The infill is the layer of material packed between the blades of your synthetic grass. Without it, the blades collapse, the surface shifts underfoot, and drainage backs up over time. There are several different types of artificial grass infill, each with its own pros and cons. To help you select the best infill for your project, JUS Turf covers a few popular types of artificial grass infill and their pros and cons, and tips for narrowing down your options before you buy.
Silica Sand: The Standard Starting Point
Silica sand is the most widely used infill on the market. It’s a fine, rounded granule that settles between the grass blades and holds them upright while anchoring the turf to the base layer.
Pros:
- Low cost per square foot compared to most alternatives
- Widely available and easy to apply
- Drains well when installed correctly
- Works with most turf types and pile heights
Cons:
- Gets hot in direct sun, which is a real issue in San Diego summers
- Migrates over time, especially in heavy rain or high-traffic zones
- Provides no antimicrobial protection on its own
- Not the best option for pet areas due to odor retention
If your installation is decorative or sees only light foot traffic, silica sand does the job at the lowest price point. For anything heavier, you’d probably want to look at something more specialized.
Crumb Rubber: The Athletic Surface Choice
Crumb rubber is made from recycled tires and has been the go-to infill for sports fields and high-impact areas for decades. The granules are springy, which gives the surface a cushioned response—closer to natural grass than sand alone. It’s used in everything from backyard putting greens to commercial athletic installations.
Pros:
- Excellent shock absorption for high-impact use
- Very durable; doesn’t break down quickly under heavy traffic
- Keeps turf blades upright even under repeated compression
- Lower cost than most performance infills
Cons:
- Absorbs and retains heat more than any other infill type; surface temperatures can spike significantly
- Black granules are visible if they migrate onto hard surfaces
- Some users have odor concerns in enclosed spaces
- Ongoing public debate about long-term safety, though no definitive regulatory conclusion has been reached in the U.S.
Crumb rubber is worth considering for sports courts, athletic training areas, or commercial installations where cushioning and durability are the top priorities. For residential lawns or pet areas, most people look elsewhere.
BRZ Natural Infill: Organic and Pet-Friendly
BRZ is one of the infills JUS Turf keeps in stock specifically because it works so well for pet installations. It’s marketed as a natural infill option—pet-approved, with built-in odor control and no yellowing from pet urination. At $15.99 per 50-pound bag, with manufacturers recommending 2 to 3 pounds per square foot, it’s an accessible option for homeowners who want something organic without a premium price tag.
Pros:
- Natural composition; no synthetic coatings or chemical additives
- Odor control built into the material
- Prevents yellow discoloration from pet urine in the turf
- Accessible pricing for larger installations
Cons:
- Organic infills can break down faster than sand or rubber under heavy UV exposure
- May require more frequent top-ups compared to mineral-based options
- Not designed for heavy athletic use
BRZ sits in a nice spot between a basic sand infill and a high-end performance product. If you have pets and want something that handles odor without synthetic treatments, consider it.
T°Cool Sports Sand: Built for Heat
San Diego doesn’t exactly have a mild summer. Surface temperatures on synthetic turf can climb well above ambient air temperature, especially on south-facing installations with no shade. T°Cool Sports Sand—available at JUS Turf—addresses that directly. It uses evaporative cooling technology: the infill retains moisture after the surface is watered and releases it slowly, which lowers the turf’s surface temperature.
Pros:
- Measurably reduces surface temperatures after hydration
- Works with existing installations as a replacement or supplemental infill
- Designed for sports and recreational surfaces where heat exposure is a real concern
- Natural-looking; doesn’t affect the visual appearance of the turf
Cons:
- Requires periodic watering to activate the cooling effect
- Higher cost than standard silica sand
- Most effective in open, sun-exposed areas; less impactful in shaded or covered installations
- Not a replacement for structural infill in high-impact zones
If you’re installing turf in a sun-exposed backyard, a sports facility, or a commercial area where people stand and sit on the surface for long periods, T°Cool is one of the few infills designed to address that discomfort.
Acrylic-Coated Sand: Long-Lasting Color and Antimicrobial Protection
Acrylic-coated sand starts with a silica base and adds a polymer coating that locks in color, resists compaction, and often incorporates antimicrobial treatment. Products like Envirofill are the most recognized in this category. The coating keeps the granules from binding together under pressure, which preserves the surface texture longer than uncoated sand.
Pros:
- Stays looser and more consistent under heavy foot traffic
- Antimicrobial coating reduces bacteria and mold growth in the infill layer
- Maintains color over time; doesn’t look dull or gray as it ages
- Some products come with extended warranties of 10 to 16 years
Cons:
- Significantly more expensive than plain silica sand
- The coating can degrade over time under sustained UV exposure
- Not widely necessary for low-traffic decorative installations
- Overkill for installations that don’t see daily use or heavy moisture
For commercial properties, school playgrounds, or any installation where sanitation and appearance need to hold up over years, the price difference over plain sand starts to make sense.
What to Consider When Choosing an Infill
The right infill depends on how the surface gets used, who’s using it, and what conditions it needs to hold up against. Before you decide, run through these factors:
- Foot traffic volume: Light decorative use needs far less structural support than a sports surface or a backyard where kids play daily. Higher traffic means you need an infill that resists compaction and migration.
- Pets: If dogs use the lawn regularly, odor control should be a top priority. BRZ natural infill handles both odor and discoloration without synthetic additives.
- Heat exposure: South-facing installations in San Diego summers get hot. T°Cool Sports Sand is specifically engineered to lower surface temperatures through evaporative cooling, which makes a difference on open, sun-exposed turf.
- Safety requirements: Playgrounds and athletic surfaces need cushioned infill that absorbs impact. Plain sand doesn’t meet those requirements. Crumb rubber is typically the starting point for surfaces where falls happen.
- Budget: Silica sand costs the least upfront. Coated sands and specialty infills cost more but can reduce maintenance and replacement frequency over time. Run the full-lifecycle cost, not just the bag price.
- Maintenance expectations: Organic infills like BRZ natural require more frequent top-ups. Mineral and coated options hold up longer between maintenance cycles.
Ask Before You Order
How do you choose the best infill for your artificial grass? Consider factors like your turf’s primary use, who will be on it regularly, and how much direct sun the surface gets. Or, better yet, ask a professional for their experienced opinion. At JUS Turf, we sell artificial grass in San Diego. Drop on by and let’s chat about your project. We can recommend the right infill for your installation.