diff --git a/doc/NERDTree.txt b/doc/NERDTree.txt
index 55c25cd1..a2a7a469 100644
--- a/doc/NERDTree.txt
+++ b/doc/NERDTree.txt
@@ -1128,7 +1128,7 @@ setting is used.
 
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                 *NERDTreeWinPos*
-Values: "left" or "right"
+Values: "left", "right", "top" or "bottom"
 Default: "left".
 
 This setting is used to determine where NERDTree window is placed on the
@@ -1138,6 +1138,13 @@ This setting makes it possible to use two different explorer plugins
 simultaneously. For example, you could have the taglist plugin on the left of
 the window and the NERDTree on the right.
 
+When setting this variable to "top" or "bottom" make sure to also change the
+|NERDTreeWinSize| to a more reasonable size.
+
+For example:
+>
+    let g:NERDTreeWinSize = 15
+<
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                *NERDTreeWinSize*
 Values: a positive integer.
diff --git a/lib/nerdtree/creator.vim b/lib/nerdtree/creator.vim
index b9d45dc9..4dd7a310 100644
--- a/lib/nerdtree/creator.vim
+++ b/lib/nerdtree/creator.vim
@@ -182,16 +182,17 @@ endfunction
 " Initialize the NERDTree window.  Open the window, size it properly, set all
 " local options, etc.
 function! s:Creator._createTreeWin()
-    let l:splitLocation = g:NERDTreeWinPos ==# 'left' ? 'topleft ' : 'botright '
+    let l:splitLocation = g:NERDTreeWinPos ==# 'left' || g:NERDTreeWinPos ==# 'top' ? 'topleft ' : 'botright '
+    let l:splitDirection = g:NERDTreeWinPos ==# 'left' || g:NERDTreeWinPos ==# 'right' ? 'vertical' : ''
     let l:splitSize = g:NERDTreeWinSize
 
     if !g:NERDTree.ExistsForTab()
         let t:NERDTreeBufName = self._nextBufferName()
-        silent! execute l:splitLocation . 'vertical ' . l:splitSize . ' new'
+        silent! execute l:splitLocation . l:splitDirection . ' ' . l:splitSize . ' new'
         silent! execute 'edit ' . t:NERDTreeBufName
-        silent! execute 'vertical resize '. l:splitSize
+        silent! execute l:splitDirection . ' resize '. l:splitSize
     else
-        silent! execute l:splitLocation . 'vertical ' . l:splitSize . ' split'
+        silent! execute l:splitLocation . l:splitDirection . ' ' . l:splitSize . ' split'
         silent! execute 'buffer ' . t:NERDTreeBufName
     endif