While there’s nothing quite like a live Christmas tree, they require lots of maintenance that may not be worth it to some. Aside from shedding over time and needing to be watered, they can also make your pets sick if they chew on or ingest the needles.
If you’re looking for an easy, low-maintenance way to bring holiday cheer into your home, an artificial Christmas tree is a great alternative. Whether you want a more traditional, lifelike tree or lean on the whimsical side, we’ve rounded up some of the best brands on the market based on our extensive testing.
Keep reading to shop PEOPLE’s picks of the best places to buy artificial Christmas trees in 2024.
Amazon
Some people have a creative vision in mind for what they want their tree to look like. If that’s you, Amazon is a great place for your holiday decor dreams to come true. Whether you want a pre-lit rainbow tree or even one that’s upside down, Amazon will have what you’re looking for. And of course, you’ll find more traditional options like this pre-lit fir tree or this flocked one. There is a wide range of prices, which makes it ideal for all shoppers and budgets.
If you’re looking for a simple and quick process of finding and buying a tree, the variety could make it difficult to narrow down the choices. But you can generally expect to find a tree that’s reasonably priced, decent quality, and the size and shape you’re looking for. Plus, if you’re a Prime member you can enjoy free and expedited shipping on your order.
Size Range: 2 to 10+ feet | Shape Options: Flat back, full, slim, spiral, traditional | Shipping: Varies depending on cost, delivery location, and desired shipping speed; free for Prime members
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Balsam Hill
Balsam Hill’s artificial Christmas trees are incredibly realistic, from the coloring to the needle shapes and textures. It offers a branch sample kit, so you can pick the perfect tree type for your home before purchasing. Another huge benefit of ordering from Balsam Hill is that the trees come with storage bags, so they’re easy to put away at the end of the holiday season.
As you may expect, all the deluxe features make these trees a little pricey. But if you have a flexible budget, they’re worth it. There are more traditional trees like the best-selling Balsam Fir or the Frosted Fraser. While there isn’t a large variety of styles, there are some fun options like this minimalistic Alpine tree or this pre-lit Blue Spruce with lights that can be controlled via app.
Size Range: 4 to 18 feet | Shape Options: Full, slim, sparse, wide, flat back | Shipping: Free standard shipping within the U.S.
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Pro Tip!
If you’re really pressed for space but still want a traditional look, have you ever considered a half tree? They are designed to go in a corner or against a wall, making them ideal for smaller homes. This one from Wayfair is a great option — it comes pre-lit and in three sizes.
Target
Who doesn’t love a Target run? Its artificial Christmas trees are a great cost-effective option for anyone who’s not looking to break the bank and wants a wide variety of colors, sizes, and styles. The in-house Wondershop brand offers cohesive accessories, so your home can have coordinated, cozy cheer — including trees, garlands, ornaments, toppers, and tree skirts.
Whether you want a smaller tree, a full-size tree, or even a mini tree for a tabletop or bedroom, Target has you covered at fairly reasonable prices. On the less conventional side, it even has cactus-shaped trees that would definitely add some whimsical cheer to your home.
Size Range: 2 to 12 feet | Shape Options: Flat back, full, slim, spiral, traditional | Shipping: Free standard shipping
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Walmart
Walmart is known for its convenience and affordability, and the same goes for its artificial Christmas trees — like this six-foot pre-lit tree that’s just under $100. It also has a wide variety of colors and sizes available, including a pre-lit pink tree, a unique black pine, and an adorable mini blue option that would be perfect on a tabletop or in a kid’s bedroom.
Another huge bonus about shopping at Walmart is that it offers both delivery and pick-up depending on the stock at your local store. You can either have your tree directly sent to your house or have it dropped in your trunk at your next grocery pick-up.
Size Range: 2 to 12 feet | Shape Options: Conical, corner, full, half, pencil, slim, topiary, upside down | Shipping: Varies depending on cost, delivery location, and desired shipping speed
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The Home Depot
You’re probably used to seeing real Christmas trees for sale outside your local Home Depot, but it has just as many artificial options inside. From a traditional Balsam fir to a flocked Fraser to a nostalgic silver tinsel tree, there is something for every holiday style.
Home Depot offers free shipping on most Christmas tree options and free returns within 90 days of purchasing. If you decide to return your tree and purchased it online, call its online customer support team, and depending on the tree, it can be picked up from your home.
Size Range: 4 to 16+ feet | Shape Options: Topiary, half, corner, extra-full, sparse, upside-down, spiral | Shipping: Free shipping over $45
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Wayfair
Wayfair is one of the only brands with both classic trees and more whimsical or unconventional ones. On the more traditional side, it has trees like this North Valley Spruce or this stunning flocked pine. If you want something more unconventional, it has fun ones like this gold tinsel tree or this curved red one that looks like a Santa hat.
We also appreciate that you not only get free shipping for orders over $35, but the delivery process is generally quick and straightforward — we received our tree within a week after ordering. Wayfair is a great option if you want several choices in price, style, and color. However, if you’d rather be presented with a few curated options, you may be overwhelmed by the shopping experience.
Size Range: 4 to 20 feet | Shape Options: Full, extra-full, slender, upside-down, spiral, half, corner | Shipping: Free shipping over $35
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King of Christmas
King of Christmas specializes in artificial trees and holiday decor, so you know the selection will be top-tier. There isn’t as much variety as some of the other well-known retailers on our list, but there are plenty of festive options.
The bestselling Alpine Fir can be pre-lit with up to 1,100 LED bulbs or unlit, so you can string your own lights. If you live in a smaller home, there are lots of pencil-style or 3-foot tabletop options that won’t take up too much space. One of the most popular trees is this King Noble Fir, a sparse yet stylish option that has increased in popularity in the last few years. Along with free shipping, you’ll get a two-year warranty.
Size Range: 3 to 12 feet | Shape Options: Full, slim | Shipping: Free shipping within the U.S.
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Michaels
Michaels is the epicenter for all things fun and crafty, so it makes sense that the Christmas tree selection would be chock-full of options for those who want a more artsy look. On the more traditional side, two of its best-sellers are this Willow Pine and this pencil-shaped Fir — both come pre-lit and would bring classic holiday cheer to your home.
On the less traditional side, there are whimsical options like this blue-toned ombre tree and this pre-lit palm tree. Although there aren’t a ton of hyper-realistic choices, you can definitely find fun and playful options that will put a unique spin on the most wonderful time of the year.
Size Range: 2 to 10 feet | Shape Options: Full, slim, pencil, tabletop, upside-down | Shipping: Free shipping over $49
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What to Know About Buying Artificial Christmas Trees
Understand the Size and Layout of Your Space
When picking out your next artificial Christmas tree, interior designer Liz Toombs recommends thinking about the size and shape of the tree that you like and understanding the layout of your space to make sure it will adequately fit.
First, measure the room where you want to place your tree, from floor to ceiling. “Ideally, your tree should have a few inches of space between the top of the tree and the ceiling. This allows for a tree topper and provides a balanced look. Don’t forget to account for the height of your tree stand as well,” Toombs says.
Pick the Right Size and Shape
Picking the right size and shape of a Christmas tree for your space will ensure it looks aesthetically pleasing. When it comes to shape, a tree that is too large can overwhelm a small room, while a tiny tree might get lost in a large space. You want to make sure the tree is taking up adequate space with its width — while a slim tree is ideal for smaller rooms, a full tree would be a better pick for a larger room since there’s more space to fill.
Aside from the height of the room you want to put the tree in, you should also consider your personal preferences. For example, if you like to display lots of ornaments, a sparser tree would make it easier to fit more decorations.
Consider Ease of Assembly and Storage
While artificial trees are great because they don’t shed as much as real trees and can be enjoyed with less maintenance, they do have to be stored for the majority of the year. If you have a small home or are tight on storage, figuring out where to put your tree can be a daunting task. This is why it’s important to pick a tree that’s collapsable, compact, and easy to store. Also, the less full your tree is, the less space it will take up when you take it down and fold it up, so opting for a slimmer tree is a safe bet for space-saving efforts.
PVC vs. PE vs. Tinsel
The right tree material for you largely depends on what aesthetic you’re trying to achieve and what features matter most to you.
- PVC (polyvinyl chloride): “[This] is a popular material for artificial trees. It is durable, lightweight, and affordable. PVC trees often look realistic and come in various shapes and sizes,” Toombs says. “But some cheaper PVC trees might look less natural and can have a potent smell of plastic.”
- PE (polyethylene): If you want something more realistic, consider a PE tree. Because they are higher quality and lifelike, they are significantly more expensive than PVC or tinsel.
- Tinsel: Another common material for artificial trees is tinsel, which Toombs says “are retro-style and made from metallic tinsel or aluminum branches, which creates a shiny and reflective appearance. However, they might not look as natural as PVC trees and often can be seen as kitschy.”
Keep Needle Density in Mind
Needle density is the number of fascicles, or needles, per shoot length. The higher the needle density, the fuller – and more realistic – your tree looks. PVC trees are cheaper but will have a lower needle density and will look less full. PE trees are more textured, multidimensional, and have a higher needle density. If you have a larger space, you can get away with a fuller tree, so a higher needle density would be the best choice.
Behind the Scenes
We’ve tested over 50 artificial Christmas trees from Home Depot, Walmart, Balsam Hill, Amazon, and more. We spent several days assembling, decorating, and then disassembling them to determine the best trees on the market. We graded each tree based on its ease of assembly, appearance, stability, and ease of storage — all super important criteria, whether you’re looking for something traditional or nontraditional.
After testing, we then weighed the price of the tree against its appearance to determine the overall value. Some of the most inexpensive artificial Christmas trees we tested were some of our top performers!
Why Trust PEOPLE?
Olivia Avitt is a contributing shopping writer for PEOPLE who specializes in home and lifestyle content, including mattresses, wet-dry vacuums, and area rugs. When writing this guide on the best places to buy Christmas trees, she thoroughly researched product and retailer reviews and considered insights from the PEOPLE Tested team to help readers choose the absolute best artificial tree for the upcoming holiday season. She also consulted interior decorator Liz Toombs who shared tips on picking the perfect tree for your home.
Our Expert Panel
Liz Toombs is a certified interior decorator and the owner/president of PDR Interiors.
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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