Artificial Turf Installation Tools and Materials Checklist
A complete tool list with purpose and rent vs buy advice, plus quantity rules of thumb per 100 sq ft for base, nails, seam supplies, weed barrier and infill.
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This checklist is for DIYers getting ready to shop and book rentals, and for homeowners who want to sanity-check what a contractor's materials list should include. You will finish with a rent or buy decision for each tool and a quantity estimate for every consumable, scaled from your square footage. For the order the work happens in, see how to install artificial turf.
What tools do you need to install artificial turf?
Rental prices below are typical 2026 daily rates at US equipment rental yards and big-box tool rental counters. They vary by region and season (spring weekends book out early).
| Tool | Purpose | Rent or buy | Typical 2026 cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gas sod cutter | Strips existing grass in rolls | Rent | $90 to $150 per day |
| Vibratory plate compactor | Compacts sub-grade and base | Rent | $80 to $130 per day |
| Mini skid steer or compact track loader | Moves soil and base on jobs over ~800 sq ft | Rent (with trailer) | $250 to $400 per day |
| Power broom | Lifts fibers, works in infill | Rent | $70 to $120 per day |
| Rotating laser level | Checks slope and flatness | Rent | $50 to $90 per day |
| Drop spreader | Spreads infill evenly | Buy or borrow | $40 to $90 |
| Wheelbarrows (2) | Haul spoil and base | Buy or borrow | $80 to $150 each |
| Flat and round shovels | Excavation, spreading | Buy | $25 to $50 each |
| Landscape rake and bow rake | Spread and level base | Buy | $25 to $50 each |
| Screed board (straight 2x4 or aluminum) | Flattens base | Buy | $10 to $60 |
| Hand tamper | Corners, edges, small areas | Buy | $30 to $50 |
| Garden hose with mist nozzle | Moisture for compaction | Own | |
| String line, stakes, line level | Grade checks | Buy | $20 to $30 |
| Carpet knife or utility knife plus 50+ blades | Cutting turf from the back | Buy | $15 to $30 |
| Turf cutter (wheeled) | Straight cuts along rows | Buy (optional) | $40 to $100 |
| Knee kicker or power stretcher | Removes wrinkles, tensions turf | Rent kicker or buy | $20 to $40 per day, $60 to $150 to buy |
| Framing hammer or small sledge (3 lb) | Driving nails | Own or buy | $25 to $50 |
| Caulk gun (heavy-duty) | Seam adhesive from tubes | Buy | $15 to $30 |
| Trowel or notched spreader | Spreads adhesive from pails | Buy | $10 to $20 |
| Stiff push broom | Brushing infill | Buy | $25 to $40 |
| Chalk line and tape measure (100 ft) | Layout | Buy | $25 to $50 |
| Knee pads, gloves, eye and ear protection | Safety | Buy | $40 to $70 |
Our rent vs buy rule: rent anything with an engine, buy anything that costs less than one day's rental. The exception is a knee kicker: if you will do more than one project, buying is worth it.
What materials do you need per 100 sq ft?
These are our rules of thumb for a typical residential lawn, before waste. Our assumptions: crushed base at about 1.4 tons per cubic yard, a 25% compaction allowance, 6 inch perimeter nail spacing on a moderately shaped yard, and an infill rate of 1 to 2 lbs per sq ft.
| Material | Per 100 sq ft | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Turf | 110 to 125 sq ft purchased | Waste depends on roll width fit; see below |
| Crushed base, 3 inch compacted | About 1.6 tons (1.2 cu yd loose) | Scale linearly with depth |
| Crushed base, 4 inch compacted | About 2.2 tons (1.5 cu yd loose) | Clay soils, dog runs |
| Fine top layer (DG or rock dust), 1/2 inch | About 0.3 tons | Optional smoothing layer |
| Galvanized nails, 5 to 6 inch | 50 to 70 | Perimeter, seams and field grid combined |
| Weed barrier fabric | 110 sq ft | Includes overlap at joins |
| Seam tape | 1.1 ft per ft of seam | Measure seams from your layout |
| Seam adhesive | 1 tube per 8 to 15 ft of seam | Pails cover more; follow label |
| Infill | 100 to 200 lbs | Pile height and infill type set the rate |
| Bender board or edging | Perimeter length plus 10% | Measure only borders without hardscape |
Base and infill are the two quantities people most often get wrong. Use our base material calculator and infill calculator for your exact numbers, and see how much infill for rates by pile height.
How much extra turf should you buy?
Turf is sold in fixed widths (usually 15 ft, sometimes 12 ft) and cut to length, so waste comes from how your shape fits those widths, not just from trimming. Rectangles that match roll widths can come in under 10% waste. Irregular yards with curves and beds commonly run 15 to 25%. Always order enough so every piece runs in the same grain direction; rotating offcuts to save turf causes visible color differences. Plan it with the roll layout calculator.
Which nails and fasteners should you use?
- 5 to 6 inch galvanized landscape nails (often called turf nails or spikes, with a washer head) are the standard for compacted base.
- U-shaped turf staples (about 6 inches) work well along seams and in softer bases, but can pull more easily in very firm base.
- 8 to 10 inch spikes for loose soils, slopes and dog runs where pulling is more likely.
- Stainless or coated screws with washers for fastening to bender board, nailer boards or wood framing.
Avoid uncoated steel nails. They rust, stain the backing and lose grip. Bright, shiny nail heads can show between fibers; some installers use painted green-head nails for that reason.
What safety gear matters most?
The real risks on a turf job are back strain, knife cuts and compactor noise and vibration. Lift with a partner, keep fresh blades (dull blades slip), cut away from your body, and wear hearing protection near the compactor and sod cutter. Kneeling on compacted base for hours is rough on knees; good knee pads are the cheapest comfort upgrade. Wear a dust mask or respirator when dumping and spreading dry silica sand infill, as advised on the bag.
What does a full DIY toolkit cost?
Our model for a 500 sq ft DIY job assumes two rental days for the sod cutter and compactor, one day for a power broom, and buying the hand tools above (no machine for hauling).
| Category | Estimated 2026 cost |
|---|---|
| Rentals (sod cutter 1 day, compactor 2 days, power broom 1 day) | $320 to $530 |
| Hand tools bought | $250 to $450 |
| Safety gear | $40 to $70 |
| Total tools | $610 to $1,050 |
That is before turf, base, infill and haul-away. Put it alongside materials in the turf cost calculator, and weigh it against labor quotes in DIY vs professional installation.
Frequently asked questions
Can I install turf without a sod cutter?
Yes, with a flat spade or a manual kick sod cutter, but expect it to take roughly three to five times longer on established lawns. On areas under 150 sq ft, or where grass is already dead and patchy, hand removal is reasonable. For anything larger, a one-day rental usually pays for itself in saved labor and sore backs.
Do I really need a power broom?
Not always. A stiff push broom works on small lawns and short pile turf, though it takes more passes. A power broom lifts matted fibers and drives infill down evenly far faster, which matters on lawns over about 400 sq ft or with taller pile. Many DIYers rent one only for infill day.
What size plate compactor should I rent?
For residential turf bases, a standard single-direction plate compactor in the 150 to 200 lb range, with roughly 3,000 to 5,000 lbs of centrifugal force, is the usual choice. It handles 2 to 4 inch lifts well. Larger reversible plates are only needed for very large or deep bases and are harder to move through gates.
Where can I buy turf installation supplies?
Specialty turf distributors carry seam tape, turf-rated adhesive, nails and infill in bulk, often at better prices than general retailers. Landscape supply yards sell base rock and DG by the ton with delivery. Home improvement stores stock basic tools and smaller packages. See big box vs specialty turf for how product quality differs between channels.