[10] it also debuted on the Cashbox albums chart in the issue dated November 23, 1963, and remained on the chart for in a total of 12 weeks, peaking at 7[11] On December 14, 1964, The Andy Williams Christmas Album was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America for sales of 500,000 copies in the United States.

[12] The album was reissued with a different cover in the UK in 1975 and was awarded Silver certification by the British Phonographic Industry in 1976 for selling 60,000 units.

[12] Aaron Latham of AllMusic summed up the release as an "album of wonderful holiday songs perfectly performed"[2] and singled out several noteworthy tracks, describing Williams as "at his playful best on the irresistibly raucous 'Kay Thompson's Jingle Bells.'

His tender reading of the lesser-known 'Sweet Little Jesus Boy' is as beautiful and serene as a crystal clear winter's night, but it is the instantly catchy opening line of 'It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year' that people remember the most.

"[2] "Strong arranging, good programming, and the sincerity of Williams' performing"[14] were the high points of the album for Billboard magazine that they mentioned in their capsule review at the time of its release.

[25] In a 2005 interview Williams discusses how The Andy Williams Show figured into his recording of "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year": "George Wyle, who's a vocal director, who wrote all of the choir stuff and all of the duets and trios and things that I did with all the guests, he wrote a song just for the show—I think the second Christmas show we did—called "Most Wonderful Time of the Year".

"[26] In the issue of Billboard magazine dated November 28, 2009, the list of the "Top 10 Holiday Songs (Since 2001)" places the Williams recording of "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year" at number five.