The 7 Best Artificial Christmas Trees of 2023, Tested and Reviewed
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We tested 47 pre-lit, unlit, frosted, pink, and white fake trees to see which ones could pass for the real thing
People / Joy Kim
It’s time to deck the halls, so gather your garland, put on your ugly Christmas sweater, and grab your ornaments. Now, you just need a tree. Choosing the right Christmas tree is essential: Your tree will likely be the centerpiece of the holiday festivities, glowing in the background for weeks while serving as the home for all of those expertly wrapped presents on Christmas morning.
Today's Top Deals
National Tree Co. North Valley Spruce 7 ft. White Tree is 49% off at Amazon
Best Choice Products 6ft Pre-Lit Flocked Holiday Christmas Pine Tree is 40% off at walmart.com
National Tree Co. North Valley Spruce 6.5 Ft Tree is 65% off at michaels.com
Grandin Road 7.5 ft. Pocono Pine is 45% off at grandinroad.com
Balsam Hill BH Fraser Fir Artificial Christmas Trees is 36% off at balsamhill.com
But should you choose an artificial Christmas tree or a real tree? While real trees smell amazing, they require a lot of work (cue the iconic Christmas Vacation tree-cutting scene), they shed needles, and you have to find a place to dispose them at the end of the season. Artificial trees last for years, don’t require excessive cleanup or watering, and many come pre-lit.
If you’re worried your artificial Christmas tree will look too, well artificial, then you haven’t seen the wildly realistic-looking artificial trees this year.
To help you find the perfect fake Christmas tree, we spent several days in our lab assembling, disassembling, decorating, and evaluating the appearance of 47 artificial Christmas trees from 15 different manufacturers.
Read on for the best artificial Christmas trees PEOPLE Tested, plus some decorating tips to make the most of your space this season.
[Editor's note: At this time, several of our favorite artificial Christmas trees we tested — and reference throughout this article — are out of stock and have been removed from the list. We will continue to monitor these products in case they become available again.]
Best White Tree: National Tree Co. North Valley Spruce 7 Ft White Tree
Pros
This tree was one of the most stable and high-quality trees we tested.
It’s pre-lit with a little bit of sparkle on the branches, making it extra festive.
Cons
The sparkles got on our clothes during setup, which we didn’t mind, but we understand that some people would consider this an inconvenience.
Here’s the thing: If you want a white Christmas tree, you likely already know that you want a white Christmas tree, and there’s nothing we can say to convince you to make this decorative choice. However, if you’ve decided that you’re going for this specific look, then let us recommend this 7-foot National Tree Co. white artificial Christmas tree. It’s pre-lit, extremely stable, and it comes with a bit of sparkle to it that makes it extra festive.
White Christmas trees lend themselves to many decoration options, but we had fun decorating this one with gold and silver ornaments. This National Tree Co. white tree comes in four different sizes, from 4 to 9 feet, but the 7-foot option we tested is great for those with standard 8-foot ceilings. While the price says it’s over $300, every time we’ve checked, it’s been on sale, and we think the sale price makes this full, pre-lit tree an excellent value.
Price at time of publish: $145.99 (orig. $319.99)
Height Options: 4.5, 7, 7.5, 9 ft. | Pre-Lit: Yes | Shape: Full
Best Flocked: Best Choice Products 6ft Pre-Lit Holiday Christmas Pine Tree w/ Snow Flocked Branches
Pros
All the tree branches were strong and held the ornaments well, even the heavier ones.
The lights themselves and the wiring are also frosted, which makes them blend into the tree.
Compared to other trees we tested, this tree definitely is a good value.
Cons
The "snow" made the setup process a little messy. We definitely had to lint roll our clothes afterward.
The term 'flocked tree' refers to a snow-flocked tree, and this frosted artificial tree from Walmart was our top pick for this style. This tree was the fluffiest of all those we tested, and for the $150 price point, it's an incredible value. Even the lights themselves were frosted, so they blended into the tree while giving off a soft, wintry glow.
Decorating this tree was easy since it looked terrific without any ornaments at all. We enjoyed hanging gold ornaments on this one and noted that the strong branches held the heaviest ornaments without any issue. While we loved the fluffiness of the fake snow look, it definitely shed during assembly and had some of our testers sneezing. Once the 'snow' settled and after we used lint rollers on our clothes, we were able to admire its beauty. This is an excellent flocked tree, but just know that the initial setup can get a little messy.
Price at time of publish: $89.99 (orig. $149.99)
Height Options: 4.5, 6, 7.5, 9, 12 ft. | Pre-Lit: Yes | Shape: Full
Best Unlit: National Tree Co. North Valley Spruce 6.5 Ft Tree
Pros
The branches had brown, natural accents at the base, adding a more realistic look to this tree.
The branches were sturdy and held their shape better than others we tested.
Cons
The tree shed a lot during initial assembly.
If you're looking for a traditional, unlit Christmas tree, this is the one for you. We were blown away by its realistic look, and our testers even argued over who was going to take this one home at the end of the day. It looks a little more high-end than some of the others we tested, but you'd never know that by its low price.
There are a lot of things to love about this unlit tree: The branches have brown, natural accents at the base to look like evergreen or pine needles, adding a more authentic touch to this PVC tree. It was very easy to fluff, and these branches held their shape more sufficiently than others we tested.
This National Tree Co. tree looked great on its own and once decorated, too; our only gripe is that it shed a good bit during initial setup. Since it is unlit, you'll have to buy your string lights separately, but if a bulb goes out down the road, it's easier to identify on string lights anyway. Overall, we think this is an excellent, long-lasting choice for an artificial Christmas tree.
Price at time of publish: $89.99 (orig. $254.99)
Height Options: 6.5 ft. | Pre-Lit: Yes | Shape: Full
Pro Decorating Tip
"Green is huge [this year]. We are really following fashion into the trend of nature's inspiration. Christmas, for me, is a really good time to go monochromatic in this green story. Mixing an olive with a bright...it just works." —Breegan Jane, T.J.Maxx and Marshalls' resident home expert and host of HGTV Dream Home
Best Wide: HomCom 6 Ft. Tree
Pros
The thick, sturdy outer part of the branches was great for hanging heavier ornaments.
It was interesting-looking, sturdy, and very full and wide.
Assembly and disassembly were a breeze.
Cons
This look may not be for everyone.
This unique unlit tree from Target is, admittedly, not for everyone, but we absolutely fell in love with it. This tree looks really fluffy and really wide. You could do a more sparse look if you wanted, but we chose to make it fluffy. The plastic top part looks both fake and realistic because the slightly different colors of the branches help give the tree dimension, like a real tree, but it’s plastic, reminding you that it’s fake. However, this look really grew on us, and more than one tester wanted to take this tree home at the end of the day.
The very wide look also meant that we could pair this tree with a trendy tree collar, and the sturdy branches held onto heavier ornaments without issue. Surprisingly, we were able to easily stuff this tree back into its box when disassembling, so the wideness doesn’t hinder setup, disassembly, or storage. In short, we love this little wide tree, and if you’re looking for something different, this is a great option.
Price at time of publish: $102.28
Height Options: 6, 7.5 ft. | Pre-Lit: Yes | Shape: Wide
Best Splurge: Balsam Hill Vermont White Spruce
Pros
This tree looks like the real thing.
It's sturdy and wasn't fazed by heavy ornaments.
It comes with extras like a storage bag and tree stand.
Cons
The weight makes it hard to disassemble.
A splurge, indeed, but this is an attractive Christmas tree that’s meant to last a lifetime with the proper care. To help further justify the cost, it also comes with extra features that other trees don’t. You get a premium tree stand with scratch-proof rubber feet, an off-season storage bag, protective gloves for shaping the tree, and extra bulbs and fuses.
The tree is undeniably attractive, too. It’s constructed of polyethylene (PE), so the branches look more realistic — and you can really see the difference. The 1,200 white lights may not blink or do anything fancy, but they are evenly spaced on the branches, lending a very bright and attractive appearance. This tree is also very sturdy: We didn’t have any issues with ornaments making the branches dip.
However, because the Balsam Hill tree is so heavy and sturdy, setup and takedown are a bit more cumbersome than with other artificial Christmas trees. Setup took 20 minutes, but we had even more trouble with disassembly. Because of the weight, it took multiple people to finally get the tree back into the storage bag. But if you're willing to spend the money and have a partner to help you assemble, this is an excellent choice.
Price at time of publish: $799 (orig. $1,249)
Height Options: 4.5, 5.5, 6.5, 7.5, 9, 10, 11 ft. | Pre-Lit: Yes | Shape: Full
People / Dera Burreson
Pro Decorating Tip
“We recommend leaving at least 12 inches between the top of your tree and the ceiling: For a standard 8-foot ceiling, we recommend a 7-foot tree,” —Jennifer Verruto, founder & CEO of Blythe Interiors
Most Realistic: Grandin Road 7.5’ Pocono Pine
Pros
Realistic branches and needles make this tree look as if it came straight from the forest.
Bright lights make for a dazzling decorating experience with easy setup.
Cons
This tree wobbled slightly under the weight of heavy ornaments.
There’s a lot to love about a pre-lit tree, namely the convenience of not having to string hundreds of lights on it. But they don’t always look as realistic as you might like. This one, by Grandin Road, is an exception. The tree is nice and full and doesn’t require much fluffing, all thanks to extra long branches with variegated needles.
Setup requires a little patience. While the tree goes up without much fanfare, figuring out the lights is another story. We fumbled a little when it came to the lights because the main extension cord is buried in the middle of the tree. Thankfully, this is an issue you’d only really encounter the first year of setup, since you’d be more familiar with the process later.
The biggest sacrifice you make with this tree is that heavier ornaments cause the tree to wobble a bit, particularly at the top of the tree. But depending on your collection, this is a relatively easy problem to work around. At the end of the day, this was one of the most realistic-looking trees we tested, so it's sure to spark some holiday magic in your home.
Price at time of publish: $440.30 (orig. $629)
Height Options: 7.5, 9 ft. | Pre-Lit: Yes | Shape: Full
People / Dera Burreson
Pro Decorating Tip
"Organic décor is a fan favorite this year! Think neutral color palettes with selective pops of colors and ornaments made from natural materials like glass, ceramic, and wood. This look will effortlessly complement your existing décor and bring an inviting & cozy warmth to your space that guests will love." —Jennifer Verruto, founder & CEO of Blythe Interiors
Best Customizable: Balsam Hill BH Fraser Fir Artificial Christmas Tree
Pros
This Balsam Hill tree is very realistic-looking.
Many lighting options make this tree easy to customize to your liking (flashing lights, multi-color lights, etc.)
It comes with helpful extras, like a storage bag and gloves for a scratch-free setup experience.
Cons
It's large and full, so it requires more than one person for setup.
With this tree, you get what you pay for, in a great way. If you’re willing to spend the money on a high-quality tree, you won’t be disappointed by this one. This Balsam Hill tree is extremely high quality and looks realistic, even up close. The branches are easy to fluff and make the tree look full. The tree also has fun features that other trees don’t — like lights equipped with several different unique modes. You can select lights that twinkle, display both multi-color and clear lights, or you can even choose a setting that plays impressive light shows. These options also come with a remote control to adjust colors and switch the whole thing on or off.
Setup and breakdown may require more than one person — the tree is extremely heavy — but it was otherwise a seamless process. The instructions are thorough, and the tree comes with helpful accessories, including scratch-proof rubber feet, an off-season storage bag, protective gloves for shaping the tree, and extra bulbs and fuses. What’s more, the tree didn't shed any needles during setup.
Price at time of publish: $799 (orig. $1,249)
Height Options: 5.5, 6.5, 7.5, 9, 10, 12 ft. | Pre-Lit: Yes | Shape: Full
Pro Decorating Tip
"A Christmas tree is meant to bring joy and happiness during the holiday season, so find a tree that does just that. And if you prefer a "Charlie Brown" tree, by all means, go for it," —Alyse Eisenberg, interior designer and owner of Studio Alyse
Other Artificial Christmas Trees We Tried
Best Choice Pre-Decorated Artificial Tree: We were excited about the prospect of a pre-decorated tree, but this $120 tree didn’t look nearly as good in person as it did in the photo. We still had to decorate it with ornaments for it to look presentable, and after about ten minutes, the stand broke.
Costway PVC Artificial Christmas Tree: The price is right on this $50 tree, but you definitely get what you pay for. This Costway tree could be nice for a classroom or short-term Christmas display, but it’s very green and not realistic-looking. We recommend spending a bit more to get a quality tree.
People / Joy Kim
Our Verdict
Since we first published this story in November 2022, we tested nine additional artificial Christmas trees. The trendy pencil tree from Target was previously our top pick, but this year, the Home Accents 7.5-foot Tree took our top spot, thanks to its traditional, full shape and realistic appearance.
Pro Decorating Tip
Worried you'll miss the smell of an authentic Christmas tree? We love these scented ornaments for injecting that nostalgic smell into any artificial tree.
Things to Consider Before Buying an Artificial Christmas Tree
Size and Placement
Many of the trees on this list come in a size range of 4 to 12 feet, with the most popular picks hovering somewhere between 6 and 7.5 feet. Before purchasing your tree, identify the spot in your home that will house the tree for the holiday season (and beyond, if you prefer). After deciding on the place (living room corner or perhaps in front of the window in a dining room), you’ll have a good idea of your ideal tree height.
Jennifer Verruto, founder and CEO of Blythe Interiors, recommends leaving "at least 12 inches between the top of your tree and the ceiling," adding that this extra space allows for an ornate tree topper of your choice. Plus, she says with Christmas trees, the more, the merrier: "There’s also no rule that you can only have one tree! For example, you could display a curated, decorative tree in a more formal setting or by a highly viewed window and then have a more family-centric one, with ornaments done by kids, where 'Santa' will drop off his gifts."
Shape and Weight
"If you're placing your Christmas tree in an already-crowded space, like a smaller apartment living room, you may want to go leaner," says Alyse Eisenberg, interior designer and owner of Studio Alyse, a full-service home design studio. However, if you've got a large foyer or open living room, she says a fuller option is the way to go, like the wide Homcom Unlit Tree.
Artificial Christmas trees typically come in a series of segments (three is most common) that stack and lock into each other. While this is generally a relatively simple process, the weight of the tree is an important factor to consider because larger, heavier trees may require two people to assemble. Also note: Once set up, most artificial Christmas trees require a fair amount of adjusting by fanning branches for a more realistic look.
Type of Tree
There are a few different types of trees, and we’ve broken them down below.
Pre-lit vs. Unlit: Pre-lit trees are ready to go right out of the box, but if a bulb goes out, you may have to go on a scavenger hunt in order to replace it. Unlit trees require you to add your own string of Christmas lights, so you can troubleshoot your strands before placing them on your tree. For this reason, unlit trees may last longer than pre-lit trees.
PVC vs. PE: Artificial Christmas trees are typically made out of polyethylene (PE) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC). In most trees, the inner, non-visible branches are made with PVC — it’s the outer branches that differ. PE tends to be the more realistic-looking option, but it also happens to be more expensive.
Flocked, Pink, White, and Beyond: You can also opt for a flocked tree, which is, in short, a tree that looks like it's covered in snow. This may make for a messy setup experience, but it will be easier to decorate since you don't have to add a lot of ornaments to make it look festive. Pink and white trees are also popular this year, and they are a great way to veer off of the typical red-and-green decorating scheme.
When to Buy
While you can purchase an artificial Christmas tree at just about any time of the year, the best time to buy is right after the holiday when retailers are looking to purge excess inventory. You can also look out for other sales throughout the year — like Black Friday or Cyber Monday.
People / Joy Kim
How We Tested
To find out which artificial Christmas trees are worth the money, we assembled, decorated, and disassembled 47 trees over several days and graded them based on the following criteria.
Ease of Assembly: We started a stopwatch and then opened each tree’s box and consulted the manual. We clicked together the parts of the tree, noting whether this was a simple or confusing thing to do. Once the tree was assembled, we fluffed the branches and recorded how long the initial assembly took and how long it took to fluff the branches to a respectable appearance.
Appearance: Perhaps the most important aspect of an artificial tree is its appearance. Once the tree was assembled, we observed whether it looked realistic or extremely fake. We also noted whether the branches were made of PE or PVC, and if there were any color variations or features that elevated the tree’s overall look.
Stability: Besides moving the trees around the room for professional photography, we tested the stability of each tree by placing ornaments on one side of the tree to see if the weight of said ornaments tilted the tree.
Ease of Storage: After carefully assessing each tree, we then took off the ornaments, disassembled each tree, and put it back into its box. We took note of which trees broke down into compact sizes and which ones required a larger box for long-term storage.
Overall Value: Once we were through testing, the price of each tree was revealed. We weighed the price against the tree’s appearance to determine its overall value.
We rated each fake tree on a scale of one to five, with one being the poorest performer and five being the best, in order to assemble this list of the best artificial Christmas trees.
People / Joy Kim
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall should my Christmas tree be?
According to Verruto, your tree should be about one foot shorter than your ceiling height, so if you have standard 8-foot ceilings, a 7 foot tree is a great option for you. If you have a very large or very small tree topper, you may want to opt for a 6.5- or 7.5-foot option.
What is a flocked tree?
A flocked tree is a tree that looks like it's covered in snow. These trees make for a stunning visual and don't require a lot of additional decorating. However, in our experience, they were messy to set up because some of the "snow" shed during assembly.
What is the best way to store an artificial Christmas tree?
It’s best to disassemble your artificial Christmas tree prior to storing it. This not only conserves space but also helps protect your tree from damage during the off-season. A Christmas tree storage bag is a handy item to have since it keeps dust and other debris off of your tree, but you can also store your tree in its original box.
People / Joy Kim
Why Trust PEOPLE?
This story was originally written by Brigitt Earley, a freelance writer and editor with nearly 15 years' of experience writing for publications like The Spruce and Apartment Therapy. She compared the tested results of artificial Christmas trees, looking at things size, ease of assembly, and how realistic the trees looked.
PEOPLE senior shopping editor Erin Johnson gathered a group of PEOPLE editors and writers to test nine additional trees this year from retailers like Target, Amazon, and Walmart. After assembling, decorating, and disassembling these trees, she rewrote this list to include the most up-to-date picks for your holiday decorating. She also spoke to several interior designers for tips on picking the right fake tree and 2023 decorating trends.
Meet Our Experts
Breegan Jane is T.J.Maxx and Marshalls' resident home expert and host of HGTV Dream Home. She sat down and spoke with us about emerging holiday trends for 2023, specifically calling out the monochromatic green patterns we're seeing this season.
Alyse Eisenberg is an interior designer and owner of Studio Alyse, a full-service home design studio in Charlotte, North Carolina. Her interior design expertise has been featured in WSJ, Architectural Digest Pro, Apartment Therapy, and more.
Jennifer Verruto, founder & CEO of Blythe Interiors, is an interior designer with showrooms in San Diego and Washington. Her style ranges from coastal to mid-century modern and always contains a touch of playfulness.
Erin Johnson is a senior shopping editor with an over-the-top love for Christmas decorating. With the help of our lab team, she put together this year's test and was on-site to evaluate each tree in person.
Erika Reals is a senior shopping editor at PEOPLE, and she helped test several fake Christmas trees on-site. For the past few years, she has put up an artificial Christmas tree from Target that she enjoys decorating with sentimental and eccentric ornaments.
Madison Yauger is a PEOPLE senior shopping writer who also helped test several Christmas trees this year in the lab. Her family has decorated the same 12-foot Christmas tree from Costco for almost 15 years.
Alyssa Brascia is a shopping writer for PEOPLE and a fellow Christmas tree product tester. Each holiday season, she decorates a 15-foot tree from Costco and a smaller one from Balsam Hill with the help of her family.
Ruby Grais is an associate project manager and previous Spruce Crafts and StyleCaster contributor. She helped test artificial Christmas trees in the lab and provided thoughtful insight into making fake trees feel real.
What is PEOPLE Tested?
We created the PEOPLE Tested seal of approval to help you find the very best products for your life. We use our unique methodology to test products in three labs across the country and with our network of home testers to determine their effectiveness, durability, ease of use, and so much more. Based on the results, we rate and recommend products so you can find the right one for your needs.
But we don’t stop there: We also regularly re-review the categories in which we’ve awarded the PEOPLE Tested seal of approval — because the best product of today might not be the best of tomorrow. And by the way, companies can never buy our recommendation: Their products must earn it, fair and square.
In short, PEOPLE Tested provides recommendations you can trust — every day, every purchase.
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