14 Best Artificial Christmas Trees of 2024, Tested and Reviewed | Architectural Digest

Feb 19, 2025

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Even though you (probably) only bring out your holiday tree once a year, choosing one of the best artificial Christmas trees for your home will feel good all year round. If you’re already committed to the faux lifestyle or are just dipping your toes in, the perfect tree is out there for you and your priorities. Maybe you want something bold and full of personality (we’ve got a pink option below just for that crew!). Perhaps you’re looking to go classic, with a full lighting system included. Whatever you choose, there’s a good chance that once you go faux, you’re never going back to the real deal. There’s no watering involved, clean-up is a breeze, and they’re usually pretty easy to store in the off-season.

Whether you deck yours out like the iconic Rockefeller tree in New York or you’re looking for something simple to match your favorite wreaths, upgrade last year’s look and invest in some new Christmas decor that’ll last a lifetime.

Editor’s Note: If you’d like to read more about how we selected and tested the trees, you can jump straight to Testing Notes and Frequently Asked Questions at the bottom of this page.

Balsam Hill

This big, beautiful tree is inspired by the Fraser Fir. Known for its rich, dark green coloring and full silhouette, this tree is native to the Appalachian Mountains and has the distinction of being the type of tree most often used as the official White House Christmas tree.

To be honest, we can’t tell the difference between Balsam Hill’s faux version and the real thing. BH's impressive “true needle” foliage features 40 variations of branch types throughout and the effect is incredibly realistic.

The tree is available just about any height and light variation you could want, all of which feature an easy plug system. Easy plug trees have all the light strands plugged into the center pole, so all you have to do is place the three sections together and plug the tree into an outlet. There’s no need to ever unplug or take off any light strands.

The style pictured above is “color + clear,” which allows you to switch between multicolored lights and white lights via remote. For pre-lit trees with a single lighting style, there is an attached foot pedal to turn the lights on and off. The Twinkly light style features built-in app-controlled smart lights from Twinkly.

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Reviewer: Divya Viswanathan, VP, commerce portfolio lead

Amazon

Wayfair

This beauty looks like it was plucked right off the tree farm, but all you have to do is just pull it out of the box. Speaking of, let your tree breathe for a day or two after you take it out of the box. That way, the branches can fluff up on their own before you decorate the tree. The tree features hinged branches, making setup and teardown straightforward (just push each hinge down and pop into a storage bag). If you’re looking for a large tree, and a full tree but don’t want to spend a fortune, this is a good, solid pick from The National Tree Company. The National Tree Company has been making holiday trees and decorations for more than 60 years, and they have plenty more styles to choose from on Amazon and Wayfair.

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DaVonne's dashing display.

AllModern

Wayfair

Like a real-life Douglas Fir, this faux tree is designed to have a darker hue than other evergreens. Its needles are also longer and flatter than other evergreen varieties, growing out on either side of each branch rather than all the way around it.

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Stewart's stunning setup.

Amazon

Twinkly is a clear leader in smart lighting, so much so that other tree brands (like Balsam Hill, as mentioned above) use Twinkly lights for their own smart trees. Twinkly, of course, has its own bespoke smart trees (not to mention wreaths and a outdoor smart tree made up entirely of string lights).

If you want to get creative with your decor, the lights can be programmed in any color combo or pattern (like the cool rainbow hues seen above). Once you download the Twinkly app to your phone, you can use it like a remote control to change up the lighting whenever you like. Indecisive decorators will love this option.

This tree comes in three pieces that simply stack together. The lights are already built in, so you'll have it up and ready to go in minutes.

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The Twinkly tree set up in Katie's living room.

Amazon

This skinny tree is perfect for a small space. It can tuck into a corner without overpowering the room. With flocking, an abundance of branches, and nine light patterns, it’s not surprising that this festive though not very realistic tree has earned more than 2,800 5-star reviews on Amazon.

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The perfect fit in Kristi's narrow stairwell.

Grandin Road

If you’re of the go-big-or-go-home mindset, this is the tree for you. Hundreds of down-swept, abundant branches create a beautiful, broad profile and a realistic look. The tree is one of Grandin Road’s best sellers. This pick boasts the most branch tips and heftiest diameter of any tree on this list, making it the absolute fullest affair.

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Our fullest tree pick on proud display in Kristi’s home.

Balsam Hill

Another one of the prettiest pre-lit Christmas trees is this Blue Spruce. The full foliage on this fake tree includes realistic needles in blue-green and silvery hues paired with light brown stems, just like an authentic Blue Spruce. Like all Balsam Hill trees, it comes with an off-season storage bag, protective gloves to use while shaping the tree branches, and extra bulbs.

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The Balsam Hill tree set up in Andrea's living room.

Amazon

Another tried and true, super affordable option straight from Amazon. We appreciate our contributor Brie Schwartz’s approach to the fake tree game. Instead of spending big bucks going for a super realistic tree, she aims for over-the-top flocking and lots of lights to lean into the fact that she prefers the faux variety (and to have her tree up for as long as humanly possible for the season). Go big or go home, right? If Schwartz’s approach rings true to you, too, this might be the perfect tree for your household.

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Looking flocked and fancy.

Amazon

A needle close up.

Let us set expectations here: For a tree that’s under $100, you are probably not going to find the highest quality option for your Christmas tree. That said, we wanted to put one to the test to see how it held up in person. If you are looking to prioritize price over super realism, we think this option makes a lot of sense.

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Pre-lit.

Lots of twinkle.

Etsy

If you want something a bit more abstract with a touch of DIY intrigue, this spiraling wood tree will tick that box in a big way. You can still decorate it with all of your ornaments, and there are two options for the silhouette itself (splayed out in full spiral or with four walls of “branches”). The wood is unpainted, so you can really customize this one to fit right into your home’s color palette, or keep it plain. A metal base keeps everything sturdy, meaning this is a good option for those with kids or pets.

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Amazon

A pink tinsel tree may seem like a bold choice and it is—in fact it is a bold choice we applaud. When it comes to the most realistic artificial Christmas trees, this option may not be the one, but it’ll become an instant conversation starter and set the tone for your specific holiday spirit. The tree comes with a stand and would look incredible covered in monochromatic decorations. Fluffing will take a while (up to 90 minutes, according to the manufacturer) but it’ll all be worth it when you have the coolest tree on the block. It’s the perfect solution for those seeking out a new tree with massive personality.

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Wayfair

Sometimes you only have the tiniest of corners available for some holiday cheer. That doesn’t mean you can’t have a tree, you just have to get creative. The first reaction might be to look for a tabletop option, but we love the slender silhouette of this faux tree. Christmas trees tend to be full-bodied, which only adds to the footprint required to house them—keeping it narrow means you’re saving floor space. It’s so cute, you don’t have to add a single ornament if you don’t want to, but we also think it’d look lovely decked out in warm white dew drop lights.

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Balsam Hill

Nordstrom

This tree has it all: flocking, lights, and towering height. As the name suggests, this particular tree style is inspired by the evergreens found in the Yukon Territory in Canada. The asymmetry of the soft green branches gives it an organic, natural look. If you’re looking to turn your home into a winter wonderland, look no further than this frosted beauty.

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Grandin Road

Another one of our top picks is this slim tree with incandescent lights, designed for outdoor use. Not only are the lights outdoor-safe, but the sturdy branches are rust-resistant. They’re also, of course, fluffy and realistic looking, as is the base, which mimics a true tree trunk, complete with notching and grooves. The tree plugs into a standard outlet and features a 60-foot cord. It comes with ten extra bulbs and five fuses, which are always handy to have around when (eventually) a bulb burns out.

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Amazon

Shake things up with an upside-down Christmas tree–and yes, this is very much a thing. The tree design is inspired by trend that dates back to the Middle Ages, when households in Central Europe would hang trees from their ceilings. Ariana Grande is also a fan of this quirky trend. While hanging a seven-foot tree upside down in your living room might be a bit of a hassle, you can get the same effect with an upside-down tree like this that rests securely on a on a base. What it lacks in lighting it makes up for in festive novelty.

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We always research products thoroughly before including them, and test nearly every single one. Our reviews are thorough, in-depth, and honest. We put ourselves in the shoes of the shopper (because most of the time, we are the ones shopping!), and make sure that we’re answering the questions that we would want answered in the buying process.

We favored natural-looking trees that are easy to set up. We also took shipping into account and tested trees that arrive not only in style, but with speed.

All trees that were reviewed were unboxed, set up (and lit up) by our contributors. They lived with trees and experienced all they had to offer firsthand, so that they could share the real deal with our readers.

The height of your fake Christmas tree first and foremost depends on the height of your ceiling, of course. A good rule of thumb is to keep your tree at least 1.5 feet lower than your ceiling, otherwise it will look crowded.

Anywhere. And you can find a tree to fit any space: petite, tabletop trees are great additions for studio apartments, kids' rooms, dorms, and other small spaces. Slim, pencil trees are good space-savers, too. No matter what size or where you're planning to put your tree, there's a few things to keep in mind:

Some people want to avoid the hassle (and extra cost) of buying a fresh tree each year, while others are allergic to real trees or are concerned about the fire safety hazard that comes along with real trees (they can become highly flammable as they dry out). Others (including people with pets) know that a real Christmas tree can be bait for disaster. Fresh or faux is really a matter of personal preference, and anyone who wants a fake Christmas tree should go for it.

Again, that’s completely a matter of personal preference. Trees come in a variety of hues, some with a dark green, some with a blue tint, and others with a bright shade. Some have spiky needles while others are soft to the touch. Trees vary by geographical region and what's native to your area, but some of the most popular options used as Christmas trees across the U.S. include the Fraser Fir, Balsam Fir, Douglas Fir, and Blue Spruce (all of which are available in faux varieties, as well!).

We spent a good deal of time making sure you had lots of price options to choose from on this list. We have options under $75 and options that can tap out over $2,000 with all the bells and whistles. We would also recommend thinking about the cost per use of your fake Christmas tree. If you spend a lot on a high quality tree now, it is much more likely that it will last your family for many, many years. Spending less on a tree of lesser quality might mean purchasing another one a few seasons down the line. All of that to say, it totally depends on your budget and what you’re looking to do with your tree. Also, there are lots of Black Friday Christmas tree deals happening as we speak. Hopefully this will cut some of the costs associated with a purchase as important as your household’s tree.

What is the most realistic brand of artificial Christmas tree?

For this, let‘s check the stats. Based on the trees we've tested over the years, these are the most highly rated for realism, according to our team of testers. We would definitely recommend giving these trees a closer look if finding the most true-to-life tree is your goal:

We are so glad you asked this question! We wrote a story dedicated to all of the Black Friday sales we’re seeing on fake Christmas trees, Balsam Hill included. The good news? The sale is running as we speak. Right now we’re seeing pretty fantastic deals on all of our favorite trees, including our Best Overall Tree, the Balsam Hill Fraser Fir, which is currently a whopping $450 off. On top of the running sale, the brand is also offering an additional $50 off orders $450+ with code MERRY50. Anyway, we highly recommend checking out our sale story for yourself. Happy shopping!

The easiest way to make your artificial Christmas tree look like a real tree is to, well, cover it up. Go heavier on the decorations this year: Think garland, Christmas lights, pinecones, ornaments, a tree topper, etc. We're talking the works. Check out our go-to holiday decor tips that will make the best Christmas trees look even more magical.

It’s affordable in bulk, doubles as a garland, and covers quite a bit of real estate from low to high.

Etsy

A dead giveaway—no pun intended—that your tree’s a fake is the base: that plastic, mechanical-esque tree stand. Cover that metal stand up with a festive tree skirt (or basket!) as you would with real Christmas trees.

Pottery Barn

If your tree doesn’t have pre-strung lights, head to the holiday aisle for some white or multicolored lights. They’ll draw the eye to the center of the tree and take the attention off of the branches. Besides, you can never have too many lights in your home decor during the holiday season.

Amazon

This tip is genius: Bolster the PVC branches with small sprigs from a real pine tree. Green floral wire is your friend here. Starting closer to the trunk of your artificial tree, adjoin a small, real sprig to a fake branch with a few twists of wire. Repeat as often as you’d like, scattering the pieces consistently around your tree. You’ll get that amazing smell of the season with a fraction of the needles. Visit your local nursery for scrap evergreen or find options on Etsy. You can do this with both bare and flocked artificial Christmas trees and get a stunning result.

Etsy

Choose big, sturdy blooms and tuck them into the gaps in your artificial Christmas tree once it’s fully decorated. You can go faux, or use the real thing (you can keep real flower cuttings fresher longer by housing stems in water tubes, as florists do).

Balsam Hill