The Edit — Sustainable Living
How to Store an Artificial Christmas Tree So It Lasts
Heat in an attic and damp in a basement do more damage than the 11 months in storage. Dry the tree, press the branches in, skip the original box, and keep it flat somewhere cool.
This guide is research-led: we have not handled these units ourselves. If you buy through our links we may earn a commission — it never changes a pick. How we choose
Nothing on this page was handled or tested. It reads what 2 tree makers publish about storage and what owners report about the bags, as How we choose describes.
Holiday Cheer Christmas Tree Storage Bag, Waterproof, 9 ft
Good fit A sectional tree up to 9 ft going into a closet or garage
Not for Anyone who wants the tree to stay assembled
Primode Heavy Duty Christmas Tree Storage Bag, 9 ft
Good fit A 7.5 ft tree with the skirt and garland in the same bag
Not for Some owners report a zipper failing early
Santa's Bags Rolling 12 ft Christmas Tree Storage Bag with Wheels
Good fit A tree of 9 ft or more that is heavy to carry
Not for A 6 ft tree, which will rattle around inside
TreeKeeper Upright Christmas Tree Storage Bag and Rolling Stand, 9 ft
Good fit A slim tree you never want to take apart
Not for A full, wide tree or a low storage space
Handy Laundry Christmas Ornament Storage Box, 64 Ornaments
Good fit Medium-sized glass ornaments that need a cell each
Not for Large or oddly shaped ornaments
Heat and damp do the damage, not the 11 months
Nearly Natural, which makes artificial trees, names 2 storage places to avoid: hot attics and damp basements. Heat can make built-in lights fail and branches lose their shape. Humidity damages the materials and attracts dust.
A climate-controlled closet, a spare room or a temperature-controlled garage is the right home. Store the tree flat on a level surface so its weight sits evenly, not stood on its end in a corner.
Dry it and unplug it before it goes away
Nearly Natural’s routine starts with a dust from top to bottom with a soft or microfiber cloth, and a check for loose bulbs or exposed wire. Skip chemical sprays.
Any moisture left on the branches, from a humid room or misting while fluffing, should air-dry before storage. A small amount of damp is enough to leave an odour or discolour the needles by next December.
Unplug the lights and take off every ornament, pick and ribbon first. Pulling decorations off quickly bends and loosens branch tips.
Press each branch in, never fold it sharply
Take a sectional tree apart one section at a time, as Nearly Natural advises, keeping the light cords tidy as each one comes away. Then press the branches gently toward the trunk. A sharp bend sets a crease that shows next year; a gentle press keeps the section compact without changing its shape.
When the tree comes out in December, fluff from the bottom up, pulling each branch outward. Hang heavy ornaments near the trunk, where branches are strongest.
The original box is usually too small to reuse
Once a tree has been fluffed it rarely fits back into its shipping carton, and forcing it in crushes the branches. A storage bag gives room to spare. Nearly Natural names 3 options: a plain bag, a rolling bag for trees in the 7 to 9 ft range, and a hard-shell container for the most protection from moisture and pests.
| Bag | Ratings | Fits | Stores |
|---|---|---|---|
| Holiday Cheer | 4.7, 2,316 | 9 ft | Taken apart |
| Santa’s Bags | 4.7, 472 | 12 ft | Taken apart, on wheels |
| Primode | 4.6, 9,335 | 9 ft | Taken apart |
| TreeKeeper | 4.1, 316 | 9 ft | Upright, assembled |
Primode Heavy Duty Christmas Tree Storage Bag, 9 ft
4.6 across 9,335 ratings for a 600D Oxford bag, 65 x 20 x 25 in, with room left for other decorations.
Current price shown on Amazon. We may earn a commission.
| Size | 65 x 20 x 25 in |
|---|---|
| Fabric | 600D Oxford |
| Fits | Trees to 9 ft, taken apart |
4.6 across 9,335 ratings. Owners describe a roomy bag with space left for the skirt and other decorations, handles strong enough to drag it loaded, and a 7.5 ft tree that fits with ease. The recurring complaint is the zipper, which a minority report breaking on first use.
Buy it if
- A 7.5 ft tree with the skirt and garland in the same bag
Don't buy it if
- Some owners report a zipper failing early
Holiday Cheer Christmas Tree Storage Bag, Waterproof, 9 ft
4.7 across 2,316 ratings for a waterproof duffel that owners say takes a 9 ft tree with room to spare.
Current price shown on Amazon. We may earn a commission.
| Fits | Trees to 9 ft, taken apart |
|---|---|
| Owners praise | Reinforced seams, handles |
| Watch | Zipper quality |
4.7 across 2,316 ratings, the highest of the duffels. Owners call it well made, with reinforced seams and pockets, and say a 9 ft tree goes in with room to spare. A few question the zipper, the same weak point as the Primode.
Buy it if
- A sectional tree up to 9 ft going into a closet or garage
Don't buy it if
- Anyone who wants the tree to stay assembled
A tree of 9 ft or more needs wheels
A tall tree in 4 sections is heavy to carry to a basement or garage shelf. A wheeled bag turns that into a roll.
Santa's Bags Rolling 12 ft Christmas Tree Storage Bag with Wheels
4.7 across 472 ratings for a wheeled bag that owners say swallows a 9 ft tree in 4 sections.
Current price shown on Amazon. We may earn a commission.
| Fits | Trees to 12 ft, taken apart |
|---|---|
| Moves on | Wheels |
| Watch | Mixed reports on assembly |
4.7 across 472 ratings. Owners say it takes a 9 ft tree in 4 sections comfortably, and some fit trees taller still. It is easy to move once loaded. Reports on assembling the bag itself are split, so allow time the first year.
Buy it if
- A tree of 9 ft or more that is heavy to carry
Don't buy it if
- A 6 ft tree, which will rattle around inside
Storing it upright saves work, but rates lowest
An upright bag such as the TreeKeeper, for trees to 9 ft, pulls up over the tree with the lights still on, then rolls the whole tree away on a stand. That skips the take-down entirely, which is the appeal.
TreeKeeper Upright Christmas Tree Storage Bag and Rolling Stand, 9 ft
4.1 across 316 ratings for a bag that pulls up over a tree still assembled, then rolls away on a stand.
Current price shown on Amazon. We may earn a commission.
| Stores | Upright, assembled |
|---|---|
| Fits | Trees to 9 ft |
| Watch | Stand strength, getting the tree in |
4.1 across 316 ratings, the lowest here. Owners like the wheels and standing storage. The complaints repeat: wide trees are a struggle to get in, some find it too small, and the stand is not always strong enough. It suits a slim tree and a tall storage space, not a full one.
Buy it if
- A slim tree you never want to take apart
Don't buy it if
- A full, wide tree or a low storage space
Ornaments need a cell each, not a carrier bag
Ornaments stored loose in a bag chip against each other. A box with dividers gives each one its own space, up to 64 in the Handy Laundry box below, and Balsam Hill’s tip of wrapping each piece in old wrapping paper adds a second layer.
Handy Laundry Christmas Ornament Storage Box, 64 Ornaments
4.5 across 6,290 ratings for a lidded box with adjustable dividers for up to 64 ornaments.
Current price shown on Amazon. We may earn a commission.
| Holds | Up to 64 ornaments |
|---|---|
| Dividers | Adjustable, cardboard |
| Watch | Lid does not always secure |
4.5 across 6,290 ratings for up to 64 ornaments. Owners find it easy to assemble and a clear step up from cardboard boxes. The dividers are cardboard, which some call flimsy, larger ornaments may not fit, and several owners say the lid does not secure well.
Buy it if
- Medium-sized glass ornaments that need a cell each
Don't buy it if
- Large or oddly shaped ornaments
A tree that survives many seasons is the whole case for buying artificial, which real against artificial trees works through. Before it goes back up, Christmas light fire safety covers the strings that come out of the bag with it, and gift wrap and mailing supplies covers what goes under it.