Artificial Christmas tree guides

Buying a fake Christmas tree comes down to a few measurable things: the height your ceiling allows once the stand and topper are counted, the floor circle the base takes, how many tips the maker puts on each foot of height, what those tips are made of, and how the lights are wired and certified. Our reviews give those numbers tree by tree; the guides below explain what they mean and how to read them in a product listing.

Every guide is written from the makers' own pages and from public sources such as the CPSC, NFPA and the UL 588 standard notice, with the date we read them. We have not set up these trees in person, and a guide says so where it matters. New guides are added through the season: tree lifespan, fluffing, real versus artificial, stands and storage.

Each guide answers one question: the right tip material, how long a tree lasts, how to fluff it, real or artificial. The answer comes first, then the details and the sources.

To pick a tree, start with our top picks or the tree size calculator.