Artificial Turf Infill: All Types Compared (And Which One You Need)

What Does Artificial Turf Infill Actually Do?

Artificial turf infill is not optional. Skip it and your turf will shift, flatten, and drain poorly within months. Choose the wrong type and you'll deal with heat build-up, pet odours, or a surface that packs down under foot traffic. Get it right and your lawn looks better, lasts longer, and stays far easier to maintain.

This guide covers every major type of artificial turf infill — what it does, where it works, where it fails, and exactly how much you need. By the end, you'll know which infill is right for your installation and how to keep it performing long-term.

Infill is granular material — sand, rubber, mineral, or coated particles — brushed between the turf fibres after installation. It serves four functions that nothing else can replace:

1. Ballast. Infill holds the turf backing flat to the ground. Without it, the surface shifts, blisters in heat, and creeps at the edges.

2. Fibre support. The granules sit at the base of each blade and prop it upright. This is what gives quality artificial grass that natural, full appearance. Without infill, blades lie flat and never fully recover.

3. Drainage. Most infill materials allow water to pass through the gaps between granules, working with the backing's drainage holes to clear surface water quickly.

4. Cushioning. For play areas, pet runs, or high-traffic zones, infill provides meaningful underfoot softness and helps the surface absorb impact.

Different materials deliver each of these at different levels — which is why infill choice matters.

The 5 Main Types of Artificial Turf Infill

1. Silica Sand

The workhorse. Right for most standard lawns.

Silica sand is kiln-dried, rounded quartz sand — the most widely used infill in residential and commercial landscaping. It is inert, non-toxic, and affordable.

Pros:

• Lowest cost of all infill options
• Excellent drainage — water moves through freely
• Heavy enough to anchor turf effectively
• Stays cool relative to rubber alternatives
• Works well with all standard artificial grass types

Cons:

• Provides minimal cushioning compared to rubber or foam options
• Can compact over time in high-traffic areas, requiring periodic top-up and brushing
• Does not address pet odours

Best for: General residential lawns, frontyard landscaping, low-pet-traffic areas, putting greens (fine-grade silica #30 specifically).

Avoid if: You have heavy dog traffic in one zone — silica does nothing to neutralise urine odour.

2. Crumb Rubber (Recycled Rubber)

Maximum cushioning. Common in play areas and sports fields.

Crumb rubber is shredded recycled rubber, most often from car tyres. It is the dominant infill on sports fields and children's playgrounds because of its shock-absorbing properties.

Pros:

• Excellent impact absorption — cushions falls and reduces joint strain
• Stays in place well due to irregular particle shape
• Durable over long periods

Cons:

• Absorbs and retains heat — surfaces can reach 150°F+ in direct summer sun
• Environmental debate around microplastic leaching (check local regulations)
• Not recommended for pet areas — traps odours
• Black crumbs can track into the home

Best for: Sports turf, multi-use athletic areas, children's play zones where fall protection matters.

Avoid if: Your yard gets full sun all day, or you have dogs using the space regularly.

3. Zeolite (Zeofill / ZeoLite)

The gold standard for pet areas.

Zeolite is a naturally occurring volcanic mineral with a highly porous structure. That porous network traps ammonia molecules — the compound responsible for urine odour — and holds them until rain or rinsing flushes them away.

Pros:

• Highly effective odour control — addresses ammonia at the source
• Antimicrobial properties
• Recharges naturally with rain and drying cycles
• Environmentally safe — 97% pure clinoptilolite zeolite
• Can also reduce surface temperature versus rubber

Cons:

• Significantly more expensive than silica sand
• Lower density means it provides less ballast per pound — often used as a layer on top of silica rather than as a standalone infill
• Requires top-up annually in heavy-use pet zones

Best for: Any yard with dogs. Particularly high-traffic pet runs, dog-dedicated zones, or any area where odour management is a priority.

Pro tip: Layer zeolite as the top 1–1.5 lb/sqft over a silica base. You get the ballast from silica and the odour control from zeolite — the most cost-effective pet setup.

4. Envirofill (Durafill / Coated Sand)

Antimicrobial sand. The premium residential option.

Envirofill is a coated silica sand with a built-in antimicrobial agent (typically Microban) bonded to the surface. The coating resists bacteria, mould, and odour build-up.

Pros:

• Antimicrobial protection lasts the life of the product
• Rounded shape resists compaction better than standard sand
• Works well for pet households and children's areas
• More consistent particle size than basic silica

Cons:

• More expensive than plain silica (roughly 2–3x)
• Not as effective as zeolite for heavy dog urine odour on its own
• Coatings can degrade over time in intense UV

Best for: Households wanting premium sand performance, homes with light-to-moderate pet activity, or any residential install where extra hygiene matters.

5. Cork Infill

The eco option. Growing in popularity.

Cork infill is a natural, renewable material ground from cork bark. It has gained traction among eco-conscious homeowners and installers looking for an alternative to rubber.

Pros:

• 100% natural and sustainable
• Provides good cushioning without the heat issues of rubber
• Lightweight, which reduces strain on backing
• Biodegradable

Cons:

• Higher cost than silica
• Can absorb moisture and compact if drainage is poor
• Less widely stocked — may need specialist sourcing

Best for: Eco-focused residential installs, projects where rubber is not acceptable, shaded areas where drainage is good.

How Much Infill Do You Need?

The standard formula:

(Pile height in inches ÷ 2) × square footage × 0.875 = pounds of infill needed

Example for a 500 sqft lawn with 1.75" pile height:

• 1.75 ÷ 2 = 0.875
• 0.875 × 500 = 437.5
• 437.5 × 0.875 = 383 lbs required

In practice, most standard residential lawns need 1–2 lbs of infill per square foot, depending on the pile height of the turf. Sports fields and high-cushion installs run up to 3–4 lbs/sqft.

Always buy 10–15% extra to account for application variation and annual top-ups.

How to Apply and Maintain Your Infill

Application at install

1. Lay the turf flat and secured at the perimeter.
2. Use a drop spreader or sand spreader to distribute infill evenly across the surface.
3. Power brush immediately after spreading. This step is non-negotiable — you need to work the infill down between the fibres so it sits at the base of each blade rather than resting on top. A dedicated artificial turf power brush like the GreenSweep TurfoMax covers large areas in a single pass, using its counter-rotating DuoHelix brush to drive infill down and stand the fibres upright simultaneously.
4. Apply in 2–3 passes, adding infill incrementally, until the right depth is reached.

Ongoing maintenance

Infill does not stay perfect on its own. Over time, foot traffic, rainfall, and weather compact and redistribute it. Here is how to keep it performing:

Every 3–6 months: Power brush the surface to loosen compacted infill and restore fibre height. A GreenSweep Reviver is ideal for smaller areas and detail work.

Annually: Check infill depth by pushing a finger or probe to the base — you should feel firm resistance at the right depth. If the infill is low, especially in high-traffic zones, top up with the same material.

After heavy rain: Water can shift infill toward drainage edges. Redistribute with a stiff bristle broom or a light pass with a power brush.

Pet areas: If you are using zeolite, a top-up every 12–18 months in heavily used zones keeps odour control effective. Rinse the area with a hose after topping up to help activate the zeolite.

For a full maintenance schedule, see the GreenSweep Guides page — it covers every routine task from weekly rinse-downs to seasonal deep cleans.

Which Infill Is Right for You?

The Step That Most Homeowners Miss

Choosing the right infill is half the job. Maintaining it is the other half — and it is where most DIY installs fall apart.

Infill compacts. It redistributes. High-traffic areas flatten while lower-traffic zones hold more than they should. The fix is straightforward: brush regularly. A power brush drives loose infill back to where it belongs, lifts compacted fibres, and restores the even surface you paid for.

The GreenSweep TurfoMax handles lawns up to large commercial sizes. For a typical residential yard, one pass every couple of months keeps the surface in the same condition as install day. Pair it with an annual infill depth check and top-up where needed, and your turf delivers exactly what it promised.

View the full GreenSweep product range to find the right maintenance tool for your lawn size and setup.