Wreath Sizes: What Fits Your Door, and What Ribbon It Needs

Getting the proportions right before you buy anything

A wreath that's slightly too small looks like a mistake; one that's slightly too large looks deliberate and generous. Here's how to choose, and what each size needs.

Matching the wreath to the door

The usual guidance is that a wreath should cover roughly half to two-thirds of the door's width. On a standard 36 inch front door that means a wreath of 18 to 24 inches — and 24 inches is the size most people wish they'd bought after hanging a 16.

• 12–14 inches — interior doors, kitchen cabinets, windows.
• 18 inches — the common shop size. Fine on a narrow door, modest on a standard one.
• 22–24 inches — the sweet spot for a standard front door.
• 30 inches and up — double doors, large porches, and anything viewed from the street.

Measure the wreath across its widest point including the greenery, not the bare form — a 20 inch form with full picks can finish at 26 inches.

Matching the ribbon to the wreath

Ribbon width should scale with the wreath, or the bow either disappears or overwhelms. As a guide: 1.5 inch ribbon for wreaths under 16 inches, 2.5 inch for 18 to 22 inch wreaths, and 4 inch for anything 24 inches and larger.

A classic six-loop bow with five-inch loops takes about three yards of 2.5 inch ribbon. A larger eight-loop bow for a big wreath needs closer to four and a half.

Wreath forms

Grapevine gives a rustic look and holds picks well without covering. Foam or straw forms need full covering but take pins easily. Wire frames are for fresh greenery and mesh. Metal rings suit modern minimal designs where the ring itself is part of the look.

Hanging it

An over-the-door hanger is the simplest and marks nothing, though it can prevent a door closing flush — check the clearance before committing. Command hooks work on glass and painted surfaces. For an outward-opening door, a magnetic hanger avoids the problem entirely.

Questions we're often asked