A pre-lit artificial Christmas tree has the LED lights already fixed along the branches, so it is lit the moment it is up and plugged in. An unlit tree is cheaper to buy and lets you choose the lights yourself. Around a third of the artificial trees at Sapcote Garden Centre are pre-lit, and this guide sets out when each makes sense.

Why choose a pre-lit tree?

• No lighting to do. The lights are spaced evenly through the tree by the maker, including deep in the branches where most of us never reach with a string of lights. The tree goes up in minutes and comes down the same way.
• Neater. The wires follow the branches, so there are no loops hanging in the gaps and no plug trailing from halfway up the tree.
• Built-in effects. Our pre-lit trees come in warm white, colour-changing (switching between warm white and white, or cycling through colours) and dual-colour versions, often with a choice of settings on the controller. The Light Colour filter on our artificial trees page shows them.

Why choose an unlit tree?

• Lower price for the same tree. The unlit version of a tree is typically £30 to £80 cheaper than its pre-lit twin, and a good set of lights costs less than the difference on larger trees.
• You pick the lights. Cluster lights for a dense glow, multi-colour for the children, or a warm white set this year and a different look next year. Our guide to how many lights a tree needs gives the numbers.
• Easier to fix. If a string of lights fails after a few years you replace the string, not the tree. Pre-lit trees are built in sections, so a fault is usually confined to one section, but it is still a repair rather than a swap.

How long do pre-lit tree lights last?

LEDs are rated for tens of thousands of hours, so the lights themselves normally outlast the tree. The weak points are the connectors between sections, which is why it is worth plugging the sections together before you shape the branches and storing the tree in its box so the wiring is not crushed. Keep the receipt and the box; pre-lit trees from Premier, National Tree Company and Everlands come with a manufacturer’s guarantee, and faulty lights within 30 days are a straightforward exchange or refund under the Consumer Rights Act.

Fibre-optic trees: a different kind of pre-lit

Fibre-optic trees carry the light along the tips of the branches from a single lamp in the base, so the whole tree twinkles rather than individual bulbs. They are mostly smaller trees, 80cm to 1.8m, and are the easiest pre-lit option of all: one plug, no controller to lose. We stock nine, including snow-tipped versions with berries.

Which should you buy?

If you want the tree up and lit with the least effort, or you are buying a 7ft or taller tree where stringing lights is a real job, choose pre-lit. If you already own good lights, want a particular colour or effect, or are watching the budget, buy unlit. Either way, all 65 of our trees are on display and lit in the garden centre on Hinckley Road, Sapcote, so you can see exactly how each pre-lit tree looks switched on, and every tree can be delivered to mainland UK for £10. To settle the height first, read which size artificial tree you need.

Quick answers

Are pre-lit Christmas trees worth it?

For most people buying a 6ft or larger tree, yes: the lights are evenly spread, there is nothing to untangle, and the extra cost is close to what a good set of lights costs anyway.

What happens if the lights on a pre-lit tree stop working?

Pre-lit trees are wired in sections, so check each section’s connector first. A fault in the first weeks is covered by your consumer rights; after that, the manufacturer’s guarantee applies, so keep your receipt.

What colour are pre-lit tree lights?

Most are warm white. Many of ours are colour-changing or dual-colour, switching between warm white and bright white, with the settings on a small controller on the lead.

Andrew Porwol

Andrew Porwol is an expert on gardening, plants, garden design, and outdoor furniture. He is the owner of Sapcote Garden Centre, Sharnford Garden Centre, and Garden Centre Shopping. He’s regularly featured in expert publications, like Forbes, MSN, and Better Homes & Gardens.