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When it comes to creating the perfect lawn, it’s hard to believe how far artificial grass has come in the last 60 years. With the aid of modern technology, artificial grass is so realistic, we doubt many people can tell the difference! If you’ve got a small back yard or a north-facing garden that never gets any sun, artificial grass is the ideal alternative for outdoor spaces where real grass doesn’t grow. So, if you’re thinking about investing in artificial grass but want to know more, like how to clean artificial grass or how much it costs to install, our helpful guide will tell you everything.
In this guide:
Artificial grass is a synthetic floor covering designed for outdoor use that looks just like real grass. It’s made from thousands of plastic yarns in various shades of green, stitched onto flexible backing with drainage holes. Available in 4 and 5m wide artificial grass rolls, it can be installed on a variety of different surfaces including soil, paving, concrete, and decking, and in different spaces like balconies, terraces and patios.
While it might initially seem the more expensive option compared to real grass, artificial grass has many benefits:
When considering options for your home and garden, it's important to remember that artificial grass is not the most eco-friendly choice. Artificial grass is commonly made from petroleum-based materials and requires a significant amount of energy to produce, transport, and install. In contrast, natural grass provides numerous environmental benefits such as supporting animal and plant life and oxygen production.
There are 4 main things to consider when you’re looking to buy artificial grass:
Which style of artificial grass you choose is down to your personal tastes. You may want something that’s cost-effective and simple for a small garden or balcony, or you may want plush, deeper pile grass to form your main lawn. For that extra bit of style, some artificial grass even comes with stripes!
Natural grass is not a consistent colour, so to replicate this, artificial grass uses different shades of green and brown to make it look as real as possible. In the pile, you’ll often find a mix of straight and curly yarns, and more premium artificial grass has a higher density per square metre. Generally, the more money you spend, the more realistic the artificial grass will look. The grass colour will have more variation, and the extra strands will make the grass look more upright as well as feel more luxurious and much softer under foot.
Artificial grass thickness tends to range from 20mm to 45mm. As the length of the ‘turf’ increases, so does the price. The best artificial grass is longer, with a much denser pile, and generally feels softer, more cushioned, and looks more like a freshly watered lawn.
There are two main options:
A shorter pile is better for pets as there’s less depth for mess to get stuck in, which makes it easier to keep clean.
A longer pile offers a more natural look and more luxurious feel, and is much softer to walk on.
We often get customers asking what surfaces they can lay artificial grass on. The good news is that artificial grass can be laid on almost any surface including soil, stone, concrete, slabs, decking and more. Check out our guide to laying artificial grass to see our step-by-step plan and find out what accessories and tools you need.
The best thing about looking after artificial grass is that it’s really simple to take care of and requires minimal effort to look incredible. The main benefit is that you don’t have to mow it or break your back constantly pulling out the weeds. To keep it looking fresh, simply sweep away leaves and dirt with a stiff brush once a week. If it’s particularly dirty, you can clean artificial grass by gently rinsing it with a hosepipe. If you’ve got pets and/or children and are worried about germs, then mixing up some environmentally friendly detergent with warm water and brushing it into the fibres should be all that’s required for your basic artificial grass maintenance. Our artificial grass care guide has more cleaning details.
When taken care of properly, artificial grass can last for around 15 - 20 years or more. Most artificial grass is made from either polyethylene or polypropylene, or a mix of the two, which is very hard-wearing and long-lasting. All Tapi artificial grass comes with an 8-year wear guarantee so you can rest assured it will not wear out within that time.
As a rule, the shorter the pile, the longer it will last, and it may also need less maintenance than longer grass, as less debris will get stuck in between the fibres. So, the short answer is a long time, and a longer answer is - it depends!
Absolutely! Artificial grass in your garden gives your children a soft surface to play on all year round. Less mud and grass stains in the winter, and less skinned knees in the summer from the hard soil. It’s a win-win situation. What’s more, if you’ve got the next Lionel Messi in your family, they can play without churning up your garden, making artificial grass care even easier. Plus, you can add additional padding underneath artificial grass to make it even safer for use under play equipment like swings, slides and climbing frames.
Yes! Pets won’t know the difference between artificial grass and the real thing. In fact, artificial grass with a shorter pile height of around 30mm is the best artificial grass for dogs and cats as it’s super easy to keep clean - you just hose it down when it needs a rinse. No more pet stains on your beautiful lawn! Have a look at our artificial grass care guide for all the cleaning hacks from the experts.
If you’re considering switching over to artificial grass, you might be wondering whether artificial grass is worth the money? The upfront costs for artificial grass are usually what puts people off. But while artificial grass is initially more expensive than natural turf - especially when you include the cost of installation - it will save you lots of time and money over the course of its life, as artificial grass maintenance is a lot simpler than looking after actual grass. You’ll rejoice at not having to spend money maintaining your garden, on things like lawnmowers and other gardening equipment, watering, reseeding, fertiliser, food and more. When you choose artificial grass, you’re paying for the convenience of very little maintenance and year-round good looks.
As with anything, you can spend as much or as little as you like. Generally, the price of artificial grass will determine how ‘real’ it looks and feels. As you move up the price range, you’ll get more variation of greens and browns for that natural look, and the fibres are longer and denser to provide a more luxurious feeling underfoot. Of course, it’s possible to find cheaper artificial grass elsewhere, but it’s usually low quality and only suitable for temporary installations. Tapi artificial grass costs between £9.99 and £22.99 per square metre, but there are also other costs you need to factor in such as artificial grass installation and accessories.
As a very rough guide, artificial grass costs between £60 - £80 per m2 to install, not including the artificial grass price itself. It’s possible to lay artificial grass yourself to save money but when you include the cost of hiring tools and how long it will take you, it might not be as attractive a proposition as you first thought. For both professional turf installation and the ‘doing it yourself’ option, there are extra costs to consider:
You may think that the cheapest way to lay artificial grass is by installing it yourself, but while your labour costs might be zero, there are a few other costs you’ll need to budget for. For example, there are a lot of tools you’ll need to hire to install your artificial grass, and these are usually on a weekly basis:
The main bonus of opting to install artificial grass yourself is that these costs don’t rise with the size of the project, so in the case of a larger project where you’d pay a professional by the square metre, doing it yourself could save you a significant amount.
One of the main disadvantages of artificial grass is the upfront cost, which, for many, is significant. However, artificial grass maintenance costs are essentially zero, and with an expected lifespan of 15 to 20 years, the cost of artificial grass will often end up paying for itself. Here are just some of the costs expected with real grass:
If you’ve decided a hassle-free garden is for you, we've also put together a guide for how to lay artificial grass on concrete. Now armed with all the information you need, you can make the right decision for your home. Our artificial grass is available to view in 50 of our nationwide stores, so find your local Tapi and go touch some grass!
*Prices checked and reviewed at last update.
Published: 17-06-2025
Last reviewed: 17-06-2026
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