Christmas tree topper ideas: star, angel, bow or something different
Stars, angels, bows, snowflakes, pine cones and toppers you can make at home, with the room each tree leaves under the ceiling and the fixings that keep a topper straight.
The topper goes on last, and it is the first thing anyone looks at. Search data reported by Woman & Home puts the star first, the angel a close second and the bow third, but a snowflake, a bunch of pine cones or a paper star lantern can finish a tree just as well. Below are topper ideas by style, what the star and the angel stand for, five toppers to make at home, how much room your ceiling leaves and how to fix a topper so it stays straight.
Christmas tree topper ideas at a glance
| Topper | Suits | How it fixes | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gold star | Almost any scheme, since gold sits with most colours | Clip, spiral or hollow base | A heavy star bends a thin tip |
| Light-up star | Trees in a dark corner, smart lights | Spiral base, with batteries or a plug-in lead | Its white must match the tree lights |
| Angel or fairy | Tall green trees in gold, ivory or neutrals | Hollow cone over the top branch | Wider and heavier than a star |
| Glass finial | Trees hung with glass baubles | Slips over the tip like a sleeve | Breaks if the tree is knocked |
| Oversized bow | Classic, Scandi and jewel-tone trees | Florist’s wire or a cable tie | Unwired ribbon droops |
| Ribbon waterfall | Tall trees | A bow at the top, tails tucked down the branches | Needs long lengths of wide ribbon |
| Snowflake | Snowy, white and silver trees | Clip or spiral base | Clear acrylic shows less than metal or beads |
| Paper star lantern | Scandi and Nordic trees | Tied on with ribbon or wire | Cool-to-touch LEDs only inside |
| Twig, rattan or pine cone star | Rustic and woodland trees | Florist’s wire | Real twigs and cones add weight |
| Santa hat or novelty piece | Fun and fandom trees | Clip, or sits in the top branches | Must be light enough not to lean |
Star or angel: what is the proper Christmas tree topper?
There is no proper one. Both toppers come from the nativity story: the star stands for the Star of Bethlehem, which led the Magi in Matthew’s Gospel, and the angel for Gabriel, who brings Mary the news in Luke’s Gospel. Choose the one that suits your tree, or neither.
Where the star comes from
The star has topped trees since at least the 1840s. In Hans Christian Andersen’s story “The Fir-Tree”, published in 1844, the finishing touch is a large star of gold tinsel fixed at the very top, and eight-pointed stars were sold as manufactured ornaments from around the same decade. Electric stars arrived after the Second World War.
Where the angel comes from
Angel toppers became popular in the 19th century, as Britain took up the German Christmas tree. The German-born Queen Charlotte put up a tree for a children’s party in 1800, and in 1848 The Illustrated London News showed the royal family round their tree at Windsor Castle on its cover. Within ten years the custom had spread through middle- and upper-class homes. Not every Victorian topper was religious: in the 1870s some households crowned the tree with a Union Jack.
Classic Christmas tree topper ideas
- Gold star: a warm metallic that goes with almost any colour scheme, in styles from hammered metal to paper.
- Red star: keeps a red and green tree with little metal on it in one palette, where gold or silver would jar.
- Plain silver star: calms a snowy tree that already has a lot going on.
- Angel or fairy: Christmas Tree World suggests one for a tall green tree dressed in gold, ivory or neutral decorations.
- Light-up star: throws light onto the top branches and the ceiling. Match its white to the tree lights, because a cool blue-white topper above warm white bulbs looks out of place.
- Glass finial: a pointed glass spike that slips over the top branch.
Stars, angels and glass finials, from 6 cm minis to 35 cm light-up versions, are in our Christmas tree toppers collection. Check the height and the fitting in each listing before you choose.
The Christmas Workshop
White angel tree topper, diamante bodice, feathered wings, 30 cm
Bow and ribbon toppers
The bow is the topper of the moment. Woman & Home called bows bigger than ever in 2025, and Christmas Tree World’s trends for 2026 spread oversized velvet bows over the whole tree instead of keeping one at the top.
- Oversized bow: tie it in wired ribbon, in velvet, satin or glitter, so the loops keep their shape, and fix it with florist’s wire or a discreet cable tie.
- Ribbon waterfall: one or two wide wired ribbons running from a bow at the top down the tree. Two colours woven together look like the top of a wrapped present.
- Colour: Christmas Tree World suggests burgundy, cream or gold for 2026 bows, while a tartan bow suits a traditional red and green tree.
To make the bow, form one loop, add a second to make a figure of eight, tie the middle tightly and wrap the tails round the top of the tree. Our guide on how to tie a bow takes the knot step by step.
Natural and Scandi topper ideas
- Paper star lantern: Scandinavian in style, large but light, and it folds flat for storage. Light it only with cool-to-touch LEDs and tie it on firmly.
- Twig star: real twigs with burlap ribbon, a few pine cones and berries, on a slim or realistic tree.
- Rattan star or heart: woven wood that sits well with woodland animals, red berries, dried fruit and foliage.
- Pine cones: a single cone on a table-top tree, or a cluster tied with florist’s wire on a full-size one.
- Paper pom-poms or a concertina paper wheel, which reads as a star from across the room.
Dried orange slices and crystal stars that carry the look down the branches are in our Christmas tree decorations range.
Unusual Christmas tree toppers
- Snowflake: glittering acrylic, a frosted finish or metal. Reflective metal and beaded designs catch the light on a white, silver or pastel tree.
- Reindeer silhouette: gold glitter or metal for a woodland or luxe tree, as light as you can find.
- Santa hat: soft and clip-on, with candy canes or bright baubles below. Christmas Tree World warns that it must be light enough not to bend the top branches.
- Poinsettia: one artificial stem wired upright to the central stem. Fresh flowers do not last on a tree.
- Heart: a hanging heart decoration moved to the top.
- A favourite ornament: a novelty piece you already own, which fits the fandom and heirloom trees on Christmas Tree World’s list of 2026 trends.
- Union Jack: a small flag, in a nod to the Victorian households that used one.
The looks behind these, from cherry cola reds to dark academia, are set out in our Christmas decorating trends for 2026.
DIY Christmas tree topper ideas
Pine cone star
You need five large pine cones, thick craft wire, a drill with a small bit, PVA glue and glitter. Brush glue and glitter onto the tips of the cones, bend the wire into a five-pointed star, drill through the base of each cone and wire one to each point. Twist the spare wire into a hook for the tree.
Twig star
Cut a star from cardboard and hot-glue clean twigs along the edges, then across the middle until the card is hidden. Paint it or leave it natural, wind a set of battery fairy lights through it and wire it to the top branch.
Pipe cleaner words
Twist pipe cleaners into a word such as “joy”, a family initial or a candy cane, in the colours of the tree. They weigh almost nothing, so they suit the thinnest tip.
Pom-pom star or heart
Bend thick craft wire into a star or a heart with pliers, thread pom-poms on until they sit tight against each other and leave a tail of wire at the bottom to fix it.
Paper angel
- Roll a semicircle of card into a cone that fits over the top branch and tape the seam.
- Cover the cone with a paper doily, fabric or wrapping paper for the dress.
- Cut wings from gold card, or fold a second doily in half, and glue them to the back.
- Glue a wooden bead on top for the head and bend a loop of gold pipe cleaner into a halo.
How much room your tree leaves for a topper
The topper needs room between the tip of the tree and the ceiling. Measure the tree from the floor to the tip, stand included, subtract it from the ceiling height and compare the gap with the height of the topper you have in mind. The table does the sum for common sizes.
| Tree height | 2.3 m ceiling | 2.4 m ceiling | 2.5 m ceiling | 2.7 m ceiling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6ft (183 cm) | 47 cm | 57 cm | 67 cm | 87 cm |
| 6.5ft (198 cm) | 32 cm | 42 cm | 52 cm | 72 cm |
| 7ft (213 cm) | 17 cm | 27 cm | 37 cm | 57 cm |
| 7.5ft (229 cm) | 1 cm | 11 cm | 21 cm | 41 cm |
| 8ft (244 cm) | Too tall | Too tall | 6 cm | 26 cm |
- Under 15 cm: a bow, a clip-on star or a snowflake that sits against the top branches rather than above them.
- 15 to 30 cm: room for many stars and angels. A hollow base slides over the tip, so the topper rises less than its full height.
- Over 30 cm: room for a tall angel, a large paper star or a ribbon waterfall with big loops.
Our tree toppers page suggests a topper height for each tree size, from 15 to 20 cm on a 4ft tree to 30 to 35 cm on an 8ft one. Interior designer Steph Briggs, co-founder of La Di Da Interiors, adds two checks in Woman & Home: the topper should suit the shape and size of this year’s tree, and the lights should run right to the top so the topper looks part of the tree.
How to attach a Christmas tree topper so it stays straight
- Light the tree first and take the lights to the very tip. Hang everything else, then add the topper last, as Christmas tree decorator Laura Perry of Team Festive advises. Putting it on last also means nothing knocks it off while you work.
- Match the fixing to the topper. A hollow base slides over the top branch, a spiral or spring base grips the tip, a clip holds on, and flat toppers such as bows and paper stars need florist’s wire or a cable tie.
- Stiffen a floppy tip: tie a wooden skewer or a short garden cane alongside the top branch with two cable ties, then fit the topper over both.
- Pack a loose base: wrap the top branch in tissue paper or ribbon until the topper sits snugly.
- Steady a heavy or leaning topper by tying it back to the upper branches with ribbon, a twist tie or florist’s wire.
- Run the cable of a light-up topper down the back of the trunk and tuck the battery box into the branches, within reach of the switch.
- Check it from across the room, where people sit, before you call it finished.
A glass finial is light, but it breaks if the tree is knocked. Keep it for a tree that children and pets cannot reach, and choose a plastic or metal star for the rest.
What to put on top of a Christmas tree instead of a topper
A tree does not need a topper. If a star feels wrong for the room, these finish the top without one:
- Three baubles wired together at the tip.
- A spray of artificial berries, eucalyptus or poinsettia picks.
- Bows of one size spaced down the tree, with none at the top.
- Lights alone: the last few bulbs wound right to the tip, so the top glows.
Baubles and hanging pieces to finish any of these are in our tree decorations range, and our guide on how to decorate a Christmas tree covers the order from lights to topper.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most popular Christmas tree topper?
The star, according to search data cited by Woman & Home, with the angel close behind and the bow in third place. Stars are also lighter than angels, which helps on a thin top branch.
Should you put a star or an angel on top of a Christmas tree?
Either is traditional. The star stands for the Star of Bethlehem that guided the Magi, and the angel for Gabriel. An angel is usually wider and heavier than a star, so it needs a firm, straight top branch.
What can I use instead of a tree topper?
A large wired bow, a ribbon waterfall, a cluster of pine cones or three baubles wired at the tip all finish a tree. You can also leave the top bare and wind the last lights right up to the tip so it glows.
How do you make a DIY angel tree topper?
Roll card into a cone that fits over the top branch and dress it with a paper doily or fabric. Glue on gold card wings, a wooden bead for the head and a pipe cleaner halo, and keep it light so the tip stays upright.
What are the best Christmas tree toppers to buy in the UK?
The one that fits your tree: around 20 to 30 cm tall for a 6ft tree, light enough for the top branch and with a fitting that grips. For a light-up topper, a battery model with a timer saves trailing a lead, and its white should match the tree lights.
What is the first thing to put on a Christmas tree?
The lights, worked from the trunk outwards and right up to the tip. Garland or ribbon comes next, then baubles from largest to smallest, and the topper goes on last.
What is the Christmas tree trend for 2026?
Christmas Tree World’s 2026 list includes oversized velvet bows spread over the whole tree, dark academia and cherry cola colour schemes, black trees, fandom and heirloom trees, and app-controlled lights. A velvet bow or a light-up star on top suits most of them.
How do you stop a tree topper from leaning?
Splint a floppy tip with a wooden skewer and two cable ties, pack a loose base with tissue and tie the topper back to the upper branches with ribbon or wire. If it still leans, it is too heavy for the tip and a lighter topper is the fix.
