The artificial turf reference
Artificial turf, explained to the spec.
What it really costs, how to choose it, how to build it so it drains and lasts, and how to fix it when something goes wrong. Clear answers for homeowners, DIYers and anyone comparing quotes.
What are you trying to do?
- Price my projectInstalled cost per square foot and what drives it
- Choose the right turfMatch specs to dogs, kids, shade or show
- Install it myselfThe full DIY sequence, base to infill
- Turf with dogsDrainage, odor control and safety
- Fix a problemSmells, puddles, seams, wrinkles, melting
- Decide turf vs grassHonest trade-offs and a scoring framework
Quick answers
How much does artificial turf cost?
Professionally installed turf runs about $8 to $20 per square foot in 2026, and most mid-range lawns of 500 to 1,000 sq ft land at $10 to $15. Small jobs cost more per foot. Full cost breakdown
How long does artificial turf last?
Quality landscape turf typically lasts about 8 to 15 years. UV intensity, foot and pet traffic, infill levels and brushing decide where in that range yours ends up. What shortens and extends lifespan
Why does artificial turf smell?
Almost always pet urine that has not been flushed through the turf and base, where bacteria convert it to ammonia. Fix drainage first, then use zeolite infill and an enzyme cleaner. Diagnose the smell
How hot does artificial turf get?
In strong summer sun, turf surfaces commonly run far hotter than the air and much hotter than natural grass. Water cools it only briefly; shade and cooling infill help more. Why turf gets hot and what helps
Do you need infill?
For most lawns, yes. Infill keeps blades upright, weighs the turf down and protects the backing from UV. Only some dense, low-traffic decorative products are designed to go without. When you can skip it
What base goes under artificial turf?
Typically 3 to 4 inches of compacted crushed aggregate such as Class II road base or decomposed granite, graded with a slight slope for drainage. Dogs and clay soils change the recipe. Base preparation guide
Plan with real numbers
All calculatorsArtificial turf cost calculator
Enter your yard size and conditions to get a professional installed price range, a DIY materials budget and likely labor hours.
Artificial turf infill calculator
Turn your area, pile height and infill type into total pounds, number of bags, cost and a spreading plan.
Turf roll layout calculator
Compare both layout directions for your rectangle and see linear feet to order, number of strips, seam length and waste percentage.
Base material calculator for artificial turf
Work out tons of crushed base to order, how much soil to excavate and haul, and how many lifts to compact.
Water savings calculator
See how much irrigation water a healthy lawn of your size would need in a typical year in your city, what it costs, and how much rinse water turf still uses.
Turf vs grass cost calculator
Model cumulative costs of turf and a natural lawn year by year, with turf replacement, and see when (or whether) turf pays for itself.
Essential guides
- Comparisons
Artificial Turf vs Natural Grass, With Pros, Cons and a Scoring Framework to Decide
A factor-by-factor matrix of turf and real grass, a weighted scorecard you fill in for your own yard, and clear rules for who should choose which.
- Choosing Turf
How to Read an Artificial Turf Spec Sheet (and Spot Padded Numbers)
Walk through every line of a typical turf spec sheet with an example, learn what good values look like, and catch the common ways numbers get inflated.
- Installation
Artificial Turf Base Preparation, Materials, Depths and Compaction
How to choose base rock, set depth by soil and use, compact in lifts with the right moisture, and check flatness with a string or laser.
- Dogs and Pets
Best Artificial Turf for Dogs, the Specs to Demand and the Ones to Avoid
A spec table matched to dog size and household count, covering pile height, face weight, backing, antimicrobial treatment and infill, plus the red flags to avoid.
- Infill
Artificial Turf Infill Types and How to Choose the Right One
What infill actually does for turf, a side-by-side comparison of every major infill type, and simple rules for picking the right one for your yard.
- Problems and Fixes
Common Artificial Turf Installation Mistakes (and What Each One Costs to Fix)
The eight installation errors behind most turf failures, how to recognize each from its symptoms, and realistic 2026 repair costs.
Browse by topic
- Cost and BuyingPrices, quotes, warranties, ROI
- Choosing TurfFibers, pile, weight, backing, specs
- InstallationBase, seams, edges, step by step
- DrainageHow water moves, testing, fixes
- InfillSand, zeolite, rubber, organic
- Dogs and PetsOdor, drainage, safety, dog runs
- Putting GreensDesign, build, speed, cost
- PoolsTurf around pools and decks
- PlaygroundsFall height, pads, safety
- MaintenanceBrushing, schedules, lifespan
- CleaningPet waste, stains, disinfecting
- Problems and FixesDiagnose and fix turf issues
- ComparisonsTurf vs grass, sod, xeriscape
- More UsesFront yards, rooftops, sports, gyms
- Climate and RegionsHeat, cold, rain, state guides
- Research and DataPrice index, heat, water, lifespan
- CalculatorsCost, infill, rolls, base, water
How we write these guides
- Specs over slogans. We explain turf in measurable terms (polymer, face weight, stitch rate, drainage rate, base depth) so you can compare products and quotes yourself.
- Models show their math. Cost, water and lifespan figures come with stated assumptions, and the calculators let you change them.
- Downsides included. Heat, plastic, odor, cost and lifespan get the same attention as the benefits, because they decide whether turf is right for you.
- No paid rankings. We do not sell turf, take payment for coverage or rank brands. Recommendations are by specification and use case.
- Kept current. Every guide shows when it was last reviewed, and reported errors are fixed and logged on our corrections page.
Read the full editorial policy or see our sources and methodology.