An In-Depth DIY Guide to Infill for the Best Artificial Turf

Infill is the part of an artificial turf install most people don’t think about until something goes wrong. Skip it or skimp on it, and your turf mats down, drains poorly, and wears out early. Get it right, and the same turf looks fuller, feels better underfoot, and lasts years longer.

This guide covers everything you need to know about artificial turf infill: what it does, which type fits your project, exactly how much to buy, how to spread it with a spreader or by hand, and when to top it up or replace it.

Already know what you need? Shop our infill, available for pickup in San Jose or delivered to your project site.

What Is Infill for Artificial Turf?

Infill is a granular material, usually sand-based, that’s brushed down between the blades of artificial grass after the turf is installed. It settles at the base of the fibers, where it weighs the turf down, holds the blades upright, and adds cushion. Once it’s properly installed, you can barely see it.

Why Your Artificial Turf Needs Infill

It Keeps Blades Standing Upright

Synthetic fibers are tough, but without support at the base, foot traffic gradually pushes them over. Infill props them up from below, which keeps your lawn looking full instead of matted.

It Weighs the Turf Down

Infill adds ballast across the whole backing. That keeps the turf from shifting, wrinkling, or lifting at the seams, especially in heat when turf naturally expands.

It Protects Your Investment

Infill shields the backing from UV exposure and buffers the fibers from the impact of footsteps and play. Both slow down wear and help your turf last longer.

It Improves Feel and Performance

The right infill makes turf feel more like real grass underfoot and gives you steadier footing. On putting greens, it’s essential: without infill, you won’t get a true, consistent ball roll.

It Supports Drainage

Granular infill lets water and air pass through to the backing and base below, so your lawn drains rather than puddling.

Some Infills Fight Odor

Infills made for pet areas use antimicrobial coatings or odor-absorbing minerals to control bacteria and smells from pet waste.

Can You Skip Infill on Artificial Grass?

You can, but you’ll probably regret it. Turf installed without infill tends to develop:

• Matted, flattened blades in traffic areas
• Wrinkles, ripples, and seams that lift
• Faster wear and a shorter lifespan
• Odor problems in pet areas
• A flatter, more artificial look

Some turf products are specifically designed for little or no infill. Check your turf’s spec sheet or ask us, but for most residential landscape and pet turf, infill is part of the system.

Types of Turf Infill

Most people don’t realize they have a choice. The right infill depends on how you’ll use the space.

Silica Sand Infill

The most popular and most affordable choice. Our Sand Turf Infill is graded silica sand that gives you a solid combination of durability, drainage, and ballast, with a natural feel underfoot. It’s the default for most residential lawns.

Acrylic-Coated Sand Infill (Envirofill)

Envirofill is a sand infill with a smooth acrylic coating. It’s less abrasive on turf fibers, eco-friendly, and treated with Microban antimicrobial protection, which makes it a strong choice for pet areas as well as residential and commercial lawns.

Envirofill Blended 16/30 uses a finer grade suited to putting greens, where it helps deliver a true ball roll.

Wonderfill 12/20 Green

Wonderfill 12/20 Green is a rounded, fine green sand. The round shape is less abrasive than angular sand, and an antimicrobial coating helps prevent mildew, mold, and bacteria. The green color also blends in with the turf.

Zeofill (Zeolite) Deodorizing Infill

Zeofill is our top pick for odor control in pet areas. It’s made from zeolite, a natural mineral that absorbs and traps ammonia from pet urine. If dogs use your lawn as a bathroom, start here.

Walnut Shell Infill

Walnut Shell Infill (Shell Tech) is an organic infill with cooling properties, a good fit for spots that get hot in summer sun. Its light brown color resembles natural thatch, which adds realism.

Crumb Rubber Infill

Our #20 Crumb Rubber is a common choice for athletic fields and playgrounds because it adds shock absorption and drains well. It’s very durable under heavy activity.

Putting Green Infill

Our 30# Sand Putting Infill is graded specifically for putting surfaces, where the size and consistency of the grains affect speed and roll.

What Do the Numbers Mean? (12/20, 16/30, 30/50)

Those numbers describe grain size, based on the sieve screens the infill passes through. Lower numbers mean coarser grains; higher numbers mean finer ones. Coarser infills like 12/20 suit taller landscape turf; finer grades like 16/30 and 30/50 settle into the short, dense fibers of putting greens.

What Is the Best Infill for Artificial Turf?

Your project	Best infill	Why
Standard backyard lawn	Silica sand	Durable, affordable, good ballast
Lawn with dogs	Zeofill, Envirofill, or Wonderfill	Odor and bacteria control
Hot, sunny areas	Walnut shell	Cooler surface, natural look
Kids’ play areas and sports	Crumb rubber or silica sand	Cushion and durability
Putting greens	Putting infill or Envirofill Blended 16/30	Fine grade for true ball roll
Eco-conscious installs	Envirofill or walnut shell	Coated or organic options

For pet installs, many homeowners combine infills: a base of silica sand for ballast with an odor-control infill like Zeofill on top. Ask us about the right mix for your turf.

How Much Infill Do You Need for Artificial Grass?

Quick Answer

For a typical residential lawn with average foot traffic, plan on about 2 pounds of infill per square foot. Adjust from there based on pile height and how the area is used.

By Pile Height and Use

Taller turf needs more infill to support longer blades. As a general guide based on manufacturer recommendations:

• Rule of thumb: about 3/8″ to 1/2″ of infill for every 1″ of pile height, roughly 2 to 3.5 lbs per square foot for each inch of pile.
• Pet turf (usually a shorter pile, about 1″ to 1.5″): around 2 to 2.5 lbs per square foot. Lean toward the higher end for multiple dogs.
• Recreational putting greens (short pile, about 1/2″): around 2 to 4 lbs per square foot.
• Longer-pile landscape turf: move toward the higher end of the per-inch range.

Your infill should end up sitting well below the tips of the blades. You want fibers standing tall above it, not buried in it.

How Many Bags Do You Need?

Multiply your square footage by your rate, then divide by the bag size.

Example: a 400 sq ft lawn at 2 lbs per square foot needs 800 lbs of infill. That’s sixteen 50 lb bags or eight 100 lb bags.

Area	At 2 lbs/sq ft	50 lb bags	100 lb bags
100 sq ft	200 lbs	4	2
250 sq ft	500 lbs	10	5
500 sq ft	1,000 lbs	20	10
1,000 sq ft	2,000 lbs	40	20

Buy an extra bag. You’ll want it for top-ups, and running short mid-job is frustrating. For a full materials estimate, see our guide to calculating turf, infill, nails, and seam tape.

When Do You Apply Infill?

Infill goes in last. Your base should be built and compacted, the turf laid, seamed, trimmed, and secured before any infill goes down. For the full sequence, see our guides to installing artificial grass on dirt and building a putting green.

How to Spread Infill on Artificial Turf, Step by Step

What You’ll Need

• Drop spreader (a lawn fertilizer spreader works) or a shovel and bucket for hand spreading
• Power broom or stiff push broom
• Wheelbarrow for moving bags
• Leaf blower
• Garden hose
• Gloves, safety glasses, and a dust mask

Step 1: Pick a Dry, Calm Day

Both the turf and the infill need to be completely dry. Damp infill clumps on top of the blades instead of falling down to the backing. Avoid windy days, too, since fine infill blows around.

Step 2: Keep the Area Clear

Keep kids and pets away while you work, and wear gloves, safety glasses, and a dust mask. Pouring and spreading sand-based infill kicks up dust.

Step 3: Brush the Turf Upright

Go over the whole lawn with a power broom or stiff broom, brushing against the grain so the blades stand as vertically as possible. This opens up the turf so infill can drop down between the fibers to the backing.

Step 4: Load Your Spreader

Fill the drop spreader to a weight you can push comfortably. Set it to a low flow rate. It’s much better to make several light passes than to dump too much in one spot.

Step 5: Make Your First Pass

Start at one edge and walk in straight, slightly overlapping rows across the lawn. Aim to apply roughly a third to half of your total infill on this pass.

Step 6: Brush It In

Before adding more, brush the infill deep into the turf with the power broom or stiff broom, working against the grain. When you’re done, there should be little or no infill sitting on top of the blades.

Step 7: Repeat Until You Reach Your Target

Make another pass, brush again, and repeat until you’ve spread your planned amount. Running your rows in a different direction on each pass helps keep coverage even. You can always add more; taking it out is a lot harder.

Step 8: Check Your Work

Part the blades with your fingers in several spots. You should see an even layer of infill at the base, with the backing covered and plenty of blade above it. The fibers should stand upright and look consistent across the lawn. Low or flat spots need a little more.

Step 9: Clear the Surface

Use a leaf blower on a low setting or a broom to clear any infill still resting on the blade tips. Properly installed infill should be barely noticeable from a few feet away.

Step 10: Water It In and Let It Settle

Lightly hose the lawn down to help settle the infill into the fibers, then let it dry. Stay off the lawn overnight if you can. Give it one more brushing once it’s dry.

How to Spread Turf Infill by Hand

No spreader? Small areas like dog runs, side yards, and balconies are easy to do by hand.

1. Work in small sections, about 5 by 5 feet at a time.
2. Scatter thin layers with a shovel or scoop, keeping it low to the turf and flicking it out in a wide fan rather than dumping it. A bucket or coffee can with holes punched in the bottom works as a homemade shaker.
3. Brush it in after every layer before adding more to the same section.
4. Keep track of your amount so each section gets an even share. For 2 lbs per square foot, a 5 by 5 foot section (25 sq ft) gets about 50 lbs, or one 50 lb bag.

Hand spreading takes longer, but on small areas it’s just as effective as long as you keep the layers thin and brush between them.

How to Put Silica Sand on Artificial Grass

Silica sand goes in exactly like the steps above, with a few extra tips:

• Make sure it’s kiln-dried turf infill sand. Damp sand won’t flow through a spreader or settle into the fibers.
• Silica is heavy and dusty, so use a dust mask and work downwind.
• It’s angular, so brush it in thoroughly. Sand sitting on top of the blades is what makes turf feel gritty.
• In pet areas, consider topping silica with an odor-control infill.

Turf Infill Top-Up: When and How

Infill gradually shifts, washes toward low spots, and gets carried off on shoes and paws. Topping it up keeps your turf performing like it did on day one.

Signs Your Turf Needs More Infill

• Blades look flat or matted, especially in high-traffic paths
• When you part the blades, you can see the backing
• Turf feels harder or less cushioned underfoot
• Wrinkles or ripples start to appear
• Pet odors are coming back sooner after rinsing
• Your putting green is rolling slower or less consistently

How to Top Up Infill

1. Blow off leaves and debris.
2. Brush the turf against the grain to stand the blades up.
3. Spread a light layer over the thin areas, by spreader or by hand.
4. Brush it in, check by parting the blades, and repeat if needed.

Top-ups use far less infill than the initial install. Check high-traffic areas, pet zones, and putting greens at least once a year.

Artificial Turf Infill Replacement

Sometimes a top-up isn’t enough. Infill may need full replacement if it’s become heavily contaminated, compacted, or saturated with odor, which is most common in heavy-use pet areas.

Replacing infill means removing the old material first, typically with heavy power brushing and vacuuming, before installing fresh infill using the steps above. It’s a bigger job than a top-up. If you think your turf needs it, contact us first; sometimes a deep clean and an odor-control infill top-up solve the problem for much less.

Infill FAQs

Is infill safe for kids and pets?

It depends on the manufacturer. All the infill we sell comes from established manufacturers and is non-toxic, hypoallergenic, and free from heavy metals.

Can I just use regular sand?

No. Play sand and other regular sands are often damp, too fine, or full of dust and debris. They don’t flow or settle properly, can cause drainage problems, and won’t give you the right feel. Use kiln-dried sand made for turf infill.

How long does infill last?

It doesn’t wear out the way turf does, but it gradually shifts and gets carried off. Most lawns just need periodic top-ups, more often in high-traffic and pet areas.

Is infill hard to maintain?

No. Brush your lawn a few times a year to keep the infill evenly distributed and the blades upright, and top up thin spots as needed.

Can I install infill myself?

Absolutely. It’s one of the easiest parts of a DIY install, as long as the turf and infill are dry and you work in light passes.

Does infill make artificial turf hotter?

Any infill sitting in full sun warms up. If heat is a concern, walnut shell infill is designed to keep the surface cooler.

Buy the Right Infill for Your Turf

Artificial Turf Express carries infill for every kind of project, ready out of the bag and safe for kids and pets. Buy infill online for delivery or pick it up at our San Jose warehouse. Available in 50 lb and 100 lb bags:

• Sand Turf Infill (Silica Sand)
• 30# Sand Putting Infill
• Zeofill Deodorizing Infill
• Walnut Shell Infill (Shell Tech)
• Wonderfill 12/20 Green
• Envirofill Acrylic Coated Infill
• Envirofill Blended 16/30
• #20 Crumb Rubber

We also carry a full line of synthetic turf and accessories, including the spreaders and brooms you’ll need.

Not sure which infill or how much? Call us at (408) 413-3915 or send us a message, and we’ll help you work it out.