Christmas Tree Statistics 2026: 48 Facts on Real vs Artificial Trees in the UK

Most British homes put up a tree. Most of those trees are plastic. Millions of real ones are still grown, sold and chipped each year.

Who buys which kind, what the trees cost, how long they take to grow and what happens in January are all questions with surprisingly patchy answers. Whether the tree will stand in a snowy window is another matter, covered in our white Christmas statistics.

This page collects the most reliable numbers, mainly from the UK, with a look at Denmark, the big supplier next door. Every figure links to its source. For the rest of the season, see our key Christmas statistics for Britain.

Many figures come from the British Christmas Tree Growers Association. Recycling advice is published by Defra.

Real or artificial: what Britons put up

1. Three in four decorators have an artificial tree

In a YouGov survey of 4,243 Britons in November 2025, 76% of those who put up Christmas decorations had an artificial tree and 18% a real one.¹

2. Two in three planned to use plastic in 2022

In December 2022, 60% of Britons who celebrate Christmas said they would use an artificial tree they already own and 7% planned to buy a new one. Only 15% said they would buy a real tree.⁴

3. Young adults are far more likely to buy real

Among 18 to 24 year olds, 25% planned a real tree, against 9% of people aged 65 and over.⁴

4. Older Britons stick with the tree they own

66% of those aged 65 and over planned to reuse an artificial tree they already had, compared with 48% of 18 to 24 year olds.⁴

5. 4.9 million households bought a real tree in 2024

The Horticultural Trades Association (HTA) estimates that 4.9 million UK households bought a real Christmas tree in 2024, while 8.4 million bought an artificial one.²

6. Real tree buyers grew from 4.2 million in 2016

An HTA survey found about 4.2 million households bought a real tree in 2016. By 2024 the figure was 4.9 million.²

7. Most Britons think plastic is the greener choice

54% of Britons said in 2022 that an artificial tree is more environmentally friendly than a real one each year. Only 16% thought a real tree was greener.⁴ The carbon figures further down say otherwise, as long as the plastic tree is not kept for many years.

How many real trees are sold, and what they cost

8. 6 to 8 million real trees a year, says Defra

In January 2020, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) put annual UK sales of real Christmas trees at 6 to 8 million.⁵

9. More than 8 million in 2021

An Ipsos survey of 3,491 UK adults, run in early 2022, estimated that more than 8 million real Christmas trees were sold for Christmas 2021. The main reasons for buying one were smell and tradition.⁶

10. Almost 5 million in 2023

The growers association cites an Ipsos survey suggesting that almost 5 million real trees were obtained for Christmas 2023.⁷ The gap to earlier estimates shows how hard the market is to measure.

11. Industry estimates have ranged up to 10 million

In 2021, the British Christmas Tree Growers Association was quoted saying that 8 to 10 million real trees are sold in the UK each year.⁸

12. Real trees are a £194 million market

Total UK spending on real Christmas trees topped £194 million in 2024, according to the HTA survey. Artificial trees were a £372 million market.²

13. Artificial trees cost £7 more at garden centres

At garden centres, the average spend was £44 for a real tree and £51 for an artificial one in 2024.²

14. Up to 3 million trees are imported

The UK imports between 1 million and 3 million real Christmas trees from Europe each year, according to figures quoted by FarmingUK in September 2021.⁸

15. Growers faced steep cost rises in 2021

Growers reported fertiliser costs up 100%, pallets up 50% and transport 20% to 60% dearer, with wholesale tree prices up 5% to 10%.⁸

16. You cannot simply cut more trees

A tree seller quoted by FarmingUK pointed out that with an average of 10 years to grow, "it's not a case of simply just cutting more trees" when demand jumps.⁸

Where people buy their tree

17. Garden centres now sell more than half of real trees

52% of UK households that bought a real tree in 2024 did so at a garden centre. That is about 2.6 million households.²

18. The garden centre share was 37% in 2016

In the 2016 HTA survey, only 37% of real tree buyers shopped at a garden centre or retail nursery. The share has risen to 52% in eight years.²

19. December is 11% of a garden centre's year

In 2024, 11% of annual garden centre turnover fell in December, and Christmas departments made up 27% of December sales.²

Species, growing time and farms

20. A 6ft tree takes about 10 years

The HTA notes that a real Christmas tree takes around 10 years to reach 6ft.²

21. Three to four years in the nursery, seven to nine on the farm

According to the growers association, seedlings spend 3 to 4 years in a nursery, followed by 7 to 9 years with the grower. A typical full height tree is 10 to 12 years old.⁷

22. Nordmann fir is the clear number one

Defra says Nordmann firs account for about 80% of UK sales and Norway spruce for 10% to 15%.⁵

23. The growers' own estimate is about 75%

The British Christmas Tree Growers Association puts the Nordmann fir share of UK sales at approximately 75%.⁷

24. Around 300 growers across Britain

The BCTGA network includes more than 300 growers nationwide, and the average growth cycle for a 6ft tree is about 10 years.⁹

25. Up to 10 seedlings for every tree cut

Growers say that up to 10 seedlings are planted for each average sized tree harvested.³

26. Cut trees last about four weeks indoors

The Royal Horticultural Society says a cut tree lasts about 4 weeks indoors, while a living tree in a pot should stay inside for no more than 12 days.¹⁰

The environmental footprint

27. A 2m artificial tree: about 40kg of CO2

The Carbon Trust estimates the carbon footprint of a two metre plastic tree at around 40kg of CO2.³

28. A real tree in landfill: about 16kg

A two metre real tree without roots that ends up in landfill has a footprint of around 16kg of CO2, mostly from methane released as it rots.³

29. A chipped real tree: about 3.5kg

If the same tree is chipped for the garden, the footprint falls to around 3.5kg of CO2, more than 10 times lower than the plastic one.³

30. Two thirds of a plastic tree's footprint is the plastic

About two thirds of an artificial tree's footprint comes from the oil based plastic, and around a quarter from the emissions of manufacturing it.³

31. Keep the plastic tree for at least 10 years

The Carbon Trust figures imply an artificial tree needs to be used for at least 10 years before its impact drops below that of real trees that are burnt.³

32. Euronews: 10 to 20 reuses to break even

A Euronews fact check puts the break even at 10 to 20 reuses, and notes that about 90% of artificial trees are shipped from China.¹¹

What happens to the tree in January

33. A third use the council collection

Of Britons who planned a real tree in 2022, 33% said they would use their local authority's collection service, with the trees shredded for gardens and parks.⁴

34. A quarter take the tree to a recycling centre

25% said they would take their tree to a recycling centre, 16% would replant it and 11% would shred it for their own garden.⁴

35. Landfill cost about £22 million a year

Defra said in 2020 that about 8 million trees are thrown away after Christmas and that sending them to landfill costs roughly £22 million a year.⁵

36. Wandsworth recycled a record 212 tonnes

Wandsworth Council collected 212 tonnes of real trees for recycling in winter 2025/26, around 13,000 trees and the highest total the borough has recorded.¹²

37. Trees become flood barriers and park mulch

Defra lists shredding for parks and woodland, composting trees with roots attached and building flood barriers among the ways to give a tree a second life.⁵

When the tree goes up and comes down

38. Half of Britons decorate in the first two weeks of December

In YouGov's November 2025 survey, 35% said they put decorations up in the first week of December and 22% in the second. 10% do it in November.¹³

39. One in six waits until mid December

16% put decorations up from 15 December or later, and 14% do not decorate at all.¹³

40. Under 35s are keener to start early

26% of 18 to 34 year olds think home decorations before 1 December are acceptable, compared with 4% of people aged 65 and over.¹³

41. Most take everything down by 5 January

56% take decorations down between New Year and 5 January, 22% before New Year and 21% keep them up until 6 January or later.¹³

The Trafalgar Square tree and Denmark's trade

42. Oslo has sent London a tree since 1947

The Trafalgar Square Christmas tree has been a gift from Oslo to London every year since 1947.¹⁴

43. A spruce of 50 to 60 years old

The tree is usually a Norway spruce more than 20 metres high and 50 to 60 years old. The 2025 lighting ceremony tree stood 25 metres tall.¹⁴

44. A journey of 180km by road and 26 hours at sea

Oslo says the tree travels about 180km by road to the port of Brevik, then spends 26 hours at sea. Changes to transport since 2022 cut the journey's carbon footprint by 80%.¹⁵

45. Denmark has 2,300 growers and 11 million trees

The Danish Christmas Tree Association counts 2,300 growers of Christmas trees and greenery, producing 11 million trees a year.¹⁶

46. Denmark exported 9.3 million trees in 2024

Denmark was the world champion in Christmas tree exports in 2024, with 9.3 million trees, according to heise online.¹⁷

47. Nine in ten Danish trees go abroad

About 90% of Denmark's annual production is exported, with more than half going to Germany, according to a 2016 report.¹⁸

48. In Germany, 83% of imported trees come from Denmark

In 2024, 83% of the 1.8 million Christmas trees imported into Germany came from Denmark.¹⁷

What the numbers mean for businesses

The tree is the one Christmas object nearly every household has, and the decorating dates show the season starting in the first week of December for most people. That is the window in which attention is highest. It is also why a countdown that opens a door a day fits the way people already behave at home: small, daily and visible. How many Britons already buy one shows in our advent calendar statistics.

A digital advent calendar needs no lorry, no pine needles and no recycling plan. You send a link and each of the 24 doors holds a quiz, a coupon, a video or a giveaway. See how it works for customers, as a marketing campaign or for employees. For spending patterns around the tree, read our Christmas spending statistics.

My take

Frequently asked questions

How many real Christmas trees are sold in the UK each year?

Estimates vary. Defra gave 6 to 8 million in 2020, an Ipsos survey estimated more than 8 million for 2021, and a later Ipsos survey suggested almost 5 million for 2023. The HTA counts 4.9 million households buying a real tree in 2024.

Do more Britons have a real or an artificial tree?

Artificial. In YouGov's November 2025 survey, 76% of those who decorate had an artificial tree and 18% a real one. In 2024, 8.4 million UK households bought an artificial tree against 4.9 million for a real one (HTA).

What is the most popular type of real Christmas tree?

The Nordmann fir. Defra puts its share of UK sales at about 80%, the growers association at approximately 75%. Norway spruce comes second.

How long does it take to grow a Christmas tree?

About 10 years to reach 6ft: 3 to 4 years in a nursery and 7 to 9 years with the grower.

Is a real or an artificial Christmas tree better for the environment?

According to the Carbon Trust, a 2m artificial tree has a footprint of about 40kg of CO2, against 3.5kg for a real tree that is chipped. An artificial tree needs to be reused for at least 10 years to beat a real one.

Where can I use these statistics?

You are welcome to quote them in articles, reports and presentations. Please link to this page as the source.

Sources

1. 1YouGov UK, Big Survey on Christmas 2025 (yougov.com)
2. 2Horticultural Trades Association, Independent Christmas Tree Survey 2024 (hta.org.uk)
3. 3British Christmas Tree Growers Association, citing the Carbon Trust (bctga.co.uk)
4. 4YouGov UK, Christmas trees 2022 (yougov.com)
5. 5Defra, Recycle or replant your tree for a greener Christmas (January 2020) (gov.uk)
6. 6Ipsos UK, Real Christmas trees sold in 2021 (ipsos.com)
7. 7British Christmas Tree Growers Association, Christmas tree fun facts (bctga.co.uk)
8. 8FarmingUK, Christmas tree shortages could hit UK, growers warn (September 2021) (farminguk.com)
9. 9Government Business, The value of British-grown Christmas trees (governmentbusiness.co.uk)
10. 10Royal Horticultural Society, Christmas trees: types and care (rhs.org.uk)
11. 11Euronews, Fact check: real or artificial Christmas trees 2023 (euronews.com)
12. 12Wandsworth Council, Record number of real Christmas trees recycled 2026 (wandsworth.gov.uk)
13. 13YouGov UK, Decorating the halls 2025 (yougov.com)
14. 14Greater London Authority, Christmas at Trafalgar Square (london.gov.uk)
15. 15City of Oslo, The Trafalgar Square Christmas tree (oslo.kommune.no)
16. 16Danish Christmas Tree Association, About Danish Christmas trees (christmastree.dk)
17. 17heise online, Zahlen, bitte (citing Destatis and Schutzgemeinschaft Deutscher Wald) (heise.de)
18. 18The Local Denmark, How Danish Christmas trees became big business (2016) (thelocal.dk)