The 100 Best Christmas Songs of All Time, from Bing to Mariah

What are the top 10 Christmas songs of all time?

The ten Christmas songs played and streamed most year after year are below. "All I Want for Christmas Is You" by Mariah Carey is the modern number one, and "White Christmas" by Bing Crosby is the best-selling single of all time.

1. "All I Want for Christmas Is You", Mariah Carey: the most-streamed Christmas song ever.
2. "White Christmas", Bing Crosby: the song that defined the holiday.
3. "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree", Brenda Lee: recorded when she was 13.
4. "Last Christmas", Wham!: the 80s heartbreak classic.
5. "The Christmas Song", Nat King Cole: chestnuts and an open fire.
6. "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year", Andy Williams: the sound of the season.
7. "Jingle Bell Rock", Bobby Helms: the first rock and roll Christmas standard.
8. "Feliz Navidad", José Feliciano: the bilingual singalong.
9. "A Holly Jolly Christmas", Burl Ives: pure cheer.
10. "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas", Judy Garland: tender and bittersweet.

Classic Christmas standards

11. "Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!", Dean Martin: relaxed crooning.
12. "Winter Wonderland": a 1934 song recorded by almost every great singer.
13. "Silver Bells", Bing Crosby and Carol Richards: Christmas in the city.
14. "It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas", Michael Bublé: the modern favorite version.
15. "I'll Be Home for Christmas", Bing Crosby: written for families apart during the war.
16. "Blue Christmas", Elvis Presley: the King's lonely holiday.
17. "Santa Baby", Eartha Kitt: playful and purring.
18. "Sleigh Ride", The Ronettes: the wall of sound version.
19. "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)", Darlene Love: a powerhouse vocal.
20. "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer", Gene Autry: the story everyone knows.
21. "Frosty the Snowman", Gene Autry: the snowman who came to life.
22. "Here Comes Santa Claus", Gene Autry: the singing cowboy's Christmas.
23. "(There's No Place Like) Home for the Holidays", Perry Como: the travel song.
24. "The Christmas Waltz", Frank Sinatra: a gentle three-step.
25. "Mele Kalikimaka", Bing Crosby and The Andrews Sisters: a Hawaiian Christmas.
26. "Run Rudolph Run", Chuck Berry: Christmas with a guitar riff.

The best pop and rock Christmas songs

27. "Wonderful Christmastime", Paul McCartney: synth-pop cheer.
28. "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)", John Lennon and Yoko Ono: a peace anthem.
29. "Do They Know It's Christmas?", Band Aid: the charity single.
30. "Fairytale of New York", The Pogues and Kirsty MacColl: the bittersweet duet.
31. "Christmas Wrapping", The Waitresses: new wave romance.
32. "Step Into Christmas", Elton John: piano-pounding joy.
33. "Merry Xmas Everybody", Slade: the UK party anthem.
34. "I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday", Wizzard: sleigh bells and saxophones.
35. "Driving Home for Christmas", Chris Rea: for everyone stuck in traffic.
36. "Thank God It's Christmas", Queen: a warm rock ballad.
37. "Little Saint Nick", The Beach Boys: Santa in a hot rod.
38. "Christmas All Over Again", Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers: jangly and joyful.
39. "Please Come Home for Christmas", Eagles: a bluesy plea.
40. "Merry Christmas (I Don't Want to Fight Tonight)", Ramones: punk with a soft heart.
41. "2000 Miles", The Pretenders: missing someone far away.
42. "Christmas Eve/Sarajevo 12/24", Trans-Siberian Orchestra: carols as heavy rock.
43. "Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town", Bruce Springsteen: the live version on every rock station.
44. "Peace on Earth / Little Drummer Boy", Bing Crosby and David Bowie: two generations, one song.
45. "River", Joni Mitchell: the quiet, sad side of December.

The best R&B and soul Christmas songs

46. "This Christmas", Donny Hathaway: the soul classic.
47. "What Christmas Means to Me", Stevie Wonder: joyful Motown.
48. "Merry Christmas Baby", Charles Brown: the blues original.
49. "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus", The Jackson 5: young, fast and fun.
50. "Christmas in Hollis", Run-DMC: the hip-hop Christmas classic.
51. "Silent Night", The Temptations: deep-voiced and moving.
52. "Do You Hear What I Hear?", Whitney Houston: a soaring vocal.
53. "Let It Snow", Boyz II Men: smooth 90s harmonies.
54. "8 Days of Christmas", Destiny's Child: a fun countdown.
55. "Every Year, Every Christmas", Luther Vandross: a romantic ballad.
56. "Back Door Santa", Clarence Carter: funky and cheeky.

The best country Christmas songs

57. "Christmas in Dixie", Alabama: a Southern Christmas.
58. "Hard Candy Christmas", Dolly Parton: getting by on a lean holiday.
59. "Pretty Paper", Roy Orbison: written by Willie Nelson.
60. "If We Make It Through December", Merle Haggard: a working man's hard Christmas.
61. "Christmas Cookies", George Strait: a sweet two-step.
62. "Honky Tonk Christmas", Alan Jackson: a holiday dance-hall song.
63. "Light of the Stable", Emmylou Harris: a country carol.
64. "Christmas Time's A-Comin'", Bill Monroe: the bluegrass classic.

The best modern Christmas songs

65. "Underneath the Tree", Kelly Clarkson: fast, bright and brassy.
66. "Santa Tell Me", Ariana Grande: playful pop.
67. "Mistletoe", Justin Bieber: laid-back and catchy.
68. "Christmas Tree Farm", Taylor Swift: a childhood memory set to sleigh bells.
69. "Snowman", Sia: sweet and quirky.
70. "Cozy Little Christmas", Katy Perry: bouncy and simple.
71. "Merry Christmas", Ed Sheeran and Elton John: a modern duet.
72. "Like It's Christmas", Jonas Brothers: easy, upbeat pop.
73. "One More Sleep", Leona Lewis: a Motown-style stomper.
74. "Christmas Lights", Coldplay: a lonely, glowing ballad.
75. "Where Are You Christmas?", Faith Hill: from How the Grinch Stole Christmas.
76. "Wrapped in Red", Kelly Clarkson: a big, romantic ballad.
77. "Santa's Coming for Us", Sia: a joyful chorus.
78. "My Only Wish (This Year)", Britney Spears: a 2000 pop favorite.
79. "Mary, Did You Know?", Pentatonix: the a cappella version that went viral.

The best Christmas carols

80. "O Holy Night": the carol with the most famous high note.
81. "Joy to the World": the triumphant classic.
82. "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing": a hymn for the whole congregation.
83. "O Come, All Ye Faithful": the processional favorite.
84. "The First Noel": gentle and old.
85. "O Little Town of Bethlehem": quiet and reflective.
86. "Away in a Manger": the children's carol.
87. "What Child Is This?": sung to the tune of "Greensleeves".
88. "Go Tell It on the Mountain": the spiritual everyone claps to.
89. "The Little Drummer Boy", Harry Simeone Chorale: the choral classic.

The best funny Christmas songs

90. "Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer", Elmo & Patsy: the guaranteed laugh.
91. "The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don't Be Late)", Alvin and the Chipmunks: the squeaky classic.
92. "All I Want for Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth", Spike Jones: a comic favorite.
93. "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch", Thurl Ravenscroft: the best villain song of the season.
94. "I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas", Gayla Peevey: a child's very specific wish.
95. "Snoopy's Christmas", The Royal Guardsmen: Snoopy and the Red Baron call a truce.

The best bittersweet Christmas songs

96. "Same Old Lang Syne", Dan Fogelberg: running into an old love on Christmas Eve.
97. "The Christmas Shoes", NewSong: the song that makes everyone cry.
98. "Lonely This Christmas", Mud: an Elvis-style ballad.
99. "Grown-Up Christmas List", Amy Grant: a wish for peace instead of presents.
100. "Christmas Time Is Here", Vince Guaraldi Trio: wistful and gentle.

More Christmas song lists by style

• By decade: old Christmas songs, 70s, 80s and 90s Christmas songs.
• By genre: R&B Christmas songs, Christian Christmas songs and Spanish Christmas songs.
• By mood: funny Christmas songs and sad Christmas songs.
• For a party: Christmas karaoke songs and Christmas dance songs.

Best Christmas songs for adults

For a grown-up party, the cheekier classics work best: "Santa Baby", "Back Door Santa", "Christmas Wrapping" and "Fairytale of New York" (use the radio edit). Add "Same Old Lang Syne" and "River" for the late-night, reflective part of the evening.

How to build the perfect Christmas playlist

• Mix the eras: follow a 1950s standard with a modern hit so everyone hears something they love.
• Match the moment: crooners for dinner, pop and R&B for the party, carols and quiet songs for Christmas Eve.
• Do not overplay the top 10: once each is plenty; the deeper cuts keep the playlist fresh.
• Plan about 15 songs per hour: a four-hour party needs about 60.

A Christmas song nobody else has

Every song on this list belongs to everyone. A personalized Christmas song belongs to one family: your names, the year's best moments and your traditions, in the style you choose. Play it on Christmas morning, send it to relatives far away or make it the opening track of your playlist. See our guide on how to give a song as a Christmas gift.

How to create your own Christmas song

1. Choose a style from 14 genres: pop, jazz, country, R&B, acoustic and more.
2. Add the names of the people in the song.
3. Share three moments from the year and your favorite traditions.
4. Review the lyrics and edit or regenerate them for free before any music is made.
5. Listen to 4 free 45-second previews and choose your favorite.

The full 3 to 4 minute song costs $24.99, or $29.99 for Premium with four full versions and editable lyrics. You get the MP3, a gift page and the lyrics as a PDF.

Add one more song to the list, about your family: create a Christmas song and hear four previews for free.