15 of the Best Artificial Christmas Trees to Make Your Season Merry and Bright

editor@purewow.com (PureWow)
·11 min read

There's no doubt that a twinkling Christmas tree on a dimly lit winter morning feels like pure magic. While many people are die-hard fans of the real deal, we totally understand if you're wanting to forgo sticky tree stumps and messy pine needles this year in favor of the no-muss-, no-fuss setup of an artificial Christmas tree—and with less than 20 days to go until the big day, the time to buy is now. Since you'll likely be using it for years to come, you'll want to invest in one that will fool an onlooker as to its faux build, be a breeze to put up and suit your space to a tee. We've rounded up the top contenders for the best artificial Christmas trees of them all, but first, you'll want to know what you're looking for to go about picking the perfect one for your home.

Types of Artificial Christmas Trees

  • Pre-decorated: If you're too busy (or tired!) to concern yourself with all of the trimmings on the tree, you can skip the hard work with a pre-decorated model that will not only arrive with the lights already strung, but with the ornaments, garland and accents placed on just so, too.

  • Pre-lit: These little beauties come pre-wired with Christmas lights that have been embedded into the artificial branches, eliminating the need to string your own. Most of these trees come in three sections that may have small light connectors between them. There may also be separate plugs for each section that need to be connected to an extension cord at the bottom.

  • Quick-set: Like a pre-lit tree, the lights come built into these models, but are all strung through the trunk, so all you'll need to do is snap the tree together and plug it in using one single cord.

  • Unlit: For those who revel in creating their own light show magic, an unlit artificial tree, which will arrive naked sans for the branch tips, will be your best bet.

  • Flocked: If it's a white Christmas you're dreaming of, a tree that's flocked—a process that involves attaching tiny faux snow fibers to the branches—is designed to look like it's just been brought in after a freshly fallen dusting.

What Are the Best Artificial Christmas Trees?

Virtually every artificial Christmas tree uses flame-retardant polyvinyl chloride (PVC) to mimic the look of real trees. Lower-quality options tend to use the material exclusively, which makes them highly durable, but a high-quality tree will often also use polyethylene (PE) for carefully molded, individual branch tips. The more tips you have on a fake tree, the fuller and more realistic-looking it will be (and the sturdier for all of your decorations). According to Realtor.com, you should opt for a faux tree with at least 800 or more tips if it's 6-feet tall, while 1,200 to 1,500 tips are recommended for a 7-footer.

How to Clean Artificial Trees

Nothing throws off the illusion of a real tree like dusty faux branches. Keeping your tree clean—especially if you’ve just pulled it out of storage—will keep it looking freshly cut all season long and elongate its life span, which, according to Nearly Natural, should be about 10 years with proper care. To do so, give it a good dusting with a cleaning brush or handheld vacuum before adding ornaments and décor. Throughout the season, brush off areas that become dusty overtime.

Where to Buy Artificial Trees

While most home improvement and craft stores will carry artificial trees (think Amazon, Home Depot, Michaels, Lowe's and Wayfair), you'll want to choose an outlet that can expedite shipping for on-time arrival. Check out 15 of our favorite options below.

The Best Artificial Christmas Trees as a Glance

RELATED: Amazon's Alexa-Compatible Christmas Tree Is a Must-Buy

1. Best Choice Products Spruce Tree

Best Pre-Decorated Christmas Tree

Tight on time but still want all those holiday vibes? Look no further. This pre-lit and pre-decorated spruce tree by Best Choice Products will do all the work for you. It features built-in lights (250 to 900, depending on the tree size you choose), pine cones and berries for a festive-yet-not-overdone aesthetic, and it's got tons of tips (1,346 to 2,128), so it won't look ultra-fake in your living room. It comes in 6-, 7.5- and 9-foot options.

From $110 $100 at Amazon

2. Home Decorators Collection Cavalier Fraser Fir Tree

Best Pre-Lit Christmas Tree

If you're looking to give the fam a light show this Christmas, this is the tree for you. Standing at 7.5-feet tall, it features 5,000 color-changing micro dot lights to brighten your abode. There's eight different functions, so you can create a custom display to reflect your mood throughout the season—or even the day. It also contains more than 4,000 branch tips (!), making this a beautifully full option.

Buy It ($799)

3. Home Decorators Collection Eastcastle Balsam Fir Tree

Best Quick-Set Christmas Tree

This pre-lit tree not only features 1,300 white micro dot lights, which cast a soft, warm glow, it's equipped with quick-set technology, so you’ll barely have to lift a finger to make sure they're properly illuminated. Beyond that, it has a full, unique shape with a rounded bottom that looks like it could've been brought in straight from a swanky tree farm.

Buy It ($499)

4. Norway Green Tree Spruce Tree

Best Unlit Christmas Tree

This hyper-realistic tree will provide a great blank canvas for the household that likes to decorate as a family. Molded from live tree branches using both PVC and PE, it really looks like the real deal—no flimsy plastic-looking tips here. That's good news, too, since there are plenty of them—between 1,793 and 4,488—for a fully fleshed out look. The foldable metal stand is included, and it comes with a five-year warranty to boot, so it's sure to last you a good long while.

Buy It (From $441 $218)

5. Fraser Hill Farm Mountain Pine Tree

Best Flocked Artificial Christmas Tree

This flocked tree by Fraser Hill will turn your home into a winter wonderland thanks to the copious 1000-plus lifelike snow-covered tips. It also comes pre-lit with 550 LED bulbs that have a quick set-up (there's one plug for the whole shebang) and multiple light settings. You can choose between colored string lights or warm, clear ones to suit your taste—all you'll need to do is add the ornaments and tinsel.

$450 at Amazon

6. Yaheetech Hinged Pine Tree

Best Unlit Flocked Tree

If you dig the snowy vibe but prefer to string your own lights, this tree is a great option. Unlike others on the list, the tips are bendable, so you can position the branches and their snowy coverings (there's more than 800 of them!) just so. You won't even need to buy a stand, since a foldable one comes with your purchase. The 6-foot version is pictured here, though 4.5- and 7-foot options are also available if you've got a smaller or bigger space.

$95 $81 at Amazon

7. National Tree Company Feel Real Douglas Blue Fir Tree

Best Artificial Christmas Tree Branches

Sure, an artificial tree might look like the real thing in photos—but the second you brush up against it, you're reminded that it's faux. Not so with this baby. Equipped with "feel real" branches that are meant to not only look like, but feel like, a Douglas blue fir, this tree's tips are molded from the real deal for authenticity. It's got 750 white lights that are designed to stay on even if a bulb goes out, and the stand is also included with price.


From $750 $418 at Amazon

8. Mr. Christmas Tree

Best Smart Christmas Tree

Welcome to the future, folks: You can now control your Christmas trees with your voice. This Mr. Christmas tree is pre-lit and works with Alexa, so you can turn it on and off, change the color of the lights, schedule them to turn on and off and more—all by speaking a command (note that you'll need an Echo Dot to make it work). And while the smart features are of course cool, it doesn't skimp in the appearance department, either: This faux pick has more than 2,500 realistic-looking branch tips that help to create a full, lifelike feel and a pole-to-pole connection, so you'll only need one plug.


From $215 at Amazon

9. National Tree Company Slim Christmas Tree

Best Small Christmas Tree

A small space shouldn’t stop you from celebrating the holidays with a beautiful, realistic tree. National Tree Company makes some of the best, and this slim version will make a statement even from its spot in a cozy corner. It is pre-lit with 500 white lights and features full, pre-attached branches.

From $231 $158 at Amazon

10. Costway Iridescent Tree

Best Cheap Artificial Christmas Tree

While the most high-quality artificial trees tend to be on the pricier side, you don't have to settle for cheap-looking plastic buy just to save a little dough. This Costway option, which combines PVC with PE so as to offer a more natural look, is currently 57 percent off, so you can snag it for just $60. It's got 736 branch tips, which is just under the recommended 800 for a tree of its size, and it comes with a folding tree stand, too, saving you even more cash.


Buy It ($140 $60)

11. Dunhill 9-Foot Fir Tree

Best Tall Artificial Tree

Talk about a show-stopper! If you really want to wow this holiday, you can't go wrong with this 9-foot stunner that will be just right for large living rooms because it's extremely tall and full. By far the largest tree on our list, it features more than 4,000 tips and has a base of 66-inches. It's also pre-lit with 900 white lights, so you won’t have to worry about climbing up the top to string your own. Did we mention that you can also use code SHOP25 to get it on sale?


Buy It ($670 $457)

12. Feel Real Fraser Grande Tree

Most Realistic Artificial Tree

If you're not fully sold on the idea of an artificial tree, consider the Fraser Grande. Its long, artificial branches with more than 2,000 tips offer a bit more of that cut-down-in-the-forest vibe that you may be seeking, according to the Kohl's shoppers who love it. "Can barely tell it's fake," one write, with another adding, "This tree is as realistic as they get." It also has 800 dual LED lights. Apply code SHOP25 to save an extra 25 percent.


Buy It ($560 $420)

13. National Tree Company Glittering Pine Pencil Slim Tree

Best Slim Christmas Tree

Not everyone has a ton of space for a wide, full tree, and that's OK—this 7-foot pencil-slim version is great for smaller spaces, but looks just as lovely. It features 300 pre-lit multicolor lights, as well as light snow flocking with festive pine cones. The stand is included, too. Use coupon code SHOP25 to get it for just over $250.

Buy It ($355 $266)

14. Nearly Natural River Mountain Pine Tree

Best Christmas Tree With Pinecones

This gorgeous tree is only 6-feet tall, making it perfect for apartments, but it makes a big impression, as it looks like it was plucked straight from a wintery forest—particularly with the addition of realistic-looking pinecones. We love the long, spruce-like branches and the way the pre-lit lights almost seem to be glowing from beneath the faux snow.

Buy It ($514 $257)

15. Sand & Stable Dunhill Fir Tree

Best Hypoallergenic Christmas Tree

If you deal with allergies, you might be wary of introducing products into your home that will irritate them—even if it's only for a limited time. The solution? A hypoallergenic artificial option, like this one that's packed with between 2,144 and 10,874 branch tips, making this a beautiful, high-quality option. With only three hinged sections to attach, it's easy to assemble, though customers note that it does take a while to fluff to your liking, and it includes a 5-inch base that will be covered nicely by low-hanging branches.

Buy It (From $280 $147)

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