Large Christmas Ornaments: Sizes and Where They Go

Large Christmas ornaments should suit the tree: 4 to 5 inches on a 6- to 7-foot tree and 5 to 6 inches on taller trees, according to Christmas Ornaments Online. St. Nick’s reserves balls of 10 inches or more for trees of 12 feet or outdoor displays. Hang them before smaller ornaments, on sturdy branches.

Large Christmas ornament sizes by tree height

Large Christmas ornament sizes vary by seller, and what counts as large on a 6-foot tree may be mid-size on a 10-foot one. Compare the diameter rather than the label, then use these figures as a guide:

• Under 6 feet. Mahoney’s Garden Center suggests only a few 4.75 inch pieces on a 4.5-foot tree, among 2.4 inch baubles.
• 6 to 7.5 feet. Christmas Ornaments Online uses 4 to 5 inch statement pieces on a 6- to 7-foot tree, and Mahoney’s includes some 6 inch pieces on a full 7.5-foot tree. St. Nick’s calls 3 to 4 inches right for this height range and keeps its large class for taller trees.
• 8 to 11 feet. St. Nick’s puts 5 to 8 inch balls on trees of 8 feet and taller, and Christmas Ornaments Online uses 5 to 6 inches. King of Christmas goes smaller on an 8- to 9-foot tree, with its largest at about 80 to 100 mm, and starts at 100 mm for trees of 10 feet and up.
• 12 feet and up, or outdoors. St. Nick’s saves oversized balls of 10 inches or more for these spots.

On a 6- to 7.5-foot tree the sellers disagree, so try one or two pieces around 5 inches first and add more if you like the look. Narrow trees have less room for big pieces, and our slim tree guide covers those. The full chart is in our ornament size guide.

Large Christmas ornaments

Shop large ornaments→

Opens eBay in a new tab. Check condition, seller feedback and returns.

How many large ornaments to use on a tree

Large ornaments are a small share of the total, and about 20 is a workable start on a 7-foot tree. Home Depot suggests 3 large per foot, which is 21 at that height (calculated). Christmas Ornaments Online suggests 20% statement pieces, so 20 in a set of 100 (calculated).

Home Depot gives no diameter for its large ornaments, so use fewer if yours are at the big end of the range. Its 21 are about 9 to 10% of the 217 to 231 ornaments its per-foot counts add up to on that tree (calculated). Christina Lane, a professional tree decorator featured by Southern Home and Hospitality, spaces matching large ornaments in a triangle across the tree.

Where large ornaments go on a Christmas tree

Large ornaments on a Christmas tree go on before the medium and small ones, and toward the inside is the usual starting point. Christmas Ornaments Online hangs its biggest pieces closest to the trunk, and King of Christmas starts near the trunk on large trees and works outward. Reviewed hangs large balls first, at different depths.

On trees of 8 feet or more, Christmas Ornaments Online goes bottom-heavy, with sizes getting smaller toward the top. Old World Christmas also moves heavier ornaments low, where branches are sturdier. Our decorating guide shows how this step fits with lights and ribbon.

Hanging heavy Christmas ball ornaments securely

Heavy Christmas ball ornaments need a strong hook on a sturdy branch, and Sunny Daze Decor says to replace any hook that is bent or loose. Designer Brad Schmidt tells Reviewed about using four-inch pieces of green floral wire.

Lane goes a step further and tucks large ornaments into the tree rather than hanging them, with no hanger showing, and pushes some back farther when a tree already has plenty of ornaments and ribbon.

Move any ornament that bends its branch, as Old World Christmas advises. Glass is the heavy case: Christmas Ornaments Online, one retailer, puts glass over 4 inches at 3 to 5 ounces and hangs those on interior structural branches. Our glass ornament guide compares glass with shatterproof if weight worries you.

Choosing a finish for big ball ornaments

Big ball ornaments carry a lot of color, so the finish shows more than it does on a small ball. Hicks Nurseries suggests mixing matte, shiny and textured finishes. Mirrored balls reflect the lights and the room, while matte ones look quieter beside them.

Bows are a natural partner for big ornaments. St. Nick’s suggests pairing large ornaments with oversized decorations such as bows and floral picks, and our Christmas tree bow guide covers those.