Credit:
Reviewed / Betsey Goldwasser
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Credit:
Reviewed / Betsey Goldwasser
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This looks and feels like a perfect Christmas tree stand with its heavy-duty welded steel construction and is able to easily support an 8-foot tree. Read More
The Goliath welded tree stand is the best tree stand for artificial Christmas trees. It’s sturdy in design and the legs fold up for easy storage. Read More
For a tree holiday spectacle, the Puleo International rotating Christmas tree stands, turns your tree 360 degrees to showcase every side. Read More
Right out of the box, the Tree Genie makes setting up your Christmas tree a breeze—a quick, one-person job. No need to worry about it tipping over. Read More
To make Christmas tree stand storage a little easier, go with the TreeKeeper rolling tree stand with a storage bag that makes set-up a breeze. Read More
Whether your Christmas celebrations lean religious or secular, a tree wreathed in Christmas lights, smelling of fresh pine, and ladened with presents makes for a wonderful centerpiece to your holiday festivities.
For as much yuletide cheer as a freshly-cut and decorated tree can bring to your home, having one in your house can also be a hazard. A reliable, heavy duty Christmas tree stand can help keep your tree secure, fresh and full during the holiday season.
We tested some of the bestselling Christmas tree stands available to find one that'll serve you and yours well for years to come. We evaluated each stand to see if it is easy to set up, use, and can hold the tree while withstanding a solid blow.
After lifting, watering, and striking a seven-and-a-half-foot Christmas tree a few dozen times, the Jack-Post 7304 Welded Steel Tree Stand (available at Amazon) is near perfect. For our Best Value pick, the Oasis 577461 Plastic Tree Stand (available at Amazon) is straightforward, made of heavy-duty plastic, and fairly secure.
If you need a replacement stand for your artificial Christmas tree, we recommend the Goliath Welded Stand (available at Amazon), which is easy to store and exceptionally sturdy.
The heavy-duty welded steel construction, which requires no assembly whatsoever, is rugged and durable, able to easily support an 8-foot tree.
When your artificial Christmas tree's stand gets wobbly, turn to the Goliath Welded stand.
The Puleo International rotating stand creates quite the dazzling display for your artificial tree.
The TreeKeeper artificial Christmas tree stand makes setting up and storing easy.
If you’re looking for a basic, straightforward Christmas tree stand, then the Oasis offers a great value.
Welded steel construction
12-foot tree rating
Lifetime warranty
Small water bucket
Some users report quality issues
Sturdy steel construction
Colorful, festive design
Difficult, two-person setup
Simple bolt based design with handles
Great stability
Low maintenance
Average assembly time
Seems fairly indestructible
Shallow, unstable design
Will probably require some drilling
Hi, I’m Jean Levasseur. I’m a former conveyor mechanic, current property manager, and hobbyist woodworker, in addition to being a writing instructor at a local university. I come from a family of tool-users—my grandfather was a carpenter, my father owned an excavation company, and my mother was a mechanic.
I’m Samantha Mangino, a staff writer here at Reviewed. I’ve tested a boatload of household goods from trash bags to steam irons. I'm especially passionate about the holiday season and have written about DIY-décor like dried orange garland and hoop wreaths.
And, I’m Jon Chan, the senior lab manager at Reviewed. Over the years I’ve worked here, I’ve tested everything from pocket knives to pressure washers.
If you get a bad tree stand, this could happen to you.
We organized our testing in three phases: assembly, usage, and stability.
During the assembly stage, we set up the stands without looking at the instructions first, because a Christmas tree stand should last from season to season for years. Since their instructions will inevitably get lost, intuitive design is a must.
We tested using a 7.5-foot-tall live tree for Christmas tree stands made for real trees. When it came to testing artificial tree stands, we used artificial trees also measuring 7.5 feet tall.
Our usage testing included placing the tree into the stand and securing it. We assigned scores based on how long it took and how arduous the task was. We also made note of how easy it was to water (the real trees) and remove the tree from the stand.
Finally, we tested the tree stands for both artificial and real trees in the same way, with a few tweaks. For real trees, with the tree all snug, we struck different parts of the tree using a 10-pound weight hanging from a 3-foot length of cord attached to an adjustable frame. To keep the force consistent, we pulled the cord back until it was at a 45-degree angle and let gravity do the rest. After each swing of the weight, we measured how far each stand was pushed back. Throughout our tests we kept the water level for our tree at three quarts—the amount needed to water our tree for a day.
When testing stands for artificial Christmas trees, we followed much of the same procedures. We examined the set-up of each stand and the experience of securing artificial trees into the stand. Plus we ran the same test using the 10 pound weight to measure stability. However, we did not test for water levels since that’s not necessary with fake trees. Instead, we tested special features (like rotating stands) and the versatility of the stands to hold tree poles of multiple diameters.
Tree stands are designed for trunks of a certain length and diameter.
Tree stands are designed for trunks of a certain length and diameter. Typically, you use a tree stand designed for a taller tree on a smaller one. The exception is when the trunk is too narrow. For example, a tree stand designed to take a 12-foot tree may only take a trunk down to three inches in diameter, any smaller and you risk it falling over.
The real problems happen when you get a tree stand that's too small. More often than not, your Christmas tree will fall over the moment it goes in. We recommend you follow the sizing instructions from the manufacturer.
When purchasing a stand for an artificial Christmas tree, measure the diameter of your tree’s center pole first. Typically, fake trees range in diameter from 1.25 to 1.75 inches. Many stands come with pieces of hardware to adjust the stand to fit your tree, while other stands only suit one size.
When a tree gets cut down, sap hardens at the base and forms a sort of cap that prevents water absorption. To keep your Christmas tree alive, cut about half an inch from the tree when you get it home. If your stand has a long spike in the middle, this is also the time to bore a pilot hole.
After cutting the base, you should remove the netting and inspect the tree for critters. Christmas trees are grown outdoors, becoming homes for any number of insects. Common hitchhikers include spiders and beetles. Give a good shake and a thorough eyeballing with the aid of a flashlight before the tree enters your home.
Artificial trees don’t require as much prep as real trees do. However, artificial trees are susceptible to growing mold just like real trees are. After they’ve been in storage for a year, we recommend cleaning it with water and vinegar to freshen it up.
Our usage testing included placing the tree into the stand and securing it. We assigned scores based on how long it took and how arduous the task was. We also made note of how easy it was to water and remove the tree.
Avoid placing your Christmas tree near heat sources like radiators or sunward windows. While it looks nice, placing your tree next to a fireplace is a surefire way to turn your evergreen forever brown, and potentially light it on fire.
According to the National Christmas Tree Association, the general rule of thumb is one quart of water for each inch of the trunk's diameter. Our tree had a three-inch trunk so we added three quarts of water per day.
A big perk of artificial trees is that they don’t require any water and are generally low maintenance. However, fake trees still have lights and cords dangling down, so be sure to place your tree in a spot close to an outlet to avoid tripping hazards.
Jonathan Chan currently serves as the Lab Manager at Reviewed. If you clean with it, it's likely that Jon oversees its testing. Since joining the Reviewed in 2012, Jon has helped launch the company's efforts in reviewing laptops, vacuums, and outdoor gear. He thinks he's a pretty big deal. In the pursuit of data, he's plunged his hands into freezing cold water, consented to be literally dragged through the mud, and watched paint dry. Jon demands you have a nice day.
Jean Levasseur
Contributor
Jean Levasseur became a professional writer over a decade-long career in marketing, public relations, and technical writing. After leaving that career to stay home to care for his twin boys, Jean has continued to write in a variety of freelance roles, as well as teaching academic writing at a local university. When he's not reviewing tools or chasing toddlers around the house, he's also an avid fiction writer and a growing woodworker.
Samantha Mangino is a self-proclaimed homebody. Conveniently she is a home staff writer at Reviewed, covering cleaning, appliances, furniture, and home furnishings and décor. She knows her way around a house and has tested everything from furniture, sponges, steam irons, to Legos. She’s always on the hunt for the latest internet trends and wants to help make your home cleaner and cozier.
Our team is here for one purpose: to help you buy the best stuff and love what you own. Our writers, editors, and lab technicians obsess over the products we cover to make sure you're confident and satisfied. Have a different opinion about something we recommend? Email us and we'll compare notes.
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