It’s an age-old question among Christmas decorators — is this the year to get a fake tree? While some may say that “going plastic” is holiday blasphemy, there’s no question that keeping an artificial Christmas tree in the attic is probably cheaper in the long run — and saves on cleaning up all those needles!
Speaking of Christmas decorations and cleanup, a poll of 2,000 Americans found three in four think it’s time to take down the Christmas tree before January — regardless of whether it’s real or artificial. However, more than half of those who decorate for the holidays never want to be the first ones to take down their tree.
Last year, the average American spent $213 on new holiday decorations. And that’s not even including ugly Christmas sweaters! Unsurprisingly, more than one in three (35%) said that the bulk of their decorating budget goes towards buying a Christmas tree. For those opting for a real tree in 2022, they’ll be at the mercy of inflation, possible supply chain issues, and trying to find the “perfect” Christmas centerpiece — preferably with no holes in its branches.
On the other hand, if you’re going for an artificial tree in 2022, StudyFinds has you covered. We visited 10 “expert” websites to see which brands selling artificial Christmas trees were most frequently mentioned across their reviews — as well as the best models from those companies. If you have suggestions of your own, please feel free to leave them in the comments section below the post.
The List: Best Artificial Christmas Trees, According To Experts
1. Balsam Hill
The California-based company has become one of the leading names in artificial Christmas trees, home decor, and commercial holiday decorations. Not only did the company consistently rank among the top trees on all of our experts’ lists, but a Balsam Hill tree was also ranked as the best overall by three different reviews. Here are the best from the brand:
“The Vermont White Spruce is Balsam Hill’s most popular offering thanks to its realistic, attractive design and variety of lighting options and heights available. It also pairs nicely with the brand’s wreaths and garlands if you want to fully deck out your home,” writes the team at Good Housekeeping.
This version is available in heights ranging from 4.5 to 18 feet tall, and comes with a tree stand, storage bag, extra lights, and fluffing gloves.
“Gorgeously full and lush, the Balsam Hill Fraser Fir is one of the most realistic artificial trees you can buy,” according to Jenny McGrath of Insider.
This tree gives consumers the option to buy it unlit, or with clear, candlelight, and color LEDs, or twinkly lights.
“We were impressed by this tree from start to finish. Between the helpful accessories that were included and the quality and appearance of the tree, we were sold on it,” says the team at Bob Vila.
2. National Tree Company
To say the New Jersey-based company has an all-star lineup of fake Christmas trees available would be an understatement. In fact, several of our experts had four or five different National Tree Company models on their “best of” lists this year! Here are the best from the brand:
“This Christmas tree features hundreds of branch tips that are designed to look and feel like the real thing, while 900 white lights and pre-attached, hinged branches make for easy setup and breakdown,” according to the team at Forbes, who call this tree their best overall.
“We tested the 7.5-foot option, and this tree lives up to its reputation with its lifelike branches and full body. The 59-inch base diameter makes for a full, wide tree,” writes the team from Bob Vila, naming it their top artificial tree of 2022.
If you’re looking to decorate your own tree and get something that doesn’t take up too much space, the Artificial Slim Tree is one of the best options in 2022.
“Assembly for this tree was quick (less than seven minutes) and only required one person. The sections were far lighter in weight than other options, and the branches were easy to pull apart for intuitive and quick fluffing,” writes Julia Fields from The Spruce.
3. Puleo International
This family-owned business in New Jersey has the reputation of being “the oldest family name for Christmas trees in America.” They lived up to that hype this year, with two of their artificial trees being named the best overall by different experts and several others receiving honorable mentions. Here are the best from the brand:
“Unlike other artificial trees, the ‘needles’ also felt soft while assembling—no gloves required. Our tester noted that you only need one person and assembly took about 17 minutes, which we love,” according to the team at The Spruce, who named it their best overall artificial tree.
“For those who’ve perfected the art of stringing Christmas tree lights and prefer a DIY tree, this Fraser fir is an excellent choice—with a reasonable price point, too,” says Rachel Klein from Popular Mechanics.
“The Aspen Fir from Puleo International is a stately-looking tree that’s pre-lit with 500 incandescent lights. There are a good number of branch tips for a tree this size and price,” according to the team at Insider, who named this tree their best for people on a budget.
4. Best Choice Products
For 20 years, Best Choice Products has been selling everything from children’s toys to lawn and gardening equipment. At Christmastime, however, they make our list with a number of affordable artificial trees that rank near the top among our experts’ polls. Here are the best from the brand:
The six-foot tree has nearly 800 tips, but its 7.5-foot version has nearly 1,350 tips and the nine-footer is outfitted with over 2,000 tips! That keeps it looking full throughout the holiday season.
“It’s a great value, and with solid construction will last several holiday seasons,” says the team at Good Housekeeping.
“Best Choice Products Pre-Lit Spruce offers great value for the price. It struck a nice balance between full branches and a restrained silhouette that fits nicely into the corner of a room,” according to the team at Reviewed, who call this tree their “best value” purchase.
“This one by (the aptly named) Best Choice Products is our pick among the budget bunch for its very full construction, which gives it an abundant and luxe look from a few feet away. It’s ripe for decorating and can hold its weight in ornaments, string lights (make sure they’re LED!), tinsel, popcorn, stars, whatever have you,” writes Kendall Cornish from Apartment Therapy.
5. Home Accents Holiday
From Christmas lights, to decorations, to artificial trees, shoppers will find the Home Accents Holiday collection in most major retailers this holiday season. No matter where you shop, experts say their selection of trees this year is top-notch, with some calling them the best on the market. Here are the best from the brand:
“Right off the bat, I was impressed by how neatly and thoughtfully the box was organized without excessive use of plastic packaging. Each of the tree’s three sections featured hinged branches, which enabled them to easily fall into place once I had secured them in place,” explains Anna Kocharian of Consumer Reports, who call this tree their editor’s choice.
“While the foliage texture appears slightly less realistic than that on more expensive trees, this unlit tree makes an excellent display piece for unique lights and ornaments,” the Bob Vila team writes, naming this model their best unlit tree of the season.
Honorable Mention
Would any list of Christmas trees be complete without a classic “Charlie Brown” tree? Now, even fake tree enthusiasts can enjoy having a festive table topper this year, with an actual replica of the original Charlie Brown Christmas tree!
“This irresistible little tree from the classic 1965 A Charlie Brown Christmas stands just 2 feet tall and comes in a gift-ready box. Inside, you’ll find the tree wrapped in Linus’ blue blanket and a mini Christmas ball to hang,” according to the team at Popular Mechanics.
This holiday classic is a fan favorite on Amazon, scoring 4.8 stars after more than 7,000 reviews. It even has a musical version available!
Sources:
- Consumer Reports
- The Spruce
- Forbes
- Reviewed
- Good Housekeeping
- Insider
- Apartment Therapy
- Popular Mechanics
- Bob Vila
- CNN
Note: This article was not paid for nor sponsored. StudyFinds is not connected to nor partnered with any of the brands mentioned and receives no compensation for its recommendations.
