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Our top-rated artificial Christmas trees to buy this year
No more dropped needles
Tested by Blossom BoothroydHomes Testing Manager
While you won’t get that lovely scent of pine filling your room, an artificial Christmas tree definitely has its perks and can be a better choice than a real Christmas tree for some.
For a start, you won’t have to wrestle a whole tree into your car, vacuum up dropped needles every day, or find the time to recycle it once the festivities are over.
They can be good value, too. While spending a few hundred pounds on an artificial tree may seem like a lot of money initially, if you look after it well and reuse it for years to come, it’s a worthwhile investment.
Given their cost, however, we wanted to know which are easy to put up, and which will look the most life-like in your living room. So, our Good Housekeeping Institute experts started the festivities early, got the fairy lights out and tested a range of leading artificial tree brands to find the finest for your home.
And if our tested picks aren’t quite right, then our shopping editors have also highlighted the best of the rest, so you’ll be sure to find the perfect tree to pile your presents under.
Best artificial Christmas trees
What to look for in an artificial Christmas tree
There’s more to consider when shopping for an artificial tree than picking out a real one from your local garden centre. Some even come in non-traditional shades like pink and white, or with artificial snow or glitter finishes, giving you more options for your festive scheme.
Colour aside, here’s what our experts recommend considering.
Size
This one goes without saying really but check the tree’s measurements to ensure it’s not too tall for your space before buying.
Material
Most artificial trees are made of plastic, either PVC or polyethylene (PE). The latter is the more recent innovation and involves the use of moulds to create a more realistic look. Consequently, they also tend to be more expensive.
Branch design
This is two-fold – as well as looking for full and realistic foliage, look at whether the branches are hinged, meaning they fall easily into place when you put the tree up or if you’ll need to hook each one in, which can take longer. Some need shaping too.
Below, we've also included the number of tips (the branch ends you can hang decorations off) where possible, as this helps give an idea of the finished look and just how many baubles you can hang.
Lighting
Some trees come with built-in lights – which is handy if you want to speed up your decorating and avoid lots of tangled cables. As you would with standard fairy lights, make sure you like the light colour and that it has the settings you’re after (some can flicker, for example).
Check if the cable is long enough to reach your plug socket too and see if the tree also comes with spare lightbulbs.
Artificial Christmas trees vs. real ones – which is greener?
As is so often the case with questions about sustainability, the most sustainable option would be forgoing a tree altogether. However, if you can’t be without one for the big day (us, either), then investing in a real tree that still has its roots means it can be replanted in your garden or in a larger pot and kept for next year.
If you don’t have a garden, you can still opt for this, as there are many rental services now available that will collect your tree after Christmas and nurture it until the following festive season. Some even let you have the same tree year after year.
Real trees that have been cut down and have lost their roots are still recyclable. Many local councils will collect them to be chipped and turned into compost. There are also recycling sites and certain garden centres will accept trees if your council doesn’t.
Artificial trees tend to be non-recyclable and although you can reuse them each year, to avoid buying more plastic, real trees are generally the greener option.
Artificial Christmas trees lined up at the Good Housekeeping Institute during testing.
How we test artificial Christmas trees
To find the best artificial Christmas trees, our experts consider how easy it is to set up, as well as its overall appearance, sturdiness and what it’s like to store away.
Our testers assemble each tree, timing how long it takes to put every branch into place and fluff them too. They award points for its realism, assessing the coverage provided and whether you can see the internal mechanisms or if it’s bushy enough to hide them.
Then they decorate the tree, analysing how well it supports everything from baubles to a star at the top. They knock into it too, to see if it’s stable enough to suit busy households. Testers also try moving each tree about, to gauge how heavy it is if you need to alter its positioning at all.
Finally, they take everything down, timing it again and scoring how easy it is to put it back into its box (or storage bag if relevant) so it’s ready for the next year.
We’ve tested seven of the trees below at the Good Housekeeping Institute (just look for the GHI Approved logo on the pictures). But in case they aren't the style you're looking for, our editors have also selected their favourite fake Christmas trees in a range of colours, styles and price points, so you can find the right one to bring your festive vision to life.
Merry shopping!
Score: 95/100
Artificial Christmas trees don’t come much more high-end than Balsam Hill, and we weren’t disappointed. This bushy, pre-lit tree looks realistic and was up in a jiffy, thanks to clear online videos explainers. Our testers liked the fact it has rubber feet, so it won’t scratch hard flooring, but it is heavy to move around should you need to reposition it, so something to bear in mind.
While decorating, it spun round, adding some pizazz to the proceedings and helping to achieve a balanced 360-degree look. All our baubles and our star topper stayed in place well, and this tree is one of the only ones to come with gloves should you want some protection from the notably full, yet prickly, branches. Plus, there are various light settings so you can switch from a warm steady glow to a candlelight flicker, depending on your mood.
It took a while to put this tree away though, mainly because the branches were hard to squeeze back into its box. That’s a small niggle, however – and it’s available in a range of heights, so you can find the perfect fit for your living room.
Key specifications
| Height | 4ft, 5ft, 6ft, 7ft or 8ft |
|---|---|
| Lights | Yes - various options, we tested 'Candlelight Clear LED' which has 350 lights |
| Number of tips | 1,483 |
| Gloves | Yes |
| Storage | Bag included |
Marks and Spencer 6ft Pre-Lit Pine Christmas Tree
Score: 93/100
Testers said this tree looked the bushiest of the lot on test, earning it full marks for design. They liked the soft glow of the built-in lights, too. It was easy to put up, coming with simple instructions, and was fully assembled within eight minutes. Again, it was almost as prickly as a real tree, but it supported medium-sized baubles and our star topper impeccably.
The tree’s sturdiness also impressed on test, and it wasn’t too heavy to carry. But testers noted that the cable for the lights wasn’t very long, so consider plug locations when positioning it. The box it comes in is robust, making it a good one to keep for storage, but testers found it took a bit of time to ease everything back in.
We tested the 6ft model which is currently out of stock online, but there are smaller sizes available, and it’s a good price for a tree you can create memories with for many years to come.
Key specifications
| Height | 6ft |
|---|---|
| Lights | 200 warm white LED bulbs |
| Number of tips | 600 |
| Gloves | No |
| Storage | Use original box |
Score: 91/100
It can sometimes take a while to build up enough presents to hide a Christmas tree’s stand, but this potted design looks discreet as soon as it’s up. Our tester assembled it within five minutes and found it straightforward despite slightly generic instructions.
Its full foliage impressed, and supported our decorations well, while the range of eight light settings offers lots of flexibility. It was also speedy to take down, although putting it back into its box was a slight struggle. We think it's worth the effort for this stylish tree, though.
Key specifications
| Height | 6ft, 7ft |
|---|---|
| Lights | 900 bulbs - with 8 settings and a timer |
| Number of tips | 4275 |
| Gloves | No |
| Storage | Use original box |
Score: 90/100
Tall and bushy, this tree is a festive dream; it was up in a matter of minutes, thanks to easy-to-bend branches and parts that fitted together neatly. There was also room for lots of decorations on the sturdy branches, which looked realistic and come adorned with lights that have six different settings.
There’s no timer for the lights though, and the stand is visible at the bottom. Again, it was a fight to put away, too. But there’s a lovely symmetry to this tree with its balanced branches, making it a classy addition for your living room this Christmas.
Key specifications
| Height | 6ft and 7ft |
|---|---|
| Lights | Yes - 250 |
| Number of tips | Unspecified |
| Gloves | No |
| Storage | Use original box |
Score: 88/100
If untangling the Christmas lights is a festive ritual you enjoy (who are we to judge!), then you'll be pleased to know this tree comes without any lights, so you can add your own. Testers described its appearance as “authentic” and liked the lengthy, pine-filled branches. It comes with online videos to assist with assembly and its branches moved easily into position.
Decorations stayed in place well. It doesn’t come with a storage bag, but testers found it was easy to fit back into its original box. For full creative control when it comes to your decorating, this is the tree to go for.
Key specifications
| Height | 5ft |
|---|---|
| Lights | None |
| Number of tips | 2,060 |
| Gloves | None |
| Storage | Use original box |
Score: 85/100
This was the tallest tree our experts tested in the lab, and it was also the quickest to assemble – up in just under four minutes! Its hinged branches fell perfectly into place and thanks to its height, testers said it had a “grand impact”.
It’s another one that doesn’t come with any lights and testers found it hard to get the star topper sitting correctly. But all other decorations hung beautifully, and the tree was very sturdy, too. It was also quick to put away, fitting neatly back into its box. This is a real statement tree.
Key specifications
| Height | 7ft |
|---|---|
| Lights | None |
| Number of tips | 1,318 |
| Gloves | None |
| Storage | Use original box |
Score: 75/100
This is another eye-catching tree from Balsam Hill, and testers loved its natural look, including the surprisingly realistic faux trunk. Putting the tree up was a lengthier process than some, taking over half an hour, as each branch needed shaping. This does mean you have more control over the final appearance though, and it supported decorations well.
Testers would have liked a bit more foliage at the very top, but our star still brought a nice finishing touch to the tree. It was intuitive to use throughout, but as with assembly, it was time-consuming to pack down, although still much less of a faff than disposing of a real tree!
Key specifications
| Height | 4ft, 5ft, 6ft, 7ft (tested), 8ft, 9ft, 10ft or 12ft |
|---|---|
| Lights | Yes - various options, we tested 'Candlelight Clear LED' which has 350 lights |
| Number of tips | 2026 |
| Gloves | Yes |
| Storage | Bag included |
Editors' picks
There are plenty of artificial trees on offer at Cox & Cox this year, but our pick is this beautiful 7ft tall number. Pre-lit with 4,000 lights, it will certainly help to ramp up festivities. It’s costly, but it’s a real investment piece, which the whole family can enjoy for years to come.
Key specifications
| Height | 7ft, 8ft |
|---|---|
| Lights | Yes, 4000 warm white lights, 8 light settings |
| Number of tips | Not specified |
| Gloves | Not included |
| Storage | Store in box |
Habitat’s 5ft tree is very reasonably priced – and you get a shiny star topper included! It comes with white fibre optic lights too, so you don't have to worry about untangling fairy lights.
Key specifications
| Height | 5ft |
|---|---|
| Lights | 24 warm wight lights with one slow flashing mode |
| Number of tips | 180 |
| Gloves | Not included |
| Storage | Store in box |
Small space dwellers may prefer this petite option, which will look lovely on a side table. It has 30 warm white lights to add a twinkle to your festive scheme, as well as a dusting of fake snow.
At just £20, it’s also a great budget buy.
Key specifications
| Height | 2.5ft |
|---|---|
| Lights | 30 warm white lights |
| Number of tips | 89 |
| Gloves | Not included |
| Storage | Store in box |
Sick of the dog's tail knocking the decorations off from the bottom of your tree, or greedy pups trying to snaffle all the hanging chocolate treats? This (admittedly more unusual) parasol tree solves that problem entirely...
Key specifications
| Height | 6ft |
|---|---|
| Lights | Not included |
| Number of tips | 302 |
| Gloves | Not included |
| Storage | Store in box |
The verdict on fake Christmas trees
To deck your halls in style, we have our two joint winning Christmas trees to choose from: The White Company 6ft Pre Lit Grand Spruce and the Balsam Hill Royal Blue Spruce. There are more size options available for the latter (along with more light settings), but it does come with a higher price tag and they tend to sell-out early in the festive season.
They're premium picks that will ooze festive charm in your home but both will take a fair bit out of your Christmas budget. So, if you need something more affordable that still looks good (and bushy, according to our testers), we recommend the Next Green Lit Nordman 6ft Christmas Tree.
Why you should trust the Good Housekeeping Institute
Christmas is when Good Housekeeping comes into its own, thanks to its delicious triple-tested recipes, GHI Taste Approved essentials for your table, and expert-led gift guides.
Christmas trees are an equally serious business, and our reviews are overseen by our homes testing manager Blossom Boothroyd, who devised rigorous protocols to ensure each meets our high standards.
Our homes editor Hannah Mendelsohn is responsible for making sure we’ve tested the must-have brands and turning the results into helpful reviews. All that’s left for you to do is decide on your decorations.
Blossom is passionate about finding the best home products and appliances for GH readers. As head of the homes testing team, she has led reviews across multiple categories, from pizza ovens, and smart plugs to portable fans and hobs. She enjoys delving into the intricacies of products and refining testing protocols to ensure we’re testing them against their claims. Her aim is to find the top-performing products on the market, to help take the hard work out of housework. Blossom’s most notable accomplishment in the lab has been toasting 528 slices of bread in her quest to find the best toasters money can buy. In her free time, she openly admits to being a music geek and indulges her creative side through crocheting, baking, singing and writing.
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