The 8 Most Realistic Artificial Christmas Trees, Tested in Our Lab

Best Overall: National Tree Company 7 1/2' Feel Real Vienna Fir Tree With 750 Dual Color(R) LED Lights

4.6

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Our Ratings

• Ease of Assembly
  4/5
• Tree Appearance
  4/5
• Lighting Quality
  5/5
• Stability
  5/5
• Ease of Storage
  5/5

After 16 hours of testing, this tree was our clear testing winner for the best overall category. The 7.5-foot pre-lit tree is a classic style that received high scores from our testers across the board, including the incredibly important appearance category.

Like a real tree, this design is on the heavier side, and branches can hang low and wide—it took two of our testers to assemble this one, lowering its score slightly. That being said, we appreciated the comprehensive instructions that explained how best to shape the branches, especially since it required a bit of fluffing when set up. 

This tree received high scores for its overall look and lighting. The lighting is designed with PowerConnect technology—a through-the-pole lighting system that reduces the set-up time for the 750 pre-strung Dual Color lights. The lights, which are both warm white and multicolor, are controlled by a foot pedal and have nine different light colors and actions, so you can switch up your decorating style year to year without getting a new tree.

It’s worth mentioning that our testers rated National Tree Company trees highly in general, so even if you don’t want this particular model, other trees from this brand (including a few others on our list) would make a great addition to your home.

Best Realistic Artificial Christmas Tree: National Tree Company Feel Real Nordic Spruce

4

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Our Ratings

• Ease of Assembly
  5/5
• Tree Appearance
  5/5
• Lighting Quality
  3/5
• Stability
  4/5
• Ease of Storage
  3/5

One of the best parts about artificial Christmas trees is that you can find options that look and feel just like the real thing. Take the National Tree Company's Feel Real Nordic Spruce, for example, which earned a perfect score for its realistic appearance. 

When it came to both assembly and disassembly, we found it helpful to have another person on hand as the pieces are somewhat heavy. The tree comes with instructions and even links to an online video. We didn’t need to view the video, but we appreciated that the option is there for further assistance if necessary. The instructions recommended that you shape the branches as you go, a tip that came in handy while we assembled. Two testers were also needed to remove the top section of the tree for storage, and it was difficult to put back in its box, earning the tree a lower score for disassembly. 

The tree is made with Feel Real branch tip technology; we agreed it was realistic, noting the color and texture of the branches as the main factors, earning this tree a perfect score for appearance. 

Throughout the tree, there are 900 pre-strung UL-listed clear lights that add a nice finishing touch. The lights only have one setting and don’t include an on/off foot switch like some of the other options. Keep this in mind if you consider that an important element for a tree.

Best Pre-Lit Artificial Christmas Tree: National Tree Company Artificial Downswept Douglas Fir Christmas

4

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Our Ratings

• Ease of Assembly
  4/5
• Tree Appearance
  5/5
• Lighting Quality
  5/5
• Stability
  4/5
• Ease of Storage
  2/5

If your top priority is the appearance of your tree, consider one like a real Douglas Fir. This one scored high (five out of five) because it looks like the real thing. Another wow factor is the tree's lights, which have a foot pedal to make it easy to turn them on and off. There are also ten colors and actions (think: blinking and fading) to change the scheme based on your holiday style.

Don’t worry if this is your first time assembling an artificial tree; the instructions in the box were very comprehensive and gave good tips on how to fluff effectively. However, connecting the lights took our tester some time. The 7.5-foot option was a little heavy for a solo setup, so we recommend having another person on hand. Setup clocked in at over seven minutes due to how much the tree weighed.

One of our other favorite features that stood out from the other 12 trees we tested was how the branches unfurled. They moved in many directions, and it was very easy to fluff them up to their “real-life” look. Many of the other options needed elbow grease to pull the branches apart to their desired shape. 

The major downside was the disassembly of the tree, which scored a two out of five. Because this tree was so full and heavy, it required two people to stuff it back into its box.

Best Decorated Artificial Christmas Tree: Home Accents Holiday Westwood Pre-lit Artificial Christmas Tree

3.8

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Our Ratings

• Ease of Assembly
  4/5
• Tree Appearance
  3/5
• Lighting Quality
  3/5
• Stability
  4/5
• Ease of Storage
  5/5

If you don’t have a collection of ornaments or just don’t have the time to decorate, a pre-decorated tree, like the Home Accents Holiday Westwood White Fir Pre-Lit Artificial Christmas Tree, is a great option.

During testing, we appreciated how easy it was to assemble and disassemble the tree; it felt effortless and was done in minutes. Though the tree earned a score of three out of five for appearance, the pine cones, faux berries, variated greenery, and dispersed lighting were a welcomed addition.

The tree includes 650 micro fairy LED lights that add to the festive look of the tree. The lighting earned a score of three out of five, as you’ll need to ensure that the arrows on the connecting pieces line up—otherwise, the tree won’t correctly illuminate. Since there were no instructions included, it’s easy to miss that detail, which can extend the time you spend on assembly. Activating the lighting by the foot pedal is easy to control once set up. 

Compared to the other trees tested, we noticed this design had a slim profile, making it ideal for apartments and smaller spaces. One downside is that it didn’t feel very stable overall, so make sure it’s secure on a flat surface once you set it up.

Editor's Note: Due to high demand, this tree is currently out of stock. Until then, we recommend checking out another highly-rated tree from the same brand known for its realistic features, the National Tree Company Feel Real Nordic Spruce.

Best Flocked Artificial Christmas Tree: Puleo Pre-lit Incandescent Aspen Green Fir

3.4

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Our Ratings

• Ease of Assembly
  4/5
• Tree Appearance
  4/5
• Lighting Quality
  1/5
• Stability
  3/5
• Ease of Storage
  5/5

With Puleo’s Flocked Aspen Fir Pre-Lit Christmas Tree, you get realistic flocking that’ll make your home a winter wonderland. Assembly and disassembly both received high scores as we found it was fairly easy to lift each piece out of the box to assemble and put it back in the box for storage. We faced some challenges with the lighting, however, which had to be connected between each section throughout the tree. We were able to troubleshoot it, thanks to a 16-page packet of instructions. When disassembling, be sure to disconnect each wire before pulling the section out to avoid damage. 

Once set up, we liked the look of the flocking but noticed the faux snow did shed quite a bit—something to keep in mind when choosing a tree. Overall, it wasn’t the fullest-looking tree, and the lighting could have been brighter, but the realistic-looking faux snow was enough to make up for that.

Best Slim Artificial Christmas Tree: Treetopia Kennedy Fir 7.5

3.6

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Our Ratings

• Ease of Assembly
  4/5
• Tree Appearance
  4/5
• Lighting Quality
  4/5
• Stability
  2/5
• Ease of Storage
  4/5

If you’re decorating a smaller space or want a tree with a slimmer profile, consider Treetopia’s Kennedy Fir, which earned high scores for its ease of assembly, disassembly, and appearance. 

We thought the assembly was simple (it took just four minutes), and we appreciated how once each section was secured, the branches easily fell and fluffed out nicely on their own. The tree is pre-lit with 600 clear dura-lit lights (regular mini-lights) controlled by an on/off foot switch. The lights are made with microchips in each socket, so bulbs will still illuminate even if some are broken or missing.

We faced some challenges setting up the lighting, as each section needed to be plugged in individually. The provided metal stand included a key screw for added security, though the instructions don’t note how far to insert it—we tried a few different lengths before we got it right. 

When taking the tree apart, the tangled light wires were a challenge to place back in the box, which lowered our lighting score a bit. However, we appreciated that the tree comes double boxed for better storage, which comes in handy when one box gets damaged or breaks. 

Best Unlit Artificial Christmas Tree: Puleo International 7-Foot Un-Lit Fraser Fir Artificial Christmas Tree

3.8

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Our Ratings

• Ease of Assembly
  5/5
• Tree Appearance
  2/5
• Stability
  3/5
• Ease of Storage
  5/5

If you’re looking for a more minimal tree that you can make your own, the Puleo Fraser Fir Un-Lit Artificial Christmas Tree is a great option. The simple tree is free of any lighting or decor, so you can decorate it with your own style—and even change it up year after year.

Assembly for this tree was quick, but the sections felt heavy and required a lot of fluffing before it was ready for display. We also would have appreciated it if the tree came with a set of gloves, as some of the sprigs scratched at the testers’ hands and arms during assembly and disassembly. Though the provided instructions were vague, disassembly was quick as well, earning the tree a perfect score.

Considering the necessary fluffing, it’s not ideal that the branches are somewhat difficult to move, so keep that in mind when you’re designating time for assembly. Nonetheless, we appreciate that this is an option for those who would like to completely customize the look of their tree, including the lights.