Never knew what a hall tree was until I started shopping for a replacement for our lame coat rack. This one fit the bill perfectly for the dimensions of our entryway which had a depth of 16" and length of 36". Love the fact that it has a top shelf and 2 rows of hooks so you can put scarf, jacket, hat and purse. Bench is sturdy and posts are metal so you can use magnetic hooks along the outside for things like umbrellas, etc.