How to Select the Right Artificial Turf for Your Needs?

With a wide array of artificial turf products available on the market, varying in materials and specifications, many people feel overwhelmed when making a choice. Selecting the right artificial grass not only helps create your ideal courtyard, playground, or sports space but also saves you the hassle of long-term maintenance.

Understanding key parameters of turfs

Understand the following key parameters, and you will be able to read product specification sheets with ease, select the right turf type for your needs, and communicate seamlessly with suppliers.

1. Yarn Material

Yarn material serves as the foundation for determining the performance and feel of artificial turf. Currently, three main materials are used in artificial turf on the market: Polyethylene (PE), Polypropylene (PP), and Nylon (Polyamide, PA). Each material boasts unique characteristics and applications.

• Polyethylene (PE): The Most Widely Used Material

PE is the most common yarn material for artificial turf, striking an excellent balance between durability, aesthetics, and softness. Not only does PE fiber closely resemble natural grass in appearance, but it also offers a gentle, comfortable touch. Additionally, it exhibits superior UV resistance—maintaining its color for extended periods under sunlight without fading or aging easily. Versatile in application, PE turf delivers reliable performance across scenarios, from home gardens and children’s play areas to sports fields.

• Polypropylene (PP): Lighter and More Cost-Effective

PP is a lighter, budget-friendly material, typically used as the base layer for putting greens and landscape turf. Compared to PE and Nylon, PP fiber is stiffer, less soft to the touch, and offers moderate resilience. As a result, it is less commonly used in areas requiring high comfort and safety, such as sports fields and children’s play areas. However, PP excels in wear resistance and tensile strength, making it a practical choice for low-traffic areas or spaces where durability is prioritized over premium appearance.

• Nylon (PA): Superior Wear Resistance and Resilience

Regarded as the "king of performance," Nylon is a high-strength fiber that resists matting, boasting exceptional wear resistance and resilience. These properties make Nylon artificial turf highly popular for high-frequency use and intense sports venues, such as football fields and rugby pitches. The main drawbacks of Nylon are its higher cost and less soft texture compared to PE. Furthermore, it tends to fade under prolonged sunlight, requiring extra attention for outdoor applications. It is primarily used in high-end sports facilities or special areas demanding extreme durability.

Choosing the Right Material

Selecting the optimal artificial turf depends on your specific usage needs and budget:

(1) PE is the best all-around choice if you seek versatility, natural appearance, and a soft feel—it offers the highest cost-effectiveness.

(2) Nylon is ideal for high-intensity sports fields requiring superior strength and wear resistance.

(3) PP is a practical option for budget-constrained projects where softness is not a top priority.

Regardless of the material chosen, proper maintenance and care will extend the turf’s service life and ensure long-term performance.

2. Pile Height, Density and Face Weight

These three parameters are closely linked to the turf’s aesthetics and durability. They are usually evaluated together and serve as the core criteria for judging turf quality and pricing.

(1) Pile Height refers to the length of the turf fibers. Taller is not always better.

25–30 mm: Ideal for high-traffic pet areas, balconies and commercial spaces, featuring easy cleaning and maintenance.

32–40 mm: The golden standard for residential gardens, striking a perfect balance between visual appeal and practicality.

40–50 mm and above: Primarily designed for luxury landscaping projects or professional football pitches. It delivers outstanding visual effects but requires relatively higher maintenance efforts.

(2) Density is defined as the number of tufts per square meter. Higher density means a thicker, fuller turf surface, which hides the backing more effectively, offers superior foot comfort and ensures a longer service life.

(3) Face Weight represents the weight of turf fibers per square meter. For turf products with the same pile height and material, a higher face weight generally indicates thicker fibers or greater density, translating to more robust overall quality.

In short, within your budget range, opting for turf with higher density and face weight will lead to greater long-term satisfaction.

3. Yarn Shape

Yarn comes in various shapes that influence both the turf’s appearance and performance.

• Straight Yarn: Features a neat, sleek appearance and excellent wear resistance but offers moderate resilience.

• Crimped Yarn (Open Net Yarn): Spiral-shaped, fluffy and soft with superior shock absorption. It effectively hides the infilled quartz sand, delivering a more comfortable and natural foot feel.

• Mixed Straight & Crimped Yarn: Combines the advantages of both types. It boasts the upright appearance of straight yarn along with the soft touch and strong grip of crimped yarn, making it a common configuration for high-end residential gardens and sports turf.

4. Backing & Adhesive

Backing and adhesive serve as the guarantee for the stability of artificial turf.

Backing: Common types include PP Backing and Composite Mesh Backing. The composite mesh variant (PP + Mesh) offers enhanced stability, effectively preventing shrinkage and deformation in humid environments.

Adhesive: Ensures the yarn fibers are firmly attached without shedding. SBR Latex is a widely used option. The higher-end PU Adhesive (Polyurethane) is environmentally friendly, non-toxic, with stronger adhesion and better flexibility — it is particularly suitable for fully permeable drainage systems.

Other Influencing Factors

Beyond product parameters, pay attention to the following "invisible" elements — great products lie in the details.

• Drainage Performance: Check if the backing is equipped with dense drainage holes. For rainy areas or pet use, a fully permeable backing is an ideal choice. It allows water to pass through quickly like a sieve.

• UV Resistance and Anti-Aging Properties: Ask the manufacturer if UV stabilizers are added. This directly affects how long the turf can maintain its color outdoors without fading or chalking.

• Environmental and Safety Certifications: Especially for residential use, always confirm the product has passed authoritative certifications such as SGS and CE. Ensure the content of heavy metals and other harmful substances meets standards, guaranteeing it is safe and non-toxic.

• Flame Retardancy: For public areas like clubs and balconies where there is a risk of exposure to fire or fireworks, consider turf with flame-retardant properties.

Reasonable budget planning and installation

Total Cost = Product Cost + Accessory Cost (Seam Fabric, Adhesive, Infill Quartz Sand/Rubber Granules) + Installation Cost.

★ DIY or Professional Installation?

DIY: Only recommended for lawns smaller than 10㎡ with very flat surfaces and strong DIY skills. The main challenges are seam treatment, stretching for flatness, and edge finishing.

Professional Installation: Professional installation is strongly recommended. Professional surface preparation, laying, and infilling are key to a smooth, beautiful, and durable lawn in the future.

Simple Purchasing Process

Measurement and Planning: Accurately measure the site, draw a hand-drawn sketch and mark the dimensions.

Confirm Parameters: Following this guide, clarify your priorities (Scenario → Material → Pile Height, Density, etc.).

Request Samples: This is the most crucial step. Visually inspect the color, feel the texture by hand, test the flexibility of the adhesive, and compare the performance of different products under natural light.

Compare Solutions: Comprehensively compare samples, detailed quotes, installation plans and after-sales service from 2-3 suppliers.

Confirm Details: Clarify the installation date, construction period, waste disposal and after-sales warranty period.

Installation & Acceptance: Inspect whether the laying is flat, the seams are invisible and the infill is evenly distributed.

Define the core usage scenario

Clarifying the usage scenario is the starting point for all selections. Different scenarios have vastly different requirements for turf performance, materials, and safety standards—this is a crucial step to avoid wrong choices. First, ask yourself: What will I use it for?

• Residential Courtyard Landscaping: Pursues aesthetic appeal, realistic appearance, comfortable foot feel, and harmony with the natural environment, with an emphasis on visual impact and leisure experience.

• Pet-Specific Areas: Core needs include rapid drainage, easy cleaning, antibacterial properties, and resistance to wear and scratching. It should facilitate the rinsing of pet urine to maintain hygiene.

• Children’s Play Areas: Safety first! Requires a soft texture, excellent shock absorption, and non-toxic, environmentally friendly materials. Using it with a shock pad can enhance shock absorption, providing all-round protection for children.

• Commercial & Public Spaces: Focuses on high durability, UV resistance, non-fading with long-term use, easy maintenance, and the ability to withstand high foot traffic.
Professional Sports Venues: Demands extremely high professional performance, such as specific ball rebound rate, rolling speed, and court impact absorption.

Clarifying the usage scenario narrows down the selection scope, helping you quickly determine the direction for material, specification, and performance choices, and avoiding blind decisions.

FAQ

1. How long does artificial turf typically last?

High-quality residential garden turf can have a service life of 8–15 years under normal use and maintenance. The lifespan of commercial and sports turf depends on specific foot traffic volume and usage intensity.

2. How to maintain artificial turf?

Maintenance is extremely simple. Regularly clean debris with a soft-bristled brush or vacuum cleaner, and occasionally rinse with water to keep it clean. Avoid scratches from sharp objects and burns from unextinguished cigarette butts.

3. Does artificial turf get extremely hot in summer?

Under prolonged direct sunlight, the surface temperature of artificial turf may be higher than that of natural grass. However, this can be effectively mitigated by choosing light-colored yarn, sprinkling water on the turf for a few minutes (with significant cooling effect), or avoiding use during the hottest part of the day. The UV-resistant coating on high-quality turf also helps reduce heat accumulation.

4. Can it be installed on concrete?

Yes, but it is essential to ensure the ground has a proper drainage slope. It is recommended to use fully permeable turf paired with a professional drainage layer. Direct installation on flat concrete is prone to water accumulation.