The main types of artificial turf are landscape, pet, playground, putting green, and sports turf. Each one uses a different blade material, pile height, and infill. In Texas and Florida, most residential turf runs $7–$12 per square foot installed.
Quick Answer: Types of Artificial Turf
Not all artificial turf is the same. Landscape turf is built for looks, pet turf for drainage and odor control, playground turf for safe falls, and putting greens for a true ball roll.
Pick the type that matches how you’ll use the space. Most residential turf runs $7–$12 per square foot installed, or roughly $10,000–$20,000 for a typical 1,500-square-foot yard.
Get a free estimate for a real number on your yard.
Here’s how all five types compare and where each fits best.
Landscape Turf
Landscape turf is the type most people picture for a backyard or front lawn. It uses tall, soft blades in mixed green shades with a brown thatch layer, so it reads like natural grass instead of plastic.
This is our most popular category, with products like Pro 80, Lush 80, Select 60, and Select 72. It holds up to Texas heat and Florida humidity without fading, and it carries a 15-year warranty.
See our landscape turf options for lawns and yards.
Pet Turf
Pet turf is one of the most popular types of artificial turf, engineered for dogs. The blades resist digging and pulling, and the backing moves liquid fast so urine doesn’t sit on the surface.
Our pet turf uses Triflow Backing™ that drains 900+ inches of liquid per hour, plus a Microguard® coating that reduces bacteria by 99%. That combination is what keeps a dog run from smelling.
Pet turf lasts 12–18 years with regular rinsing. See our full artificial grass for pets lineup.
Playground Turf
Playground turf, sometimes called playscape turf, is built for schools, daycares, and backyard play areas. It pairs a padded, shock-absorbing base with a soft surface, so falls hurt less.
Our Kid Play turf uses that same padded build, and our playground line meets IPEMA safety standards for impact absorption. The Triflow Backing keeps the surface dry after rain, which matters in Florida where storms drop 50+ inches a year.
Learn more about our playground turf systems.
Putting Green Turf
Putting green turf is one of the more specialized types of artificial turf. It uses a short, dense, stiff pile, often nylon, that stays flat and fast instead of the tall blades on a lawn.
We offer several speeds, including Pro Putt and the tournament-grade Tour Putt. Putting greens run higher than lawn turf, usually $10–$16 per square foot installed, since the surface and base work take more skill.
Explore our custom putting green options.
Sports Turf
Sports turf handles athletic fields, gyms, and stadiums. It uses reinforced fibers and engineered infill to take high-impact play, hold traction, and cushion hard contact.
Schools and teams choose sports turf to cut the cost of watering, mowing, and reseeding a natural field. The surface stays playable year-round, too, with no rain delays turning the field into a mud pit.
See our sports turf surfaces for fields and courts.
Turf Blade Materials and Infill
Blade material is what separates the types of artificial turf under your feet. Three plastics do most of the work.
Polyethylene is soft and realistic, so it’s the go-to for landscape and pet turf. Polypropylene is finer and cheaper, better suited to low-traffic decorative areas. Nylon is the toughest and most heat-resistant, which is why it shows up in putting greens and heavy-use sports turf.
Infill matters as much as the blade. We use silica sand for most lawns and OptiFILL+ as an upgrade for pet areas where odor control comes first. Our zeolite infill option cuts surface heat by 20–30% compared with plain sand.
Read our artificial grass infill guide for the full breakdown.
How to Choose the Right Type of Artificial Turf
Start with how you’ll use the space, not the price tag. A dog run needs pet turf with fast drainage. A play area needs a padded playground base, and a golfer wants a true putting surface.
Match the blade and infill to your climate. In Dallas, Houston, Austin, and San Antonio, heat and drought are the enemy. In Tampa, Orlando, and Sarasota, drainage during heavy rain is what counts.
Whatever type you pick, installation quality decides how long it lasts. We build every yard on four inches of compacted crushed granite, and our owner, David Turner, oversees the work, so you’re working with the person accountable for the result. Cheap installs on a thin base fail in two to three years.
Use our turf price calculator to match the right type to your yard, or call (469) 940-7737.
Types of Artificial Turf Compared
| Turf type | Best for | Blade and pile | Typical lifespan | Installed cost |
| Landscape turf | Lawns, yards, commercial | Tall, soft polyethylene | 15–20 years | $7–$12/sq. ft. |
| Pet turf | Dog runs, pet families | Durable PE, fast-drain backing | 12–18 years | $7–$12/sq. ft. |
| Playground turf | Schools, daycares, play areas | Padded, shock-absorbing | 15–20 years | $7–$10/sq. ft. |
| Putting green turf | Home golf practice | Short, dense nylon | 15–20 years | $10–$16/sq. ft. |
| Sports turf | Fields, gyms, stadiums | Reinforced fibers | 8–12 years | Custom quote |
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the most common types of artificial turf?
The five main types of artificial turf are landscape, pet, playground, putting green, and sports. Most homes use landscape or pet turf. The right pick depends on traffic, climate, and whether pets or kids use the space.
What is the best type of artificial turf for dogs?
Pet turf is the best choice for dogs. It drains fast and resists digging. Our pet turf uses Triflow Backing at 900+ inches of liquid per hour and a Microguard coating that reduces bacteria by 99%.
Does the type of turf change the price?
Yes. Landscape and pet turf run $7–$12 per square foot installed. Putting greens cost more, around $10–$16 per square foot, since the surface and base work take more skill. See how much artificial grass costs for full details.
Which type of artificial turf gets the hottest?
Dark turf with rubber infill runs hottest, reaching 120–140°F on a 100°F day. Light-colored blades with zeolite infill stay cooler. A quick rinse with a hose drops the surface temperature fast.
How long do the different types of turf last?
Landscape and putting green turf last 15–20 years. Pet turf lasts 12–18 years with regular cleaning. Heavy-use commercial sports turf lasts 8–12 years. All our residential turf carries a 15-year warranty.
Do all types of artificial turf need infill?
Most do. Infill weighs the turf down, keeps blades upright, and controls odor in pet areas. Putting greens use minimal infill for a fast roll. We’ll match the infill to your turf type and use.
Why Homeowners Choose Magnolia Turf
After more than 10,000 installations across Texas and Florida, we know which types of artificial turf hold up in real heat, real rain, and real pet traffic. Every product is PFAS-free and 100% lead-free, built on a four-inch crushed granite base, and backed by a 15-year warranty.
Whatever type you choose, our owner, David Turner, personally oversees every install, which means you’re working with the person responsible for the finished yard. You won’t get shortcuts, cheap base work, or turf that fails in three years.
Get a free estimate to match the right type of artificial turf to your yard, or call (469) 940-7737 to talk through your options.