Artificial Christmas tree quick picks
Pre-lit artificial Christmas tree: Home Accents Holiday Jackson Noble Fir LED Pre-Lit Artificial Christmas Tree
Realistic artificial Christmas tree: Balsam Hill BH Balsam Fir Artificial Christmas Tree
Flocked artificial Christmas tree: Best Choice Products Snow Flocked Artificial Pine Christmas Tree
All-white artificial Christmas tree: The Holiday Aisle Winchester White Pine Tree With Clear Lights
Before you know it, it’ll be time to take that artificial Christmas tree out of hibernation or invest in a brand-new one so you and your family have a gorgeous centerpiece worth gathering around during the holiday season.
While decorating your Christmas tree — whether it’s real or fake — is one of the most exciting ways to usher in some holiday cheer, it’s worth considering a few things before you buy one. “When it comes to choosing a tree, the best type of Christmas tree is one that resonates with your personality and decorating style,” says Josephine Kim, director of merchandising of trees at Balsam Hill. “It could be a replica of a tree that you grew up with, something that’s on-trend or a tried-and-true classic.”
Other elements worth considering are realism, ease of setup, lighting options and height. “These factors will determine the quality and convenience of your tree that you can enjoy for many years,” Kim says.
We rounded up the best artificial Christmas trees in every shape and size, along with expert-backed tips for selecting the best option for your unique space and aesthetic.
Artificial Christmas trees with lights
A bestseller at The Home Depot, this Jackson Noble Fir look-alike comes in three sizes (7.5, 9 and 12 feet tall) and both full and slim shapes, depending on how much space you have. It's chock-full of lights (more than 1,200 lights alone for the 7.5-footer!). The tree comes in three pieces that easily attach in minutes, and it comes with a remote and an on/off foot pedal that can control the eight light settings, which include all-white and color options.
Available in 7.5- and 9-foot heights, this Grandin Road beauty is slim in size — it ranges from 43 to 52 inches in diameter — making it the perfect tree for a tight space. We love that it’s swathed in thousands (literally!) of clear lights too.
Even at its most grand 9-foot option, this stunning plug-in tree will only run you a little over $200. Alternate between 11 different light settings for a customized holiday look and enjoy its five preset colors. The included metal base gives you peace of mind around rambunctious kids (we all know how they get during the holidays), and it comes in a whopping six sizes to fit into any space.
If you’re looking for a bargain, this 4-foot tree comes pre-lit with white lights and a stand. Setup takes just minutes — all you need are a ton of gorgeous ornaments, and Target’s got lots of those.
This pre-lit pine replica is available in six heights and boasts thick, natural-looking branches flocked with 70 pine cones. Even when a bulb burns out, the rest of the pre-lit bulbs stay lit, and it comes in three sections with a metal stand to make setup a breeze.
Not quite a super-slim tree (those typically come in around 30 to 40 inches in diameter) but also not a full-bodied tree (which hovers around 60-plus inches), this Jersey Fraser fir artificial clone is juuuust right when it comes to width. Available in three heights, the pre-strung tree has an abundance of branch tips, and we can attest that it’s super easy to put together IRL. Perfect for small spaces that can handle the height but not a huge footprint, this tree is your solution.
Not all artificial trees are created equally, and we can attest that this one from The Holiday Aisle stands above the crowd…literally! At 10 feet tall, the lifelike green fir boasts more than 3,800 branch tips, resulting in a super-lush and authentic appearance in real life. The Dunhill is bedecked in red berries, pine cones and cashmere flocking for a life-like appearance and festive vibe. We especially appreciate that its branches feature hinges pre-attached to center poles for a smooth setup.
Most realistic artificial Christmas trees
This gorgeous option from Balsam Hill is an incredibly realistic standout because it’s modeled after real firs from Maine, with “true needles” that mimic the color and texture of real evergreen trees. Pre-lit with either clear or clear and multicolored lights (we love options!), the Valley Fir comes in 6.5- and 7.5-foot sizes, both of which are well worth the purchase. We had the chance to see one in real life, and trust us when we say she’s a beaut.
If you’re looking for a big ol’ tree for your family to gather around this year, this is it. From Grandin Road’s holiday collection, the Woodside is a classic evergreen option, chock-full of thousands of branch tips (4,868 for the 7.5-footer and 8,248 for the 9-footer!), resulting in a tree that is both extra large and super realistic in appearance. We tested it out IRL and can confirm the quick-connect pole system makes setup a breeze and that it’s incredibly dense and lush — the perfect main tree for any home with the space to accommodate its grander footprint.
Full and gorgeous, this artificial spruce will have your guests fooled, thinking it’s actually the real thing. Our reviewer who tried it said that, once fluffed, the tree was “magical” and that “it’s nearly impossible to tell that it’s faux!”
Balsam Hill’s artificial trees are leaders when it comes to ultrarealistic artificial options. In addition to their aforementioned “true needles,” the trees also have upward-sloping branches and a teardrop shape that will have everyone asking, “Is that a real Christmas tree? Or is it fake?”
All of Frontgate’s pre-lit trees are impressively realistic, this noble fir included. Plump and dense, the tree comes in three sizes, each one bursting with branch tips and warm white LED lights that last for 10,000 hours. Including a remote and a steel-coated tree stand, the tree comes in multiple sections, each one labeled for easy assembly.
White flocked artificial Christmas trees
Available in four heights (4.5, 6, 7.5 and 9 feet), this popular tree is perfectly peppered with faux snow and sits as a perennial favorite due to its full appearance and simple assembly. Just attach the three pieces, fluff the branches and you’re good to go. We have our eye on the 6-footer mainly because of its under-$100 price tag while on sale. Now that’s a smokin’ deal, folks.
The Home Depot is a holiday HQ for most people, and this is the flocked tree the brand’s loyal shoppers are flocking to — pun intended! This gorgeous tree is available in four heights (7, 7.5, 9 and 12 feet tall) and features not only a hefty dose of faux snow but also a slew of cute pine cones! Plus, the on/off foot pedal makes for easy managing all season long.
Let us count the ways we love this pretty tree! Lightly flocked to look as if it has been freshly dusted with snow, the artificial white spruce contains more than 2,500 branch tips and 750 clear lights, making for one heck of an elegant fake tree.
Artificial Christmas trees with stands
If you’ve got soaring ceilings in your home, well, first off, we’re jealous. But secondly, you need a giant tree to show off just how vaulted your space is. And we’ve got just the tree to do it. Coming in at 12 feet tall, this spectacular faux pine that comes with a folding metal stand is traditional in design, featuring more than 4,000 branch tips, a robust shape and 1,100 warm-white LED lights.
This artificial Alberta spruce from Wondershop is ultra lightweight and comes in sizes ranging from 3 to 7.5 feet tall. Constructed of plastic, the tree is perfect for outdoor areas but would be equally at home in your living space. Our favorite detail, however, is the price: $55 is a steal for a 6.5-foot tree!
Our social media team originally discovered this clever pop-up Christmas tree on TikTok, and it's safe to say we're intrigued. It's perfect for those who never have enough time to decorate the tree and those who don't have a lot of storage space for seasonal decor — it collapses into the size of a wreath!
Available in a whopping six heights, this tree looks incredibly lifelike, so it'll turn your indoor space into a veritable winter wonderland. Pre-strung with white lights and featuring a hinged branch construction, it also comes with a sturdy metal stand.
If an all-white winter wonderland is more your taste, check out this white pine from Birch Lane. Available in four different sizes, this tree quickly breaks up into three separate pieces that can easily fit in a storage bag during the off-season.
What to look for in an artificial Christmas tree
Size
When it comes to artificial Christmas trees, it’s not always helpful to adhere to the saying “the bigger, the better.” In fact, you should focus more on finding a Christmas tree proportional to the space you’ve chosen as your focal point, be it the center of the living room or an end table. “Look at your space and decide where you want to place your tree,” says Christine Rae, senior merchandising manager and Christmas tree expert at National Tree Company. “Measure the height of your ceiling and the width of the space, which will help you determine if you should look for a full tree or if you need a slim or pencil style to fit your space.”
If you plan to use a tree topper (after all, ’tis the season!), Kim suggests subtracting 12 inches from your ceiling height to determine your ideal tree height. If you won’t be decking your tree out with a topper, subtract six inches from your ceiling height, which will give you the maximum height of the tree including its stand. To determine your ideal width, Kim suggests using a measuring tape to identify the floor space you have available for your tree. “It’s best to take this measurement after rearranging your furniture, if needed, to give yourself a more accurate idea of your space,” she says.
Style
Now for the fun part. Rae says it’s crucial to identify your holiday style, be it traditional, Nordic or glam. “There are so many different styles to choose from,” she says. “Maybe you want a pre-decorated tree with pine cones and berries, or maybe you want something flocked with snow or glitter to create a winter wonderland.”
For a realistic-looking tree, she recommends opting for tips made of polyethylene specifically molded to look and feel like real branches (National Tree Company calls these Feel Real tips).
Trying before buying is a simple way to make sure you’ve found The One, but that’s not always possible with something as big as a Christmas tree. Balsam Hill offers a Branch Sample Kit starting at $19 to help you pick your perfect pine style. Choose between a 10- or 25-pack, and the cost is credited toward your final tree purchase.
Lights
An array of exuberant lights in a range of shades and intensities is what separates your artificial Christmas tree from any old pine you can find outside. Rae says that if you want the convenience of a pre-lit tree, you can typically choose from clear or multicolor lights.
If you’re worried about a burned-out bulb messing up the entire tree’s lights, we have just the tool for you. The Lightkeeper Pro is a handy gun-shaped tool that instantly repairs broken light sets with a pull of the trigger. How? It shoots a pulse through the light set, finds the bad bulb and then somehow mini-welds and activates the shunt, which results in a fully working set of lights! It’s available in two versions: one designed for incandescent lights and one designed for LED lights.