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Christmas trees come in different sizes, just like actual evergreens, pines, and firs. From deciding between real or artificial trees, or choosing a pre-lit or pop-up, you can easily get confused by the range of options available on the market. With this comprehensive buying guide, finding the right Christmas tree won’t seem like a chore.

Should You Get an Artificial or Real Christmas Tree?

You can get the same level of elegance that a newly cut Christmas tree offers with the right artificial tree, and the biggest perk is that you can use an artificial tree year after year. You don’t need to water your artificial Christmas tree, and you can leave it for months without worrying about the branches getting dry. If you have any allergies, artificial trees are an ideal choice, because most of them are made using hypoallergenic material, so they won’t trigger an allergic reaction.

The downside of getting an artificial Christmas tree is that you will miss out on that refreshing smell of natural pine. If you want to celebrate Christmas in a traditional way, you might prefer getting a real Christmas tree. It’s better to opt for root-balled trees so that you can plant them outdoors when the festive season is over. Real trees are also great for the environment, as they contribute to the oxygen in the air and are essential to the ecosystem.

Factors To Consider When Buying Christmas Trees

Tree types

You will need to choose between firs, pines, and spruces if you’ve decided to go for a real Christmas tree. Due to the rich green color and classic pine fragrance, the Norway Spruce is a popular choice when it comes to real Christmas trees. If you’re looking for a more expensive option that looks luxurious and lush, the Nordmann Fir should be your go-to option and it has amazing needle retention.

Artificial trees, on the other hand, are available in different materials, including polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene, and polypropylene. They are designed to resemble real trees, but are made using different chemicals, so be sure to choose a non-toxic option to ensure your family’s safety.

Size

You can find Christmas trees at different heights and spreads, so decide on the area where you want to place the tree and choose the size accordingly. Most houses have about 8-feet tall ceilings, while some have dome-shaped ceilings that rise considerably higher. If you’re in doubt, a 6-foot tree will fit in most homes.

The spread of your tree must correspond with the space in your home for a tree. If you're unsure whether to get a full-, medium-, or skinny-width tree, measure the area where you want to place it. You can easily find Christmas trees ranging from 30 inches to 60 inches in the spread, allowing you to decorate them with different ornaments.

Pre-lit or unlit tree

If the idea of putting your Christmas lights gracefully on branches gives you a headache, or if you aren’t a fan of unpacking Christmas lights, you should think about buying a pre-lit tree. Pre-lit trees available nowadays usually use light-emitting diodes (LEDs), which use minimal electricity and save you a lot on bills.

The downside is that you can’t change the size or color of the lights of the pre-lit Christmas tree. Obviously, you can always make up for that with your own special decorations and finishing touches. You can add string lights, dazzling bulbs, flashing Santa heads, or anything else you like to add some flair to the mix.

Pre-lit trees are often more expensive than their unlit equivalents, and you’ll notice that an LED tree shines considerably brighter than a tree with incandescent lights. Fortunately, today a lot of trees have "constant on" and "burn-out prevention" features to keep your home safe in case of power fluctuations.

Branch types

The branches are either permanently attached to the tree’s body or connected to a central pole, which requires manual installation. Some people love assembling their trees and consider it to be a Christmas ritual. You should start assembling the Christmas tree from the bottom and move up, connecting each branch to its corresponding hole in the middle pole.

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