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Velvet bows for christmas tree decorating have become the defining look of the season — soft loops and long tails draped through the branches. You can buy them ready-made in sets, or tie your own from a roll of velvet ribbon for a fraction of the price; this guide covers both tracks. We compared the sets people are actually buying this season, and burgundy is the hero throughout: the strongest seller in our research is burgundy, ahead of classic red. Red is here too, as the volume sibling, but the wine shade leads.
Last updated: 3 November 2026
In this guide — 10 sections
- Short Answer
- Quick Comparison
- The 9 Best Velvet Bow Sets (Burgundy First)
- How Many Bows Does a Tree Need?
- Make Your Own: The DIY Velvet Bow Track
- The Topper Bow: Sizes, Colours and Styles
- Styling Velvet Bows With the Burgundy Palette
- Velvet Bows Beyond the Tree: Wreaths, Garland, Stairs and Gifts
- Frequently Asked Questions
- The Bottom Line
Short Answer
The best velvet bows for a Christmas tree are the 12Pcs Burgundy Velvet Ribbon Bows — the most popular set we found, in the 5×10 inch size that suits most trees. Prefer to make your own? The 10 Yards Burgundy Velvet Ribbon roll ties roughly 10–12 bows, so three rolls cover a full 6 ft tree for less than one ready-made set. Decide how many bows your tree needs first (table below), then pick your track.
Top 3 Quick Picks
- Best Overall: 12Pcs Burgundy Ribbon Bows — the set the season is buying, in the size most trees need (Pick 1) Check price
- Best Budget: 18 Pcs Burgundy Bows — the cheapest way into the burgundy look (Pick 4) Check price
- Best Seller: Burgundy Ribbon Roll — the second-strongest seller here, for tying your own (Pick 2) Check price
How we chose these picks
We compared the velvet bow sets, ribbon and topper bows sold on Amazon by size, count, colour and the most common buyer complaints. We did not physically test these products: notes come from listings, photos and buyer reviews.
Quick Comparison
| Pick | Best for | Check Price |
|---|---|---|
| 12Pcs Burgundy Ribbon Bows | 12 pcs, 5×10″ · most trees | Check Price |
| Burgundy Ribbon Roll, 1in | 10 yards · DIY bows | Check Price |
| 12Pcs Red Ribbon Bows | 12 pcs, 5×10″ · classic red | Check Price |
| 18 Pcs Burgundy Bows | 18 pcs · budget burgundy | Check Price |
| 24 Pcs Red Velvet Bows | 24 pcs, 7×6″ · value red | Check Price |
| 6FT Red Topper Bow | 6 ft · tree topper | Check Price |
| 6 Ft Giant Bow | 6 ft · giant centrepiece | Check Price |
| COVFEVER 24 Burgundy Bows | 24 pcs, 5.1×10.2″ · value burgundy | Check Price |
| Milimot 24 Burgundy Bows | 24 pcs, 5×7″ · small trees | Check Price |
The 9 Best Velvet Bow Sets (Burgundy First)
1. Best Overall — 12Pcs Burgundy Velvet Ribbon Bows, 5×10″
This is the set the season is buying: the strongest seller in our bow research, with a deep, consistently strong review record. The twelve bows are cut from velvet ribbon in a 5×10 inch format — substantial loops with trailing tails.
Burgundy is the point. Against green branches and warm lights, the wine shade looks richer than bright red and pairs with gold, cream and champagne ornaments. At roughly a dollar a bow, one set accents a small tree; a full 6 ft tree wants two to three sets (see the counts section).
Best for: Most trees, in the season’s burgundy shade · Skip if: You want the lowest per-bow cost
Pros
- The strongest seller in our bow research
- Deep, consistently strong review record
- Burgundy shade pairs with gold, cream and champagne
Cons
- One set only accents a small tree — a 6 ft tree wants two to three sets
- About a dollar a bow — not the cheapest route in
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2. Best for DIY — Burgundy Velvet Ribbon Roll, 10 Yards
The make-your-own track starts here: ten yards of burgundy velvet ribbon, 1 inch wide, at a budget price — and it is the second-strongest seller in this guide, so plenty of decorators are tying their own. One roll makes roughly 10–12 standard tree bows (math in the DIY section), putting the ribbon cost of a bow well under a dollar.
The 1-inch width suits small-to-medium bows and long woven tails; for big, puffy loops, the DIY section explains when to step up to 2-inch wired ribbon. Same burgundy as pick 1, so ready-made and homemade bows can mix on one tree.
Best for: Making your own bows in any size · Skip if: You have no time to tie them
Pros
- Cheapest route in: a finished bow costs well under a dollar
- One 10-yard roll makes roughly 10–12 bows
- You control the bow size and tail length
Cons
- 1-inch width suits small-to-medium bows, not big puffy loops
- You tie them yourself — allow the DIY time
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3. Best Red Set — 12Pcs Red Velvet Ribbon Bows, 5×10″
The hero set’s twin in classic red: same 12-piece format, same 5×10 inch ribbon bows, the same price and the same strong review record, and a steady seller. Red velvet bows are the traditional version of the look — brighter against the branches, and the natural partner for green-and-gold decorating.
Choose red if your tree already runs classic, or mix one red set with one burgundy set for a two-tone gradient. Everything said about sizing for pick 1 applies here.
Best for: Classic red-and-gold trees · Skip if: You want the burgundy jewel tone
Pros
- Same proven format and review record as the hero set
- Classic red for traditional trees
- Mixes with a burgundy set for a two-tone gradient
Cons
- Red only — no burgundy jewel tone
- Same per-bow cost as pick 1
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4. Best Budget Burgundy — 18 Pcs Burgundy Velvet Bows
Eighteen burgundy bows at about fifty cents a bow make this the cheapest way into the burgundy look, and it sells steadily. Its reviews are a notch below the ribbon sets above, and the bows are a simpler style, but the colour is right and the count generous.
It suits a first bow tree, a second tree, or topping up a set where thinner spots need filling. For small and tabletop trees, eighteen bows may be the whole job in one bag.
Best for: A first bow tree or topping up thin spots · Skip if: You want the fuller ribbon-bow style
Pros
- About fifty cents a bow — the cheapest burgundy entry
- 18 bows can cover a small or tabletop tree alone
- Good top-up set for filling thin spots
Cons
- Reviews a notch below the ribbon sets
- Best as a starter or top-up set rather than the main event
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5. Best Value Red — 24 Pcs Red Velvet Christmas Bows, 7×6″
Twenty-four red velvet bows at the lowest per-bow cost in this guide, with a steady seller’s record behind them. The 7×6 inch size is a medium bow: big enough for a full tree, small enough to also dress a wreath or garland.
This is the set for covering a lot of tree — or a tree plus a staircase garland — on one budget. The trade-off against pick 3 is finish: simpler bows, chosen for coverage rather than close-up detail.
Best for: Covering a lot of tree, or a tree plus garland · Skip if: You want close-up detail
Pros
- Lowest per-bow cost in this guide
- 24 bows cover a tree plus a staircase garland
- A steady seller
Cons
- Simpler finish than the red set in pick 3
- Red only — no burgundy option at this price
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6. Best Topper Bow — 6FT Extra Large Red Velvet Topper Bow
A topper bow replaces the star or angel with one oversized bow and long streamers cascading down the tree’s crown. This 6 ft version is the strongest-selling topper in our research. The scale is the statement: ribbons trailing from the top branch through the tree’s upper third.
Its review record is still short, so treat it as promising rather than proven. The topper section below covers sizing before you commit.
Best for: Replacing the star with one statement piece · Skip if: You want a long track record
Pros
- Strongest-selling topper bow in our research
- Replaces the star or angel with one statement piece
- Long streamers cascade down the crown
Cons
- Short review record — promising rather than proven
- The rest of the tree still needs its own dressing
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7. Best Giant Bow — 6 Ft Giant Bow for Christmas Tree
The giant-bow look — one huge bow as the tree’s centrepiece — is the most photographed version of the trend, and this 6 ft bow is its most-reviewed route in. Its reviews run softer than the topper above, common with oversized pieces (shipping creases need steaming out), but its review depth is the best of the big bows.
Choose it when the bow IS the decoration: a minimalist tree, a shop window, a front-door statement. On a fully ornamented tree, pick 6‘s streamer style sits better.
Best for: A minimalist tree, shop window or front door · Skip if: Your tree is fully ornamented
Pros
- The most-reviewed giant bow route in
- The most photographed version of the trend
- Works as the whole centrepiece on a minimalist tree
Cons
- Softest reviews in this guide
- Can overpower a fully ornamented tree
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8. Best Rated Burgundy — COVFEVER 24 Pack Burgundy Velvet Bows
The strongest early reviews in this guide belong to a burgundy pack: twenty-four bows at the hero size of 5.1×10.2 inches, at a lower price per bow than pick 1, and selling well. On paper it beats pick 1 on count and price per bow.
The honest caveat is the review record: it is still thin next to the hero set’s, so the strong early reviews are evidence, not a settled verdict. For the burgundy look at full size across a whole tree in one purchase, this is the value play; pick 1 remains the safer buy.
Best for: Full-size burgundy bows across a whole tree in one buy · Skip if: You have a tabletop tree
Pros
- Strongest early reviews in this guide
- 24 bows at hero size for less per bow than pick 1
- True burgundy jewel tone
Cons
- Thin review record — early evidence, not a settled verdict
- Hero size is too big for tabletop trees
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9. Best Small Burgundy — Milimot 24 Pcs Burgundy Velvet Bows, 5×7″
Not every tree wants a 10-inch bow. Milimot’s twenty-four burgundy bows come in a smaller 5×7 inch format — the right proportion for slim, tabletop and 4–5 ft trees, and for wreaths and garlands where the hero size would overwhelm. Early reviews are strong and it sells steadily.
Like pick 8, the review record is still short, so buy it for size and shade rather than a long track record. For apartment-sized trees, this and pick 4 are the burgundy sets scaled to your space.
Best for: Slim, tabletop and 4–5 ft trees, wreaths and garlands · Skip if: You want a statement on a big tree
Pros
- Small 5×7 format suits slim and tabletop trees
- Right proportion for wreaths and garlands too
- 24 bows — plenty to finish a small tree
Cons
- Short review record so far — buy for size and shade
- Small format will not make a statement on a big tree
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How Many Bows Does a Tree Need?
Under-buying is the classic mistake: twelve bows vanish into a full 6 ft tree. The anchor number from decorator guides is 25–40 bows for a full look on a 6 ft tree, 15–20 for a lighter touch. Scale from there:
| Your Tree | Light Look | Full Look |
|---|---|---|
| Tabletop / 4 ft | 8–12 | 12–18 |
| 5 ft | 12–15 | 18–25 |
| 6 ft | 15–20 | 25–40 |
| 7.5 ft | 25–30 | 40–55 |
| 9 ft | 30–40 | 55–70 |
Three adjustments. Bow size trades against count: 10-inch bows (picks 1, 3, 8) cover more branch per bow, so use the lower end of each range with large bows. A tree against a wall only needs its visible front dressed — roughly two-thirds of the full count. And spacing beats clustering: work in a loose spiral from top to bottom rather than filling one side first.
Decorating a small tree in a tight space? Our companion guide to small Christmas tree ornaments in burgundy velvet covers counts and proportions for tabletop and pencil trees, where picks 4 and 9 are the right scale. Attachment is simple either way: most ready-made bows carry twist ties or loops — wrap them around a branch tip, fluff the loops, and let the tails hang.
Make Your Own: The DIY Velvet Bow Track
Homemade bows cost a third of ready-made ones and let you size each bow to its branch. The ribbon decides everything, and search data is blunt about what buyers look for: wired edge, double-sided velvet, and enough body to hold a loop. Wired edges are the non-negotiable — they let you shape loops that stay shaped. Width sets the bow’s presence: 1-inch ribbon (like pick 2‘s roll) makes neat small-to-medium bows and long streamers; 2-inch makes the full, puffy loops of the hero sets. Double-sided matters because tails twist as they hang, and a shiny satin back cheapens the look.
The ribbon math: 10 yards is 360 inches. A standard tree bow takes about 30–36 inches — two loops, two tails and the centre wrap — so one 10-yard roll makes roughly 10–12 bows. A full 6 ft tree at 25–40 bows needs three rolls; a light look needs two. Three rolls cost less than the two to three ready-made sets a full tree needs — and you keep the leftovers for wreaths and gifts.
The method, briefly:
- Cut 30–36 inches of ribbon. Form two loops like a shoelace bow, leaving two tails of uneven length.
- Pinch the centre hard and wrap it three times with thin floral wire or a twist tie; pull tight.
- Fluff the loops open, cut the tails into a soft V, and steam out any fold lines.
- Attach by twisting the same wire around a branch tip, tails hanging downward.
- For a topper-scale bow, double the ribbon length, make four loops, and secure the centre with a zip tie hidden under a ribbon wrap.
The Topper Bow: Sizes, Colours and Styles
A topper bow is sized by spread and streamer length, not by the bow alone. As a proportion rule, the bow’s spread should be about 16 inches on a 7.5 ft tree, scaling down for smaller trees; streamers trail one to two feet down through the crown. Oversized 6 ft pieces (picks 6 and 7) flip that ratio — the cascade becomes the decoration, and the tree underneath can stay simple.
Colours: burgundy and classic red carry the look; gold suits metallic trees, white reads wintery against dark green, pink is the soft alternative. Styles: the classic looped bow with twin streamers is the safe topper; the giant single bow is the statement; layered double bows give the fullest crown. Whichever style, wire it to the top branch rather than balancing it.
Styling Velvet Bows With the Burgundy Palette
Bows work hardest as one voice in a repeated palette: burgundy at the top of the tree (bows), through the middle (ornaments), and at the base (skirt or collar) makes a tree look designed rather than decorated by accumulation. Keep the metallic to one family — gold or champagne — and warm white lights to keep the wine shade glowing.
Match the bows with the sets compared in our guide to burgundy velvet Christmas ornaments — the same burgundy velvet, carried branch to branch. Bows also travel off the tree: wired along a garland, tied to wreaths and chair backs, they repeat the motif through the room for the price of one extra set. Leftover DIY ribbon ties the gifts.
Styling a full heritage look around the tree? Our Ralph Lauren-inspired Christmas decor guide pairs these bows with burgundy, plaid and gold.
Styling rules first, shopping second: if you want the size rule, placement and colour-matching behind these picks, read our velvet bows Christmas trend guide, then come back here to buy.
Velvet Bows Beyond the Tree: Wreaths, Garland, Stairs and Gifts
A set of velvet bows rarely ends at the tree, and ordering one size up in count is the cheapest decorating trick in this guide. On a wreath, one bow at the top or bottom centre is the classic placement — use the larger bows from the set, wired straight onto the frame. Along a garland on the mantel or staircase, space smaller bows at even intervals where the garland swags lowest; the bows mark the rhythm of the drape and hide the ties underneath.
On stair spindles and chair backs, two or three bows carry the tree’s colour into the rest of the room without buying a single new decoration. And on gifts, a real velvet bow lifts plain paper into the jewel-tone scheme — burgundy on kraft or cream paper is the combination this palette does best. One set, four jobs: when you are choosing between the 12-pack and the 24-pack, the beyond-the-tree uses are why the bigger set usually wins. For the styling rules behind the look — bow sizes against tree sizes, spacing, and the colours that sit well with burgundy — the velvet bows trend guide is the companion read.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to make velvet bows for a Christmas tree?
Cut 30–36 inches of wired velvet ribbon, form two loops with two hanging tails, pinch the centre and wrap it tightly with floral wire, then fluff the loops open. Attach to a branch tip with the same wire. One 10-yard roll makes about 10–12 bows; the full step-by-step is in the DIY section above.
How to put velvet ribbon on a tree?
Work in loose vertical cascades: anchor the ribbon at the top, let it billow out over a branch, tuck it in deep a foot lower, and repeat down the tree — wired ribbon holds the billows. Or cut ribbon into streamer lengths and tie them at branch tips. Keep the waves uneven; symmetry looks stiff.
Are bows on Christmas trees in style?
Yes — velvet bows are one of the most searched tree looks of the season. Pinterest reports around 32,000 searches for christmas tree bows, and the bow has largely replaced the traditional topper and tinsel on styled trees. Burgundy velvet is the version with the longest life: it reads classic, not novelty, so the same bows work next year.
What is the best ribbon to use for Christmas bows?
Velvet ribbon with a wired edge, double-sided so the tails look finished from every angle. Choose 2-inch widths for full, puffy loops and 1-inch for smaller bows and streamers. Avoid unwired ribbon for tree bows — the loops collapse within days and cannot be re-fluffed.
How many bows can 10 yards of ribbon make?
About 10–12 standard tree bows. A bow uses roughly 30–36 inches of ribbon (two loops, two tails, centre wrap), and 10 yards is 360 inches. Larger topper-style bows use 5–6 feet each, so expect two or three per roll instead.
How do I make a DIY giant bow for my Christmas tree?
Scale the standard method up: cut 5–6 feet of wide (2-inch or wider) wired velvet ribbon, form four loops instead of two, leave tails of a foot or more, and secure the centre with a zip tie hidden under a ribbon wrap. Wire it firmly to the top branch so the weight sits on the tree.
Where can I find velvet Christmas tree bows?
Amazon carries the widest range of ready-made sets — the nine in this guide are the strongest sellers we found — and craft stores stock velvet ribbon by the roll for tying your own. For burgundy specifically, online sets beat in-store shelves, where red dominates.
When do you put bows on a Christmas tree?
Bows go on after the lights and garland but before the ornaments. That order lets you space the bows evenly over the whole tree while the branches are still easy to reach, and the ornaments then fill the gaps between them. If you are using a topper bow, it goes on last of all, once everything below it is placed.
The Bottom Line
Burgundy first, ready-made or homemade. For most trees, buy two sets of the 12Pcs Burgundy Velvet Ribbon Bows (pick 1) and let the 5×10 inch size do the work; for the craft route, three rolls of the burgundy ribbon (pick 2) cover a full 6 ft tree for less than the ready-made route. Add a topper bow if the crown needs a finish — and count your bows before you buy, because running short mid-tree is the only real mistake here.
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