All the FRIENDS Christmas Episodes In order & ranked! (And the PERFECT holiday shirt for this year!)

Ok, last night, Wyatt and I had our annual FRIENDS holiday date night with takeout and a few hours on the couch enjoying one of our treasured non-kid holiday traditions. (Yes, those still exist in the post-kid world!)

Of course, I also had to have my new binge-worthy FRIENDS holiday shirt for the occasion. I mean, isn’t it the perfect shirt for how the holidays seem sometimes after a hard year…especially THIS year?

Seriously!! (Grab yours here!)

This year, we created an easy-to-access way to follow and find these favorite episodes every year. Plus, who doesn’t want to talk about FRIENDS with their friends, right?

We have the box set (The One with All Ten Seasons). The version we have is slightly different than the current one that’s for sale, but if you DO have the red box set we have, I’ve also included the disc number from that set (TOWATS) to make these easy to find–if you have a different box set, can you let me know if these still match up for you??!

Ok, here we go!

Season 1, Episode 10: The One With The Monkey

Overall episode number: 10 | TOWATS: Disc 2

So Christmas is not the main theme in this episode, but it IS a holiday episode so it counts in my book! Wyatt disagrees. Ross introduces his new “friend” Marcel to the group and brings him to their New Year’s Eve party. We get to hear this Phoebe classic “snowman” song: “I made a man with eyes of coal, and a smile to bewitchin’ … How was I supposed to know that my mom was dead in the kitchen?” Also, we have ugly naked guy AND Janice sightings and we find out that Joey had a previous gig as a department store Santa. Oh–and it sparked this comment from Wyatt: “David is the original Leonard Hofstadter.”

Ranking: 🌲 1/5 Christmas trees because it’s not really Christmas-y if we’re getting technical (and Wyatt is!) Plus, we aren’t Marcel fans at all in this house and Monica’s date brings the party down a bit in my book, literally.

Season 2, Episode 9: The One With Phoebe’s Dad

Overall episode number: 33 | TOWATS: Disc 6

Rachel and Ross are in the aftermath of their fight about “the list” and Phoebe has a bit of a breakdown about her dad’s identity. Her grandma is a cute, crazy character (as expected?!?) Best line is a tie between Phoebe’s: “I smell smoke–maybe that’s because someone’s pants on on fire!” and Monica’s “Hey! It’s funny’s cousin, not funny!” We also have another ugly naked guy sighting and we get to see what kind of gift giver Ross is (hint: not great! Seriously…he thinks a slinky is going to cheer Rachel up?!?)

Ranking: 🌲🌲🌲🌲 4/5 because Chandler and Joey are so sweet to Phoebe and I love that Joey is a secret handyman. I also 100% identify with Mr. Treeger when he walks into party and makes a beeline for the cheese. Wyatt wanted this to be a 3/5, but I’m voting for 4. What do you think?

Season 3, Episode 10: The One Where Rachel Quits

Overall episode number: 58 | TOWATS: Disc 10

Ross breaks a little girl’s leg and causes Monica to have a cookie relapse. Joey is a successful Christmas tree salesman despite Phoebe having a meltdown in the lot. (Say, Phoebe has a lot of meltdowns over the holidays #RealLife?) Rachel almost gives into the fear but then gets her “big break” into the fashion world, thanks to Joey’s dad. Best line is a tie between Chandler’s “Do you have any coconut flavored deities?” and “It’s like night of the living-dead Christmas trees!” Oh, and we are blessed with “Snow in a can” for the first time, thanks to Joey.

Ranking: 🌲🌲🌲 2/5 because Ross’s storyline is just too far-fetched for our taste, but I love how happy everyone is when the apartment is filled with dead Christmas trees.

Season 4, Episode 10: The One With The Girl From Poughkeepsie

Overall episode number: 83 | TOWATS: Disc 14

Ok, Phoebe’s Christmas song is perfectly festive and totally worth watching every year, and Joey’s job at Monica’s restaurant brings the right amount of tension + comedy. Plus, Rachel has some trouble in the dating department, with zero help from Chandler, despite all of his efforts in that department. Of course, Ross’s storyline isn’t all that relatable–sleeping for like 10 hours on a train…unlikely but a little funny, I suppose. Still, it’s a pretty great episode and will get you in the holiday spirit.

Ranking: 🌲🌲🌲 4/5 because it’s pretty funny to see Chandler struggling with women’s dating problems, plus Phoebe’s holiday song writing (and performing!) is pure festive fun.

Season 5, Episode 10: The One With the Inappropriate Sister

Overall episode number: 107 | TOWATS: Disc 18

Ross is on sabbatical and bored out of his mind which leads to a problem for Joey. (Organizing Chandler and Joey’s fridge is a high point though!) Phoebe brings back her street side to bring joy and Rachel finally gets to give things with Danny a shot before he blows it by taking a bath with his sister. Um, what? Phoebe is funny and Joey’s attempts at writing are worth a chuckle. Best line: “No more Mrs. Nice…bucket.”

Ranking: 🌲🌲🌲 3/5 because I love Chandler and Monica sneaking around to hide their relationship antics and…well, #Fireball and #Hammerdarts. You can’t go too wrong there.

Season 6, Episode 10: The One With the Routine

Overall episode number: 131 | TOWATS: Disc 22

One of the most iconic episodes, of course, though it’s admittedly more about New Year’s Eve than Christmas. Still, one of the best Christmas moments in the whole series happens in the opening when they are all decorating Monica’s tree. Also, Phoebe and Rachel looking for their presents is such a fun storyline and the inspiration for a great gift my sister gave me one year. Also, I totally relate to the big, medium, and small present problem–do you?? Best line: “What ever, Linus, I’m opening mine!”

Ranking: 🌲🌲🌲 4/5 because Joey is pretty cute (but cheesy) with Janine, but mostly because Ross and Monica’s dancing is CLASSIC. And Chandler and the girls have some great fun present hunting.

Season 7, Episode 9: The One With All the Candy

Overall episode number: 155 | TOWATS: Disc 26

Ok, this one is a bit of a bonus episode because the next episode is technically the Christmas one…but there’s a Christmas tree in the apartment so, in my book, it counts. Phoebe reveals she’s never had a bike of her own and Ross makes all her dreams come true. Meanwhile, Monica’s dreams of getting to know the neighbors don’t work out exactly like she had hoped. Oh, and we get to see how Joey keeps his hair looking so great with no money for a stylist. Best line: “She is a mess! Her hair’s not brushed, she’s got dark circles under her eyes, chocolate on her face, and she is STILL STUNNING!”

Ranking: 🌲🌲🌲🌲 4/5 because it’s a really good episode even though it isn’t overly Christmas-y. I think the Christmas candy is one of my very favorite storylines–seeing Chandler stand up for Monica. We think it’s totally worth the watch as a two-for-one deal.

Season 7, Episode 10: The One With the Holiday Armadillo

Overall episode number: 156 | TOWATS: Disc 26

I already said above that this is the REAL Christmas episode for this year, and you know it right away in the opener when Phoebe brings her skull full of candy to the apartment to add her own version of a festive touch. (Side note–how funny is Ross when he totally just goes with it?) Speaking of Phoebe, she also shines with her efforts to get Rachel to move back in, and then when convincing her to stay with Joey after all. I shouldn’t even have to mention that this episode is a Christmas classic with the armadillo, Santa, and Superman, right? I don’t think I can give a best line for this one–there are too many.

Ranking: 🌲🌲🌲🌲🌲 5/5 because if you can’t love Ross dressed as an armadillo to get into the holiday spirit, then what can you love? Also, Joey as Superman just makes sense. Also, it’s sweet to see a family struggling with the Santa dynamic, especially in a blended family that embraces multiple religions and traditions.

Season 8, Episode 11: The One With Monica’s Boots

Overall episode number: 180 | TOWATS: Disc 30

Monica splurges on a pair of boots that turns out to be too uncomfortable to actually wear. Rachel helps Joey’s sister with a problem and it’s equal parts sweet and frustrating how Joey reacts. Meanwhile Phoebe and Ross have some celebrity-related problems. Best line was so hard to pick but is a tie between Phoebe: “RoooossssssssCAAN!” and Monica and Chandler: M: “Have you ever had something that was so beautiful, everyone wants it??” C: “I have you!” M: “Nice try! I’m keepin’ the boots!”

Ranking: 🌲🌲🌲🌲🌲 5/5 because there are so many great lines in this one! Seriously, I could have picked 10 or more! Even if the storylines get a bit crazy, the writing is just really fun. Also, I know so many women relate to Monica suffering in the name of good boots and not losing face when she’s made a mistake.

Season 8, Episode 12: The One With the Creepy Holiday Card (Also known as: The One With Ross’s Step Forward)

Overall episode number: 181 | TOWATS: Disc 30

Another season with a bonus Christmas episode? Yes please! Rachel is having a hard time with pregnancy hormones and has spent some time sitting on Santa’s laps to try and help her condition. But the main problem is that Ross isn’t ready to send a couple’s holiday card with Mona and doesn’t know how to tell her. Honestly, why Mona stayed with him as long as she did is a huge mystery to us.

Ranking: 🌲🌲🌲🌲 4/5 because it’s pretty funny when Ross gets locked out of his own apartment, but Phoebe’s attempts to help Rachel with her problem are honestly a bit…creepy. Still, for a bonus holiday episode, it’s great.

Season 9, Episode 10: The One With Christmas In Tulsa

Overall episode number: 204 | TOWATS: Disc 34

Ok, I’ll admit this one isn’t my favorite storyline because women who hit on married men aren’t my favorite. And, it’s a recap episode, which you either love or you hate. In this case, we get to hear Phoebe’s Christmas song again, which is good, but we also don’t get much new content, which is a bummer. Still, Chandler is pretty sweet and funny when he manages an awkward situation with a coworker and makes a pretty big life change. Best line: “Answer faster, answer faster….answer better, answer better!”

Ranking: 🌲🌲🌲 3/5 because it’s got a sweet ending even if it’s a money-saving recap episode. Still, reliving holiday memories is a wonderful tradition to embrace, right?

There isn’t really a Christmas episode in season 10, but we got a couple bonus ones in there, so you still have plenty of good choices for a night or two on the couch, snuggled up with snacks and your FIRENDS that feel like family. I’d say 11 episodes is a pretty decent Christmas binge!

And not that you don’t want to twin with me in matching holiday FRIENDS shirts, but this design from Society6 also comes in a ton of other designs, like throw pillows, tote bags, serving trays, wall hangings, and greeting cards. How fun would it be to send your friends a little FRIENDS greeting for the holidays? (It’s never too early to start shopping for next Christmas, right?)