12ft Real Christmas Trees

Free UK delivery on the date you choose. British grown, cut to order. Buy the tree on its own, or let us install and decorate it if you would rather not.

A 12ft Christmas tree is the largest tree that can be put up by hand without machinery, and it is a magnificent thing in the right room.

Georgian halls, barn conversions, double-height rooms, churches, hotel foyers and shop floors all carry one well.

What a 12ft tree needs

A ceiling of at least 13ft. Measure the exact spot and take a foot off for the stand and the topper.

Around 8ft of clear floor at the base, clear on every side.

Three people, realistically. A 12ft tree is heavy and long, and getting it through a building is a job in itself.

A heavy-duty stand with ballast. A 12ft trunk will be well over six inches across. No domestic stand will hold it, and a tree of this weight coming down is a serious matter.

Two people can install a 12ft tree into a proper stand. Above this height, machinery and often a steel frame become necessary.

Which 12ft tree?

12ft Nordmann Fir

At this height its tiered, well-spaced branches and strong structure do the work. They hold heavy decorations without bowing and keep the shape open rather than solid.

Its needles are waxy, so it holds four to five weeks when watered. On a tree this size, reliability matters more than anything else.

12ft Norway Spruce

The traditional tree, and at 12ft the scent is extraordinary in a large space.

It drops faster and demands more attention. Put it up later and keep the reservoir full.

Putting it up

Carry it in netted, get it upright in the stand with people holding it, then cut the netting from the bottom up in the room where it is staying.

Leave it several hours before decorating so the branches drop. Use a proper ladder.

Around 1,200 lights, on the rule of 100 per foot. Work them from the trunk outwards so the tree glows from within rather than being outlined. On a tree this size the difference is visible from the street.

If you would rather not do it yourself

Our installation service delivers the tree, installs it with the right stand and ballast, decorates it to whatever scheme you want including a lit star, and then dismantles, removes and recycles it in January.

It starts from around £500 and scales with the job. It is optional. Plenty of people put a 12ft tree up themselves.

Care

Saw an inch off the trunk before it goes into the stand. Sap seals the cut end within hours of harvest, and a sealed trunk cannot drink no matter how full the reservoir looks.

Check the water every day. A 12ft tree drinks a great deal, and a dry reservoir means the trunk seals over for good.

Keep it away from heaters and direct sun. More in our guide to keeping your tree fresh.

12ft Christmas tree FAQs

What ceiling height do I need?

At least 13ft.

How wide is a 12ft tree?

About 8ft at the base.

How many people to put it up?

Three is comfortable. Two can do it with a proper stand.

How many lights?

Around 1,200.

Can I just buy the tree?

Yes. Delivery is free and you choose the date. Installation is available but optional.

Do you go bigger?

Yes. 13ft delivered, and up to 60ft through our installation service.

See our size guide, or compare the 11ft and 13ft trees.