If you're want to freshen up your Christmas decor on tight festive budget this year, you'll be looking for a cheap Christmas tree - but that doesn't mean you can't find something with the wow factor.
From eye-catching blush pink trees, to snow effect pines, as well as pre-lit solutions, we’ve been putting cheap Christmas trees to the test to see which ones offer the best value.
We considered everything from the number of branches and tips to the material, any detailing and how easy it was to assemble - plus, the overall ‘wow-factor’!
The best cheap Christmas trees to buy in 2024
- Best colourful tree: COSTWAY 6ft pink Christmas tree, £49.95, Amazon
- Best snow-effect tree: Vancouver 6ft spruce tree, £100, Homebase
- Best pre-lit tree: 6ft Pre-lit Majestic dew pine tree, £129.99, Christmas Tree World
- Most realistic tree: Killington 7ft artificial Christmas tree, £99.99, Hillier
- Best pre-lit snow-effect tree: 6ft Pre-lit snowy alpine tree in warm white, £149.99, Christmas
COSTWAY 6ft pink Christmas tree, £49.95, Amazon
Score: 9.5/10
Pros
- Subtle pink colour
- Quick and easy construction
Cons
- Packaging
Features
Amazon’s blush pink coloured tree comes in three sections, plus the white metal stand. It measures 180cm/6ft tall and has 617 branch tips, and is made from PVC and iron.
Despite being the lowest price of all the cheap Christmas trees we tested, the finish feels of good quality and durable enough to withstand repeated use and decorating.
You can also purchase this tree in a larger 7ft size, which boasts 937 branch tips.
Results
I was really impressed with the blush pink colour of this tree - it’s not full-on Barbie or baby pink either, so for a more subtle colour finish to your festive decorations this is a fab option.
It took me half an hour to unpack the tree, slot the three pieces together and fluff the branch tips into place. It was super easy to construct - the branches are hinged to the central pole, and then I simply arranged the individual tips into place.
Once in place the tree created a lovely, classic shape. The branch tips were nice and fluffy so I could easily manipulate them to cover the hinges and central pole, giving a nice dense finish to the tree.
Value for money
The Amazon COSTWAY 6ft pink Christmas tree represents really good value for money. It’s the cheapest tree I tested, but I was impressed with the gentle pink colour, ease of construction and the overall finish.
The only let down was its packaging, as it came in a simple cardboard box that I don’t think would last many years of repeated packing and unpacking. So investing in a more protective storage solution would be a worthwhile purchase, especially if you plan to use this tree year after year.
I was impressed with the dense finish to the tree and the durable feel to each branch tip. I’m sure once a few warm white fairy lights have been added and some chic hanging decorations, this tree will make a great focal point for a more modern festive scheme with a feminine touch.
Vancouver 6ft spruce tree, £100, Homebase
Score: 9/10
Pros
- Flocked effect
- Easy build
Cons
- Packaging isn’t long lasting
Features
Homebase’s 6ft snowy Vancouver spruce artificial Christmas tree comes in three parts, plus a metal stand. It boasts 576 bare hinged branch tips and Homebase claim it has room for 400 lights to add that festive sparkle.
The tree is made from metal and PVC, with the branches have been given a flocked, snowy effect.
Homebase also offers this eye-catching tree in a 7ft size which is priced at £130.
Results
The tree was easy to assemble, simply slotting the three pieces in place and then fluffing out the branches to get a full and dense look. It took me about 20-25 mins to put together.
The metal stand has rubber feet, so it didn’t scratch the floor up (phew!) and came folded flat in the box and only needed opening out and clicking into place.
The snowy effect on the Homebase Vancouver spruce gave a lovely finish once I had pieced it all together. There seemed to be two styles of finish on the individual branches, some more rounded and others flatter, which created extra interest and detail. The flocking also stayed on the branches really well, and didn’t even come off after I’d been rummaging around and getting the branches ‘just right’!
I felt like there were plenty of branches on this tree, there were a few ‘holes’ after I’d initially set it up, but I imagine once you’ve added your fairy lights and some baubles, and then a further, final tweak, these wouldn’t be noticeable. The central pole had also been finished in the same flocked effect, so it didn’t matter if you saw this as it just blended in with the rest of the tree.
Pack down was super quick and easy. The hinged branches folded up and tucking the branches back into their bunches took hardly any time at all. The packaging it comes in is an ordinary cardboard box, but the tree packed down well into it, ready for use again next season.
Results
The Homebase 6ft Vancouver snowy-effect tree is priced at £100, which for the size, finish and durability I think is good value for money. The flocked effect is definitely made to last and I was impressed that it didn’t leave a flurry of snow after it had been handled. So if you’re after an affordable tree to transform your home into a snowy alpine forest for the season, that you can then bring to life with your own lights and hanging decorations, this is the one for you.
6ft Pre-lit snowy alpine tree in warm white, £149.99, Christmas Tree World
Score: 10/10
Pros
- Snow effect
- Warm white lights
- Full and dense finish
Cons
- Top section was a little wobbly
Features
Christmas Tree World’s 6ft pre-lit snowy alpine warm white tree comes in three sections, along with the stand and adaptor for the lights.
It boasts 573 flocked PE/PVC branch tips, which are a mix of ultra-realistic plastic moulded tips and more traditional PVC tips which help to fill the gaps. The tree is pre-lit and has 240 professionally-strung warm white multi-functional LEDs.
The tree has a metal stand which folds out into place for the sections to then slot into place. The sections have hinged branches that fall or need pulling down into place.
The pre-lit snowy alpine tree is available in a number of sizes, ranging from 4ft to 12ft.
Results
The snow effect on this tree is pretty impressive, and the different branch finishes mean the snow gathers in different styles - more clumpy on the realistic branches, so as to give the impression of the snow weighing down the branches, like it’s straight out of the forest!
It took me just over half an hour to assemble the tree - it was a bit more fiddly and time consuming than some of the others due to the snow effect making some branch tips stick together, plus the cable for the lights needed arranging too.
Once I’d constructed the tree and fluffed the branches into place, filling any holes, I connected the lights up and plugged them in. The 240 lights fill the tree well, and reflect off the snow with a lovely, soft glow. There are six different light functions so you can select the style that’s best for the mood you want to set.
I really liked the finished shape, it’s full, makes a statement and looks really realistic too. The tree did shed some of the snow effect during construction and when I packed it away, but it was to be expected and it didn’t look bear as the snowy effect is thick and covers the branches well.
Value for money
The 6ft pre-lit snowy alpine tree is at the top end of the price range we tested at £149.99 and it also comes with a 10 year foliage guarantee, meaning if the tree fails due to a manufacturer fault they’ll replace the part free of charge. There is also a one year guarantee on the lights on the tree too - so they’ve really got you covered!
The tree feels of good quality, with the branches being strong and sturdy. The only issue I had was that the top section didn’t appear to slot down far enough into the section below, which made the top feel unstable if it was knocked. While the plastic slot went into the hole below, the post seemed too long so that it stood about an inch higher than it needed to be. While it did feel a little wobbly, once the tree is in place and the decorations on, it shouldn’t be an issue.
Overall, I think this was my favourite tree of all those tested and I think it’s worth the price point too. Hooking up the lights was quick and easy, and the tree doesn’t require lots of decorations to make it complete. So it not only looks great, but saves you time and effort when it comes to creating the perfectly dressed Christmas tree! Win, win!
6ft Pre-lit Majestic dew pine tree, £129.99, Christmas Tree World
Score: 9.5/10
Pros
- Pre-lit
- Realistic detail on branches
Cons
- Would benefit from more lights
Features
Christmas Tree World’s Majestic dew pine tree comes in three sections which in total have 630 branch tips. The tree measures 98cm in diameter and is made from PVC and metal.
This is a pre-lit tree which already has 260 hand strung LED lights woven throughout the branches. Each section of the tree connects separately to the power cable that then goes down to a box which controls the light setting, before reaching the standard plug.
The tree has a realistic finish with a mix of tip styles, with a few dotted throughout the tree which have clear beading on them to give that fresh morning dew look. The branches and sections feel strong and durable, giving confidence that it can be used year after year.
Christmas Tree World also offer this tree as a 7ft solution which is priced at £179.99.
Results
The pre-lit Majestic dew pine tree was easy to construct, but proved more time consuming than some of the others. The instructions recommend you add a section at a time, fluffing out the branches and getting them into position before adding the next one. Then I connected each part to the power cable before plugging it in. Once I could see where the lights were, I was able to tweak the tree to spread them evenly throughout the branches, filling any gaps by pulling the tips into place as I went.
Once finished, the tree looked great - creating a classic triangular Christmas tree shape with a scattering of lights, too. I loved that this tree came pre-lit, as adding the lights is my least favourite part of decorating a tree - detangling and arranging can prove time consuming, so I’m all for by-passing this task. Having said that, I do love a tree that’s overflowing with lights. This tree boasts 260, but I felt it could have done with more. Christmas Tree World’s website recommends a 6ft tree should have a minimum of 400 lights, so I feel that more lights on this one would only enhance the sparkle.
I also really liked the detail on the branches with the beading to create the dew effect which gave it a realistic finish.
Value for money
Despite there not being quite enough lights on this pre-lit tree for me, I liked the overall look and finish of the tree and it felt sturdy and of good quality, so I feel it would be worth the investment. At £129.99 for the 6ft option, it was one of the pricer options I tested, but as this includes lights and takes away the hassle of adding them, I’d definitely pay the money.
The tree also comes with a 10 year foliage guarantee, meaning the company will replace a part if it fails due to a manufacturer’s fault, which also helps to justify the price tag.
The tree arrived double boxed, so I had reassurance that no damage was done in transit and also the inner box would be plenty good enough to store it for years to come.
Overall, if you’re after a more traditional, pre-lit tree with a realistic finish to act as the centrepiece of your festive décor, this would be a great solution.
Buy now from Christmas Tree World
Killington 7ft artificial Christmas tree, £99.99, Hillier
Score: 10/10
Pros
- Sturdy box
- Mix of realistic tips
Cons
- None!
Features
I tested the 7ft version of the Killington artificial Christmas tree which combines both a real and soft needle effect on its 52 branches. In total there are a fabulous 1138 tips on this tree, lending it a full and dense finish.
The tree came with a fold-out stand, with a screw that held the bottom section securely in place. The feet on the stand had rubber covers to help protect that floor, which is a nice touch.
The branches, trunk and stand feel durable and of good quality.
The tree is also available in a 6ft size, priced at £79 which has 38 branches and 861 tips - which is amazing value, and if it’s anything like the 7ft we’re very impressed!
Results
The Killington 7ft tree took me just over half an hour to construct, which I was impressed with as it’s the largest tree I tested with the most branches and tips (my tree dressing skills obviously improved as I went along!). The three sections slotted into each other with ease, and weren’t too heavy either - so definitely a tree I could build on my own. Most branches fell down into place from the hinge, others needed a little tugging in the right direction, before I fluffed away! The top section had clusters of branches you angled to where you wanted them which helped to give a nice effect.
The trunk of the tree had been given the same effect as the branches so it didn’t stand out and it was easy to manipulate the branches or tips to hide any gaps or hinges that popped into view. However, once the tree is fully dressed with lights, baubles and garlands I don’t expect the extra tweaking would be necessary.
The finished shape of the tree was full and dense, while the foot print, 51cm diameter, didn’t seem too big and would fit in smaller spaces without compromising on style and finish.
I loved the brown detailing along the stem of the classic artificial tree branches, while the super realistic PVC tips took this tree to a whole new level, making it look and feel just like the real thing.
Value for money
Even within the category of cheap Christmas trees, Killington 7ft artificial Christmas tree is a bargain, priced at £99.99 which I think is extremely impressive value for money for the size. Offering the extra height, a dense finish and the realistic tips make this a great, affordable solution.
The box it came in is sturdy and boasts a carry handle too, so it feels like the tree would be protected in storage, while the handle makes it easy to transport.
The classic green colour of this tree would be a fantastic backdrop for a traditional gold or silver Christmas scheme, it's versatile enough to complement more creative looks, too. A super choice, you can’t ago wrong!
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