With the “$1, 1 tree” initiative and minimal impact on tariffs, real trees could be a bargain in the 2025 holiday season.
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The cost of purchasing gifts, decorations, and gingerbread houses can be quite expensive, so the U.S. Department of the Interior wants to ease the financial burden by making Christmas trees more affordable this holiday season.
The Department of the Interior (DOI) announced on Dec. 5, “The 2025-2026 winter season will help families save money, enjoy public lands, and help prevent wildfires.” To do this, the federal agency announced that the Bureau of Land Management will reduce permit fees for firewood and Christmas trees through Jan. 31. Christmas tree and firewood permit fees are $1 per tree or cord.
Additionally, the agency, the federal agency within the DOI that manages public lands, is opening new logging areas in overstocked forest lands to “immediately relieve prices and expand opportunities for American families to collect their own firewood and Christmas trees,” according to the DOI.
The new initiative, titled “One Dollar, One Tree,” will provide “meaningful cost savings for families” and help “thin millions of acres of forests and reduce harmful fuels,” the DOI said.
“American families deserve real relief and savings during the holidays, and the Department of the Interior is working to ensure they can keep their homes warm while preserving tradition,” Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said in a statement. “The ‘One Dollar, One Tree’ initiative is a powerful example of how our public lands can provide lasting benefits to Americans and make this season brighter and more affordable for everyone.”
According to Burgum and DOI, savings on Christmas tree and firewood costs will provide nearly $10 million in economic relief to households during the 2025 holiday season.
Are the prices of Christmas trees going up?
According to MPR News and WTOP, artificial Christmas trees will become more expensive this holiday season due to tariffs. The American Christmas Tree Association reported that a 30% tariff was imposed on trees and decorations, increasing prices by about 10% to 15%.
Meanwhile, in a survey conducted in August by the Real Christmas Tree Committee, a national promotion and research organization, 84% of growers said they did not expect wholesale prices to rise this year.
The commission warned that consumer prices will fluctuate as retailers set costs. Although the board cannot reveal the average price of the tree, the organization cited a 2024 Holiday Consumer Survey in which 90% of respondents who purchased a real Christmas tree said it was worth the price they paid.
Nearly eight in 10 growers expect to sell the same number of trees or more in 2024 than they did in 2024, and 32% expect to sell more trees in 2025 than in 2024, according to the commission’s survey.
“Supply remains strong,” the board said. “Real Christmas trees are available for everyone who wants them. There was no shortage of trees in the industry last year or the year before that.”
Meanwhile, the American Christmas Tree Association partnered with market research firm Ipsos to conduct a national survey to determine whether artificial Christmas trees are the first choice for most American households. The survey found that 83% of households planning to decorate a Christmas tree this season will choose an artificial Christmas tree, “reflecting consistent preferences seen for more than a decade,” the association said.
The association attributes the continued demand for artificial Christmas trees to their convenience, safety, cost-effectiveness and durability. Many consumers also cite the practical benefits of engineered wood, including reduced maintenance and the ability to be reused year after year.
“Data confirms that artificial trees have become the standard for holiday decorations in the United States,” Jami Warner, executive director of the American Christmas Tree Association, said in a statement. “Families appreciate the reliability, ease of setup, and range of options available, from high-end pre-lit models to traditional evergreen styles and colorful, fun styles.”
How much does a real Christmas tree cost?
Family Handyman magazine, citing data from the National and American Christmas Tree Associations, reported that the average price of a real Christmas tree in 2024 will be between $80 and $100. According to Home Improvement magazine, prices in this range are up about 10% compared to last year, “primarily due to inflation and drought.”
According to the magazine, artificial Christmas trees can cost anywhere from about $85 to more than $1,000, according to data from the National and American Christmas Tree Associations.
“According to our 2023 survey, 52% of artificial Christmas tree owners purchased their tree for less than $200, and 27% paid between $200 and $400,” Warner told the magazine at the time. “For artificial Christmas trees, costs vary by producer, retailer, and features such as size, shape, and pre-lit options.”
The Real Christmas Tree Committee believes that the lower cost of real Christmas trees is because the industry is not importing products from overseas. As of Dec. 6, Home Depot and Lowe’s Home Improvement are selling a variety of real Christmas trees ranging from about $60 to $170.
