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How to buy the best artificial Christmas tree

Our guide is packed with tips on buying fake trees, whether you want to stay trad with green or go mad with pink – plus how much you can expect to spend
Martha RobertsSenior content writer
Setting up an artificial Christmas tree

In this article

Although there's nothing quite like the scent of a real pine tree to evoke the festive season, artificial alternatives are longer-lasting, don't drop needles everywhere and come in different styles, sizes and even colours. 

We'll help you decide which size and type to buy, as well as exploring typical costs, popular retailers, storage tips and environmental concerns – so read on to choose the best artificial Christmas tree for you.

If you want to treat yourself to a real tree instead of an artificial one, see our guide on how to choose a Christmas tree or where to find the cheapest Christmas tree for 2024.

What types of artificial Christmas tree are there?

Traditional tree

Traditional artificial Christmas tree

These mimic the appearance of real pine trees. Some even have details like a mixture of dark and light needles or faux pine cones for added authenticity.

They come in a range of tastes, budgets and even shades, including a deep green Norway spruce or a bluey-green Blue spruce.

Pre-lit tree

Pre-lit artificial Christmas tree

If you dread the thought of untangling the fairy lights each Christmas, or are never satisfied with how you've positioned them on the tree, a pre-lit Christmas tree could be the answer. 

Pre-lit artificial trees are available with clear, coloured or multicoloured lights, with LED (or, in some cases, incandescent) bulbs that allow different light settings and glows.

Slim (pencil) tree

Slimline artificial Christmas tree

These festive space-savers have a narrower profile than a traditional tree, so you can tuck yours into the corner of the room while giving the illusion of a full-sized tree and leaving space for presents below.

There are even storage-saving pop-up tinsel varieties if you don't have the time, or tolerance, for festive branch-fluffing.

Small (tabletop) tree

Tabletop artificial Christmas tree

Ranging in height from 18 inches to around 2ft tall, a tabletop artificial tree could be the perfect choice if you're after a traditional style without sacrificing space.

These 'mini-me' trees will inject Christmas spirit into your home relatively cheaply and quickly, compared to full-sized varieties; they are even available in pre-lit and snowy or flocked versions, requiring minimal effort.

Pink or coloured trees

Dare to be different with a coloured tree – we found all kinds of colours for sale from mainstream retailers, from black, blue and white to orange, yellow and multicoloured.

At 7ft tall, the John Lewis Pink Mix unlit tree (£229, John Lewis) is perfect for making a statement in a larger room, whether you're 'colour-drenching' with classic pink baubles or going all out with a maximalist look.

It may only have launched this year, but John Lewis Christmas buyer Charlie Murray told us: 'It's already in our top five bestselling trees, so we know it's a style our customers love.' 

Cheaper options include Asda's 3ft pink pre-lit tree for £8, B&Q's 7ft slim/pencil tree in black for £34.99 or The Range's realistic design white and pink gradient tree for £44.99.

Snowy (frosted) tree

Frosted artificial Christmas tree

These have a dusting of artificial snow on their branches to bring a bit of holiday cheer into your home without cold toes and sub-zero temperatures (for even thicker 'snow', choose a 'flocked' tree).

'Snow' may fall from the branches from time to time, so be prepared to run a vacuum round the base.

Parasol (half-design) tree

These have branches that start higher up than usual – in some cases, around a metre off the ground. 

With a design not dissimilar to a potted topiary tree, you'll have plenty of space underneath for bulky gifts and enough clearance for keeping decorations away from children and curious cats.

Half tree

Not to be confused with half-design trees, these are quite literally a vertical half tree that lies flat against a wall – for example, the Woodland Pine half tree with hinged branches (£44.99, Christmas Tree World).

The upside is that it can save you space (and in some cases without even compromising on the number of fronds for your favourite decorations); the downside is, you might want to secure it to a wall to avoid a 'Timber!' scenario on Christmas Day.

Supermarket Christmas delivery slots are opening – when can you book yours? Tesco, Sainsbury's, Morrisons and Asda have revealed when you can book

How much does an artificial Christmas tree cost?

If you're looking to keep costs down, you'll find plenty of artificial trees in the £20-50 bracket (we found several 6ft green ones for around the £20 mark; read on for more information).

However, depending on your budget, you can spend hundreds (or even thousands) of pounds on an artificial tree, or go to the other end of the scale for and buy one for under a tenner.

As you might expect, the cheaper offerings tend to be smaller and might not look as realistic as pricier ones, although once loaded with decorations and festooned with lights, you may not care what it looks like underneath.

Where to buy an artificial Christmas tree

Our research indicates that Argos, Asda, Balsam Hill, Homebase and John Lewis are among the most popular retailers that sell artificial Christmas trees.

We've picked out a popular 6ft tree from each retailer*; plus, we provide a round-up of where to buy the cheapest 6ft traditional-style artificial tree for Christmas 2024.

Argos Home 6ft Pencil tree (£25)

This tree has 297 tips, but with a footprint of just 60cm (around 23 inches), it's an ideal space-saver that gives the impression of a bigger tree (note: stand width is around 46cm).

It isn't pre-lit, but this gives you the chance to personalise it with your own string of lights (snow-tipped version available for £30).

There are around 150 artificial trees of varying shapes, colours and sizes available from Argos Habitat this year, with prices starting at £5 and going up to £400.

Asda 6ft Green & White Slim Snowy Pre-Lit tree (£35)

This slim, snowy tree has a generous 340 tips to heap with decorations.

It's also pre-lit with 100 lights, and comes with a foldable metal stand for stowing away until next year.

Whether you're after a traditional green tree or a minimalist twig tree, Asda's collection covers a range of tastes and budget – prices range from £8 up to £399.99 for a 7ft tree with an app to create light effects.

Balsam Hill 6ft Royal Blue Spruce with LED clear lights (£369)

The premium price of this tree gets you features that include a branch tip count of 1,483-plus, 550 lights and tree stand, as well as gloves to protect you while you shape your tree.

The Royal Blue Spruce comes in a range of sizes and is also available unlit or with lighting options including an LED colour and clear light version and a 'twinkly light show' offering a multicoloured display.

Balsam Hill's realistic trees may well be on your list if you're splurging this Christmas, with prices from  £129 to £2,799 for a 12ft tree with a huge 7,226-plus tip count (you may need to order more baubles).

Homebase 6ft Scandinavian Pine Pre-Lit tree (£160)

Not the cheapest six-footer, but for your money you're getting 719 cashmere-tipped branches (real cashmere is used to give the fronds a more realistic appearance).

It's also pre-lit with 180 warm white LED lights with seven light functions.​​​​

Homebase's range is mainly traditional green or snowy varieties, including some pre-lit and slim versions, with prices ranging from £16 for a tabletop tree to £600 for a 10ft pre-lit Pembroke Spruce.

John Lewis 6ft Fireside Unlit tree (£99)

This classic, conical-shaped artificial tree has bushy branches close to the trunk for extra volume, but finer needles towards the ends of its 735 tips.

It has a maximum diameter of 70cm, which may be ideal if you're after a traditional-looking tree but without too much 'spread'.

As well as traditional types of artificial trees, John Lewis covers off different tastes and styles with coloured, twig, potted and outdoor trees, with prices ranging from £45 up to £579

* Bestsellers or highest rated according to retailer websites when we looked on 24 October 2024.

Find out which retailers are rated highly by Which? members with our expert guide on the best and worst shops.

Where to buy the cheapest 6ft traditional artificial tree

If you're not fussed about fancy features and are looking for a traditional-style green artificial tree without lights, there are some bargains out there. Here's what we found:

You can find artificial trees for as little as £8, although these tend to be smaller and less realistic-looking close up but once you've dressed it up with decorations and lights, you may find this isn't a problem for you.

What size artificial tree should I get?

Setting up an artificial Christmas tree

Ideally, your tree should have impact without it overwhelming the room, which is why measuring matters rather than guesswork – here's what to consider before buying:

  • How wide is it at the bottom? Note down the base circumference from the manufacturer and draw a to-scale template on some paper if you find the figures hard to visualise.
  • Will the tree be too tall for the room? When it comes to height, the tip of your artificial Christmas tree should be around 20-30cm below the ceiling. The average ceiling height in a UK house is around 2.4 metres, or 8ft.
  • Does total tree height include the stand? Tree height is usually measured from the floor (bottom of the stand) to the highest branch tip, but this may be different if you end up using a different stand so factor this in.
  • Is there space for a topper? Whether it's a star, an angel or something else, the last thing you need is to be paying for a tall tree, only to find you're having to bend or even cut the top off it to accommodate the topper.

How to store an artificial Christmas tree

Storing an artificial Christmas tree

When it's time to take down the tree, remove all ornaments, lights and decorations.

If you have a pre-lit tree, untangle the wires and use cable ties or string to prevent them bunching – it may be a laborious job but your future self will thank you for it.

Artificial trees generally come in sections, so disconnect each piece starting from the top, folding the branches where necessary.

Some artificial trees have colour-coded sections so you can tell them apart, but you may want to label them if yours doesn't have this feature for ease of assembly next year.

Put the disassembled tree in a storage bag (some artificial trees come with their own) or back in its box, though this may require you to bend some of the branches. 

Store in a cool spot away from direct sunlight so the branches don't become discoloured.

Real vs fake Christmas trees: which is better for the environment?

The Carbon Trust says there is 'No one right answer' to this question and that the answer depends on the tree, your plans for reusing it and the options for disposing of it. Here are some suggestions:

  • Get as much life out of your fake tree as possible. A fake tree used over 7-20 years (depending on weight and materials) is better for reducing emissions than buying a new, commercially grown tree each year.
  • Choose a slow-grown real tree. Those grown slowly and without the use of fertiliser are better than those grown intensively.
  • Source your tree locally. This is better than those with higher transport emissions, so check to see if a tree is certified by the Forest Stewardship Council.
  • Buy a potted tree to use next year. Those with roots can be reused, thereby spreading the carbon footprint over multiple years by potentially avoiding transport emissions. If you're using a tree rental service, choose one that's as close to you as possible.
  • Think about how you dispose of your real tree. The way you dispose of your Christmas tree can also have a big impact on its carbon footprint - the Carbon Trust has suggestions to help you do this responsibly. 

Can you recycle an artificial Christmas tree?

Because of the combination of materials used (eg plastic and metal), you can't recycle an artificial Christmas tree so if there's still life in it, donate it for resale.

Some manufacturers offer artificial trees that are made from recycled materials. For example, Balsam Hill's reNEW collection is made from 30% recycled or plant-based plastic.

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