The best artificial Christmas trees that look like the real thing

Balsam Hill is nearly synonymous with realistic artificial trees, and for good reason. It makes full trees with thousands of branch tips that make a beautiful home for your Christmas ornaments and lights. For the truly particular, Balsam Hill offers a branch sample kit to preview their offerings before you commit; the purchase price will be applied to your tree. The 6.5-foot Fraser Fir has three hefty sections chock full of faux needles. While there are some bristly PVC branches near the pole to help fill out the tree, the majority of the tips are more realistic PE. These don't take nearly as much arranging as the PVCs. 

Setup took around an hour and a half. I was impressed by how the branches overlapped each other to minimize sparse spots. All those branches make the tree beautiful and full but also heavy. As I dragged it from room to room, I could feel its full 39 pounds. Unlike other trees I tested, I only had to plug this one into the wall instead of attaching different light sections together. This made setup easier and meant I didn't have to hide garish tags. 

Balsam Hill includes a sturdy canvas mesh storage bag and a separate bag for the tree stand. You also get two pairs of gloves, which I found helpful because some of the needles were a bit scratchy. 

The branches did a great job of supporting lightweight ornaments but depressed a fair amount with a very heavy one. However, the needles held onto string fasteners tightly, making them very secure but difficult to remove during disassembly. 

The Aspen Fir from Puleo International is a stately-looking tree that's pre-lit with 500 incandescent lights and costs under $200. Puleo includes instructions for how to fluff the tree and setup took about 45 minutes. There are a good number of branch tips for a tree this size and price. As with many artificial trees, there are gaps where sections meet. The branches are a mix of bristle-like PVC and more realistic PE tips.

These needles are rubbery and a bit waxy feeling, which made arranging the branches without gloves no problem. They're also incredibly sturdy, holding up heavy ornaments with no trouble. One of the most unique features of this tree was the slight variation in the PE needles' color, which adds a bit more realism to the tree. Similarly, the pole is coated with a rough brown substance to mimic bark. This coating shed a bit out of the box and when I grasped the tree by the pole to move it around. 

The included lights are pre-strung and wound around branches to hold them securely in place. It could make arranging some of the branches a bit tricky. The cord is also fairly short, so you must place it close to an outlet. I also had to plug in the different light strings.

What makes the Fraser Fir from King of Christmas unique is the multi-functional lights. Using the foot pedal, you can toggle through nine light settings, including a warm white, multi-color, and a few patterns. Some even blink on and off. It also comes with a remote that you can use in place of a foot pedal to turn the tree on and off.

While it doesn't offer as much variety as something like Twinkly's smart Christmas lights, you don't need an app. The tree uses the company's Power Pole feature, so the lights automatically connect when you add each section to the tree: no fussing with plugs or stringing. 

While our top pick from Balsam Hill is also pre-lit, this one from King of Christmas features 150 more lights: 750 to Balsam Hill's 600 for the 6.5 foot tree. Since the King of Christmas tree has slightly fewer branch tips than Balsam Hill, that means there are more lights per branch. The lights also go all the way into the back of the branches, giving the tree the appearance that it's lit from within. Our one complaint is that the colored lights setting features a bit too much blue.

To assemble the tree, you'll need to pull down the hinged branches and separate and fluff them. Once the tree was fluffed and decorated, we didn't spot any gaps at all.

For a high-quality tree at a midrange cost, Home Depot's Home Accent Holiday trees look realistic and offer great value. We looked at the Pre-Lit LED Jackson Noble Artificial Christmas Tree, which boasts a beautiful lighting scheme.

The setup instructions were easy to follow, but assembly is definitely a two-person job as some sections of the tree can be rather heavy—and to cut down on the time to arrange and fluff the tree. Once assembled, the tree is very sturdy and won't be easily toppled by a rambunctious child or pet.

It looks pretty realistic. It's definitely got a more manicured tree look, but the needles have a natural appearance. There are some gaps between the branches, and those gaps are a bit uneven, which lends to their realistic nature. I also like that I can't see the center pole.

The branches support nearly all ornaments, even heavier blown-glass bulbs. However, the top of the tree is weak, and placing a heavy tree topper requires some rigging. I ultimately lay my topper against the top branches.

The Jackson Noble is prelit with 1,200 color-changing micro dot LEDs that are controlled with a foot pedal or a remote so you can toggle through any of the 9 light settings, including a flashing and a fade setting. The white lights have a medium-warm glow, and the colored lights are nice and bright. I loved that I could switch between the two and my tree took on a totally new vibe. The white is very classy. The colors are bold and festive. I also love how seamlessly the lights blend into the tree, and they're evenly dispersed. If one goes out, it will not affect the rest of the tree, either. Plus, I didn't have any issues with the wires catching on anything during assembly or while I decorated the tree.

The best artificial Christmas trees usually come pre-lit, and it can be tough to customize with different lighting. The King of Christmas 7.5' Yorkshire Fir Artificial Christmas Tree Unlit is a great option for those who want a big, classic-looking tree that's a blank canvas. This tree comes in various heights but won't be much wider than 45 inches in diameter, making it an excellent option for small apartments.

The absence of lights removes the hassle of unwinding stray cords, and it was easy to customize this tree to fit our own decorating style. We wrapped snowflake lights around it, which were easy to arrange and visible on the branches. 

With over 2,000 branch tips, the tree has a dense, full look that can sometimes be lacking in fake trees. Once unfurled, the branches held their shape even when we placed our heaviest, half-pound ornaments on them. Decorations looked attractive on the dark green needles of this tree, although in bright, direct light, the needles appeared very artificial. 

We also liked the density of needles concealing the tree's pole. While there are small gaps in the foliage, waxy green needles a shade darker than the exterior needles covered the tree rod. These needles camouflaged the pole well, making it less noticeable than a standard black one. 

Assembling this tree was quick, but at 32 pounds, it's on the heavier side. The limbs are attached individually to the tree, and they need to be pulled down for assembly. A few of the limbs fell and hit our tester when they arranged the branches for decoration. Some branches did fall off during assembly, but it was simple to reattach them to the pole. This product also includes a storage bag, and the tree packed away with no trouble. Overall, this tree is a good value for the price and would be a nice addition to any home during the holiday season. —Sophia Carlisle

Flocked trees are decorated to look as though heavy snow just fell. They're more laden with snow than frosted trees but aren't as unrealistic as white trees. Puleo International's fire strikes a nice balance. The tree also has 350 incandescent lights pre-strung, which offer a warm brightness.

Though this tree has less-realistic branches, the flocked look softens the prickly appearance of PVC. If you prefer a more lifelike flocked tree, Puleo makes one with both PE and PVC branches for about $50 more. This is a newer tree, so it doesn't have many user reviews yet.

At just 41 inches in diameter, this slim tree can fit in tight spaces. It has a good number of branch tips for a slender tree. Each of the tree's sections includes a hanging tag so it's clear which order they go in. Before you attach a new section, you'll want to arrange and separate the branches, looking for gaps. This isn't a tree we tested, so we don't know how full it will look. The instructional video gives good tips on how to accomplish a fuller look. 

For tight spaces, National Tree Company makes a slim version of our pick for best pre-lit tree. This size of the popular Downswept Douglas Fir is perfect for corners. The 6.5-foot tree is 30 inches in diameter, which is an inch narrower than the 4-foot tree we tested. 

Like the full-size Douglas, this slim model has dual-color LEDs you can change with a foot pedal. It offers some nice variety instead of all-white or steady multi-color displays. This tree lacks National Tree Company's PowerConnect feature, so you'll have to connect individual strings of lights. 

It doesn't have as many branch tips as other slim trees we've seen at this height. But both PE and PVC branches are included. As you assemble the tree, it's helpful to separate branches before adding a new section. National Tree Company has a useful video that shows the whole assembly process. As with the wider version, some reviewers have noticed gaps in some spaces.

Since white trees aren't meant to be realistic, they lend themselves to fun, kitschy, or glamorous decorations. The white Fraser fir from Puleo offers a good amount of branch tips, especially for its affordable price.

This is a PVC tree, which means its needles look like individual strips of plastic. It was difficult to find a white tree with more realistic PE branches that resembled tapered or rounded needles. The pre-lit tree is strung with incandescent bulbs with white strings to help them blend in. You must attach the lights for each tree section, so it's not as easy to assemble as some trees. 

We didn't test this tree, so we're unsure how full it looks or about other aspects of its assembly. Because it is all PVC, it will take more fluffing and separating than trees that are a mix of the two. PE branches tend to need less arranging to look full and realistic. To make it look as full as possible, alternate moving branches to either side and up, then check for gaps. You can also watch Puleo International's how-to video to make sure you're assembling your tree correctly.

Available in several heights, this slim tree should fit on many porches or balconies if you prefer to keep it covered. It has the less realistic PVC branches closer to the pole and molded, tapered PE needles on the outside. 

If you're going to put a tree outside, you'll want to ensure the lights are UL-listed for the outdoors, as Balsam Hill's tree is. There's only one light type for this tree, clear LEDs with a warmer candlelight glow. This is an Easy Plug tree, Balsam Hill's feature that means you don't have to connect individual strings of lights. Instead, you just plug the bottom strand into an outlet. 

To shape the tree, you'll want to mix pulling the branches to the sides and up. Balsam Hill has a helpful video that shows how branches should look when properly fluffed. While we haven't tested this tree, we expect its quality to match Balsam Hill's other trees.

Balsam Hill says it also has a UV coating to resist fading from sunlight. If you're not displaying it on a level surface, you'll likely want to use the included stakes for a sturdier hold. 

National Tree Company's North Valley Spruce is a short, narrow tree that's great for bedrooms or smaller apartments. While no one will mistake this tree for something you picked up on the farm, it's durable and looks nice covered in ornaments and lights.

I've had this tree for two years. I like that it's quick to assemble, with just two sections to put together. Fluffing the tree takes a while. You'll want to stand back every now and then to look for gaps, but instructions explain how best to arrange the branches.

The branches are the less realistic PVC and some gaps exist, especially where the sections join. The pole is wrapped in needles, so it blends in with the branches. They're easy to maneuver and hold heavy ornaments well. Because it's fairly small, the lights I added, a 100-count string, fit almost perfectly.

At 31 inches wide, it's a fairly slim tree and light enough to move around even when fully assembled. It compresses fairly well, so I've been able to store it in its original box. 

Size: You'll want to consider both the height and diameter of your tree. If you have high ceilings but limited floor space, pencil trees are tall but narrow.  

Polyethylene (PE) or polyvinyl chloride (PVC): PE branches are molded and feel more rubbery. They look more like individual needles attached to a branch. PVC branches are more bristle-like, with individual strips of plastic fastened to the branch. PE is more realistic but also heavier and pricier. 

Branch tip number: A higher number of branch tips will mean a fuller-looking tree. If the tree has a mix of PE and PVC branches, more PE needles will look more realistic. 

Unlit or pre-lit: Pre-lit trees are easier to set up, especially if they automatically connect different sections via the trunk so you don't have to hook up various strings. On the other hand, unlit trees give you a bit more flexibility on the type of lights you add. 

Tree variety: Common artificial Christmas tree types include fir, spruce, and pine. Which you choose mainly depends on your aesthetic preferences. You might like the pyramid shape of a Douglas fir or the hue of a blue spruce, for example.

Safety: Pre-lit artificial trees should be tested by Underwriters Laboratories (UL) to ensure safety. You can look for UL symbol on the box and the retailers and manufacturers' product pages.  

Warranty: Tree manufacturers often offer warranties on their products for between 2 and 10 years.

To test artificial trees, we looked at a mix of realism, assembly time and difficulty, ease of connecting lights for pre-lit trees, and how branches held up when decorated with ornaments. For untested trees, we relied on brands that I had tested and viewed in person at retailers in addition to looking at reviews and specs like number of branch tips, size, and assembly style. 

Assembly: We timed how long it took me to set up each tree, including attaching sections and fluffing the branches. We also noted how easy it was to do alone, particularly if the sections were heavy. 

Realism: We noted the different types of branches and how realistic they looked. Some trees have variations in needle color or faux bark to make them look more life-like. 

Fullness: Trees with fewer branches tend to leave gaps. We looked at the trees after we fully fluffed them to look for spaces. They were often where sections fit together because you need a place to grasp the pole.

Lights: We looked at how easy it was to assemble pre-lit trees. Some didn't require anything more than plugging in to an outlet. For others, we needed to connect several strings of lights. We also paid attention to the spacing of the lights and their glow. 

Durability: Our tester has a 4-ounce dragon that serves as a tree topper. We used it to see how well branches can hold heavier ornaments. Additionally, we moved each tree from room to room to see how likely they were to topple. 

Who makes the best artificial Christmas tree?

Balsam Hill is often regarded as one of the best artificial tree companies. Its trees are lush, with thousands of PE branches and some PVC ones to add to the fullness. We also like many of Puleo International's and National Tree Company's offerings.  

What is the best type of artificial Christmas tree?

More-realistic trees will have a high number of PE branches for a dense, full look. The type of tree, whether spruce, fir, or pine, is a matter of preference.

What's the most real-looking artificial Christmas tree? 

Trees with a lot of PE branches will look more realistic than PVC trees. Needles with subtle color variations also look more life-like, but no tree will completely fool anyone up close. 

Are expensive artificial Christmas trees worth it? 

The main benefit we've found with top-of-the-line trees is that they're fuller with fewer gaps between branches. You can still make a less-expensive tree look beautiful with lights and decorations though.

Fluffing your tree is the key to getting a realistic look. For a 6- to 7-foot tree, you should expect to spend one to two hours fluffing your tree the first time. Future fluffing should go faster since the branch tips will already be separated. Here is the best way to fluff a fake Christmas tree:

1. Fully assemble your tree. Some experts recommend fluffing each section as you assemble, but we think it's better to fluff once the tree is fully assembled, so you can easily spot gaps, especially where the sections meet each other.
2. Make sure each branch is pulled as far away from the base as possible. This will help cover gaps between each layer of branches.
3. Working branch by branch, pull the tips of each branch in separate directions starting from the back of the branch and moving forward. Fan out the branch tips as much as possible in all directions; for example, if the branch contains four tips, pull one each to the left, right, top and bottom. You may want to wear gloves for this part, as it can be tough on the hands.
4. Continue fluffing each branch as you move around the tree. It doesn't matter if you start at the top or the bottom, but you should fluff all the branches in one row before you move on to the next.
5. Once all the branches are fluffed, stand back and look for any gaps. You can fill in gaps by adjusting the position of the branch tips. Larger gaps can be filled with ornaments or other decorations.