Small Christmas trees and table top trees
The Christmas Centre
2ft green fibre optic Christmas tree with colour-changing lights
Prices checked on Amazon UK on 3 October 2026; they may have changed since. The price ranges and medians quoted in the text of this page come from the check of 29 September 2026. Ratings and review counts are those of Amazon shoppers. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
Small and mini Christmas trees by size
A small tree is chosen by the surface it stands on rather than by the room, and the base width is the figure to check. A 30cm deep windowsill takes a twig tree (about 10cm wide) or a 2ft fibre optic tree (25cm), but not a 3ft tree, which is 45cm or more across. Prices run from about £10 to £50 in this collection, and half of the trees cost between £13 and £29.
| Size | Base width | What you find |
|---|---|---|
| 2ft (60cm) | 10 to 50cm | Twig trees, table top pines, fibre optic trees |
| 3ft (90cm) | 45 to 60cm | Pre-lit, frosted and fibre optic trees |
| 4ft (120cm) | 58 to 60cm | Pre-lit and fibre optic trees |
If the problem is floor space rather than shelf space, a 6ft slim tree is only 45 to 65cm across: see the slim Christmas trees.
Types of small Christmas tree
Twig and birch trees
Twig trees are bare white or birch-effect branches about 60cm high with 24 or so warm white LEDs on a base roughly 10cm wide. They run on 3 AA batteries, which the listings that say so do not include, and one has a timer set to 6 hours on and 18 off. The branches bend, but they hold only light ornaments.
Table top and 3ft pines
These are green or frosted pine-style trees with about 70 to 355 tips, sold unlit or pre-lit with warm white or multi-colour LEDs. Some stand in a cement base, which adds weight so a top-heavy tree does not tip off a table. A 20in battery pine needs 5 to 10 minutes of shaping, according to its listing, and the pre-lit Christmas trees list light counts for the larger sizes.
Fibre optic minis
Fibre optic trees send light along thin strands from a source in the base, so the tips glow and change colour on their own. The 3ft and 4ft models in the listings run from the mains through a transformer or adaptor, and some have a star topper fitted. The strands are part of the tree, so there are few places to hang baubles.
Miniature sets
Sets of 3, 5 or 9 miniature trees, in sisal, bottle brush or tiny pine styles, are made for shelves, mantelpieces and village scenes. One set comes with a 1.5m string of lights.
Choosing small Christmas trees
Battery or mains
A battery tree can go anywhere, while a mains or adaptor tree needs a socket in reach. Fibre optic trees need the mains, and twig trees and 20in pines run on batteries, so check that batteries are included before you order.
Stability and placement
Small trees tip easily. Choose a heavier base (the trees with a cement base weigh 1.3 to 2kg), stand the tree back from the edge of the table, and keep it away from radiators and candles. Pets and small children can pull a light tree over.
Decorating and timing
Use mini ornaments and ribbon, since twig branches take only light pieces. Two or three colours look tidier than six, because there are few branches to share them. A small tree can go up whenever you like, and the usual UK timing is in when to put up a Christmas tree.
Small real trees
Every tree here is artificial. Small real trees come from garden centres, cut or potted, and none are listed here. For a wider choice of sizes, see the main Christmas trees range and the guide to the best artificial Christmas trees in the UK.
Frequently asked questions: Small & Table Top Christmas Trees
What type of Christmas tree is best for small spaces?
Narrow trees save the most floor: a slim 6ft tree is 45 to 65cm across and a 5ft pop-up tree 30 to 40cm. If floor space is the problem, a table top tree of 2ft to 3ft frees it completely. Choose by the space you measured, then by power: a battery tree needs no socket, a mains one does.
What size is a mini Christmas tree?
In this collection mini trees are mostly 2ft (60cm) or less, such as 20in (50cm) pre-lit pines and 60cm twig trees, though 3ft (90cm) and 4ft (120cm) trees are also sold as small. The smallest are sets of 3, 5 or 9 miniature trees for shelves and mantelpieces.
What is a fibre optic Christmas tree?
Light travels along thin strands from a source in the base, so the tips glow and change colour on their own. The 3ft and 4ft models in the listings run from the mains through a transformer or adaptor, and some have a star topper fitted. The strands are part of the tree, so there are few places for baubles.
Do small Christmas trees with lights need batteries?
Many do. Twig trees and 20in pre-lit pines run on batteries, often 3 AA, and several listings say the batteries are not included. Some have a timer, such as 6 hours on and 18 off. Fibre optic trees plug into the mains instead.
What is the best miniature Christmas tree?
It depends on where it goes. For a desk or bedside table, a 2ft twig tree with 24 warm white LEDs on batteries is the simplest. For a sideboard, a 3ft pre-lit pine with a 45 to 60cm base looks like a small full tree. For a shelf display, a set of miniature trees takes less room than either.
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