![The Best Artificial Christmas Trees of 2025 [Tested and Reviewed]](/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/TOHAxFHMA23_ArtificialXMasTrees_KS_10_11_074-SS-Edit-1.jpg?resize=72,72)
These realistic Grandin Road Christmas tree turns up the merriment and looks like the real deal
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Artificial Christmas trees come in myriad shapes and sizes—a good thing, if you ask us. After all, we all celebrate the season differently, despite our common traditions. Who am I to judge if someone picks a succulent tree over a smart tree? But when it comes to finding a Christmas tree that’s a true showstopper, a towering option that looks just like the real deal is universally appealing. That’s why we love Grandin Road Christmas trees.
We’re no strangers to these impressive trees. In fact, another Grandin Road pick made our best artificial tree list as the best slim pick. But when we discovered the realistic Noel Christmas Tree, we just had to try it. With its lifelike evergreen appearance and soft white lights, we wanted to see how it looked—and performed—in the average living room. Is it as splurge worthy as it seems? Content Director Nicole Doster took the plunge and ordered one to find out.
On Sale
We Tried It
Noel Christmas Tree
Realistic and luxurious, the Noel Christmas Tree is a stunning option for true Christmas fanatics.
What is the Grandin Road Christmas tree?
The Grandin Road Noel Christmas tree is realistic and boasts a full profile, traditional shape and warm, white lights. While its lifelike pine needles are a serious draw (and part of the reason it’s on the pricey side), the most intriguing aspect of this traditional tree is its size. It’s available in either a 7-foot size or a colossal 9-foot option that looks straight out of a Dickensian novel.
Extra-full needles eliminate the need for hours of fluffing, and the tree comes readily strung with up to 1,170 mini LED lights, depending on the size you choose. Additionally, the electrical cord is a generous 60 inches long, so it’s easy to plug it in several feet from the base. The best part? Once the tree is assembled, all you have to do is plug it in, and the lights come on—no fussing or connections necessary.
How We Tested It
Nicole opted for the 7-foot tree, which is outfitted with 660 lights. It arrived at her door in a single large box containing three pieces, along with a base, hardware and setup instructions. She estimates that the box weighs around 44 pounds, so we recommend having two people for setup.
Two different types of needles add to the realism. Like most artificial trees, the Noel Christmas tree has a mix of high-quality branches and filler. However, it stands out for the sheer amount of realistic branches. “This tree has the biggest amount of high-quality branches I’ve ever seen—with the lower-quality filler branches used only near the ‘trunk,'” raves Nicole. “The branches feel high-quality and full, with no noticeable color variation between the filler branches and the outer needles. This gives it a natural, high-end look.”
The fluffing process is also pretty straightforward—if you were feeling lazy, you wouldn’t need to fluff this for more than a few minutes. Nicole had this tree set up in under 20 minutes and really loves the silhouette and proportions. “It feels well-balanced—not too thin and not too stout,” she says.
While Nicole was impressed by the overall look and feel of the Grandin Road Noel Christmas tree, she did encounter one issue. During unboxing, she noticed that some of the tree’s decorative needles had fallen off in the box. More needles were shed during setup. While this didn’t detract from the look of the tree, Nicole found it concerning. “Naturally, this is disappointing given the tree’s luxury price point,” she says. “I’m not sure if this is something that just happens after manufacturing or perhaps during transport, but I do worry about the needles lasting over time.”
Connecting the pieces is so simple that the tree’s setup rivals our beloved Balsam Hill Flip Tree. Most Grandin Road Christmas trees use a quick-connect pole setup. This configuration allows each piece to snap together easily and eliminates the need to search for light connections since the lights connect via the central pole.
Once the tree was connected and plugged in, Nicole was able to stand back and admire a beautifully lit tree. “The twinkle lights are elegant and give off a modern glow that feels fresh compared to older-style bulbs,” she explains. “The lights are soft and have a yellow-ish tint, which I love. It doesn’t feel artificial or have that ‘buzzing’ effect some LEDs have.”
She goes on to point out that while the tree touts six different light modes, they may not be everyone’s cup of tea. “I found that four of them flash at such a high speed/strobe that they’re essentially unusable,” she says. “That said, the slow blink and constant light modes are both lovely and create a warm, festive ambiance that’s perfect for the holidays.”
Storage is as simple as arranging the pieces back in the box. Nicole points out that while the box feels sturdy, there’s certainly room for improvement. “I was kind of disappointed for a tree of this price point to not include some sort of storage,” she says. “Or, at the very least, a better box with a handle for carrying.”
Long-Term Testing Update
While the Grandin Road Noel Christmas tree is new for the 2025 season, our Product Testing Team had previously tested another Grandin Road Christmas tree. Senior Set Stylist Melissa Franco has owned the now discontinued Grandin Road Woodside Christmas tree for one year. Overall, she’s impressed with its performance, size and beauty.
“Last year, whenever people walked in the door, I received a lot of compliments,” she says. “It’s an impressive size, standing at 9 feet tall. The quality of branches and needles is good, and I can hang heavier ornaments on the branches without worrying about them falling off.”
She notes that the setup is really plug and play, especially with the quick-connect pole configuration. “The lights already on the tree are bright and plentiful (and replaceable, if needed). I come from the days when I had trees that I needed to snap in each branch individually and string my own lights, so this tree is awesome! I look forward to setting up my tree even earlier in the season now.”
Despite loving her Grandin Road Christmas tree, Melissa notes a few cons. First, though the setup is easy, it takes quite a while for her to fluff the branches to her liking—something expected, given the size. She also cautions the large size means she had to purchase an extra-large Christmas tree storage bag. Those looking for a slightly smaller size should consider this Frontgate tree, which comes in heights as small as 6.5 feet tall.
“My tree may be the exception, but the bottom two branches on one side hang lower than the rest, creating a bare spot in the tree,” says Melissa. “I’ve tried fluffing the branches to fill the space, but the bare spot is noticeable. Also, since the tree is larger widthwise, it is a little difficult to reach the outlet and plug it in. A foot power button or a remote would’ve been a nice addition to make this tree even better.”
Grandin Road Woodside Tree vs. Grandin Road Noel Tree
The discontinued Woodside Christmas Tree was overly full and robust, while the new Noel Christmas Tree is a bit more manageable in size. That said, the Noel is still very full and offers the same type of traditional look as the Woodside. Additionally, the coloration of each tree differs slightly. The Woodside was more of the traditional dark evergreen whereas the Noel is a bit brighter in tone. Lastly, the Noel features LED lights while the Woodside was outfitted with incandescent lights.
Pros
- High quality, lifelike branches
- Quick light setup via center pole
- Doesn’t require much fluffing
- Available in 7- and 9-foot sizes
- Full, traditional profile
- Soft, elegant lighting
Cons
- Does not include a storage bag or box
- Our tester experienced needle shedding
- No colored light options
Where To Buy Grandin Road Christmas Trees
Grandin Road Christmas trees—including the Noel Christmas Tree—are available for purchase on the Grandin Road website. Say goodbye to allergy-inducing pine needles and lengthy cleanup without losing out on the Christmas spirit with these realistic options!
On Sale
We Tried It
Noel Christmas Tree
Realistic and luxurious, the Noel Christmas Tree is one of the best options for true Christmas fanatics.
Why You Should Trust Us
Our Product Testing Team is home to shopping enthusiasts with a combined decade of experience recommending and testing products. We try out each product in our Product Testing Lab alongside similar options. Operating this way allows us to easily compare products and test them under strictly controlled conditions. We’ve tried a variety of Christmas trees in order to find the best options, from Balsam Hill options to alternative Christmas trees.
Once we finish our initial testing, team members test top performers long-term. This process lets us see how they perform after extended use and in our own homes.
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