Is it worth buying a pre lit Christmas tree?

WWith so many artificial Christmas trees available it is hard to know where to start. Looking at all the trees on the market there are flocked trees, snowy trees, realistic trees, pre-lit trees and unlit trees. Looking specifically at pre-lit artificial Christmas trees and unlit artificial Christmas trees we have looked into the benefits of each to help you make an informed decision on which tree is right for you.

If you’re someone who hates the hassle of untangling lights, then a pre-lit tree could be the way to go. Pre-lit trees are almost ready to go straight out of the box all you have to do is fluff the branches and plug in. However, the lights on a pre-lit tree cannot be moved and they often have less bulbs than if you added your own lights and you almost always only have the choice of one colour – white.

If you think decorating the tree yourself is part of the fun of Christmas, then an unlit tree is perfect for you. You can choose any colour or style of lights you like and place them on the tree how you prefer. However, this does require a lot more effort than a pre-lit tree and can be very time consuming.

A pre-lit tree can work out to be much more cost effective compared to buying a tree and lights separately. Artificial trees are designed to last for many years, however on a pre-lit tree the lights may not last as long, in which case you could be left with a perfectly good tree that has dud lights which are often irreplaceable bulbs, meaning you would have to dress with separate lights anyway.

Should your choice in decorations change or you decide on a new theme from one year to the next, an unlit tree means you can easily swap your lights to match these new themes, a pre-lit tree means you may have to maintain the same colour themes until you opt for a new tree.

We’ve mentioned putting the lights on the tree but is there anything that makes you sadder and grumpier about January than when you have to take the lights off the tree once Christmas is over? With a pre-lit tree, you not only avoid the painstaking task of adding lights before you can decorate properly but you also avoid taking them off, simply unplug and put it back in the box.

But a pre-lit tree tends to be a lot heavier when compared with an unlit tree, so you may have difficulty getting the box back in the loft/on top of the wardrobe or wherever you store your tree.

Whichever you go for, pre-lit or unlit, there are some stunning artificial Christmas trees in either option, so you won’t be disappointed this Christmas.

Is it worth buying a pre lit Christmas tree?

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We've updated this article in November 2022 to ensure the information reflected current prices, features and more. Our top picks, based on testing notes from the Good Housekeeping Institute, remain the same.


If you grew up decorating a real Christmas tree each year — maybe you even cut it down yourself at the nearest tree farm — the thought of going fake can feel like sacrilege. But homeowners who make the switch often get over the nostalgia faster than Santa up the chimney with a nod.

For starters, prices for real trees are expected to go up 5 to 15 percent this year compared to 2021 (according to the latest survey of tree growers conducted by the Real Christmas Tree Board.) Meanwhile your synthetic spruce or fake Douglas fir will pay for itself in a few years! You won’t have to worry about watering your Christmas tree to keep it fresh or vacuuming up pine needles. Fake trees are also less of a fire hazard, and they can be better for the environment, provided you hang on to them for at least a decade. To do that, you’ll need to choose a tree that is made to last — and looks the part with a pleasant shape and convincing needles.

The experts at the Good Housekeeping Institute have been rigorously testing artificial Christmas trees for more than 15 years, and we've seen plenty of duds on the market. But with more homeowners making the switch, fake trees continue to improve in looks and longevity. Even better, you'll find a ton of great deals cropping up on Black Friday, including trees marked down at half the price. Here are the best artificial Christmas trees for 2022, based on our latest tests.

SHOP ALL THE BEST EARLY BLACK FRIDAY DEALS OF 2022

Our top picks:

  • 1

    Is it worth buying a pre lit Christmas tree?

    Best Overall Artificial Christmas Tree

    Vermont White Spruce Balsam Hill

    Read More

  • 2

    Is it worth buying a pre lit Christmas tree?

    Best Value Artificial Christmas Tree

    Carolina Pine Tree National Tree Company

    Read More

  • 3

    Is it worth buying a pre lit Christmas tree?

    Best Realistic Artificial Christmas Tree

    BH Balsam Fir Balsam Hill

    Read More

  • 4

    Is it worth buying a pre lit Christmas tree?

    Best Unlit Artificial Christmas Tree

    Premium Spruce Artificial Holiday Christmas Tree Best Choice Products

    Read More

  • 5

    Is it worth buying a pre lit Christmas tree?

    Best Compact Artificial Christmas Tree

    Fraser Fir Pencil Artificial Christmas Tree Puleo International

    Read More

After reading more about our top picks, learn more about how we test artificial Christmas trees and what to keep in mind while shopping for one. Score even more deals by keeping an eye on all the early Black Friday Christmas tree sales, too.

      1

      Best Overall Artificial Christmas Tree

      Balsam Hill

      Vermont White Spruce

      Product Details

      Sizes4.5 feet-18 feet
      Light OptionsColor + clear LED, unlit, specialty
      Included AccessoriesTree stand, storage bag, extra lights, fluffing gloves
      Listed MaterialsPVC and polyethylene (PE)

      2

      Best Value Artificial Christmas Tree

      National Tree Company

      Carolina Pine Tree

      Product Details

      Sizes5.5 feet-7.5 feet
      Light OptionsClear
      Included AccessoriesTree stand
      Listed MaterialPVC

      3

      Best Realistic Artificial Christmas Tree

      Balsam Hill

      BH Balsam Fir

      Product Details

      Sizes5.5 feet-12 feet
      Light OptionsClear LED, color + clear lED, unlit, clear, specialty
      Included AccessoriesTree stand, storage bag, extra lights, fluffing gloves
      Listed MaterialsPVC and polyethylene (PE)

      4

      Best Unlit Artificial Christmas Tree

      Best Choice Products

      Premium Spruce Artificial Holiday Christmas Tree

      Product Details

      Sizes6 feet-9 feet
      Light OptionsUnlit
      Included AccessoriesTree stand
      Listed MaterialsPVC, Metal

      5

      Best Compact Artificial Christmas Tree

      Puleo International

      Fraser Fir Pencil Artificial Christmas Tree

      Product Details

      Sizes4.5 feet-10 feet
      Light OptionsClear incandescent
      Included AccessoriesTree stand, storage bag, fluffing gloves
      Listed MaterialOther (likely PVC)

      6

      Best Slim Artificial Christmas Tree

      National Tree Company

      Kingswood Fir Artificial Slim Christmas Tree

      Product Details

      Sizes6.5 feet-7.5 feet
      Light OptionsNone
      Included AccessoriesStand
      Listed MaterialsPVC, metal

      7

      Top-Selling Artificial Christmas Tree on Wayfair

      The Twillery Co.

      Jack 6.5' Green Fir Artificial Christmas Tree

      Product Details

      Sizes7 feet
      Light OptionsUnlit
      Included AccessoriesStand
      Lited MaterialsPVC and metal

      8

      Best Tall Artificial Christmas Tree

      National Tree Company

      Dunhill Fir Artificial Full Christmas Tree

      Product Details

      Sizes4 feet-14 feet
      Light OptionsUnlit
      Included AccessoriesStand
      Listed MaterialsPVC

      9

      Best Artificial Christmas Tree With Multi-Colored Lights

      Best Choice

      7-Foot Artificial Christmas Pine Tree

      Product Details

      Sizes7 feet
      Light OptionsMulti-color LED
      Included AccessoriesStand
      Listed MaterialsPVC

      10

      Best No-Frills Artificial Christmas Tree

      Best Choice Products

      Premium Hinged Artificial Pine Tree

      Product Details

      Sizes6 feet
      Light OptionsNone
      Included AccessoriesNone listed
      Listed MaterialsPVC

      11

      Best White Artificial Christmas Tree

      National Tree Company

      Winchester White Pine Artificial Tree

      Product Details

      Sizes7 feet
      Light OptionsWhite
      Included AccessoriesStand
      Listed MaterialsPVC

      How we test artificial Christmas trees

      The engineers at the Good Housekeeping Institute first set up artificial trees to see how easy they are to construct and shape, including how long it takes and how easy it is to take the tree out of the box, open it up and fluff up the branches.

      Once set up, we assess how realistic the tree looks. We look at flame retardancy using our flammability chamber. We verify durability by performing our own in-Lab checks for stability including tip-over tests.

      We also look at any ASTM conformance testing for characteristics like corrosion resistance and tension. For any pre-lit trees, verify that the tree is appropriately UL listed for safety. We assess how easy it is to light the tree and how evenly distributed the lights are. And when we're done with all of that, we assess how easy it is to disassemble the tree and put it into storage.

      Here, our tester is using a force gauge to determine the amount of force it would take to knock over the Christmas tree.

      What to look for when shopping for an artificial Christmas tree

      Aside from ensuring the look lives up to your expectations, there are a host of other features to consider when deciding which faux tree best suits you:

      ✔️ Size: While you likely want to go big with your tree, you want to ensure you will be able to set it up with enough clearance in your home. Ideally, you should keep at least 6 inches between the top of the tree (including any topper) and your ceiling. Trees can vary tremendously in size, from a small 4.5-foot tree to one that towers above 15 feet.

      ✔️ Shape: Artificial Christmas trees range from compact (for tight spaces) to full (for a classic tree profile) to wide (for an even fuller profile). While your choice largely comes down to space and preference, definitely check that the widest point of the tree will readily fit in your space.

      ✔️ Needle Type: Most brands use PVC to simulate needles and metal for the trunk and branches. Some will include both PVC and polyethylene (PE), and in general, those with a higher percentage of PE tend to look more realistic but are more expensive.

      ✔️ Tree type:

      As noted, artificial Christmas trees have come a far way in recent years to look more realistic. You can opt for a tree that mimics a fir (dense), spruce (sharp points) or pine (sparser with thin needles).

      ✔️ Ease of setup: ArtificialChristmas trees are compressed to allow for shipping, so it's important to fluff the branches once assembled. Today, most can be assembled by snapping together a few segments to get an erect tree. The fluffing often takes the most time to ensure the tree has a full appearance.

      ✔️ Pre-lit vs. unlit: Many artificial Christmas trees today come pre-lit, making them easier to decorate. Plus, many newer Christmas trees have the ability to stay lit even when one bulb goes out. It's advantageous to look for this feature if you are getting a pre-lit tree. The bulb type varies, and incandescent bulbs still tend to be more affordable than their longer-lasting LED counterparts. Some specialty LED trees can even be customized for color or lighting effects.

      ✔️ Safety: Look for pre-lit trees that have undergone third-party testing from Underwriters Laboratories (UL) to ensure they have passed safety checks. You can check the UL database or look to see if the packaging has the UL logo.

      ✔️ Durability: There are various industry standards that look at the durability of the tree, including ASTM B117 (corrosion test) and ASTM F963 (child safety testing).

      Why trust Good Housekeeping?

      While she's never had a Christmas tree, real or fake, in her own home, Rachel Rothman has been testing artificial Christmas trees for Good Housekeeping for nearly 15 years, so she's become an expert at assembly and review. She has assembled dozens of them, set them on fire, attempted to tip them over and validated claims for them.

      Are prelit Christmas trees worth it?

      Pre-lit Christmas trees provide for a much quicker and easier tree setup so you can get straight to the fun part – decorating! Unlit trees offer more creative freedom with decorating as you can choose the color of your lights as well as the size of the bulbs while also choosing how to arrange the lights on your tree.

      Is pre lit Christmas tree better?

      Non-lit trees may require more time dedicated to decorating, however they do allow you more choice. Pre-lit trees limit you to the number of lights and the look of your tree, however, a non-lit tree allows you to choose your favourite style of lights, and the colour you prefer.

      How long do pre lit artificial trees last?

      Warner said most artificial trees last an average of 10 years, while some can be used for 20 years or more. Because of this, it's important to think about what kind of Christmas tree you want in the long run while you're shopping.

      Do pre lit LED Christmas trees last longer?

      The main advantage of traditional Christmas tree lights is its lower initial cost. On the other hand, LED-lit trees usually cost more but the lights generally last longer and use up less electricity.