Balsam Hill’s 7.5-foot Classic blue spruce with lights is pure Christmas magic. We adore the realism of the needles and branches on this full tree. The set-up was fast and simple, thanks to the easy-connect feature and arrows indicating the exact alignment for quick connection. This Balsam Hill tree comes with a light control foot pedal and complimentary storage bag, along with extra bulbs and fuses for the plug lights. A total of 1,000 warm lights are evenly distributed throughout the tree to make a magnificent display of holiday warmth.

Because of its density, fluffing this tree took more time than others. We used a full 20 minutes to fluff and probably could have continued to tweak while decorating. Although the branches are bendable, they failed to hold a 5-ounce ornament in the outer 6 inches of the branch. This is an important consideration to make if you have heavier ornaments you’d like to use.

Pros

• Full tree with realistic needles and branches
• Includes a storage bag
• 1,000 lights with foot pedal control
• Multiple sizes and light options
• Three-year warranty

Cons

• Longest fluff time
• Heavy ornaments need to be placed deeper

TMB Studio

For a festive (and bright!) look, Balsam Hill’s 7.5-foot Fraser fir with Twinkly light show is a must-have. Customize your atmosphere with the multi-colored LED Twinkly smart lights and app. We love that the Twinkly light connection is already integrated into the trunk, so once the tree is assembled, just plug the lights in and it’s instant Christmas. Then just download the Twinkly app and have fun selecting your favorite patterns and colors.

This tree is stunning, with or without the lights on. The needles mimic real trees with a natural color variation on the underside of the branch. This tree looks like the real deal and, like a fresh tree, it had trouble holding a 5-ounce ornament at the tips. However, we were especially impressed with the quality construction, and it only took five minutes to set up and 10 minutes to fluff it. Now you can spend more time planning parties, watching your light show and baking cookies.

Pros

• Pre-lit with 540 smart lights
• Light settings controlled via app
• Quick set-up
• Available in six sizes
• Includes storage bag and gloves
• Three-year warranty

Cons

• Heavy ornaments need to be placed deeper
• Tilts slightly

What to Consider When Buying an Artificial Christmas Tree

• Space: First, ask yourself how much space you’re willing to give up for a month or two. Then, measure the ceiling height and account for your tree topper—you don’t want to smush the angel’s halo! (A good rule of thumb is 6 inches of clearance or more from the ceiling.)
• Weight: Can you carry the 85-pound box into the basement or up the attic steps?
• Type of branches: Typically, artificial trees have one of two types of branches: hinged or hooked. All of the best artificial Christmas trees we sourced for testing all have attached hinged branches that effortlessly fall into place. Compared to old-school artificial trees that required manually attaching each bough, hinged branches save time and frustration. If you have large or heavy ornaments, look for strong branch tips. Trees with bendable tips are easier to style and make room for ornaments.
• Fluffing: A full tree may require more fluffing than a sparse and airy tree. A sparse tree with strong branches can support and showcase loads of ornaments, and a full tree demands strong tips. Pines are generally bushier with longer needles for a softer look and may not support heavy ornaments compared to fir trees that have shorter needles with stocky branching. (And if fluffing isn’t your idea of fun, we found several that look great out of the box. Seriously easy.)
• Lights: Some trees require plugging each section of the tree into the next level while others have the easy-connect in-pole connection that automatically connects all the lights when the tree is assembled. It only takes a few minutes to connect the manual plugs, so it’s not a huge deterrent, but unsightly plugs in the middle of the tree might be for some people.

Why You Should Trust Us

As an interior designer, I decorated many office buildings, hotels and restaurants for the holidays. Since this was a recurring gig, I’ve had my hands on over 100 artificial Christmas trees. I was taught by a professional floral designer the art of holiday decorating, learning many tricks of the trade. I found these trees to be some of the easiest to set up and fluff.

How We Found the Best Artificial Christmas Trees

We looked at some of the best-selling artificial trees to inform our testing choices, narrowing it down to 12 trees from trusted merchants with high customer satisfaction ratings. All the trees we tested are pre-lit, have affixed metal hinged branches and come with metal stands. We searched for a variety of styles and price points. Ten of these beauties made the cut for quality construction, durability, value, ease of use and aesthetics.

Our Testing Methodology

• Support: To ensure these trees can support heavy ornaments, we used three ornaments containing 1, 2.5 and 5 ounces of nuts. We hung them within 5 inches of the branch tip on each tree.
• Assembly: We timed how long it took two people to unbox and set up each tree, connect the lights and fluff. We fluffed each tree for 20 minutes. Surprisingly, many of the trees were very quick to fluff within 10 minutes or less.
• Disassembly: We tested the difficulty of taking the tree down and packing it into the original box or complimentary bag.
• Shedding: We tested for shedding, because who wants a floor full of needles?
• Height: We measured each tree to ensure it was as tall as the specs indicated.
• Realistic: We rated how realistic each tree appeared, noting the shape, trunks and needles. We scored the lights while noting their features and ease of operation, as well as overall effect.

FAQ

Where should you buy an artificial Christmas tree?

When deciding which tree is right for you, it’s important to know how to spot a quality faux tree. When shopping, take note of the tip count. The higher the branch tip count, the fuller the tree will be. Hinged branches are permanently fixed and are typically found on higher-quality trees. Unless the center pole of your tree is made to look like a trunk and meant to be seen, look for a tree with a higher number of attached tips.

Some companies specialize in artificial Christmas trees, and our favorites include Balsam Hill and Terrain. But there are other places to shop, too, like Amazon and Lowe’s. An artificial Christmas tree is a cost-effective investment when compared to buying a live tree every year, so be sure to take advantage of the discounts these merchants are currently offering.

How much should you spend on an artificial Christmas tree?

A quality artificial Christmas tree will last 10 years or more when properly cared for. Considering the hassle, mess and cost of a fresh tree every year, investing in an artificial tree is a good investment, especially if you have the space to store it. Luckily, the boxes take up less floor space when stored vertically.

How do you store an artificial Christmas tree?

When it’s time to put away your Christmas decorations for the year, proper storage methods help make sure your tree looks good year after year. Proper storage certainly saves space in your home, but also prevents damaged branches, pests and even mold.

One way to ensure proper storage is to get the right Christmas tree storage bag. In our experience, packing a tree in a bag is much easier than trying to fit it back in the box and will require less fluffing next year. There are plenty of storage bag options, but consider one that’s water-resistant and store it in a cool, dry place. Heat can cause artificial Christmas trees to become discolored or even melt.

How do you fluff an artificial Christmas tree?

An artificial tree should be shaped and fluffed every year to give it a full and realistic look. Consider fluffing your artificial tree before adding ornaments and other decorations, but after adding lights to get a better idea of how your tree will look when finished.

We recommend using gloves when working with artificial trees to avoid irritating your skin. Start by fluffing the bottom branches at the center of the tree and work your way outward and upward. You can tilt the inner limbs up to ensure there are no visible holes. If your tree is still not as full as you want after fluffing, consider adding garland to fill in any gaps or holes.