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The best artificial Christmas trees for 2025, tried and tested
No fuss, no mess, just sparkle
Tested by Blossom BoothroydHomes Testing Manager
The world is divided between those who insist on a real Christmas tree and those who prefer the convenience of an artificial Christmas tree. If you go faux, you can skip the struggle of wrestling a whole tree into your car, vacuuming up dropped needles every day, or figuring out how to recycle it once the festivities are over.
The best artificial Christmas trees can also offer great value for money. While spending a few hundred pounds upright might seem steep, if you opt for a good quality tree and look after it well, you can reuse it for years to come.
Given their price tag, the Good Housekeeping Institute set out to find the artificial trees that are truly worth the investment this year.
Best artificial Christmas trees for 2025
Cox & Cox Opulent Pine Pre-Lit Christmas Tree - 7ft
Read review
To test the best fake Christmas trees, we turn the Good Housekeeping Institute into a festive grotto! We time how long it takes to assemble each tree and fluff up all the branches, before decorating each one and then finally packing it away in its box again. And, yes, it was exhausting but magical! You can find out more about how we test below, but these are our winning trees for Christmas 2025.
Pros
- High quality packaging
- Good distribution of branches with realistic colouring
Cons
- Tricky to store away
Score: 90/100
Artificial Christmas trees don’t come much more high-end than Balsam Hill, and it didn’t disappoint. This bushy, pre-lit tree looks realistic and was up in six minutes, sitting securely in its base. Our testers liked the fact the tree rotates – especially as it's heavy to manoeuvre – which made decorating a breeze (and ensured no bare patches).
All our baubles stayed in place well, although our star topper tilted ever so slightly. However, the pre-lit lights worked a treat – they were expertly strung to avoid any visible wires and cast a warm glow over the tree. It took a while to put this tree away though, mainly because the branches were hard to squeeze back into the box. That’s a small niggle, though – 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 available |
| Number of tips | 1483 |
| Gloves | Yes |
| Storage | Bag included |
The White Company 6ft Pre Lit Grand Spruce Christmas Tree
Pros
- Taking down and putting away took less than five minutes
- A good size with a realistic look
Cons
- Difficult to fluff up
- Packaging isn’t overly sturdy so you might need to invest in a tree box after a few years
Score: 82/100
Taking just two minutes and 40 seconds to put up, our expert was very impressed by this fuss-free design. The tree comes in three parts, which simply slot together, and the branches are hinged so they instantly drop into place.
Our only bugbear with this feature was that the hinges stopped us being able to bend or spread the branches apart. Lights and decorations can easily cover any sparse patches in the tree, but the spaced branches left the stand visible, so we recommend investing in a tree skirt if this is an issue.
When it came to decorating, the foliage at the top was strong enough to hold the star upright, but the branches lower down the tree were weighed down slightly by the baubles. That said, if you avoid heavy decorations towards the bottom, that shouldn’t be an issue.
Key specifications
| Height | 6ft |
|---|---|
| Lights | Pre-lit |
| Number of tips | 1559 |
| Gloves | Not included |
| Storage | Store in box |
Pros
- Well-balanced, symmetrical shape
- Both soft and hard bristles were strong enough for decorations
Cons
- A few gaps in the foliage due to the distribution of branches
- The stand isn’t completely hidden by the fluffed branches
Score: 82/100
This impressive tree also has hinged branches to make set-up simple. Fluffing up the branches took longer than with other trees – nearly 15 minutes – due to the size and number of the tips. Once spread apart though, the tree looked beautiful.
The foliage kept our star upright and burning bright on top; however, adding two branches gave it a more stable finish. The pre-lit lights have eight functions and a timer that switches them on and turns them off again after eight hours.
Putting the tree away was easy and we appreciated the large box which meant we didn’t have to spend time squeezing it in.
Key specifications
| Height | 6ft, 7ft |
|---|---|
| Lights | Pre-lit |
| Number of tips | 2736 |
| Gloves | Not included |
| Storage | Store in box |
Pros
- Quick to take down
- Timer on the lights is very easy to use
Cons
- Difficult to move when assembled
- Expensive
Score: 80/100
With “Opulent” in the name, we expected something grand – and this tree delivered thanks to its impressive size. While set-up took longer than planned (almost 19 minutes), it scored full marks for the even and realistic distribution of the branches once fluffed.
Our main challenge came when connecting the lights within the tree, as it was tricky to find the right points with so many branches in the way. So, we recommend finding the connectors before assembling so they’re all lined up. Although the foliage at the top lacked the strength to hold our star completely straight, our decorations hung nicely on the sturdy branches.
Key specifications
| Height | 7ft, 8ft |
|---|---|
| Lights | Pre-lit |
| Number of tips | Unspecified |
| Gloves | Not included |
| Storage | Store in box |
Pros
- Takes less than 5 minutes to disassemble
- Sturdy once built
Cons
- The box isn’t very robust so won’t be a permanent storage solution
- The colour of the softer branches is quite vibrant, making it look less realistic than other trees
Score: 79/100
This great value tree has a beautiful ‘upswept’ look. Assembly took just over 13 minutes – but most of that time was spent fluffing the branches – and all the tree parts easily slotted into one another. Plus, it’s light at 8kg, which makes it easy to move around once built.
The tree isn’t as full as others on this list, but the branches still gave it a good shape and were thick enough to support baubles without weighing them down. The star on top was a little wonky!
Key specifications
| Height | 6ft |
|---|---|
| Lights | Unlit - recommended to use 480 lights |
| Number of tips | 1951 |
| Gloves | Not included |
| Storage | Store in box |
Christow Pre-Lit Nordmann Fir Christmas Tree
Pros
- The branches are easy to bend into place
- Colour is authentic, giving it a realistic look
Cons
- Distribution of branches isn’t completely symmetrical
- Took some adjusting to get the star straight
Score: 78/100
Available in three different sizes, this pre-lit tree is a great pick for a range of households. Like some of the other trees in this list, it has three parts that slot together and branches on a hinged mechanism for speedy set-up.
We love that the lights can be switched between warm white and multi-coloured at the touch of a button as this should save some arguments about this year’s festive colour scheme. Plus, with 11 light settings, you can create the perfect glow.
The branches are quite widely spaced so there were a few gaps throughout the tree, and we did notice a little drooping when we popped the decorations on, but overall, this is a good, affordable buy.
Key specifications
| Height | 6ft, 7ft, 8ft |
|---|---|
| Lights | Pre-lit |
| Number of tips | 902 |
| Gloves | Not included |
| Storage | Store in box |
Pros
- Quick to build and take down
- Quite lightweight, making it easy to manoeuvre when built
Cons
- Some of the smaller branches can’t be spread out or bent into position
- The box isn’t overly sturdy so not ideal for permanent storage
Score: 78/100
At less than £100, this is an excellent pick for anyone on a budget. The snow-tipped, six-foot tree was quick and easy to assemble, taking under eight minutes to build and fluff up thanks to its thick, dense branches.
These do sit far off the ground though, so none of them cover up the stand. They were strong enough to hold an array of decorations though – we had to wiggle some decorations on past the dense pines. That said, this did make it tricky to get the star on as the branches were too wide to for its base.
Key specifications
| Height | 6ft |
|---|---|
| Lights | Un-lit |
| Number of tips | Unspecified |
| Gloves | Not included |
| Storage | Store in box |
Pros
- Nicely symmetrical
- The box is sturdy, making it ideal for storage
Cons
- The tree needs to be squashed down quite a bit to fit it back in the box
- The branches don’t cover the stand
Score: 77/100
This was one of the quicker trees to assemble, taking less than five minutes to construct and fluff up the branches. Like the Dunelm tree above, the branches are quite thick so it’s tricky to spread or bend them into different places – but on the upside, their density helps to reduce any gaps.
We had to fold one branch over to make a secure holder for the star and a few baubles drooped when hung on the branches, but, overall, the effect looked magical. And taking the tree down again took less than three minutes, earning it extra brownie points.
Key specifications
| Height | 6ft, 7ft |
|---|---|
| Lights | Pre-lit |
| Number of tips | 762 |
| Gloves | Not included |
| Storage | Store in box |
How we test artificial Christmas trees
To find the best artificial Christmas trees, our experts consider how simple each one is to set up, as well as its overall appearance, sturdiness and how easy it is to store away.
Our testers first assemble each tree, timing how long it takes to put every branch into place and fluff them up. They award points for 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, seeing how well it supports everything from baubles to a star on the top. They knock into it too, to see if it’s stable enough to suit busy households. They also try moving it 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 next year.
Why you should trust the Good Housekeeping Institute
Good Housekeeping comes into its own at Christmas, thanks to its delicious triple-tested recipes, GHI Taste Approved Christmas food and drink, and expert gift guides.
Christmas trees are an equally serious business, and our reviews are overseen by our homes testing manager Blossom Boothroyd, who has devised rigorous protocols to ensure each meets our very high standards.
Our senior homes and lifestyle writer, Megan Geall, is responsible for making sure we’ve tested the must-have brands and for turning all the results into helpful reviews. Which means all you have to do is decide on your decorations.
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.
The verdict: What is the best artificial Christmas tree to buy this year?
To deck your halls in style, opt for our winner, the Balsam Hill Royal Blue Spruce. There are plenty of sizes to choose from as well as different light options so you can perfect your Christmas colour scheme. It is pricey though and tends to sell out early!
So, if you need something more affordable that still looks good (and bushy, according to our testers), we recommend the Habitat 6ft Mixed Tip Upswept Christmas Tree, or opt for the Christow Pre-Lit Nordmann Fir Christmas Tree if you’re after a pre-lit option.
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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