# Pencil vs. Slim vs. Full Christmas Tree: Width and Which to Buy

By the Urban Picks team · Updated November 8, 2026

The difference between a pencil, a slim and a full Christmas tree is width. A pencil tree is the narrowest and fits a corner or a small room, a full tree is the classic wide cone for open space, and a slim tree sits in between. The names are used loosely, so compare the diameter in inches rather than the label. This guide compares the three shapes on width, floor space, fullness, lights, setup time and placement, using the trees we carry as examples.

## Key takeaways

- Pencil, slim and full trees differ in width; the names are loose, so compare the diameter in inches.
- On our trees, a pencil tree is about a quarter as wide as it is tall, a slim tree about a third, a full tree about half.
- A 7.5 ft full spruce, 45.3 in across, takes more than four times the floor of a 21.75 in pencil tree.
- Narrow trees have fewer tips and need fewer lights: 200 LEDs on our 6 ft pre-lit pencil tree, 480 on our 6 ft full spruce.
- Our pencil trees shape in about 30 minutes; our 6 ft full spruce takes 55 to 70.
- Mark the tree's circle on the floor with tape before you buy.

## Pencil, slim or full: the short answer

Choose a pencil tree when floor space is tight. Our 7 ft pencil trees measure 21.75 in across, about a quarter of their height, so they fit beside a sofa or between two windows.

Choose a slim tree when the spot is narrow but you want a fuller cone. Our 7 ft slim flocked tree is about 30.3 in across, a little over a third of its height.

Choose a full tree when the tree is the main feature of the room and there is space around it. Our 7.5 ft full Norway spruce is 45.3 in across, about half its height.

The names are not a standard. Our 6 ft silver tree and our 7 ft green tree are named slim-profile trees, yet both share the 21.75 in pencil width. Read the diameter before you buy.

- [7-ft Christmas Tree with Slim Profile, Unlit, Green](https://urban-picks.com/products/7-ft-slim-pencil-christmas-tree-unlit-green): $48.32 · in stock · Free US shipping ([Markdown](https://urban-picks.com/products/7-ft-slim-pencil-christmas-tree-unlit-green.md))
  A tall holiday tree with a 21.75-inch diameter for a living-room corner.
- [Slim Christmas Tree with Flocking and Dual-Color LEDs](https://urban-picks.com/products/slim-flocked-christmas-tree-dual-color-leds): from $59.46 · in stock · Free US shipping ([Markdown](https://urban-picks.com/products/slim-flocked-christmas-tree-dual-color-leds.md))
  Snowy, downswept branches with a choice of warm white or colorful light.
- [Christmas Tree with Hinged Norway Spruce Branches, Unlit](https://urban-picks.com/products/unlit-norway-spruce-christmas-tree-hinged-branches): from $57.27 · in stock · Free US shipping ([Markdown](https://urban-picks.com/products/unlit-norway-spruce-christmas-tree-hinged-branches.md))
  A full spruce silhouette, ready for your own holiday decorations.

## How wide each shape is, in inches

Width, or diameter, is measured across the widest branches near the base. On our pencil trees the height includes the stand.

Pencil: our 6 ft and 7 ft pencil trees both measure 21.75 in across. The extra foot goes into height, not width.

Slim: our slim flocked tree measures 17 in across at 4 ft, about 26.8 in at 6 ft and about 30.3 in at 7 ft.

Full: our unlit Norway spruce measures 38.6 in across at 6 ft and 45.3 in at 7.5 ft.

A quick rule from these numbers: a pencil tree is about a quarter as wide as it is tall, a slim tree about a third, and a full tree about half or a little more.

- [6 ft Christmas Tree with Slim Profile, Unlit, Silver](https://urban-picks.com/products/6-ft-slim-christmas-tree-unlit-silver): $40.37 · in stock · Free US shipping ([Markdown](https://urban-picks.com/products/6-ft-slim-christmas-tree-unlit-silver.md))
  A silver pencil tree for a small-room Christmas corner.
- [7 ft Pencil Christmas Tree, Unlit, White](https://urban-picks.com/products/7-ft-pencil-christmas-tree-unlit-white): $48.32 · in stock · Free US shipping ([Markdown](https://urban-picks.com/products/7-ft-pencil-christmas-tree-unlit-white.md))
  Full-height holiday decorating with a narrow footprint.
- [Slim Christmas Tree with Flocking and Dual-Color LEDs](https://urban-picks.com/products/slim-flocked-christmas-tree-dual-color-leds): from $59.46 · in stock · Free US shipping ([Markdown](https://urban-picks.com/products/slim-flocked-christmas-tree-dual-color-leds.md))
  Snowy, downswept branches with a choice of warm white or colorful light.
- [Christmas Tree with Hinged Norway Spruce Branches, Unlit](https://urban-picks.com/products/unlit-norway-spruce-christmas-tree-hinged-branches): from $57.27 · in stock · Free US shipping ([Markdown](https://urban-picks.com/products/unlit-norway-spruce-christmas-tree-hinged-branches.md))
  A full spruce silhouette, ready for your own holiday decorations.

## How much floor space each one takes

Floor space grows with the square of the width, so a tree twice as wide takes about four times the floor.

A 21.75 in pencil tree covers a circle of about 2.6 sq ft. Our 7 ft slim flocked tree, about 30.3 in across, covers about 5 sq ft. Our 7.5 ft full spruce, 45.3 in across, covers about 11.2 sq ft, more than four times the pencil tree.

Before you buy, mark the circle on the floor with painter's tape or a string: about 22 in across for a pencil tree, 46 in for a full 7.5 ft tree. Leave room to walk past it and to open nearby doors, and keep it clear of heat vents and radiators.

For ceiling height and the gap you need above the top, see our guide to what size Christmas tree you need.

- [7 ft Pencil Christmas Tree, Unlit, White](https://urban-picks.com/products/7-ft-pencil-christmas-tree-unlit-white): $48.32 · in stock · Free US shipping ([Markdown](https://urban-picks.com/products/7-ft-pencil-christmas-tree-unlit-white.md))
  Full-height holiday decorating with a narrow footprint.
- [Christmas Tree with Hinged Norway Spruce Branches, Unlit](https://urban-picks.com/products/unlit-norway-spruce-christmas-tree-hinged-branches): from $57.27 · in stock · Free US shipping ([Markdown](https://urban-picks.com/products/unlit-norway-spruce-christmas-tree-hinged-branches.md))
  A full spruce silhouette, ready for your own holiday decorations.

## Where each shape fits

Pencil: a corner beside the sofa, the space between two windows, an entryway, a small apartment, or a second tree for a bedroom, a dining room or a home office.

Slim: a living-room corner where a pencil tree would look too thin, or a room where you want more branches for ornaments without giving up much floor.

Full: the middle of a long wall, a bay window or an open living room, where the tree is seen from several sides and there is room to walk around it.

Two pencil trees on either side of a fireplace or a doorway can fill a wall without taking a full tree's floor space.

- [6 ft Christmas Tree with Slim Profile, Unlit, Silver](https://urban-picks.com/products/6-ft-slim-christmas-tree-unlit-silver): $40.37 · in stock · Free US shipping ([Markdown](https://urban-picks.com/products/6-ft-slim-christmas-tree-unlit-silver.md))
  A silver pencil tree for a small-room Christmas corner.
- [Slim Christmas Tree with Flocking and Dual-Color LEDs](https://urban-picks.com/products/slim-flocked-christmas-tree-dual-color-leds): from $59.46 · in stock · Free US shipping ([Markdown](https://urban-picks.com/products/slim-flocked-christmas-tree-dual-color-leds.md))
  Snowy, downswept branches with a choice of warm white or colorful light.
- [Christmas Tree with Hinged Norway Spruce Branches, Unlit](https://urban-picks.com/products/unlit-norway-spruce-christmas-tree-hinged-branches): from $57.27 · in stock · Free US shipping ([Markdown](https://urban-picks.com/products/unlit-norway-spruce-christmas-tree-hinged-branches.md))
  A full spruce silhouette, ready for your own holiday decorations.

## Fullness, branch tips and ornaments

Narrow trees carry fewer tips. Our 7 ft green pencil tree has 499 tips and our 6 ft silver one 390. Our slim flocked tree has 407 tips at 6 ft and 534 at 7 ft. Our full Norway spruce has 888 tips at 6 ft and 1,388 at 7.5 ft.

With fewer tips, each gap shows more, so spread every tip on a pencil tree after assembly. Our guide to fluffing an artificial Christmas tree goes through it section by section.

Plan the ornaments to the shape. A full tree has deep branches for large ornaments and many of them. A pencil tree looks balanced with smaller ornaments, a garland or ribbon that runs from top to bottom, and fewer pieces overall.

- [7-ft Christmas Tree with Slim Profile, Unlit, Green](https://urban-picks.com/products/7-ft-slim-pencil-christmas-tree-unlit-green): $48.32 · in stock · Free US shipping ([Markdown](https://urban-picks.com/products/7-ft-slim-pencil-christmas-tree-unlit-green.md))
  A tall holiday tree with a 21.75-inch diameter for a living-room corner.
- [Slim Christmas Tree with Flocking and Dual-Color LEDs](https://urban-picks.com/products/slim-flocked-christmas-tree-dual-color-leds): from $59.46 · in stock · Free US shipping ([Markdown](https://urban-picks.com/products/slim-flocked-christmas-tree-dual-color-leds.md))
  Snowy, downswept branches with a choice of warm white or colorful light.
- [Christmas Tree with Hinged Norway Spruce Branches, Unlit](https://urban-picks.com/products/unlit-norway-spruce-christmas-tree-hinged-branches): from $57.27 · in stock · Free US shipping ([Markdown](https://urban-picks.com/products/unlit-norway-spruce-christmas-tree-hinged-branches.md))
  A full spruce silhouette, ready for your own holiday decorations.

## Lights on a narrow tree

A narrow tree needs fewer lights than a full tree of the same height, because there is less of it to cover. Our 6 ft pre-lit pencil tree has 200 warm white LEDs on 390 tips; our 6 ft full spruce with a plug-in trunk has 480.

Our slim flocked tree comes with 100, 250 or 350 LEDs at 4, 6 and 7 ft, and switches between warm white and multicolor.

On an unlit pencil tree, wrap the lights in a close spiral from the bottom up: there is less depth to weave them into than on a full tree. Our guide to putting lights on a Christmas tree gives counts by height.

- [6 ft Christmas Tree with 200 Warm White LEDs, Pencil, Green](https://urban-picks.com/products/6-ft-pencil-christmas-tree-200-warm-white-leds-green): $57.27 · in stock · Free US shipping ([Markdown](https://urban-picks.com/products/6-ft-pencil-christmas-tree-200-warm-white-leds-green.md))
  A slim, pre-lit tree for a small living room or an entryway corner.
- [Slim Christmas Tree with Flocking and Dual-Color LEDs](https://urban-picks.com/products/slim-flocked-christmas-tree-dual-color-leds): from $59.46 · in stock · Free US shipping ([Markdown](https://urban-picks.com/products/slim-flocked-christmas-tree-dual-color-leds.md))
  Snowy, downswept branches with a choice of warm white or colorful light.
- [Spruce Christmas Tree with Dual-Color LEDs and Plug-In Trunk](https://urban-picks.com/products/spruce-christmas-tree-dual-color-leds-plug-in-trunk): from $133.26 · in stock · Free US shipping ([Markdown](https://urban-picks.com/products/spruce-christmas-tree-dual-color-leds-plug-in-trunk.md))
  Trunk-connected lights, with warm white and multicolor settings.

## Setup time, weight and stands

Narrow trees shape faster. Allow about 30 minutes to spread the tips of our 7 ft green pencil tree or our 6 ft silver tree, 30 to 40 minutes for our 6 ft slim flocked tree and 40 to 60 minutes for its 7 ft size. Our fuller 6 ft spruce with a plug-in trunk takes 55 to 70 minutes.

They are light, too: our 7 ft pencil tree weighs 7.1 lb and our 6 ft silver tree 6.8 lb, so one person can carry them from room to room.

Stands differ by shape. Our pencil trees stand on detachable plastic stands, our slim flocked tree on a rectangular steel base, and our full Norway spruce on a folding crossed metal stand.

- [7 ft Pencil Christmas Tree, Unlit, White](https://urban-picks.com/products/7-ft-pencil-christmas-tree-unlit-white): $48.32 · in stock · Free US shipping ([Markdown](https://urban-picks.com/products/7-ft-pencil-christmas-tree-unlit-white.md))
  Full-height holiday decorating with a narrow footprint.
- [6 ft Christmas Tree with Slim Profile, Unlit, Silver](https://urban-picks.com/products/6-ft-slim-christmas-tree-unlit-silver): $40.37 · in stock · Free US shipping ([Markdown](https://urban-picks.com/products/6-ft-slim-christmas-tree-unlit-silver.md))
  A silver pencil tree for a small-room Christmas corner.
- [Slim Christmas Tree with Flocking and Dual-Color LEDs](https://urban-picks.com/products/slim-flocked-christmas-tree-dual-color-leds): from $59.46 · in stock · Free US shipping ([Markdown](https://urban-picks.com/products/slim-flocked-christmas-tree-dual-color-leds.md))
  Snowy, downswept branches with a choice of warm white or colorful light.
- [Spruce Christmas Tree with Dual-Color LEDs and Plug-In Trunk](https://urban-picks.com/products/spruce-christmas-tree-dual-color-leds-plug-in-trunk): from $133.26 · in stock · Free US shipping ([Markdown](https://urban-picks.com/products/spruce-christmas-tree-dual-color-leds-plug-in-trunk.md))
  Trunk-connected lights, with warm white and multicolor settings.

## Colors and flocking

Our pencil trees come in green, white, silver, black, blue and pink, and in green with snow flocking. A white, silver or pink pencil tree reads as a decorative accent; a full green tree reads as the classic centerpiece.

A flocked narrow tree gives the snowy look in a small space: our 6 ft pencil tree with faux snow, or our slim flocked tree with dual-color LEDs. Our guide to flocked and unflocked trees covers the trade-offs.

- [7 ft Pencil Christmas Tree, Unlit, White](https://urban-picks.com/products/7-ft-pencil-christmas-tree-unlit-white): $48.32 · in stock · Free US shipping ([Markdown](https://urban-picks.com/products/7-ft-pencil-christmas-tree-unlit-white.md))
  Full-height holiday decorating with a narrow footprint.
- [7-Foot Pencil Christmas Tree with Plastic Stand, Blue](https://urban-picks.com/products/7-foot-blue-pencil-christmas-tree-plastic-stand): $47.13 · in stock · Free US shipping ([Markdown](https://urban-picks.com/products/7-foot-blue-pencil-christmas-tree-plastic-stand.md))
  Seven feet of blue in a narrow pencil shape.
- [6 ft Pencil Christmas Tree, Unlit, Black](https://urban-picks.com/products/6-ft-pencil-christmas-tree-unlit-black): $41.86 · in stock · Free US shipping ([Markdown](https://urban-picks.com/products/6-ft-pencil-christmas-tree-unlit-black.md))
  A tall, narrow tree for a holiday corner.
- [6 ft Pencil Christmas Tree with Faux Snow, Unlit, Green](https://urban-picks.com/products/6-ft-snow-flocked-pencil-christmas-tree-green): $44.24 · in stock · Free US shipping ([Markdown](https://urban-picks.com/products/6-ft-snow-flocked-pencil-christmas-tree-green.md))
  A snowy six-foot tree for a narrow corner.

## Which one to pick

For a small room or a corner: a pencil tree, 21.75 in across, in 6 or 7 ft.

For a narrow spot with more fullness and built-in lights: our slim flocked tree, 17 to about 30.3 in across, in 4, 6 and 7 ft.

For an open room and lots of ornaments: our full Norway spruce with hinged branches, 38.6 in across at 6 ft and 45.3 in at 7.5 ft.

Still unsure? Mark the circle on the floor first. If a 46 in circle blocks a path, go narrow.

- [7-ft Christmas Tree with Slim Profile, Unlit, Green](https://urban-picks.com/products/7-ft-slim-pencil-christmas-tree-unlit-green): $48.32 · in stock · Free US shipping ([Markdown](https://urban-picks.com/products/7-ft-slim-pencil-christmas-tree-unlit-green.md))
  A tall holiday tree with a 21.75-inch diameter for a living-room corner.
- [Slim Christmas Tree with Flocking and Dual-Color LEDs](https://urban-picks.com/products/slim-flocked-christmas-tree-dual-color-leds): from $59.46 · in stock · Free US shipping ([Markdown](https://urban-picks.com/products/slim-flocked-christmas-tree-dual-color-leds.md))
  Snowy, downswept branches with a choice of warm white or colorful light.
- [Christmas Tree with Hinged Norway Spruce Branches, Unlit](https://urban-picks.com/products/unlit-norway-spruce-christmas-tree-hinged-branches): from $57.27 · in stock · Free US shipping ([Markdown](https://urban-picks.com/products/unlit-norway-spruce-christmas-tree-hinged-branches.md))
  A full spruce silhouette, ready for your own holiday decorations.

## Questions

- **What is the difference between a pencil and a slim Christmas tree?** Width. A pencil tree is the narrowest shape; a slim tree is a little wider and fuller. Our 7 ft pencil trees are 21.75 in across, and our 7 ft slim flocked tree is about 30.3 in. Some trees named slim are pencil-width, so check the diameter.
- **How wide is a pencil Christmas tree?** Ours measure 21.75 in across at both 6 ft and 7 ft, about a quarter of their height.
- **How wide is a slim Christmas tree?** Our slim flocked tree measures 17 in across at 4 ft, about 26.8 in at 6 ft and about 30.3 in at 7 ft.
- **How wide is a full 7.5 ft Christmas tree?** Our full 7.5 ft Norway spruce measures 45.3 in across; its 6 ft size measures 38.6 in.
- **Is a pencil Christmas tree good for a small apartment?** Yes. A 21.75 in pencil tree covers about 2.6 sq ft of floor, so it fits a corner or the space beside a sofa, and at about 7 lb it is easy to move.
- **Do pencil Christmas trees look sparse?** They have fewer tips than full trees: 499 on our 7 ft green pencil tree against 1,388 on our 7.5 ft full spruce. Spreading every tip after assembly and using smaller ornaments keeps a narrow tree looking full.

## Related picks

- [7-ft Christmas Tree with Slim Profile, Unlit, Green](https://urban-picks.com/products/7-ft-slim-pencil-christmas-tree-unlit-green): $48.32 · in stock · Free US shipping ([Markdown](https://urban-picks.com/products/7-ft-slim-pencil-christmas-tree-unlit-green.md))
  A tall holiday tree with a 21.75-inch diameter for a living-room corner.
- [7 ft Pencil Christmas Tree, Unlit, White](https://urban-picks.com/products/7-ft-pencil-christmas-tree-unlit-white): $48.32 · in stock · Free US shipping ([Markdown](https://urban-picks.com/products/7-ft-pencil-christmas-tree-unlit-white.md))
  Full-height holiday decorating with a narrow footprint.
- [6 ft Christmas Tree with Slim Profile, Unlit, Silver](https://urban-picks.com/products/6-ft-slim-christmas-tree-unlit-silver): $40.37 · in stock · Free US shipping ([Markdown](https://urban-picks.com/products/6-ft-slim-christmas-tree-unlit-silver.md))
  A silver pencil tree for a small-room Christmas corner.
- [Slim Christmas Tree with Flocking and Dual-Color LEDs](https://urban-picks.com/products/slim-flocked-christmas-tree-dual-color-leds): from $59.46 · in stock · Free US shipping ([Markdown](https://urban-picks.com/products/slim-flocked-christmas-tree-dual-color-leds.md))
  Snowy, downswept branches with a choice of warm white or colorful light.
- [Christmas Tree with Hinged Norway Spruce Branches, Unlit](https://urban-picks.com/products/unlit-norway-spruce-christmas-tree-hinged-branches): from $57.27 · in stock · Free US shipping ([Markdown](https://urban-picks.com/products/unlit-norway-spruce-christmas-tree-hinged-branches.md))
  A full spruce silhouette, ready for your own holiday decorations.
- [6 ft Christmas Tree with 200 Warm White LEDs, Pencil, Green](https://urban-picks.com/products/6-ft-pencil-christmas-tree-200-warm-white-leds-green): $57.27 · in stock · Free US shipping ([Markdown](https://urban-picks.com/products/6-ft-pencil-christmas-tree-200-warm-white-leds-green.md))
  A slim, pre-lit tree for a small living room or an entryway corner.
- [Spruce Christmas Tree with Dual-Color LEDs and Plug-In Trunk](https://urban-picks.com/products/spruce-christmas-tree-dual-color-leds-plug-in-trunk): from $133.26 · in stock · Free US shipping ([Markdown](https://urban-picks.com/products/spruce-christmas-tree-dual-color-leds-plug-in-trunk.md))
  Trunk-connected lights, with warm white and multicolor settings.
- [6 ft Pencil Christmas Tree with Faux Snow, Unlit, Green](https://urban-picks.com/products/6-ft-snow-flocked-pencil-christmas-tree-green): $44.24 · in stock · Free US shipping ([Markdown](https://urban-picks.com/products/6-ft-snow-flocked-pencil-christmas-tree-green.md))
  A snowy six-foot tree for a narrow corner.

[More in Holiday & Seasonal](https://urban-picks.com/collections/holiday) ([Markdown](https://urban-picks.com/collections/holiday.md))

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