Types of Artificial Turf: Which One Is Right for You?

08 Sep.,2025

 

Types of Artificial Turf: Which One Is Right for You?

Artificial turf has rapidly gained popularity across residential, commercial, and athletic applications thanks to its durability, low maintenance, and year-round appeal. As the turf industry evolves, so do the available types of artificial turf, each designed with specific features tailored to purpose, safety, and longevity. From pet turf to sports turf, understanding the distinctions between these artificial turf products turf products can help you select the best fit for your needs.

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The type of turf you choose will significantly impact your experience, whether you’re seeking the look and feel of natural grass, optimizing safety for kids, or building the perfect backyard putting green. Below, we explore the different types of artificial turf, their characteristics, and how to install artificial grass that fits your lifestyle and performance goals.

Landscape Turf

Landscape turf is designed for beauty and versatility. It’s ideal for residential lawns, commercial landscaping, and public parks where aesthetic appeal and durability matter.

 Features:

  • Tall grass blades that mimic natural grass
  • Soft turf fibers for barefoot comfort
  • UV-stabilized color for a lush, green appearance

Benefits

This type of synthetic turf requires minimal upkeep, resists fading, and offers long-term savings over natural grass. Plus, with no mowing or watering, it’s perfect for drought-prone areas. Whether you’re concerned about turf maintenance or simply want a flawless lawn, this artificial grass surface remains a popular choice among different turf options.

Playscape Turf

Playscape turf is a synthetic turf product engineered for safety in playgrounds, schools, and daycare centers.

Features

  • Shock-absorbent infill material for fall protection on synthetic turf systems
  • Durable turf system with excellent drainage
  • Soft, cushioned synthetic turf surfaces

Benefits

Children benefit from a safer play environment with reduced injuries. This turf is made to absorb impact and stay soft over time, even under heavy foot traffic. With turf backing designed to handle moisture and impact, this artificial turf product turf type helps reduce downtime due to weather.

Pet Turf

Pet turf is crafted for households or facilities with animals, addressing common concerns such as odor, wear, and sanitation.

Features

  • Antimicrobial synthetic turf material (e.g., Microban)
  • 100% permeable backing like Flow Through
  • High-tensile turf fibers for durability

Benefits

Easy to clean and resilient, pet turf resists damage from paws and claws. With odor control technology, it’s perfect for pet runs or doggy daycares. Want to compare turf options? This article on pet turf vs regular turf offers a full breakdown of features and maintenance.

Wondering how much does pet turf cost? The answer depends on square footage, materials used, and turf installation of an artificial turf field techniques. Also, if you’re curious about how long does a pet turf last, lifespan can exceed 10 years with proper care.

Many homeowners ask, “is artificial grass toxic to dogs?” With today’s modern synthetic turf, you can expect pet-safe materials and synthetic turf components that meet safety standards. And in case you’re concerned, learn more about Will my turf smell from pet waste?.

Putting Green Turf

Love golf? Putting green turf offers a professional playing surface right at home or in commercial mini-golf spaces.

Features

  • Short pile height for ball roll accuracy
  • Smooth synthetic fibers for consistency
  • Specialized turf field systems for realism

Benefits

From practice to play, this type of turf enhances your skill-building and ensures low turf maintenance. Whether indoor or outdoor, artificial turf options for putting greens are designed for performance and longevity.

Sports Turf

Sports turf is built for athletic fields, soccer fields, and stadiums. This turf is designed to withstand high-impact play while reducing injury risks.

Features

  • Reinforced synthetic turf fiber for impact and traction
  • Engineered infill to absorb shock and support athlete safety on the synthetic turf field’s surface.
  • Durable synthetic surface with optimal drainage used in synthetic turf

Benefits

Sports turf is also a type of synthetic turf system ideal for year-round use with minimal downtime. Its design focuses on player safety, ball control, and longevity under stress. Many schools and teams now prefer artificial turf for sports fields due to reduced costs compared to natural grass with synthetic fibers.

The performance of the turf can also vary depending on sport-specific needs. The turf field you install for football may differ from turf used in types of sports like baseball or lacrosse.

How to choose the right type of artificial turf

With so many artificial grass doesn’t artificial turf systems on the market, how do you decide? Start by identifying your needs:

  • Foot or pet traffic levels of different turf
  • Safety for children or animals
  • Desired texture and appearance of the ideal turf
  • Drainage requirements
  • Overall budget

Keep in mind, the material used in synthetic grass product affects longevity and performance. Types of turf fibers, from nylon to polyethylene, determine how realistic and durable the turf also feels underfoot.

If you’re looking for best artificial grass for dogs, prioritize antimicrobial backing and efficient drainage underneath the artificial turf. For backyard lawns, choose the best artificial grass with soft grass blades and a natural appearance.

Curious how long does artificial turf last? Modern products can exceed 15 years, especially with proper infill and care. Learn more about how much does fake grass cost to budget for your next artificial grass installation.

Turf types

Turf type Best for Features Infill needed Lifespan Landscape Turf Residential, Commercial Tall pile, soft texture, natural look Yes 12–15 years Playscape Turf Schools, Playgrounds Shock absorption, padded surface Yes 10–15 years Pet Turf Dog runs, Backyards with pets Antimicrobial, permeable backing Optional 10–12 years Putting Green Turf Golf practice Short pile, realistic ball roll Minimal 10+ years Sports Turf Fields, Gyms, Stadiums Rugged fibers, advanced shock absorption Yes 8–12 years

Final thoughts

Choosing the right type of artificial turf depends on your unique space and needs. Whether you’re replacing real grass, building a turf field for athletes, or seeking child-safe synthetic turf surfaces, there’s a high-quality turf product out there for you.

Keep in mind that different types of artificial turf offer different textures, drainage capabilities, and price points. From nylon turf for sports fields to lush artificial grass products for backyards, turf is available in styles to match every need.

When you’re ready to install artificial solutions for your space, choose from synthetic turf fields, custom turf designed for play, or low-pile artificial grass that doesn’t sacrifice performance. And always consider what lies beneath the artificial grass, including proper sub-base and infill material to maximize longevity.

Choosing the Best Fake Grass for a Stylish Backyard Design

You want to create a stylish, fun, practical backyard design. And you’re thinking about using artificial grass. But maybe you have some questions. How do you choose the best fake grass for your backyard design vision? How expensive is it going to be? Is synthetic turf going to be better for your lawn goals than natural grass?

Here’s the short answer: artificial grass can be a fantastic foundation for a beautiful, soft, and easy-to-maintain backyard design. You just have to know what features and options to choose, and you have to make sure all your backyard choices work together seamlessly. And that’s why we’re here today – to talk turf details, style tips, and everything else you need to know to realize your outdoor living vision.

If you want to learn more, please visit our website turf grass artificial solutions.

Factors to Consider When Choosing Fake Grass

If you’re still on the fence about the whole fake grass vs. natural grass for your backyard decision, we wrote an article you’ll find helpful. It explores the pros and cons of each for a backyard design. But today, I’m talking to everyone who wants to get in on this growing artificial grass trend. We’re focusing on the best practices for choosing the right artificial grass for your outdoor space. But before you’re ready to buy, there are some factors you should consider about your current lawn, as well as your backyard goals.

  • Got dogs? Kids? Heavy foot traffic? You’ll want durable, pet-friendly artificial grass options.
  • Do you live somewhere that’s consistently hot and sunny? UV-resistance is a must to keep your yard from fading.
  • Want that golf course look? Fake grass with a shorter pile height gives you that ‘on the fairway’ feel.
  • Are you Aiming for a natural grass vibe? Look for turf options with a thatch layer, longer blade length, and built-in color variation.

If you can’t answer those questions, you might want to hit pause in your process. The wrong artificial grass choice can quickly leave you with a messy, murky, or torn up backyard… which definitely isn’t the stylish look you want. But once you’re armed with the right fake grass shopping intel, you’re ready to dig into the details of your best turf.

Watch a summary of this article!

Choosing a Type of Artificial Grass Material

Fake grass has come a long way from AstroTurf. You won’t be looking at short, scratchy, unnaturally-green options these days. Instead, the artificial grass market is filled with a wide range of natural-looking options, made of a number of materials. The most common materials found in high-quality synthetic turf are polyethylene, nylon, and polypropylene.

  • Polyethylene: This is today’s most popular option. It’s soft, relatively resilient, and is so popular because it often provides the most natural look.
  • Nylon: Nylon is popular because of its resilience to heavy traffic. You won’t get quite as natural of a look as you would with high-end polyethylene turfs, but it’ll stand up to daily wear-and-tear like a champ.
  • Polypropylene: This is a great option if you want that putting green vibe, and it’s also often used as a thatch layer alongside other materials.

All of these materials are fabricated to keep their looks while withstanding weather and foot traffic. And it’s pretty likely that once you start your artificial grass search, you’ll actually find many modern artificial lawn solutions use more than one of these materials. For example, it’s fairly common for customers to choose a polyethylene and nylon blend, which is built to last but still soft enough for picnics and cartwheels. (Obviously, picnics and cartwheels are the traditional, time-tested method of proving the quality of a backyard.)

Pile Height and Density Explained

What’s pile height? Simply put, it’s the length of the grass blades. Taller pile heights tend to look more natural, but shorter pile heights are a bit more resilient. And then there’s density, which is the number of blades per square inch. A thicker density usually creates a more lush look, but often costs more of your budget. These two qualities can really dictate the look of your lawn.

Lower pile heights (under 1.5″) are ideal for:

  • High-traffic areas
  • Homes with pets
  • Modern, manicured looks

Taller pile heights (over 1.5″):

  • Create a lusher, more natural appearance
  • Are softer to sit and play on
  • Require more maintenance to avoid matting

I often see customers going with a 1.75″ pile in a mid-range density. That way they end up with an artificial lawn that looks totally natural but is still practical for most backyard party needs. One thing to remember, though, is that tall piles can be a pain to clean. If you have kiddos who are likely to drop a whole plate of BBQ on it… be ready to spend an hour picking pulled pork out of your turf!

Fake Grass Color Variations and Realism

Nature doesn’t really do absolute consistency. Variation is like the calling card of natural beauty. It’s the same with your fake grass lawn. If all the blades are exactly the same color and height, it’ll look REALLY fake. So you’ll want to look for artificial turf with built-in variations in color. You’ll also want to make sure it comes with brown thatching. That’s how you get that authentic grass look and feel.

Picking Realstic-Looking Artificial Grass:

  • Choose a turf with subtle color variations
  • Avoid super-bright greens (unless you want your yard to look radioactive)
  • Look for multi-toned grass blades and a brown thatch
  • Match the turf color to real grass in your area

Drainage Systems for Artificial Turf

The long-term health of your beautiful fake grass backyard design relies on proper drainage. It’s the key to avoiding puddles, odors, and backyard swamplands. I usually suggest that people hire professional artificial grass installers who know how to get all of these critical installation steps right the first time. But if you’re a real DIY-type, you should know there are two types of drainage systems used in most artificial grasses:

  1. Perforated Backing: Small holes allow water to seep through.
  2. Permeable Backing: Liquids pass through the entire surface.

In dry areas, perforated is fine because it’ll have to do less work to keep water from pooling. But if you’re in a rainy climate or have pets, 100% permeable backing is a must. Trust me, there’s nothing worse than a soggy, smelly lawn after a downpour.

UV Resistance and Longevity

Now, let’s shift to those of you who live in sunnier locations, shall we? But honestly, this is a good tip for every fake grass buyer because UV damage can be BRUTAL. If your yard gets tons of sun, UV resistance is non-negotiable. Most trusted artificial grass sellers include some level of UV-protection on their artificial grass offerings. Just make sure to look for turf fibers with UV protection, so you can avoid lawn fading and degradation.

High-quality artificial grass can last 15-25 years with proper care. UV-resistant properties are vital to getting that kind of lifespan out of your turf investment.

Designing Your Backyard: From “Meh” to Magazine-Worthy

So, now let’s get to some fun stuff – fake grass backyard design inspiration! These aren’t all strictly artificial grass ideas, but they’ll all work perfectly with your new turf.

And if you’re interested in shopping for some luxury patio chairs for your new lawn:

Ready to Install Your Fake Grass? Connect with the Pros!

If you’re stoked about transforming your yard but want to make sure it’s done right, hop over to our amazing friends at Artificial Turf Supply. They’ve been in the artificial backyard design game for decades, with a team of experienced, high-quality artificial turf installation specialists who will bring your backyard vision to life. At Patio Productions, we’re all about helping our neighbors live their best backyard lives, and Artificial Turf Supply shares that passion.

Budgeting for Your Backyard Design

I won’t sugarcoat it – modern, realistic artificial grass isn’t cheap. Expect to pay $5-$20 per square foot of fake grass, plus installation costs. But look at your new artificial grass as an investment. When you factor in long-term savings on maintenance, water, and your own sanity, you’ll see a serious ROI!

What’s the advice I give to my friends and customers? Invest in the best quality turf you can afford. It’ll pay off in the long run.

Maintenance Requirements for Fake Grass

Artificial grass is just way less needy than the real stuff, but it’s not zero maintenance. To keep your lawn looking fresh:

  • Rinse weekly to remove dust and debris
  • Brush the fibers to prevent matting
  • Remove leaves and trash ASAP
  • Hose down pet urine and use an enzyme cleaner for odors

So, Where Did We Land On Fake Grass?

Repeat after me: “I can choose a great artificial grass and design a killer, stylish backyard!” And say it with confidence because we’ve covered all those need-to-knows about choosing the best fake grass. And for those of you “TLDR / Give me the Cliffs Notes” types:

  1. Consider your climate and lifestyle needs
  2. Look for UV-resistant, permeable, and realistic options
  3. Invest in quality for long-term happiness
  4. Hire an artificial grass pro for a flawless installation
  5. Pair turf with stunning outdoor furniture for an amazing backyard experience

I’m stoked for you to experience a chic, low-maintenance backyard. Now, I don’t blame anyone prefers to keep real grass in their yard, but for those wanting all the beauty with none of the hassle, fake grass can be the key to a whole new level of outdoor living enjoyment right at your own home.

So, here’s to Bringing (Low-Maintenance) Life Outdoors!

Are you interested in learning more about 40mm Artificial Grass? Contact us today to secure an expert consultation!