The best artificial Christmas trees for 2022: top brands tried-and-tested

The smell of fresh pine is about as festive as it gets, but the cost, mess and hassle of disposing of a real tree means that many of us prefer an artificial Christmas tree to provide our homes with some magic. One less job on the Christmas to-do list, a quick trip to the loft each year means you don't have to fight the crowds at a tree farm or roadside stand to bagsy the fullest real tree.

There's also the advantage that after the initial investment, buying an artificial tree will ultimately save you money in the long run. Buying a 7ft real fir tree will set you back around £80, so if you switch to Wilko's £100 Flocked Fir 7ft tree, you'll have more than made your money back by the time it reaches its second Christmas.

And not only will you end up paying less in the long run, but with modern manufacturing, it’s actually really easy to get your hands on something that looks just like the real thing - just with half the fuss.

Buying a 7ft real fir tree will set you back around £80, so if you switch to Wilko's £100 Flocked Fir 7ft tree, you'll have more than made your money back by the time it reaches its second Christmas.

Artificial Christmas trees are also miles more pet-friendly and allergy safe than the real thing, and as most are made with fire-resistant materials, are safer than real trees when it comes to adding lights on them. They're also the go-to choice for fashionistas, as they come in an astonishing array of colours and finishes, which means you can pick the one that works best with your festive colour scheme.

So, if you're in the market for a fake festive focal point, read on to discover what we thought when we tested trees from Balsam Hill, The White Company, M&S, Wilko and more, as well as our pick of the best of the rest available this winter.

Best tried-and-tested artificial trees at a glance:

• Best all-round artificial Christmas tree: 6ft Nordmann Fir | Buy now from Balsam Hill, £269
• Best budget artificial Christmas tree: 7ft Flocked Fir |Buy now from Wilko, £100

Best of the rest:

• Best pre-lit artificial Christmas tree: Grand Spruce | Buy now from The White Company, £325
• Best alternative Christmas tree: Indoor Outdoor Light Up Alpine Fir Tree | Buy now from Cox & Cox, £175
• Best 8ft Christmas tree: Warm Pre-Lit Noble | Buy now from M&S, £239
• Best unlit Christmas tree: St. Petersburg Unlit Christmas Tree | Buy now from John Lewis, £259
• Best slim Christmas tree: 7ft Snowy Pencil Tree | Buy now from Christmas Tree World, £69.99
• Best snowy Christmas tree: 6.5ft Winchester Tree | By now The Range, £229.99

Who makes the best artificial Christmas tree?

Buying an artificial Christmas tree is an investment, and investments should always be well considered. With such a wide variety of artificial trees on the market, it can be difficult to know how much money you should be spending to get something good quality. We looked at trees from best-selling brand Balsam Hill as well as high street favourite, Wilko, to find out if cheaper trees are a false economy, and if luxury trees are really that much better? It turns out, you can buy in confidence, whatever your budget. Read on to find out more...

Best all-round artificial Christmas tree: Balsam Hill 6ft Nordmann Fir Christmas Tree

• Buy now from Balsam Hill, from £269

In a nutshell:

This 6ft Nordmann Fir emerged as a firm favourite of ours when we tested it at YourHomeStyle HQ. Every detail, down to the silvery under-side, curved needles and brown branches, has been painstakingly replicated from moulds of live tree cuttings to create an incredibly lifelike look. It even feels like the real thing.

How easy is it to assemble?

Not only does this tree arrive in red ribbon with a letter of thanks for choosing Balsam Hill, but it also comes with an extensive assembly guide which makes putting your tree up a breeze. You set up the base, and then the three parts slot together quickly and easily. All you have to do is lift one on top of the other, slot it into the part below, and plug it in to see it light up.

How does it look?

When assembled, you can use the soft cotton gloves that come in the box to shape the branches, and you’ll be left with an incredibly thick, lush, real looking tree. Instructions for safe storage are also provided along with a sturdy off-season storage bag, so, with proper care, it’ll last you for years and years.

Should you buy it?

It’s a true investment piece, but we definitely think it’s worth it. There's no denying that Balsam Hill Christmas trees are on the expensive side, but, it seems with this brand, you really do get what you pay for.

Check out our full Balsam Hill Christmas tree review, complete with images, for more details.

Best budget artificial Christmas tree: Wilko Flocked Fir Christmas Tree 7ft

• Buy now from Wilko, £100

In a nutshell:

When it comes to Christmas, sometimes the best motto is go big or go home, and this towering tree from Wilko is the perfect way to do just that. While this tree isn't anywhere near as wide as the Balsam Hill model above, its height makes it a showstopping addition to a room. It would make a great choice for a period home with high ceilings, and it's a great option if you usually put your tree in the middle of bay windows.

How easy is it to assemble?

While you won't get the thoughtful touches included with the Balsam Hill tree, this tree is quick-and-easy to put together, which means you'll be hanging baubles before you know it.

How does it look?

Thanks to its white base, this tree looked especially great kitted out with twinkling white lights and baubles - they really stood out against the artificial snow flocking. As with lots of faux trees, this one does have a slight visible gap between the tree trunk and the branches, but, given the price, this is something that we were certainly happy to overlook. It's nothing that careful bauble placement and some festive sprigs (like these eucalyptus stems from Dunelm) won’t fix, and you’ll have plenty of time for branch sprucing because this tree is so incredibly speedy to put up… all of its branches, other than those at the very top, are on hinges, so they just fall into place. It's fab.

Should you buy it?

Yes. Priced at just £100 for 7ft, we have to admit that we weren't expecting a huge amount from this budget-friendly Christmas tree, but it’s actually really amazing quality. It features a thick layer of faux snow from top to bottom that gives it a luxurious, dramatic look, and although you'll probably need to hoover up the fallout after setting the tree up initially, the flocking didn't seem to fall much for the entirety of the time we left it up.

Shop 6 of the best artificial Christmas trees:

Still looking for inspiration? If you’ve decided to ditch those pesky needles in favour of something a little more low maintenance, our guide to the best artificial trees is here to help. We've rounded up some of our favourites...

Where can I buy the best artificial Christmas trees?

We've checked out what's on offer from all your favourite brands, from traditional to trendy shapes and styles, and to suit all budgets...So, if you're ready to bag-a-tree, follow our quick links to shop artificial Christmas trees from: John Lewis; M&S; The White Company; B&Q; Cox & Cox; Argos; Homebase; Dunelm; Wilko; Selfridges and Balsam Hill

Best pre-lit artificial Christmas tree.

• Buy now from The White Company, £325

• Style: pre-lit Christmas tree
• Height: 6ft
• Material: Not specified
• Weight: 9.8kg
• Number of branch tips: 1,559

Why we love it: This White Company tree is a really natural shade of green, making it looks super realistic. We love the fact that it has 390 warm white lights studded amongst the artificial foliage rather than woven around branches, so you don't have to worry about hiding pesky wires. The lights also have multiple settings, so you can choose whether you program them to flicker, softly glow, or shine normally.

Overall, this tree is a great all rounder - reasonably priced, realistic and versatile enough to suit lots of different interior styles. Finish the look with a stylish Christmas tree topper, et voila!

Best alternative artificial Christmas tree

• Buy now from Cox & Cox, £175

• Style: alternative Christmas tree
• Height: 1.8m / 2.4m
• Material: Not specified
• Weight: Not specified
• Number of branch tips: N/A

Why we love it If you’re looking for something a little out of the ordinary, consider these Alpine Fir trees from Cox & Cox. We love their frosted, realistic branches and the fact that you can style them outdoors, but the real wow factor comes when you plug them in. The delicate branches are dotted with hundreds of glowing warm white bulbs, which light up to create a totally magical ambience.

They make a stylish alternative to a traditional evergreen Christmas tree, and you could easily use them to add charm to your home all winter long. Style them solo, or group a few trees together with some quirky baubles for extra impact.

Best 8ft artificial Christmas tree

• Buy now from M&S, £239

The Marks & Spencers name is synonymous with quality, and when it comes to their artificial Christmas tree offering, they certainly don't disappoint. This year, they've got such a huge range of artificial trees available to buy online and in-store, and while we totally fell in love with their multicoloured pre-lit tree, it was this 8ft Noble tree that really caught out eye.

M&S isn't usually known for being the most budget-friendly option, but baring in mind that some luxurious faux trees can set you back anything up to £1,000, we were pleasantly surprised when we found out that this 8ft was well under £250. Pound for pound, this tree is a fantastic option if you're looking to make a big statement, without breaking the bank.

Follow our step by step guide on how to decorate your Christmas tree like a professional, and this tree is guaranteed to make an impact.

Best Unlit Christmas Tree

• Buy now from John Lewis, £259

St. Petersburg Unlit Christmas Tree

• Style: Unlit Christmas tree
• Height: 7ft
• Material: PE, PVC, PP
• Weight: 15.4kg
• Number of branch tips: 2736

Why we love it: John Lewis describes this tree as 'classically conical', and they couldn't be more spot on. This artificial Christmas tree is full, but not too heavy at the base, making it a fantastic option for your home if you're after something simple, traditional, and not likely to date any time soon.

We also love the fact that this tree's outer tips have been accurately moulded and coloured to mimic a real spruce tree - it really makes all the difference. It also has bushier PVC branches closer to the trunk to make it look nice and full.

Best Slim artificial Christmas Tree

• Buy now from Christmas Tree World, £69.99

• Style: Slim Christmas tree
• Height: 7ft
• Material: PVC
• Weight: Not specified
  
• Number of branch tips: 820

Why we love it: If you're short on space, Christmas Tree World's slim Christmas tree is just the ticket. Its tall, slender shape is absolutely perfect for slotting into small or awkwardly-shaped spaces, and despite it's slim size, it'll still have your room feeling totally festive. It's worth noting that this tree is made from PVC, so it doesn't look quite as realistic as the many PE Christmas trees available on the market right now.

That being said, it's significantly cheaper, and the artificial snow makes the branches look ever so slightly thicker. It's also easy to put up, take down, and handier to store than its full-sized counterparts.

After something even more compact? Check out our pick of the best mini Christmas trees if you're looking to make your home feel festive while saving space.

Best snowy artificial Christmas tree

• Buy now from The Range, £229.99

• Style: snowy Christmas tree
• Height: 6.5ft
• Material: PVC, PE
• Weight: Not specified
• Number of branch tips: 2075

Why we love it With frosted branch tips and pinecones, this snowy Christmas tree is perfect if you want your Christmas decor to have a 'winter wonderland' inspired look. It's been designed to look like a real conifer tree, and has been made from both PE and PVC, giving it a lifelike effect. This tree has hinged branches with over 2000 tips, making it super easy to assemble, and it also has a sturdy metal base.

To complete the look, try adding a Christmas tree skirt - it'll add a stylish touch and hide any unruly wires.

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FAQs:

What are the best artificial Christmas trees?

As a rule of thumb, the more branches and branch tips an artificial tree has, the better, as it means you’ll get a thick, bushy tree that looks healthy and has plenty of branches for baubles. For 7 ft trees, aim for somewhere between 1 to 2 thousand branch tips, but note, the more they have the more expensive they’ll be. Similarly, the better quality tree the heavier they’ll be – expect premium trees to weigh in around 12kg or more.

What type of artificial Christmas tree is most realistic?

If you want your artificial tree to realistic, opt for a PE Christmas tree that has a high number of branch tips.

• PE Christmas tree: A relatively new phenomenon, PE Christmas trees - aka, artificial trees that have Polyethylene needles - are by far the most realistic ones on the market. This is because PE Christmas trees are made using moulds of real Christmas trees. The PE is poured into the moulds, and this makes a 3D, realistic branch tip.
• A PE Christmas tree looks much more realistic than a PVC Christmas tree, which are the type of artificial Christmas trees most of us would have been familiar with growing up. PVC Christmas trees are a great budget option, but they tend to look less real as the needles are made from flat sheets of PVC that are pressed together and cut into flat, uniform rectangles.
• PP Christmas trees are somewhat of a middle ground - they look more real than PVC trees, but they're not quite as lifelike as PE Christmas trees.

Are real Christmas trees more environmentally friendly than fake?

A hot debate that we predict will once again fill the digi-waves this winter. The simple – and uncomfortable – truth is, is that fake trees are about 10 times less eco-friendly than real trees. According to the Carbon Trust, a two-metre artificial tree has around ten times the carbon footprint that a real tree does – even when its burned post-the festivities. The nub of the problem is that most fake trees are made in China, which means it’s not only an issue of the plastic, PVC and metal that’s used to make them, but the shipping overseas and the fact that they can’t be recycled.

So, if you’re keen on an artificial tree – and from a cost and aesthetic point of view, who wouldn’t be – try to use it for as many years as you can, this way, you’ll be helping to mitigate its impact on the environment.

Feeling inspired? Check out our favourite outdoor Christmas decorations here, and don't forget to take a look at our pick of the best Christmas trends for 2022, so you can get ahead of the decorating curve and impress your loved ones.