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When the holidays roll around, a lot of exciting things begin to happen. From snowfall outside and warm fires inside to holiday parties and gift exchanges, the holidays are a time for fun, food, and family.
One of the things that you may do when the holiday season approaches is decorate the inside and outside of your home. Wreaths on doors, flameless candles in the windows, and tinsel over your fireplace mantle give your home a warmer, more decorative look that is perfect for ringing in the holiday season.
Nothing is more decorative, though, than a twinkling Christmas tree. A Christmas tree is certainly beautiful and festive, but decorating it can be a real pain. Instead of wasting your time struggling with tangled lights, why not give a prelit Christmas tree a try?
Compare: Top Rated Prelit Christmas Trees of 2020
| Picture | Name | Brand | Price | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | National Tree Feel-Real Downswept Douglas Fir | National Tree Company | $$$$ | 4.9 |
 | GKI Bethlehem Lighting PE/PVC Christmas Tree | GKI Bethlehem Lighting | $$$$ | 4.8 |
 | Balsam Hill Classic Blue Spruce | Balsam Hill | $$$$ | 4.7 |
 | Carolina Pine Full Pre-lit Christmas Tree | National Tree Company | $$$$ | 4.7 |
 | National Tree Dunhill Fir Hinged Tree | National Tree Company | $$$ | 4.7 |
 | National Tree 9' North Valley Spruce | National Tree Company | $$$ | 4.7 |
 | Hallmark Northern Escape 7.5' Pre-Lit Christmas Tree | Home Heritage | $$ | 4.7 |
 | National Tree Artificial North Valley Spruce | National Tree Company | $$$ | 4.6 |
 | Best Choice Products 7.5' Premium Spruce Hinged Artificial Christmas Tree | Best Choice Products | $ | 4.4 |
 | Kurt Adler Pre-Lit Point Pine Tree | Kurt Adler | $$ | 4.4 |
| Picture | Name | Brand | Price | Rating |
What is a Prelit Christmas Tree?
Contents
A prelit Christmas tree is an artificial decorative tree that is put up during the holiday season. Instead of having to fuss with tangled strands of lights, which can take hours to untangle and string evenly, a prelit tree has the lights built into the design, so you can skip this step.
Assembly is fast and easy, and all you have to do is add a few ornaments, a star on top, and plug it in for a beautiful, twinkling tree that looks great for the holidays.
What are the Advantages of Choosing Prelit?
The main advantage of a prelit tree is that you can spend more time enjoying the things you love and less time untangling and hanging lights. These trees are also very realistic, and they are easy to assemble. You don’t have to worry about pine needles getting all over your floor, purchasing a new tree every year, or remembering to water it.
You’ll have a beautiful and realistic tree for the holidays that has the perfect amount of lights already built in, with no need for hours of work.
What are the different types of Prelit Trees?
Whether you have your first home and you’ll be decorating for the first time, you’re replacing an old artificial tree, or you’re tired of the mess, hassle, and expense of a real tree, a prelit tree is a wise holiday purchase. Before you spend money, though, it’s important to know about what types of trees are available so you can determine which works best for your home.
- Slim trees – If you’re short on space but you want a beautiful tree, these are what you need. You’ll get a full size tree that isn’t quite as wide as others, so you can easily fit it into a smaller corner or space in your home.
- Clear lights – Get a classically beautiful look with a tree studded with clear lights. These lights are perfect for a more sophisticated look, and they complement any color scheme.
- Colored lights – For a more festive and fun look, choose a tree with colored lights. These multicolored lights are fun, whimsical, and children and adults alike love them.
- Color-changing lights – Get the best of both worlds with color changing lights. Keep them on clear, add colors, or switch between the two with these trees. These are a bit more expensive in most cases, but they are more versatile.
How to Setup a Prelit Tree
Prelit trees are usually easy to assemble. They’ll be in a few different sections which you’ll need to put together. Usually, no tools are required.
First, unfold the tree stand. It’s X-shaped with a hole in the middle. The stands are basically the same as the ones for natural trees.
Next, attach the lower section of the tree. Slide the pole, in the center of the tree, into the stand. Then tighten the bolts on the base to secure the pole.
Connect the top half of the tree to the bottom. Each section will have a separate electrical cord. Connect the top cord to the bottom.
Press down on the branches. They have metal hinges which fold up for storage and down for display. Finally, you’re ready to plug the tree into the outlet and turn on the lights.
What are the Best Prelit Christmas Trees on the Market in 2020?
Balsam Hill Classic Blue Spruce – Standing in at 7 feet tall and sporting 850 hand-strung lights, this Balsam Hill prelit Christmas tree possesses a classic Christmas look. Equipped with artificial PVC pine needles, it can withstand a great deal of wear and tear, making it appropriate for years and years of use.
GKI Bethlehem Lighting Pre-Lit Christmas Tree – The combination of an affordable price, realistic branches, beautiful lights, and a slim design make this tree a winner. This slim design is great for smaller spaces, and the lights, pinecones, and leaves give this a beautiful look that your family will love this holiday season.
National Tree “Feel-Real” Downswept Douglas Fir Tree – If you love the look of a real tree but hate the expense of purchasing a new one from year to year, watering it, and sweeping up pine needles, you won’t be disappointed with this tree, which looks just like the real thing but can be used every year. This full tree is dotted with lights, giving it the beautiful and festive look you love without all of the work.
Features to Consider
Get into the holiday spirit by decking the halls and trimming the Christmas tree. Instead of spending a fortune on a real tree that you have to haul off when the new year rolls around, give your home a beautiful and festive look with a prelit tree that not only looks great but is easy to assemble and store. It may be tempting to buy the first one that you see. However, if you plan to get years of use out of your product, you’ll want to make sure that you purchase the right one the first time. You can do that by evaluating these four important features.
Price
A small tree that doesn’t look quite as realistic may cost just around $100, while you may pay thousands for a huge tree for your two-story foyer that looks like the real thing. Price should be a consideration, but don’t let it determine your purchase. If you want a beautiful tree that looks like the real deal, you should expect to spend a bit more money for one that has more tips and is made with higher quality materials.
Height
Trees come in all sorts of heights, from mini trees you can put on a table as a centerpiece, to trees that tower 10 feet or more in the air. Carefully measure your space, while also leaving room for a tree topper, to make sure you buy a tree that’s just the right size for your home.
Number of Lights
The bigger a tree is, the more lights it should have. Make sure that you pick a tree that has plenty of bulbs that are spaced evenly throughout. Some cheaper trees may not have as many lights, resulting in you having to go to the store to purchase more while also spending more time wrapping additional lights. Invest a little bit extra to get a tree that is full of beautiful, twinkling lights.
Light Options
Do you want to have the option to switch from colored to clear lights? Do you want to make your lights dance in patterns or softly blink on and off? Check to see what type of lights the tree has before you make your purchase. Lights that change colors or perform many different functions often cost more than basic lighted trees.
Price
Balsam Hill Classic Blue Spruce
This Balsam Hill prelit Christmas tree is the most affordable tree in our top 3.
GKI Bethlehem Lighting
This model has a price tag which puts it in the mid-price range when compared to similar products.
National Tree
This is one of the more expensive faux trees you’ll find.
Height
Balsam Hill Classic Blue Spruce
This Balsam Hill prelit Christmas tree is available in a number of sizes, including 4.5 feet, 6 feet, 6.5 feet, 7 feet, 7.5 feet, and 9 feet.
GKI Bethlehem Lighting
This model is available in a 6.5-feet size. A 7.5-feet tree is also available for a slightly higher price.
National Tree
This tree stands at a full 7.5 feet.
Number of Lights
Balsam Hill Classic Blue Spruce
Strung with 850 light bulbs, this Balsam Hill prelit Christmas tree possesses more light than any other tree in our top 3.
GKI Bethlehem Lighting
This has 400 lights distributed evenly throughout the tree.
National Tree
With 750 lights, you’ll have just enough sparkle on your tree without all of the hard work of decorating.
Light Options
Balsam Hill Classic Blue Spruce
A traditional Christmas tree, this Balsam Hill tree is lined with simple, white, clear lights.
GKI Bethlehem Lighting
This is covered with a bevy of multi-colored lights.
National Tree
Change lights from clear to multi-colored with the touch of a foot pedal.
Our Final Prelit Christmas Tree Reviews
Best Affordable Option: Kurt Adler Pre-Lit Point Pine Tree
If you want to decorate on a budget, this Kurt Adler tree is an affordable alternative that allows you to bypass the expensive tree farm or Christmas tree lot and get a beautiful faux tree at an exceptional price. At seven feet tall and with a 46-inch girth, this tree is just the right size without completely overwhelming your room.
With 1,026 tips, you’ll get a fuller and more realistic look. This tree also has 350 multi-colored lights to cut down on your decorating time, and it saves you from having to purchase additional lights. This tree is easy to assemble, affordable, is easy to disassemble and store, and retains its beauty year after year.
Pros:
- Very inexpensive
- Easy to assemble
- It looks great
- It is full for a more realistic look
- Comes with a stand
- It is a good overall size for most rooms
Cons:
- It may need more lights depending upon your preferences
- The stand is very cheap and flimsy
Great Value Buy: GKI Bethlehem Lighting
Use your own ornaments or use this tree right out of the box. With its combination of realistic branches, pine cones, and twinkling clear lights, this tree looks beautiful on its own or all dressed up with your ornaments, bows, tinsel, and other Christmas decorations. With a size of 6.5 feet and a 38-inch diameter, this is an ideal size for most rooms. Need a bigger tree? Invest a little more and get the 7.5-feet tree.
This tree comes with 400 mini lights, so you don’t have to worry about tangled strands. If a bulb goes out, you don’t have to worry about replacing the strand, as they will continue to stay lit. You can trust that this tree will look beautiful for years, as it is flame-retardant, crush-resistant, and comes backed with a 10-year warranty.
Pros:
- The slim design fits in smaller spaces
- It comes backed with a warranty
- It’s easy to store, as it comes with its own storage carton
- The pinecones add a decorative touch
- It’s easy to assemble
- It is very full
- It comes in two different sizes
Cons:
- Since it is slim, it is not ideal to fill in larger spaces
- The bottom branches are a bit sparse and require a bit more work to look realistic
Overall Winner: National Tree
If you change your Christmas decorations from year to year and you like to switch up the look of your lights, you can get the best of both worlds with this tree. If its 7.5-feet height, realistic look and feel, and ease of assembly isn’t enough to impress you, the 750 lights will, as they can switch from white to colored and back again just by using a foot pedal.
This tree has a very realistic look, it’s nice and full, and a great size for most rooms. The lights come already attached, so it saves time with decorating, and the lights are long-lasting LED, so you can use them from season to season. This comes with a metal tree stand, so you have everything you need to get your tree up and ready for decorating in no time at all. You’ll feel confident in your purchase knowing that it comes backed with a 5-year warranty for the tree and a 2-year warranty on the lights.
Pros:
- It looks very realistic
- It has lots of lights, more than many other trees
- It’s very full
- It is easy to assemble
- Comes backed with a warranty
- The lights are very versatile
- The lights are energy efficient.
Cons:
- It is quite expensive
- The storage carton feels cheap
All in All
When the holiday season rolls in, why fuss and fight with tangled lights? Instead, invest your money in a realistic, easy to assemble prelit tree that has the same great look as a real tree with twinkling lights without the fuss and mess. If you want a tree that looks great, is very versatile by offering multiple light options, and looks like the real thing without the shedding, the National Tree Douglas Fir is an exceptional choice and our overall winner for best prelit Christmas tree.
Even though it is a bit expensive, the full, realistic look, 750 versatile lights, and the great warranty makes this a top choice for holiday decorations.