Turf selector
Five questions, one starting spec: fiber, pile height, face weight, backing, infill and base matched to how you will use the lawn.
Turf marketing leads with names and photos. Performance comes from numbers. This tool translates your situation into the spec ranges our guides recommend, so you can shortlist products by their spec sheets instead of their brochures.
Find your starting turf spec
A starting spec, not a product recommendation. Confirm every number on the manufacturer's spec sheet.
How the selector decides
The rules come straight from our choosing the right turf framework:
- Use sets the baseline. Decorative lawns get a taller, lighter pile; family lawns a mid pile with a resilient thatch; heavy traffic a shorter, denser pile.
- Dogs override drainage and infill. Any dog use switches to fully permeable backing, an open base and zeolite, and two or more dogs shorten the pile so waste is easy to find and rinse. See best turf for dogs.
- Special surfaces get their own specs. Putting greens, pool surrounds and play areas use different products entirely.
- Climate and sun add notes. Heat pushes toward lighter colors, cooling infill and shade; freezing winters toward a deeper, better drained base; shade toward drainage and moss control.
Checking a product against your spec
Ask each supplier for the spec sheet and compare these lines first: yarn type, pile height, face weight, stitch rate, backing type and drainage rate, and warranty terms. Our spec sheet guide explains each line and how to spot padded numbers, and face weight and density explains why a heavy face weight alone does not mean a durable product.
Frequently asked questions
Why does the selector recommend a shorter pile for dogs?
Short, dense pile stands up better to repeated running and turning, makes solid waste easier to see and pick up, and lets rinse water and urine reach the backing faster. Tall pile hides waste and mats down in lanes. Most multi-dog yards are happier with 1 to 1.25 inches.
Is nylon better than polyethylene?
Nylon is tougher and more heat-resistant but stiffer, more abrasive and more expensive. That suits putting greens and gyms more than lawns. Polyethylene is softer and more realistic, which is why it dominates landscape turf. See polyethylene vs nylon vs polypropylene.
Can one product work for both dogs and kids?
Yes. A pet-rated product with permeable backing, moderate pile and a soft polyethylene blade works well for both, provided you keep up rinsing and cleaning. Under play equipment, add a shock pad rated for the fall height.
Will a cooling infill solve heat in a hot climate?
It helps for a while after watering or dew, but no infill keeps turf near grass temperature in full afternoon sun. Shade and timing matter more. See turf heat for what actually works.