Tree Skirt vs. Collar: Which to Choose and What Size You Need

A tree skirt is a round piece of fabric that lies on the floor around the stand. It opens so you can wrap it around the trunk, then closes with ties or a hook-and-loop strip. It covers a wide circle of floor and gives presents a soft place to sit.

A tree collar is a rigid ring that stands up around the stand itself. The two we carry are made of three curved panels that join into a ring: one in woven plastic reinforced with metal wire, one in powder-coated steel. A collar keeps its shape, covers only the stand's footprint and leaves the floor around it clear.

Floor space often decides it. A collar takes a circle about 27 in across. A skirt takes its full diameter, from 36 in to 72 in among ours.

Four numbers decide the fit. The branch spread: the distance across the tree's lowest, widest branches after you shape them. The stand footprint: the distance across the widest point of the stand's legs or base. The clearance: the height from the floor to the lowest branches. And the floor circle you can give the tree without blocking a walkway or a door.

A skirt depends on the branch spread and the floor circle. A collar depends on the stand footprint and the clearance.

If the tree is already up, measure the branch spread across the lowest tier, from tip to tip.

A skirt shows only where it reaches past the branches. Take the skirt's diameter, subtract the tree's branch spread and halve the result: that is the border you will see on every side. Each extra 12 in of skirt diameter adds about 6 in of visible border all around.

With our trees: under the full 7.5 ft tree, 47.25 in across, a 48 in skirt hides almost entirely, a 60 in skirt shows about 6 in on every side and a 72 in skirt about 12 in. Under the flocked 90 in tree, 52.8 in across, a 60 in skirt shows about 3.5 in and a 72 in skirt about 9.5 in.

Narrower trees need less. Under the 7 ft slim tree, 33.9 in across, a 48 in skirt shows about 7 in all around and a 60 in skirt about 13 in. Under the 7 ft pencil tree, 20.5 in across, a 36 in skirt already shows nearly 8 in.

A skirt that ends under the branches still hides the stand; it just will not show its pattern. Choose a wider one if you want its border, ruffle or print to show and room for presents on top. Check the floor circle too: a 72 in skirt needs a 6 ft circle.

A collar goes around the stand, so measure the stand across the widest point of its legs. Both of our collars are made for stands under 25 in across.

Then check the clearance. The collar stands up from the floor, so the lowest branches have to start above it. The woven collar is 8.7 in tall and needs at least 9 in from the floor to the lowest branches. The steel collar is 11 in tall, so you need more than 11 in.

The top opening has to clear the trunk and the top of the stand: 19.7 in on the woven collar, 18 in on the steel collar. The woven collar is made for trees 4 to 7 ft tall.

On the floor, both take a circle about 26 to 27 in across. Under the full 7.5 ft tree, 47.25 in across, the branches reach about 10 in past the collar's edge on each side. Under the 7 ft pencil tree, 20.5 in across, the collar is wider than the branches and shows in full.

Every skirt we carry wraps around the trunk, so it can go on after the tree is up. Four close with ties: three pairs on the vintage Santa skirt, three ties on the knitted snowflake skirt, three or four pairs on the faux fur skirt depending on size, and three or four on the velvet ruffle skirt. The burgundy skirt with gold holly trim fastens with a hook-and-loop strip at the back.

Materials differ in look and care. The knitted snowflake skirt is 100% acrylic and machine washable. The gold holly skirt is polyester with a velvet border; hand wash it in cold water. The faux fur skirt is reversible, with faux rabbit fur on one side and smooth fleece on the other. The velvet ruffle skirt has a nylex backing under its diamond-patterned center. The vintage Santa skirt is a brushed fabric with a white reverse and folds for storage.

The collars come apart into their three panels after the season: the woven one joins with rings, the steel one with screws. The steel collar weighs 5.5 lb and the woven one 3.3 lb.

Diameters are for the skirt laid flat or the collar's bottom edge.