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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. The Krinner Tree Genie XXL Christmas Tree Stand earned our top spot because of its quick and easy setup, accommodation for taller trees, and unique foot pump mechanism.
Ahead, the best Christmas tree stands of 2022.
Best Overall: Krinner Tree Genie XXL
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Courtesy of Sarah Vanbuskirk
Attractive and simple look
Includes water level indicator
Clever foot pump mechanism
Quick and easy setup
Expensive
Narrow opening for water
Who else recommends it? Wirecutter, Good Housekeeping, and Bob Vila also picked the Krinner Tree Genie XXL.
What do buyers say? 89% of 7,400+ Amazon reviewers rated this product 4 stars
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. The minutes-long setup saves valuable time during the busiest season.
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 makes this stand worth the high price tag.
Best Budget: Good Tidings Cinco Express Tree Stand
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Courtesy of Amazon
Installs quickly
Spill guard keeps floors dry
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.
While it’s not quite as easy of a setup as our top choice, it’s a reliable option at a great price point. 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.
Best Rotating : Best Choice Products 360-Degree Rotating Adjustable Christmas Tree Stand
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Allows you to decorate while tree is spinning
Includes 3 built-in outlets
Easy to set up
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.
Best for Large Trees: JACK-POST Steel Christmas Tree Stand
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Courtesy of Amazon
Simple and classic style
Quick and easy setup
Wide water basin
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.
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.
Best for Small Trees: Good Tidings C163 Cinco Tabletop Christmas Tree Stand
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Courtesy of Amazon
Affordable price
Withstands low temperatures for outdoor display
Good for smaller trees
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.
Best Rolling: National Tree Company Rolling and Folding Tree Stand
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Courtesy of Amazon
Rolls in place for best tree position
Folds up for easy storage
Available in two sizes
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.
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 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.
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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.
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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.
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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.