Menu
 

BestReviews is reader-supported and may earn an affiliate commission. Details

Best Holiday Ornaments

Updated November 2023
Bottom line
Pros
Cons
Best of the Best
Hallmark Keepsake Christmas Ornament 2023 Holiday Barbie
Hallmark
Keepsake Christmas Ornament 2023 Holiday Barbie
Check Price
New for 2023
Bottom Line

No Barbie collector's Christmas decor will be complete without the 2023 Hallmark Holiday Barbie ornament.

Pros

Made by artist Debra Nielsen, this holiday Barbie has beautiful detailing and a long, flowing gown. Measures 2.92 by 4.64 by 2.44 inches. Makes a striking addition to any Christmas tree. A must-have for fans of the 2023 Barbie movie.

Cons

You'll pay a fairly high price for just one ornament. It's a popular pick and may sell out quickly.

Best Bang for the Buck
Kurt Adler Clear Glass Icicles
Kurt Adler
Clear Glass Icicles
Check Price
Most Stylish
Bottom Line

Set of 24 icicles comes in two lengths (12 at 3.5" and 12 at 5.5") to create a layered effect.

Pros

A classier version of your grandparents' plastic icicles, these glass tubes reflect the tree lights, adding twinkles and depth to the decor. An excellent option for users who want to fill out an entire tree with similar ornaments.

Cons

They come individually wrapped which can be tedious and tricky to unwrap.

Old World Christmas Pickle
Old World Christmas
Pickle
Check Price
Old World Charm
Bottom Line

The last one to go on the tree, this pickle that's just 3.5 inches high will set a good challenge for who can spot it.

Pros

This design is traditionally made in hand-blown glass and hand-painted. Also, other style variations include a pickle chip and mini gherkin. Comes with a card explaining the German pickle ornament tradition.

Cons

It's fragile, and like all small, ornaments it should be placed where small children or pets can't get to it.

Prextex Christmas Tree Ornaments
Prextex
Christmas Tree Ornaments
Check Price

More stores

Festive Bling
Bottom Line

If you are looking for a bulk pack of ornaments in one color, this collection of 24 shapes and sizes is sure to impress.

Pros

Pack of 24 shatterproof ornaments that are available in a choice of 15 colors. Includes 8 different styles. Ornaments sport a variety of striking finishes, including shiny, shimmery, glittery, frosted, and more.

Cons

Some of the colors look slightly different in person than online.

Ki Store Tree Balls
Ki Store
Tree Balls
Check Price
Most Versatile
Bottom Line

This 24-count set of shatterproof balls is available in a range of solid colors, including a highly popular rose gold/pink shade.

Pros

A mix of shiny, matte, glitter, and scalloped balls will give you a great foundation for a color-coordinated tree. Comes in a choice of 3 sizes (1.57, 2.36, and 3.15 inches diameter.)

Cons

While shatterproof, some did pick up dents. Take note of the sizes: the smallest are really mini.

Why trust BestReviews?
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and all opinions about the products are our own. About BestReviews  
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and all opinions about the products are our own. About BestReviews  
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We buy all products with our own funds, and we never accept free products from manufacturers.About BestReviews 
HOW WE TESTED

We recommend these products based on an intensive research process that's designed to cut through the noise and find the top products in this space. Guided by experts, we spend hours looking into the factors that matter, to bring you these selections.

30
Models
Considered
60
Consumers
Consulted
10
Hours
Researched
Category cover

Buying guide for Best holiday ornaments

When the holidays arrive, it means one thing: it’s finally time to decorate with all your favorite holiday ornaments. Because holiday ornament collections are always growing, you might be wondering which baubles, creatures, or characters should adorn your home next. 

Holiday ornaments come in all shapes, sizes, and designs, ranging from simple round ornaments and icicles to light-up creatures that dance and sing. When it comes to choosing new ones, you may be searching for ornaments that match your current collection or seek out new ones that add variety. If you’re looking for collectible ornaments, there are plenty of those, too— with new ones coming out every year. 

I1
Some people invest in more than one Christmas tree to display all their ornaments, which may include a smaller tree for mini ornament collections.

How to choose the best holiday ornaments

Popular types of holiday ornaments

The most versatile holiday ornaments are popular shapes like balls, ovals, stars, teardrops, and icicles. They can decorate trees on their own or function as a festive backdrop for detailed ornaments that feature animals, cars, action heroes, pop culture icons, or cartoon characters. There are also handmade or personalized ornaments, which often hold sentimental appeal given their unique designs.

What are collectible holiday ornaments?

Collectible holiday ornaments are only available for a limited time, making them valuable and desirable to collectors. Hallmark, for example, releases new collectible ornaments every year, but they’re far from the only brand that does it. Michael Aram, Christopher Radko, and Lenox all release collectible ornaments, too. Some of these manufacturers collaborate with other brands, like Disney, Marvel, LEGO, and Nintendo for special collections. 

How many holiday ornaments do you need?

Although there’s no set number of ornaments required to decorate a tree, many people prefer adding as many ornaments as it takes to make the tree appear lush and well-balanced with decorations. 

On average, it’s common to add approximately 10 to 20 ornaments per foot on a Christmas tree. For example, a 6-foot tree may have around 60 to 120 ornaments, whereas a 7-foot tree may have 70 to 140 ornaments. As expected, the ornaments’ shapes and sizes impact how many you can fit on a tree, as well as how much garland and lights you intend to hang on the tree.  

Dyk1
Did You Know?
Ornaments with glitter occasionally need touch-ups to keep their sparkle, which is why it’s worth keeping a glitter assortment and clear craft glue on hand.
Staff
BestReviews

Features of holiday ornaments

Materials

Classic holiday ornaments are made of handblown glass and feature intricate designs. While beautiful and timeless, glass ornaments are delicate and may break if they’re dropped or bump into one another. Regardless, glass remains one of the most popular options. 

Porcelain ornaments have fine designs and construction, and it’s no surprise they’re usually expensive. They’re noticeably heavier than most ornaments, which is why they’re usually hung on stronger tree branches. Like glass, porcelain ornaments are delicate and may shatter, so they require careful handling. 

Wood ornaments are timeless like glass ornaments, only they’re more durable — not to mention more likely to withstand the test of time. They often have hand-carved or hand-painted designs featuring nutcrackers, birds, snowmen, and sleds. Two-dimensional wood ornaments and silhouettes, like snowflakes or trees, are also festive favorites.

Several modern ornaments are made with shatterproof materials, namely plastic and silicone. They withstand heavy handling and drops, and many of them don’t need to be stored as carefully as glass or wood ornaments. Although lower-quality plastic and silicone ornaments may lack aesthetic appeal, better-quality designs look just like wood or glass. 

Moving parts

Certain holiday ornaments are brought to life with moving parts, such as ears and tails that wiggle, dangling charms, or poseable arms and legs. They’re lively and engaging, but the more moving pieces there are, the more delicate the ornament will be. As a result, it’s important to store them just as carefully as glass or ceramic ornaments. 

Interactive features

A growing number of holiday ornaments have interactive features, which are especially popular among kids and collectors. Car and truck ornaments, for example, often have flashing lights. Action hero ornaments, on the other hand, may play their character’s most common phrases and blaster sounds. Other interactive ornaments are motion-activated and may play songs or begin light shows when you get close to them.

Hanging style

Holiday ornaments are hung on trees via hooks, loops, or ribbon. Hooks and loops are usually made of metal or wire, but some are now made with plastic. They’re cheap to replace and fairly durable, but they may be dangerous to use in homes with pets or small children. Ribbon or thin string are often used to hang lightweight ornaments. One of the drawbacks is that they are prone to breaking or untying, and eventually, they require replacement. 

Mini ornament collections are often wrapped in tissue paper and kept inside shoe storage boxes. If you have several boxes of mini ornaments, label each box with a permanent marker so you can distinguish them. 

Staff
BestReviews

Best accessories for holiday ornaments

Artificial Christmas tree

If you’d like to make a long-term investment in a Christmas tree, there are many gorgeous ones available. Nowadays, many people choose pre-lit trees for the convenience they offer.

Ornament hooks

It’s not unusual for ornament hooks to break or go missing, which is why it’s wise to keep a backup set on hand. 

How much do holiday ornaments cost?

Inexpensive

The most affordable holiday ornaments cost $12 and under. These include individual ornaments, which start at $1 each, as well as mini ornament sets that start at $5. Quality is hit-and-miss among these designs, and more often than not, they are more delicate than other ornaments due to lower-quality construction. 

Mid-range

Holiday ornaments priced between $15 and $40 include high-quality sets and collector ornaments. These sets usually include hand-blown glass and well-made plastic ornaments with fine designs and details. Collector ornaments, many of which are licensed designs, often have moving parts or interactive features. 

Expensive

Deluxe holiday ornament sets run between $50 and $250 and may include as many as 100 or more pieces. There are also some glass and ceramic ornaments that fall in this price range, particularly those made by premium collectible brands like Precious Moments, Lenox, Waterford, and Lladró.

St2
Staff Tip
If you have handmade ornaments, you may wish to wrap them individually in tissue paper and store them separately from other ornaments. 
Staff
BestReviews

Tips

  • Use paper clips in a pinch. If an ornament’s ribbon or hook breaks, you can use an opened paper clip to hang it instead. 
  • Date your ornaments. To remember when a holiday ornament was added to your collection, write the year in permanent marker on it. 
  • Invest in durable ornaments. To avoid mishaps like broken ornaments and shattered glass, invest in ornaments made with plastic or silicone.
  • Remove batteries. It’s wise to remove the batteries from interactive ornaments between seasons. Not only does it prevent the battery from running out sooner, but it may also prevent battery leaks that could ruin the ornament. 
  • Store ornaments up high. If you plan on storing ornaments in a basement or garage, place them as high off the ground as possible. In the event of a flood, it may save precious, sentimental ornaments from getting ruined. 
I2
If you have pets, you may need to reconsider which holiday ornaments you can put out for display. For example, curious pets may end up damaging or knocking over ornaments with their paws or tails.

FAQ

Q. Should I use garland or string lights with ornaments?

A. It depends on preference. Some people prefer using string lights with ornaments because they cast a gentle glow behind them, not to mention they add festive illumination to rooms. Others prefer using garlands, though they may prefer smaller or larger garlands depending on the size of their ornaments. It’s also common for trees to be decorated with garland, lights, and holiday ornaments. 

Q. Do I need to save original ornament boxes?

A. It’s not necessary, but the boxes may be your best option for affordable storage. This is especially true for ornament sets, which often come in plastic boxes or tubes that are easy to store with other holiday decorations. If you have collectible ornaments, such as those made by Hallmark, it’s recommended to keep the box. In the event you decide to sell these ornaments later on, you’ll get more for them with the original packaging. 

Q. Can I find holiday ornaments off-season?

A. Yes, and you may be able to find them much cheaper than during peak season. However, you may find odd lots of holiday ornaments, and not necessarily the designs or colors you’re searching for. Certain retailers also sell opened boxes of ornaments, including those with missing pieces, at deep discounts. 

Our Top Picks