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By use

Turf cost by use

The base math is the same everywhere: turf, base, infill, labor. What changes by use is the turf grade, the infill, and how much base you need. Here's how the common projects compare, each linked to its full pricing.

A landscaped artificial-turf lawn
Backyard, dog run, or putting green: the same four costs, weighted differently. Photo: Pexels.
Backyard lawn The standard residential install: $8 to $22 per square foot, most yards at $12 to $15. This is the baseline every other use adjusts from.Pet & dog turf Runs $2 to $4 per square foot more than standard turf. The premium is a faster-draining backing and antimicrobial infill, which is what stops the smell.Putting green The priciest common use at $15 to $40 per square foot installed. Nylon turf, a shorter pile, and a heavier base are why a green costs more than a lawn.Balcony & small spaces The cheapest total, because the area is tiny and there's no excavation over a hard surface. Tiles or cut-to-length rolls, renter-friendly.

Other common turf uses

These see less search demand and price close to a standard install with one adjustment each, so they don't get a full page yet. If you're pricing one, start from theinstallation costbaseline and add the note below.

Playground turf
Adds a shock-absorbing foam pad under the turf for fall height, which raises the base cost. Otherwise a standard install.
Sports & football turf
Heavier face weight and specialty infill for traffic. Priced like a premium install, more for competition-grade fields.
Gym turf
A sled track or workout strip, usually a shorter, denser turf over a firm base. Small areas, so crew minimums drive the per-foot price up.
Indoor turf
No drainage base needed over a subfloor, but a pad for comfort and a solid glue-down. The install labor moves from the shovel to the adhesive.

Is turf cheaper than sod?

Up front, no. Sod installs for about $1 to $2 per square foot; turf runs $8 to $22. Turf wins over time by dropping mowing, watering, and reseeding, so the comparison is a payback question, not a sticker question. If you'll keep a yard for a decade and hate mowing, turf's higher up-front cost can pencil out. If you might move in three years, sod is the cheaper call.

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