What Is Turf Material and How to Choose the Best Artificial Grass

Choosing the right turf material is the key to getting artificial grass that looks natural, feels comfortable, and lasts for years. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at what turf material really means, what it’s made of, the factors that affect its quality, and how to choose the right system for your project.

What Is Turf Material?

Turf material simply refers to the parts that make up artificial grass. It includes the visible grass fibers, the backing that holds them in place, the coating that locks everything together, and often an infill layer like sand or rubber for stability and cushioning.

In other words, it’s the combination of materials that gives artificial turf its look, feel, and durability.

The Main Components of Turf Material

Turf materials can be broken down into a few essential parts, each serving a different purpose in how the grass looks and performs.

1. Grass Fibers (Pile / Fiber)

Fibers are the “face” of artificial turf, but they’re also the most misunderstood. Many suppliers will highlight color or softness, but the type of polymer is what really determines performance.

Polyethylene (PE): This is the workhorse of modern sports turf. It’s soft enough for sliding tackles but still resilient. A good PE fiber will also have UV stabilizers blended in; without them, even premium-looking turf will fade and become brittle under the sun.

Polypropylene (PP): Cheaper, but also harsher to the touch. It tends to flatten quickly, which is why serious sports fields rarely use it alone. In landscaping, though, PP works well when blended with PE to give more texture and color variation.

Nylon (PA): Incredibly strong and springy, but not very forgiving on skin contact. It’s fantastic for indoor golf or putting greens where durability and ball roll are more important than comfort.

Insider tip: When evaluating turf fibers, don’t stop at just “PE vs PP vs Nylon.” Look at the dtex and the fiber shape:

• Dtex is the measure of fiber thickness. Higher dtex fibers are thicker and more durable, but too high can make turf feel stiff. Lower dtex fibers are softer and more natural underfoot, but wear out faster under heavy use. The best systems balance fiber density with dtex so you get both comfort and longevity.
  
• Pile shape affects how the blades stand up and reflect light. C-shaped fibers bend less, diamond-shaped blades bounce back well, and V-shaped fibers give a crisper, upright look. Mixing shapes in one product can make the turf look more natural and resist flattening.
  

Knowing these details will help you cut through marketing claims and judge how the turf will actually perform once installed.

2. The Backing

Think of the backing as the hidden foundation. Without a strong backing, even the best fibers will fail.

• Single-layer backings are really only suited for decorative landscaping where traffic is minimal.
  
• Double-layer backings (typically a woven fabric plus a non-woven layer) are the industry standard — strong enough for most residential and commercial applications.
  
• Triple-layer backings add extra stability, especially useful for large installations like football pitches where seams are under constant stress.

Backing quality is where cheaper turf often cuts corners. Thin or poorly woven backing can lead to seam failure and wrinkles. If you can see daylight when holding a sample against the light, that’s a red flag.

3. The Coating

Coating is what locks the fibers into the backing. This part rarely gets talked about in brochures, but it makes a huge difference to longevity.

SBR Latex: Common and affordable. It does the job, but it’s sensitive to temperature swings — in very hot or very wet climates, it may degrade faster.

PU (Polyurethane): A superior option. It’s lighter, more stable, and much more resistant to moisture. PU-coated turf also releases fewer VOCs (volatile organic compounds), making it safer and greener.

Many suppliers will only mention SBR because it’s cheaper, but if your project is in a high-rainfall area or exposed to extreme heat, PU is absolutely worth the investment.

4. The Infill

Infill is one of the most debated aspects of turf design, especially in sports. It’s not just “filler” — it changes how the turf feels underfoot, how a ball bounces, and how safe the surface is.

• Silica Sand: Adds weight and helps fibers stand upright. On its own, it’s fine for landscaping, but too hard for sports use.
  
• SBR Rubber Granules: Traditional choice for football fields. They provide good shock absorption but can heat up under the sun and sometimes carry a slight odor.
  
• TPE or EPDM Granules: Cleaner, non-toxic alternatives. They stay cooler and are often required in schools or public projects where safety and environmental impact are priorities.

And then there’s the no-infill trend. These systems are easier to maintain and avoid the mess of loose particles, but they typically don’t offer the same performance characteristics for professional-level sports. They work well for playgrounds or decorative landscaping, though.

Advice from experience: Don’t let price alone guide your infill decision. The wrong infill can turn a promising turf system into a maintenance headache — or worse, a safety issue.

What Is the Best Material for Artificial Turf?

The best material for artificial turf is polyethylene (PE) fibers, a strong double-layer backing, PU coating, and the right infill for the project’s needs.

Key Factors That Influence Turf Material Quality

At first glance, two pieces of turf might look almost the same — green, neat, and ready to use. But after a year or two, you’ll know which one was made to last and which one was built on shortcuts. The difference usually comes down to four things: the raw materials, the way it’s made, whether it meets international standards, and how strictly the manufacturer controls quality.

The Importance of Raw Materials

Good turf starts with good ingredients. Fibers made from high-grade plastic with added UV protection will stay soft, green, and flexible for years. Lower-grade plastics might save money upfront, but they tend to fade, crack, or flatten much faster.

The same goes for the infill — clean silica sand or non-toxic rubber is safe and stable, while cheap recycled materials can carry odor or even harmful substances. You don’t see these differences on installation day, but you definitely feel them later.

Production Craftsmanship

The machinery and process behind turf production define how consistent the product will be.

• Extrusion of fibers: Poorly calibrated extrusion can lead to weak spots in the yarn, which split under foot traffic. Advanced extruders produce fibers with uniform cross-sections and pile shapes (C, V, diamond, etc.) that recover better after compression.
• Tufting and stitch density: A higher stitch rate is not automatically better. If the dtex (fiber thickness) doesn’t match the density, you end up with turf that looks lush but mats down quickly. Skilled engineers balance pile height, stitch rate, and dtex for performance.
• Backing and coating: A strong backing fabric is half the battle, but the coating determines whether fibers stay in place. Low-cost SBR latex tends to crack under UV and moisture over time. Polyurethane (PU) coatings penetrate deeper into the backing, making the “tuft bind” far stronger and much more consistent roll to roll.

Many failures we’ve seen in the field — seams opening, fibers shedding, surfaces hardening — trace back to shortcuts in production, not just “bad installation.”

International Standards

For sports fields especially, international standards are more than just a stamp of approval. FIFA and ISO tests, for example, measure whether turf is safe to play on, how the ball rolls, and how well the surface absorbs impact.

A turf that passes these tests has been proven to handle years of use, not just look good when it’s new. If a supplier only shows “lab test results” for one component, that’s not the same as a full certified system. It’s always worth asking for clarity.

JCturf’s Quality Control Approach

At JCturf, we’ve seen too many projects fail because quality wasn’t checked carefully enough. That’s why we test every batch — not just the first sample.

We look at:

• UV resistance (to make sure it won’t fade quickly)
  
• Fiber strength (so the grass blades don’t pull out)
  
• Surface resilience (so the turf stays comfortable, not hard, over time)
  
• Safety checks (to ensure no harmful chemicals end up in the final product)
  

By tracking every roll from start to finish, we can promise our customers the same level of quality, whether they’re building a small garden or a professional football pitch.

Turf Material Solutions for Different Applications

Artificial turf isn’t one-size-fits-all. The right materials depend on where the turf will be used and what people expect from it. A football pitch, a rooftop garden, and a kindergarten playground all place very different demands on the surface. Here’s how turf materials are matched to each scenario.

Sports Fields (Football, Tennis, Hockey)

Sports turf has to perform under constant pressure — literally. Players are running, sliding, and cutting on it every day, so the materials must combine durability with playability.

• Fibers: Soft polyethylene with added UV protection is the standard, often in specialized shapes (like diamond or C-shape) that spring back quickly after being stepped on.
  
• Backing and Coating: Double or triple backing with strong PU coating ensures the fibers won’t loosen over time. This is critical on fields where seams and wear spots are heavily stressed.
  
• Infill: A carefully balanced mix of silica sand and rubber (or newer eco-friendly granules) provides ball control, shock absorption, and player safety.

For football, ball roll and shock absorption are tested to FIFA standards. For tennis or hockey, speed and bounce are even more critical. The right turf system is always sport-specific.

Landscaping and Gardens (Yards, Rooftops, Commercial Spaces)

Here the focus shifts from athletic performance to appearance and comfort. Homeowners, architects, and property developers want turf that looks natural, feels pleasant underfoot, and requires little maintenance.

• Fibers: A mix of PE and PP is common — PE for softness, PP for added texture and color. Multi-tone fibers (different shades of green, with brown thatch) make the turf look realistic.
  
• Backing and Coating: Double-layer backing is usually sufficient, but drainage is crucial on rooftops and patios. Good perforation ensures rainwater doesn’t pool.
  
• Infill: Often optional. Many landscaping turfs are non-infill, which keeps gardens cleaner. Some projects still use sand infill for stability and a more natural look.
  

If the turf will be placed on a rooftop or balcony, choose lighter backing and fibers to reduce overall load.

Education and Recreation (Kindergartens, Playgrounds)

In schools and playgrounds, safety and environmental health come before everything else. Kids play, crawl, and sometimes even fall on the turf, so the system must be designed with protection in mind.

• Fibers: Softer PE fibers with shorter pile heights make it safer for children.
  
• Backing and Coating: Strong enough to last, but tested to ensure no harmful substances. PU backing is often preferred since it’s cleaner and more stable.
  
• Infill: Many schools now choose non-infill systems to avoid loose particles ending up in kids’ shoes or mouths. Where infill is needed, only non-toxic, eco-certified materials like TPE or EPDM are used.
  
• Extra Cushioning: Shock pads beneath the turf are often added to meet fall-protection standards — something you’ll never see in a football pitch.

Don’t be tempted by the cheapest option for schools. Low-quality materials might save money upfront but can pose long-term safety risks.

A Practical Guide to Choosing the Right Turf Material

With so many turf options on the market, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. The truth is, a lot of products look similar on the surface, but the quality can be worlds apart. Here are some practical ways to cut through the noise and make a choice you won’t regret.

1. How to Judge Turf Quality

• Look at the Fibers: High-quality fibers bounce back when you press them, rather than lying flat. They should feel soft but not flimsy.
  
• Check the Backing: Hold a piece of turf up to the light. If you see large gaps in the weave or the coating looks patchy, it’s a warning sign.
  
• Ask About UV Protection: Sunlight is the biggest enemy of artificial grass. Without proper UV stabilizers, the turf will fade and weaken in just a couple of seasons.
  
• Consider the Infill (if used): Clean, odor-free infill is a must. If it smells strong or leaves residue on your hands, think twice.

2. Common Traps to Avoid

The turf industry, like many others, has its fair share of shortcuts. A few red flags to watch out for:

• Too-good-to-be-true pricing: If one supplier is far cheaper than the rest, they’re saving money somewhere — usually by cutting corners on raw materials or backing quality.
  
• “Lab-tested” claims without context: Testing one fiber sample isn’t the same as certifying a whole turf system. Always ask what exactly was tested.
  
• Cheap infill materials: Recycled rubber can be fine if it’s properly cleaned and certified, but low-grade infill sometimes contains unwanted contaminants. This is especially concerning for schools and playgrounds.
  

3. JCturf’s Honest Advice

After years in this industry, here’s the advice we give every client:

• Match the turf to the use. A backyard lawn doesn’t need the same system as a FIFA football pitch. Over- or under-specifying wastes money or shortens lifespan.
  
• Think long-term, not just installation day. Cheap turf often looks fine at first, but the real test comes after two summers of sun or two winters of rain.
  
• Always ask for proof. Whether it’s UV testing, safety certificates, or performance standards, reputable suppliers should be happy to share documentation.
  
• Trust experience. Working with a company that has seen projects succeed — and fail — means you get advice grounded in reality, not just marketing.

Choose JCturf as Your Trusted Artificial Turf Supplier and Manufacturer

At JCturf, we believe that great projects start with great materials. As a dedicated artificial turf manufacturer and supplier, we provide high-quality products engineered for performance, safety, and long-term durability. From sports field turfs to landscaping grass and playground turf, our turf solutions are designed to meet the unique demands of every application.

When you partner with JCturf, you’re working directly with the factory. That means consistent standards, competitive pricing, and expert support at every stage of your project.

Contact JCturf today to request samples or receive a custom quote — and let’s make your project a success from the ground up.