Another positive of artificial trees—they can be used year after year and even beyond the holiday season. “You can use the tree for multiple seasons, not just Christmas,” says Michelle Essix, owner and executive designer at home decor company SwayM.E. Vegas. “I had one for Halloween, Easter, and Valentine’s.” We purchased 24 fake Christmas trees and tested them in The Lab for a full day, evaluating ease of setup and storage, appearance, sturdiness, and lighting quality. Our best overall pick, the Puleo International 7.5 Pre-Lit Teton Pine Artificial Christmas Tree has a realistic appearance, pre-strung lights, and can be assembled with just one person. Here are the best artificial Christmas trees, complete with pros, cons, and tested tips. The branches on this option vary in size and shape, giving it a very full appearance that rivals a natural tree. And unlike other artificial trees, the “needles” also felt soft while assembling—no gloves required. Our tester noted that you only need one person and assembly took about 17 minutes, which we love. The base and tree stand were both simple to assemble and felt sturdy enough to handle heavier ornaments and garlands. Disassembling and storing the tree was even easier, only taking about five minutes with no visible damage or bulging on the included box. One downside of this tree is that the lighting does not reach the very bottom of the branches; in addition, all of the lights are white without the choice of variation. That being said, it’s easy to wrap around another string of your favorite colored lights for a different look each holiday season. Plus, it should be easy to locate and fix specific broken bulbs: “When one light is out only a small section is impacted so it would be easy to troubleshoot the missing bulb,” said our tester. Editor’s Note: Due to high demand, this tree is currently out of stock. Until then, we recommend checking out the Puleo International 7.5 Foot Pre-Lit Elegant Series Fraser Fir Artificial Christmas Tree. While we didn’t test it, it’s the same brand we loved in a similar style, size, and price point. Price at time of publish: $225 Assembly for this tree was quick (less than seven minutes) and only required one person. The sections were far lighter in weight than other options, and the branches were easy to pull apart for intuitive and quick fluffing. Disassembly was even easier, with no instructions needed. The tree compresses easily and fits well into its storage box. This tree’s slim appearance is ideal for tight corners and small spaces, but lends it a slightly less realistic appearance. The tree still feels sturdy enough to handle ornaments and tree toppers, so it’s perfect for those looking to get fancy with decorations. Price at time of publish: $104 Regarding both assembly and disassembly, we found it helpful to have another person on hand as the pieces are somewhat heavy. Our testers found that one person should align the sections (there are helpful arrows on the sections) and the other should insert the pieces. Still, we found the instructions to be thorough and helpful, but the heaviness of the tree makes it difficult to assemble and disassemble without help. The size and weight of this pick definitely make it more difficult to assemble, but it also contributes to the tree’s lush, realistic appearance. Balsam Hill models its artificial trees after nature, with True Needle technology for optimal realism and fullness. We tested the 7.5-foot option, but it comes in five other sizes to fit any room or space. Plus, there’s an option to add Twinkly smart lights for an added price, so you can create beautiful light shows in your living room with just your smartphone. Price at time of publish: $1,000 Don’t worry if this is your first time assembling an artificial tree: the instructions in the box were very comprehensive, but our tester didn’t even need to reach for them until getting to the top piece. We tested the 9-foot option, which makes the top sections especially difficult to place, but there are also 6- and 7-foot options for smaller spaces, lower ceilings, or tighter budgets. One of our other favorite features that stood out from the other 12 trees we tested was the sturdiness, with three ways to tighten this tree. The mix of PVC and “feel real” needles add to the realistic appearance of this tree and make the perfect base for a stunning tree topper. Just note that some of the bottom branches can point downwards, so keep heavy ornaments near the top. Price at time of publish: $1,699 The tree includes 550 clear lights that add to the festive vibe, while the metallic finish and frosted look give a beautiful glowing appearance to this tree, so it looks beautiful without a single ornament. Of course, you can add in some extra tinsel or colored lights, but our testers loved this tree’s appearance as-is (even though a few needles may fall off when fluffing). Unfortunately, this wasn’t the easiest tree to assemble, especially when it came to connecting the lights. It took almost 20 minutes with two people, so be sure to set some time aside during decorating. Our tester noted that fluffing to perfection may take a while, but luckily, the branches are super easy to move. They also feel extremely sturdy, so don’t be afraid to break out the heavy ornaments this year! Price at time of publish: $639 Once set up, we loved the frosted look that brings a bit of snow into your home, even if you live in a warmer climate. Another plus of this pick is the different light shapes and sizes included. The 800 bright clear lights are broken up by 45 larger bulbs that look make this tree look gorgeous without any ornaments. If you want to add some extra decoration, you’ll be pleased to know that our tester found the branches extremely sturdy. “It would support heavy ornaments with ease. As I was placing the ornaments, the tree did not sway much or shake,” they shared. Price at time of publish: $999 We thought the assembly was simple, taking just over 12 minutes with two people helping. Our tester did note that the sections are stacked inside each other upon arrival, so be sure to take them apart before stacking. The tree is pre-lit with 400 clear lights and the varied needles, including some made from cashmere, give it a realistic look. The branches fluffed easily to hide any bare spots for a full effect. The lightweight tree came apart and stored extremely easily, which adds to this pick’s value. It comes at a competitive price, to begin with, and the easy storage ensures you can reuse this option year after year. Price at time of publish: $275 Set-up took less than 13 minutes thanks to the helpful instructions. It definitely takes a long time to perfect this tree by pushing down and fluffing all of the branches for a full appearance. If you don’t have a full hour to spare, expect a bit of the trunk to show, but with lights and decor, you won’t even notice. This tree comes unlit, so you have free range to decorate this pick any way you wish. Disassembly took less than five minutes, so storing this tree to prepare for next year is a breeze. While it’s not extremely realistic looking, it comes at a budget-friendly price and the stable tree ensures you can use it again and again. Price at time of publish: $130 One of the most noticeable aspects of the tree is how simple it was to assemble and disassemble—we were able to put it together in under 10 minutes and store the tree in its original box in under three minutes, earning it a five out of five on our scale. The 250 lights come pre-strung and include a foot pedal to easily turn them on and off. There are eight different light functions to choose from to create different looks with just one tree. The lightweight tree, which was a foot shorter than most of the trees we tested, would also be great for entryways and smaller rooms. The pencil shape adds a bit more interest than the classic Christmas tree shape, and this pick feels sturdy enough to support intricate decorations. Editor’s Note: Due to high demand, this tree is currently out of stock. Until then, we recommend checking out the National Tree Company Artificial Slim Christmas Tree, another budget-friendly pick that’s slim enough for small spaces. Price at time of publish: $139 To test the ease of assembly and disassembly, we timed how long it took to set up and store each tree and noted everything from the quality of the instructions to how heavy the pieces felt. When considering appearance, we judged the quality of the needles, lights, branches, and trunk to determine if the tree had a lifelike quality. Finally, we used weighted ornaments to determine how strong the branches felt and whether the tree as a whole felt stable enough to hold the ornaments. We then selected our top eight trees, based on our own testing results and scores.
What to Look for in an Artificial Christmas Tree
Size
On average, Christmas trees are about 7.5-feet tall. Though many will have a traditional, full look, there are also slim options out there if you’re working with limited floor space. “The standard width is about 48 inches to 54”,” says lifelike trees buyer at English Gardens Dean Darin.
Ease of Assembly
Christmas trees typically come in three sections that lock into each other, making them easy to assemble. When choosing a tree, however, check the weight of the tree—if it’s on the heavier side, it may require at least two people and more time to put together. Lighting can also be a tricky part of the assembly. While some options have to be plugged into an outlet, many require you to connect multiple plugs throughout the tree, a process that may lengthen assembly time. You also need to factor in the time you’ll spend making the branches look full and minimizing gaps. In our testing, we found this to be time-consuming. However, some trees made the process easier and more comfortable than others. In addition, some trees have stiff branches and needles that can scratch, so we recommend wearing long sleeves and a pair of gardening gloves during setup.
Lighting
Some trees will offer a simple warm white light with one setting, while others include both white and multicolor lighting with an assortment of settings. SwayM.E. Vegas’ Michelle Essix’s philosophy is the more lights, the better. “Buying a pre-lit tree that has both colored lights and white lights allows for more versatility in design. Current trees are so advanced that when adding each piece on, it automatically connects the lights so that you are not searching for plugs. It really makes the tree sparkle,” she says.
Extra Features
Some trees may have additional features that suit your style. For example, if a tree has lighting, it may also include an on/off foot pedal that makes it easy to control. Other trees may be pre-decorated with ornaments or faux snow for a winter look. All of these upgrades can add to the cost of the tree, so it may not be worth it to you to add them.
Why Trust The Spruce?
This article was written by Julia Fields a lifestyle writer for The Spruce covering all things surrounding toys, gifts, and the holidays since October 2021. Before that, she covered similar topics including toy reviews, product round-ups, expert-focused articles, and more. Before testing, we searched through hundreds of artificial Christmas tree options, looking at customer satisfaction, price, and features to determine which trees we would choose to put to the test. FYI: Darin also shares that flocking can lead to yellowing when placed in direct sunlight, so be sure to pick a shady spot for your flocked tree. Also, flocking can be quite messy!
After you disassemble the tree, you’ll want to press the branches together in each section so they become compact enough to fit back into the box it came in. To make it easier, you can purchase ribbons or ropes to hold the branches in place. Some trees may come with a storage bag, but testers found that the loose structure of a bag can take up a bit more space versus when the tree is stored in a box.
Another option is to donate your former tree to local charities, hospitals, or thrift stores. Expert advice was provided by the owner and executive designer at home decor company SwayM.E. Vegas Michelle Essix and lifelike trees buyer at English Gardens Dean Darin.
