The Best Types of Christmas Trees to Buy Online
What are the best Christmas trees to buy online??? Buying a real Christmas tree online should feel simple, exciting, and convenient. Instead of searching through crowded tree lots, you can choose the type and size of tree you want, select your preferred shipping week, and have a fresh real Christmas tree delivered right to your door.
However, not every Christmas tree variety is ideal for online ordering and home delivery. Some trees hold their needles better. Some have stronger branches for ornaments. Some are softer to the touch. Others are known for their classic Christmas fragrance.
At Brown’s Tree Farm, we have grown and shipped real Christmas trees for many years, and for our mail order customers we recommend three excellent choices: Fraser Fir, Balsam Fir, and White Pine. Each one has its own strengths, and the best choice depends on what matters most to your family.

Not sure which real Christmas tree to order? Compare Fraser Fir, Balsam Fir, and White Pine to find the best tree for your home this holiday season.
What Makes a Christmas Tree Good to Buy Online?
When choosing the best Christmas tree to buy online, you should think about more than just height. A fresh real Christmas tree that will be boxed and shipped should have qualities that help it arrive looking beautiful and stay fresh throughout the season.
The most important things to consider are:
- Needle retention
- Branch strength
- Fragrance
- Needle softness
- Tree density
- Overall shape
- Ease of setup
- Available size
- How well the variety works for shipping
A tree that looks good in the field also needs to perform well once it arrives at your home. That is why Fraser Fir, Balsam Fir, and White Pine are such popular choices for real Christmas tree delivery.
When shoppers compare the Best Christmas Trees to Buy Online, the right choice usually comes down to how they decorate and what they want their home to feel like during the holiday season. Fraser Fir, Balsam Fir, and White Pine are all among the Best Christmas Trees to Buy Online because each one offers a different benefit: Fraser Fir is the best all-around choice, Balsam Fir is ideal for classic Christmas fragrance, and White Pine is perfect for soft needles and lighter decorating.
Best Overall Christmas Tree to Buy Online: Fraser Fir
If you want a beautiful, classic, reliable Christmas tree, Fraser Fir is one of the best choices you can make when determining the best Christmas trees to buy online. It is also one of the most popular real Christmas trees for good reason.
Fraser Fir Christmas trees are known for excellent needle retention, attractive shape, soft needles, strong branches, and a pleasant Christmas tree fragrance. They also have a beautiful two-tone appearance, with dark green needles and silvery undersides.
For many families, Fraser Fir is the best all-around Christmas tree to buy online because it checks nearly every box. It looks beautiful, smells good, holds ornaments well, and stays fresh with proper care.
Choose Fraser Fir if you want:
- The best overall real Christmas tree
- Excellent needle retention
- Strong branches for ornaments
- A traditional Christmas tree look
- A pleasant but not overpowering fragrance
- A tree that is easy to decorate
- A premium choice for home delivery
Fraser Fir is a great option for families who decorate with a mix of lights, keepsake ornaments, heavier ornaments, garland, and a tree topper. If you are not sure which tree to choose, Fraser Fir is usually the safest recommendation.
Buy a Fraser Fir Christmas Tree Online
Best Christmas Tree for Fragrance: Balsam Fir
If the smell of a real Christmas tree is one of your favorite parts of the holiday season, Balsam Fir may be the best tree for your home when determining the best Christmas trees to buy online.
Balsam Fir Christmas trees are known for their rich, classic Christmas fragrance. They have a dark green appearance, attractive form, long-lasting needles, and a full, traditional look.
For many people, Balsam Fir is the tree that “smells like Christmas.” If you grew up with a real tree in the house, there is a good chance that the scent of Balsam Fir will bring back memories of Christmas mornings, family gatherings, and decorating traditions.
Choose Balsam Fir if you want:
- The strongest traditional Christmas tree fragrance
- A dark green, classic appearance
- A full-looking tree
- Soft needles
- A real tree experience that feels nostalgic
- A beautiful tree for lights and standard ornaments
Balsam Fir is an excellent choice for customers who care most about fragrance and traditional Christmas atmosphere. It is especially nice in living rooms, family rooms, and other spaces where the scent of a fresh real Christmas tree can be enjoyed throughout the season.
Buy a Balsam Fir Christmas Tree Online
Best Soft-Needle Christmas Tree: White Pine
White Pine is a great choice for customers who want a soft, full, lightweight Christmas tree. It has long, soft needles and a dense appearance. Compared to Fraser Fir and Balsam Fir, White Pine has very little aroma, which may be helpful for some customers who prefer a lower-fragrance tree.
White Pine does not have the same branch strength as Fraser Fir or Balsam Fir, so it is not the best choice for heavy ornaments. However, it can be a beautiful option for lights, ribbon, light ornaments, and a softer natural look.
White Pine is also a good choice for people who want a tree that is easier to handle. Because of its soft branches and lighter feel, it can work especially well for smaller homes, apartments, gifts, or customers who want a simpler setup.
Choose White Pine if you want:
- Very soft needles
- A full, dense appearance
- A lighter tree that is easier to handle
- Less Christmas tree fragrance
- A beautiful tree for lights and lightweight ornaments
- A softer, more natural look
White Pine is a wonderful choice if you prefer comfort and softness over heavy ornament support. It is also a good option for families who want a real Christmas tree but do not want a strong evergreen scent.
Buy a White Pine Christmas Tree Online
Quick Comparison: Fraser Fir vs. Balsam Fir vs. White Pine
Fraser Fir
Best for: Overall quality, ornament support, freshness, and classic beauty.
Fraser Fir is the best choice for most customers who want a premium real Christmas tree delivered to their door. It has excellent needle retention, good fragrance, strong branches, and a beautiful shape.
Balsam Fir
Best for: Strong Christmas fragrance and traditional holiday feel.
Balsam Fir is the best choice if you want your home to smell like Christmas. It has a classic appearance, good needle softness, and a full look.
White Pine
Best for: Soft needles, low fragrance, and lightweight handling.
White Pine is the best choice if you want a soft, full tree that is easier to handle and does not have a strong aroma. It is best decorated with lights and lighter ornaments.
Which Christmas Tree Is Best for Ornaments?
If you have a lot of ornaments, especially heavier keepsake ornaments, Fraser Fir is usually the best choice. Its stronger branches make it easier to decorate, and its shape gives ornaments room to hang nicely.
Balsam Fir is also a good choice for many ornaments, especially standard lightweight ornaments. It has a full, traditional look and a wonderful fragrance.
White Pine is better for lights, ribbon, and lighter decorations. Its branches are soft and flexible, so it is not the best choice for heavy ornaments.
Which Christmas Tree Smells the Best?
Balsam Fir is the best choice if fragrance is your top priority. It is known for its strong, classic Christmas tree scent.
Fraser Fir also has a pleasant aroma, but it is usually not as strong as Balsam Fir. White Pine has very little aroma, which makes it better for customers who prefer a lower-fragrance tree.
Which Christmas Tree Lasts the Longest?
Freshness depends on the tree variety, when it is harvested, how it is shipped, and how well it is cared for once it arrives.
Fraser Fir is especially well known for excellent needle retention, which makes it one of the best choices for customers who want a fresh real Christmas tree delivered to their home.
No matter which variety you choose, proper Christmas tree care is important. Once your tree arrives, make a fresh cut from the base of the trunk, place it in water as soon as possible, and keep the stand filled with water throughout the season.
What Size Christmas Tree Should You Buy Online?
Before ordering your Christmas tree online, measure your space carefully. Be sure to consider your ceiling height, tree stand, and tree topper.
A common mistake is choosing a tree that is too tall for the room. For example, if you have an 8-foot ceiling, a 7.5-foot tree may not leave enough room for your stand and topper. In many homes, a 6.5-foot to 7.5-foot tree is a practical and beautiful choice.
Also remember that taller trees can cost more to ship. Trees over 6.5 feet may be subject to oversized shipping charges, so customers looking for the best value may want to choose a tree no larger than 6.5 feet.
Click here for more details about Christmas Tree Sizes
Why Buy a Real Christmas Tree Online?
Buying a real Christmas tree online is a great option for families who want the beauty and tradition of a fresh tree without the hassle of visiting a tree lot.
When you order from A Tree To Your Door, Brown’s Tree Farm hand selects, harvests, packages, and ships your tree directly from the farm. Instead of spending time searching locally, you can choose your tree type and size online and have it delivered to your front door.
This is especially helpful for:
- Busy families
- Older adults
- People sending a tree as a gift
- Customers without access to a good local tree lot
- Families who want a specific tree variety
- Anyone who wants a convenient way to enjoy a real Christmas tree
A real Christmas tree delivered to your home combines tradition with convenience.
Our Recommendation
If you are still unsure which Christmas tree to buy online, here is the simplest way to decide:
Choose Fraser Fir Christmas Tree if you want the best overall tree.
Choose Balsam Fir Christmas Tree if you want the strongest Christmas tree fragrance.
Choose White Pine Christmas Tree if you want the softest needles and a lighter, lower-fragrance tree.
All three are excellent real Christmas trees. The right choice depends on your home, your decorating style, and what makes Christmas feel special to your family.
Ready to Choose Your Christmas Tree?
Brown’s Tree Farm makes it easy to buy a real Christmas tree online and have it delivered to your door. Whether you choose Fraser Fir, Balsam Fir, or White Pine, you can enjoy the beauty, fragrance, and tradition of a fresh real Christmas tree without the stress of hauling one home yourself.
Browse our available Christmas trees, compare sizes, and place your order early to reserve the best selection for the holiday season.
Click here to view our Christmas Tree Order Guide
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best Christmas tree to buy online?
Fraser Fir is the best overall Christmas tree to buy online for most customers. It has excellent needle retention, strong branches, soft needles, pleasant fragrance, and a beautiful classic shape.
Which Christmas tree smells the best?
Balsam Fir is the best choice if you want a strong, traditional Christmas tree fragrance. It is known for the classic evergreen scent many people associate with Christmas.
Is White Pine a good Christmas tree?
Yes, White Pine is a good Christmas tree for customers who want soft needles, a full appearance, and very little fragrance. It is best decorated with lights, ribbon, and lightweight ornaments.
What Christmas tree is best for heavy ornaments?
Fraser Fir is usually the best choice for heavier ornaments because it has stronger branches than White Pine and excellent overall structure.
When should I order a Christmas tree online?
It is best to order early to help ensure availability and get the tree variety and size you want. You can then select the shipping week that works best for your holiday decorating schedule.
Can a real Christmas tree be shipped to my home?
Yes. A real Christmas tree can be harvested, packaged, and shipped directly to your home. Brown’s Tree Farm ships fresh real Christmas trees everywhere in the continental U.S. in custom boxes designed to help protect the tree during delivery.
How do I keep my delivered Christmas tree fresh?
After your tree arrives, make a fresh cut at the base of the trunk and place it in water as soon as possible. Check the water level daily and keep the tree away from heat sources such as fireplaces, heating vents, and direct sunlight.
Want more information about REAL Christmas Trees? Click here to visit the National Christmas Tree Association’s website.