Why are christmas trees so expensive?

By Sabha Hossan, 2025

Published 1/2/2024

As we move into the New Year after various holiday celebrations, many people who celebrate Christmas have already gotten rid of their Christmas tree after only having it up for a few weeks. Despite the short amount of time Christmas trees are used for, their prices have increased dramatically in recent years. 

Ever since the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been an increase in demand for Christmas trees. Due to the increase in demand, suppliers cut trees that would’ve taken another year to grow and shipped them, which resulted in shortage in 2021 that led to higher prices (Forbes). The fact that Christmas trees take a lot of time, potentially up to fifteen years, and effort to grow contributes to the costs. The process of growing a tree requires water, fertilizer, nutrients, and more products which can add onto the cost (Lawn Love). 

Not only that, however, trees are limited. Different varieties, such as balsam fir and noble fir, tend to be more expensive due to their unique appearance. It’s more costly for trees to have special features, such as being larger, having stronger branches, or specific scents. Those who want bigger trees need to keep in mind that the root system of a large tree will also be much bigger, so adjusting the soil to accommodate the roots plays a role in the cost.

For trees to be shipped, transportation is required, The shipping fee can define the final cost of the tree because transportation includes the cost of fuel and gas, especially if the vehicle is undergoing long distance transportation. Those who sell trees come up with a cost that may benefit themselves during the holiday season. Sellers would want to benefit from the price they market by using the money they receive from customers to pay for rent, bills, or other expenses (Citizen Times).  It seems like the price of Christmas trees will continue to rise. The best thing anyone can do is to order their trees ahead of time before demand dramatically increases for the season, however this may not always be practical for families. 

On the other hand, a study conducted by Texas A&M Forest Service has proven that the Christmas tree industry helps fuel the economy (Texas Farm Bureau). In 2022, the industry accumulated over $714 million and supported around 6,000 jobs. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimated the Texas Christmas tree industry ranks second on southern United States’ average annual employment and wages for 2022. 

The high cost of Christmas trees in recent years may have contributed to the large number of fake trees that are now more common in homes, but overall, the prominent tradition of the Christmas tree does not seen to be going away any time soon. So despite increases in price, the demand is still apparent.