Real vs Fake Christmas Tree: 7 Reasons Real Wins (and 3 Things Fake Does Better)

Every December the same debate starts in living rooms across Sydney: do we get a real tree, or drag the fake one out of the garage again? Both have their place. But when you line them up side by side, the real tree gives you things a plastic one simply can't.

Here's an honest comparison, including what a fake tree does better, so you can decide what's right for your home.

Quick answer: is a real or fake Christmas tree better?

• Choose a real tree if you want the smell, the natural look, a tree that's grown as a crop and recycled afterwards, and a Christmas that feels like an occasion.
• Choose a fake tree if you want the tree up from October, can't water a tree every day, or will genuinely reuse the same tree for 10 years or more.

Real vs fake at a glance

7 reasons a real Christmas tree wins

1. The smell is the whole point

Feature: a fresh-cut pine releases its natural scent, which comes from compounds in the needles and sap called terpenes. Benefit: the house smells like Christmas the moment the tree comes through the door. No candle or spray quite matches it, and for a lot of families it's the smell they remember from being kids. We wrote more about that in why the smell of a real tree brings back memories.

2. It looks real because it is

Feature: every real tree has its own shape, depth and layered branches. Benefit: lights sit inside the tree rather than on top of it, ornaments hang naturally, and your tree looks like nobody else's. At Jack Frost, Jack hand-selects every tree, so you get a full, even shape without the gaps.

3. It's grown as a crop, not made in a factory

Feature: real Christmas trees are farmed and replanted, like any other crop. Most artificial trees are made from PVC plastic and metal and shipped from overseas manufacturers. Benefit: your tree spent its life growing in a field, not in a factory.

4. It ends up as mulch, not landfill

Feature: a real tree is fully biodegradable. Our trees are collected in January and recycled into mulch. Benefit: nothing to store, nothing to throw out. A fake tree can't be easily recycled because of its mix of plastic and metal, so most eventually go to landfill. The UK's Carbon Trust estimated a typical 2m artificial tree has a carbon footprint of around 40kg CO2e, compared with around 3.5kg for a real tree of the same size that's chipped into mulch. A fake tree would need to be used for at least 10 years to come out ahead.

5. Nothing to store for 11 months

Feature: once Christmas is over, a real tree simply goes. Benefit: no bulky box taking up the garage, the spare room or the top of the wardrobe, and no dusty, crushed branches to fluff up next December.

6. It makes Christmas feel like an occasion

Feature: a real tree arrives fresh each year. Benefit: choosing the size, the delivery day and the moment it comes through the door becomes part of the tradition, especially with kids. A fake tree is something you get out. A real tree is something you look forward to.

7. With delivery, it's no more work than a fake one

Feature: with Jack Frost, your tree is delivered, carried inside, set up in your stand, levelled and the loose needles tidied before we leave. Benefit: no wrestling a tree onto the car roof and no hunting for the box in the garage. Add tree removal and it's collected in January too.

3 things a fake tree does better

1. It can go up early. If you want your tree up in October, a fake or potted tree makes more sense. A cut tree is at its best for 4 to 5 weeks. (Going away over Christmas? Here's how to time a real tree.)
2. No watering. A real tree needs its water topped up daily, especially in a Sydney summer. A watering funnel makes this a 10-second job.
3. No needles. A real tree drops some needles, mostly when it's moved. A fresh, well-watered tree drops far fewer.

Is a real tree more expensive than a fake one?

Upfront, a real tree costs more each year than a cheap fake tree does once. But a good-quality artificial tree isn't cheap either, and it only pays off if you keep it in good condition for many years. We broke down the numbers in real vs fake Christmas tree cost in Australia.

Are real Christmas trees safe with pets and kids?

A real tree is a natural pine, and with a sturdy stand and sensible placement it's a normal part of Christmas for most homes with pets and kids. Keep the water reservoir covered and keep an eye on curious pets. Our guide on real trees with dogs and cats covers the details.

How do you keep a real tree looking its best?

• Top up the water every day, twice a day in a heatwave.
• Keep it away from heaters, vents and strong direct sun.
• Never let the stand run dry.
• Turn the lights off when you go out or go to bed.

Our guide to keeping a real tree fresh in a Sydney summer has the full list.

The easy way to have a real tree this year

Jack Frost delivers premium Monterey pine (Pinus radiata), fresh-cut and hand-selected by Jack, in sizes from 5ft to 10ft. We deliver across the Sutherland Shire, St George, the Eastern Suburbs, the CBD, Inner City and Inner West, the Northern Beaches and Lower North Shore, and Northern Wollongong. You pick your delivery day when you order, and we carry it in and set it up for you.

Jack started Jack Frost in 2022. We delivered over 500 trees in 2025 and we're rated 5.0 on Google.

Choose your tree and delivery day.