wheel locks to keep everything firmly planted once you decide on the perfect location for your fir. As a bonus, the stand also comes in a larger 32-inch size to house artificial trees up to 10 feet tall—just in case you have grand plans for your trimmings this year.

Price at time of publish: $60

Dimensions: ‎28 x 28 x 9 inches | Weight: 2.25 pounds | Material: Steel | Capacity: Holds artificial trees up to 8 feet tall

Best Decorative

L.L.Bean Heirloom Cast Iron Christmas Tree Stand

L.L.Bean Heirloom Cast Iron Christmas Tree Stand

L.L.Bean

What We Like
  • Nostalgic design

  • Durable and long-lasting

  • Won't scuff the floor

What We Don't Like
  • Heavy and difficult to move/ store

Bring a bit of nostalgia to your tree this year with a stand that’s right out of your favorite classic Christmas movie. The cast-iron stand is handmade by artists using ball-type milling and hammering to create a retro patterned design.

It’s not all about style here, though. Thanks to the heavy-duty material and the wide set base, this stand has unmatched durability. Use the integrated center spike to ensure live trees up to 8 feet tall and 5 inches in diameter stay put all season. And don’t worry about rust or damaging hardwood floors—the stand has a baked-on urethane finish that resists rusting and chipping, plus comes with brass-plated hardware and foot pads to protect the surface beneath.

Price at time of publish: $149

Dimensions: ‎14 x 14 inches | Weight: 20 pounds | Material: Cast iron | Capacity: Holds live trees up to 8-ft. tall

Best Rotating for Artificial Trees

Morris Costumes Christmas Tree Stand EZ Rotate Christmas Decoration

Morris Costumes Christmas Tree Stand EZ Rotate Christmas Decoration

Walmart

What We Like
  • Rotates 360 degrees

  • Simple cone-shaped base

  • Easy on/off operation for rotation

What We Don't Like
  • For artificial trees only

Though many artificial trees do come with a base, some don’t—in that case, you’ll need to be prepared with your own tree stand. A great option for these faux trees: rotating models that turn 360 degrees, so you can see the entire tree in all of its glory. It’s a feature that’s especially helpful when decorating the tree the tree (no squeezing into tight corners!), but it’s also a great way to show off a fully trimmed tree from every angle.

Use it for a wide range of artificial trees up to eight-and-a-half feet tall and one-and-a-quarter inches in diameter. Simply slip the tree into the base and tighten to secure. Then, use the two switches on the control box to turn on and off lights or rotate the tree.

Price at time of publish: $140

Dimensions: 23.30 x 23.30 x 8.50 inches | Weight: 2.3 pounds | Material: Plastic | Capacity: Holds artificial trees up to 8-ft. tall

Final Verdict

Our top pick is the Krinner Tree Genie XXL, which earns high marks from our tester for its attractive look and easy set-up. If you're shopping for a larger tree, we recommend the Jack-Post Steel Christmas Tree Stand. While setting it up might be challenging for one person, its sturdy construction and wide water basin more than make up for it.

What to Look for in a Christmas Tree Stand

Tree Type

The first thing to consider when shopping for a Christmas tree stand is whether you’ll have a real tree or an artificial one. Live trees are heavier and require sturdier stands and models with a water reservoir. Some artificial trees come with stands, but you can also pick out your own if the one you got isn't festive enough for you or you've misplaced it.

Tree Size

Christmas trees range anywhere from 3 to 15 (or more!) feet tall, and the size of your tree will dictate which stand will work best for you. The larger the tree, the bigger the stand’s base needs to be to keep it safely upright. Luckily, most stands indicate the size of tree they can accommodate.

Material

In general, tree stands are made of plastic, metal, wood, or some combination of the three. Your stand’s material will affect how sturdy it is—keep in mind that metal stands are generally more durable than plastic ones.

FAQ
  • How do you put a Christmas tree in a stand?

    After cutting off the bottom of your tree trunk so it can absorb water, place your stand on the floor and loosen the screws so you can insert the trunk. Lift up the tree and put the stump in the center of the stand, then slide it down into the stand and tighten the screws. You may be able to manage by yourself, but it's helpful to have a partner.

  • How much water should you put in a Christmas tree stand?

    Live trees generally need a quart of water per day for every inch of trunk diameter. For example, if your tree has a 2-inch trunk diameter, it'll likely need up to two quarts of water each day. Replacing the water more frequently is a good sign; it means your tree is well-hydrated.

  • How do you build a Christmas tree stand?

    If you'd rather not purchase a store-bought stand, you can create your own with two-by-four pieces. You can find a variety of Christmas tree stand instructions online. Some are elaborate and some are simple, so make sure you're up for the challenge when you're choosing a stand to build (and that you have the proper tools on hand).

Why Trust The Spruce?

This roundup was written by Brigitt Earley, a freelance writer who has written and edited hundreds of home decor buying guides. To make this list, she considered each pick's material, as well as the type and size of the tree it'll be used for. Additional reporting was done by Ashley Abramson, a home and lifestyle writer whose work has appeared in MyDomaine, the New York Times, Washington Post, Allure, InStyle, and more.

Updated by
Ashley Abramson
Ashley Abramson
Ashley Abramson is a freelance lifestyle and home writer based in Milwaukee, WI.
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  1. https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/water_is_the_essential_ingredient_in_keeping_your_farm_grown_christmas_tree#:~:text=A%20typical%207%2Dfoot%2Dtall,the%20stand%20to%20dry%20out.