Picking the Best Artificial Christmas Tree

Looking to buy a new artificial Christmas tree? There are a lot of things to consider before buying and this guide and free printable can help!

I’ve had an artificial tree since I was just a small child, it’s all I remember. My first Christmas my family had a real tree and soon figured out I’m allergic to them, so that was the end of real trees for me.

It can make it hard since there is real greenery and Christmas tree scented things everywhere around the holidays. My husband misses the real thing but I think both of us are happy to not have the mess and to be able to safely have a Christmas tree up longer.

There are so many different kinds of artificial Christmas trees now that finding the right one can be hard. There are different sizes, styles, un-lit, pre-lit, different kinds of lights, and so many other options.

We are currently in the market for a new tree because we have found our old tree was just too small for our new house and I have a ton of ornaments so more space would be great.

I also resisted pre-lit for a long time because of the pain of fixing them if lights go out. However, after years of putting lights on a tree and hating it, I’m ready for pre-lit.

Now that you can get LED pre-lit trees the lights will last a long so it’s less of a concern. Plus my husband loves colored lights and I love white and you can now get trees with both and you just switch with a button!

A nice artificial tree can be a big investment so you want to be sure you pick the one that is right for you. If you follow the process below you are sure to pick the perfect artificial Christmas tree for your family.

How to Pick the Right Artificial Christmas Tree

Find the Right Size Artificial Christmas Tree

This is one of the most important steps. You want to be sure the artificial Christmas tree you pick fits in the space you have. Figure out where the tree will go and if necessary move the furniture around so you know exactly how much space you will have.

Once you have your location you need to find how tall you can fit. It’s recommended that you allow at least six inches between the tree and your ceiling.

If you have standard 8-9 foot ceilings, it’s best to get a 7 1/2 foot tree. This helps allow for a tree topper and so the tree doesn’t hit your ceiling. Even if you think you know your ceiling height it’s a good idea to measure to be sure.

Knowing your floor space is also important. Measure your space taking into consideration how much space you want around the tree.

In our first home, we had a small place for our Christmas tree so we had to go with a more narrow tree. Now that we have moved we have much larger space for our Christmas tree so we are looking for a fairly wide tree. We have standard ceilings but a ton of ornaments so a wider tree will give us more ornament space while still just having a 7 1/2 foot tree.

If you have a small space consider looking for a narrow or slim tree but also still check the measurements. Keep in mind that many space-saving trees have less natural-looking shape. A really good option for a slimmer but still realistic looking artificial Christmas tree is the Fifth Avenue Flatback Artificial Christmas Tree from Balsam Hill.

Decide on Your Budget

When deciding on your budget you, of course, need to look at what you can afford and also consider how long you plan on having the Christmas tree.

If you are in a small apartment and plan to buy a home soon you may want to stick with something on the cheaper side because your size need may change.

If you are somewhere you plan to live for a long time and have the room in your budget consider buying a higher quality tree. A good artificial Christmas tree should last many Christmas seasons.

Other Things to Decide Before Buying an Artificial Christmas Tree

While budget and size are the two biggest things to decide when it comes to buying a Christmas tree, there are many other options you will find and need to decide between.

• Pre-lit or Unlit. Unlit trees are great for people that prefer more control over the type of lights and how many. It also means that if the lights stop working you can easily replace them without having to try and get them off of the tree. The big advantage to pre-lit is, of course, the time saving and also space-saving since you don’t have to store the lights.
• LED or Incandescent Christmas Lights. The big difference is cost. LED Christmas lights still cost more than incandescent. However, long-term they will save you money on electricity and they last longer. LED lights also don’t get as hot making them the safer option.
• Clear or Colored Christmas Lights. This is just a personal preference. If you have multiple preferences in your home you can also often find Christmas trees with both colored and clear lights, you can switch them with a touch of a button!
• Type of Christmas tree. There are endless types of Christmas trees so take time to look for the best type of tree for your style.  You can even get a Christmas Tree Branch Sample Kit from Balsam Hill to help you make your choice.

Write it All Down

When Christmas tree shopping you will want all of the above info with you. Even if you are shopping online it’s a good idea to have it all in one place.

I created a free printable that will help you keep track of all of the information you need. Just print it out and fill in the info and you are ready to go.

It’s designed to match my Christmas Planner perfectly so you can use it alone or with the planner. I like to keep mine in my Christmas Planner so I always know where it is.

To get your own free Christmas Tree buying printable just sign up below.

If you are looking for a place to get a high-quality artificial Christmas tree, I highly recommend Balsam Hill. Our last tree was from there and it was a great tree. We are only looking for a new one because the size no longer works for us. I actually was able to sell the Christmas tree last year.

Don’t forget to sign up in the form above to get your free printable and more great Christmas tips from me!