Everyone wants their lawn or garden to look beautiful year-round, but the work required can be a pain. One of the best ways to get the view without stress is to set your yard up with artificial grass.
We will cover several options in this article, but to save some time, the best overall is the Pet Grow PG1-4. After that would be the Golden Moon Artificial Grass. If you’re deciding on a budget, then go with LITA Realistic Deluxe Artificial Grass.
Best Artificial Grass Review
There are many synthetic grass options on the market, which can make the search for the right one a bit daunting. Here are the top nine options to fit just about any need.
#1. PET GROW PG1-4 Artificial Grass
The overall best option for artificial grass is the Pet Grow PG1-4 artificial grass rug.
This rug is one of the most versatile options on the list. It can handle moderate foot traffic with ease, so using it as grass for anything except for active sports will be a piece of cake. The blade shapes are in a random pattern and have four natural tones to give it the appearance of real grass.
Pet Grow also made this grass with a water-resistant backing and built-in drainage holes. Your pets can use the bathroom as they please, and you won’t have to worry about any damage, stains, or odors. The resistance to heat and fading will help it stand up in any environment.
Pros:
- Realistic appearance
- Tough enough for consistent use
- Weather and pet resistant with built-in drainage holes
Cons:
- A bit pricey
- Different tones require more planning on installation, or it may appear patchy.
#2. GOLDEN MOON Artificial Grass
Golden Moon is an American-based company that focused on creating artificial grass that could handle just about anything.
This artificial grass has been extensively tested to prove that it is durable, resists color degradation (don’t want those nice greens fading away), and fire-resistant (no need to stress if you want to have a backyard grill session or have a fire pit set up nearby).
Golden Moon’s other two claims to fame are the use of non-toxic materials and the permeability of the artificial grass. You won’t need to worry about your dog or kids coming into contact with anything harmful. This turf product can also handle any kind of weather, whether it’s extremely rainy or sweltering.
Pros:
- Extremely durable
- Resistant to fire and heat
- Made from non-toxic materials
- Doesn’t get compromised when exposed to extreme weather
Cons:
- Colors don’t always match.
- Must be shaken out on arrival or may end up with an odor
#3. LITA Realistic Deluxe Artificial Grass
LITA created an artificial grass that is both incredibly durable and well-priced.
Being well-priced makes LITA Realistic Deluxe an optimal choice for covering large areas like backyards. This option is also well-known for being incredibly durable and realistic looking. As long as there’s no one running around in cleats, this turf can handle it.
This product also requires very little maintenance, even when compared to other artificial grass options. It has holes to allow optimal drainage, doesn’t require water or fertilizers, and is non-abrasive and non-absorbent. LITA is so confident in the durability that they offer a 14-year warranty.
Pros:
- Well-priced
- Extremely durable
- Drys quickly after bad weather.
- Realistic appearance
Cons:
Can get overheated in the summer heat (can’t be walked on barefoot)
#4. SunVilla Indoor/Outdoor Realistic Artificial Grass
SunVilla artificial turf is an ideal pick for anyone wanting to cover the areas between plants in their garden.
One of the best parts about SunVilla artificial grass is that it’s made with non-toxic materials. If your dog or kids like investigating your garden or flower bed, you don’t need to worry about them coming into contact with anything harmful.
While not ideal for high-traffic areas, this artificial grass is still resistant enough that you won’t damage it while crouching and walking around maintaining your plants. It’s made with high-quality polyethylene yarn and has four different colors to simulate a real grass appearance.
Pros:
- Realistic appearance
- Made of non-toxic materials
- UV resistant for less color degradation
Cons:
- Not great for high-traffic
- Extreme heat can cause overheating.
#5. PET GROW Deluxe Realistic Artificial Grass
Pet Grow Deluxe Realistic is one of the most durable options on this list.
It’s made with multiple backing layers so it can hold up when used for playgrounds, high traffic backyards, or anywhere that sports may be held. Pet Grow also ensured that this artificial grass is just as soft as the real deal despite the durability and resilience.
Polypropylene fibers are what make up the majority of these nontoxic grass blades. These fibers give the artificial grass its thick and lush look while still allowing it to be soft and non-absorbent. Whether there’s a full football team’s practice on it or if it’s meant to be the potty for a dog park, this artificial turf can handle it.
Pros:
- Realistic appearance
- Extreme durability fit for high traffic
- Surprisingly soft
- Only non-toxic materials are used.
Cons:
- A bit pricey
- Different tones require more planning on installation, or it may appear patchy.
#6. Zen Garden PZG Premium Artificial Grass
Zen Garden PZG Premium is both the thickest, heaviest and cheapest artificial grass on the list.
While you can use this brand of artificial grass for any purpose you need (whether it’s high-traffic, indoors, outdoors, or in small spaces), it works best as a way to train dogs. It’s easy to clean and resistant to liquids, so having a lot of it outside or as a small training space inside is the typical application.
Pet Zen Garden Premium is designed to withstand dog pee and the elements, or both if needed. It has excellent permeation and is easy to clean. Being on the heavier end, the artificial grass used feels lush and comfortable, making it easier to get your dog comfortable with it.
Pros:
- Thick and lush
- Extremely durable
- Fantastic pricing
- Great for any use you can think of
- Completely waterproof and permeable
Cons:
- The material may become a little coarse over time.
#7. iCustomRug Thick Turf Rugs Artificial Grass
iCustomRug thick turf rugs and runners grass shag is an ideal choice if you’re trying to cover an area where children will be playing.
It’s not great for rough use, but casual play or backyard hangouts are perfect. This artificial grass is incredibly soft, looks fantastic, and can even go well indoors if you want to use it under your dining room table or as a rug in a play area.
This low-maintenance artificial grass lawn is incredibly easy to clean. Just a bit of water will wash away any dirt or grime through the porous bottom. It was designed to stand firm against any weather, so don’t be afraid to use it outside.
Pros:
- Thick and soft
- Feels great for children
- Extremely resistant to weather
- Taped edges for exceptional resistance to fraying
Cons:
- May start to lose quality over time.
- Rough use can quickly reduce the quality.
#8. Synturfmats Artificial Grass
If you need to decorate your house or set up a natural-looking rug indoors, Synturfmats is ideal.
This artificial grass was designed to be incredibly comfortable and soft so that walking on it on bare feet would be a pleasant experience. It’s also the easiest option to clean on this list and doesn’t even require water. A simple brush or rake will do the trick to get out anything foreign in the grass.
Despite being well suited to indoor use, this artificial grass mat was still designed to handle outdoor weather with ease. It’s incredibly resistant and has excellent permeability to filter out excess water.
Pros:
- Incredibly soft
- Realistic appearance
- Easy to clean and maintain
Cons:
- Hand-cut so may have errors.
- Smaller cuts than most other options
#9. ALTRUISTIC Premium Artificial Grass
Altruistic Premium Realistic artificial grass is one of the best options to choose if you’re setting up your lawn to be replaced.
While a bit on the expensive side, this product brings out a lot of quality to make up for it. It’s a soft and lush option with superb coloration to resemble actual grass. It’s also non-abrasive and effortless to clean.
The yarn used is both nontoxic and gives this grass a more natural look. The weather resistance is top-notch, and even high temperatures won’t overheat the grass. The resistance to absorption means that dog urine won’t stick around and cause odor so long as you’re performing proper maintenance.
Pros:
- Soft and lush
- Realistic appearance
- Resistant to extreme weather
- A thick base makes for easier installation.
Cons:
- A bit pricey
Buyer’s Guide
Now that you’ve seen the top options, here’s a guide to help you figure out what you’re looking for in artificial grass to find the one that best suits your needs.

Examine Your Needs
Figuring out what you need will be the base you work off to find the perfect fit.
Are you looking for the perfect space for your pet? Are you setting up an area in your backyard for some putt putt? Want to bring a little nature into your kid’s playroom? For more details for design consideration, see our article on landscape design.
Several artificial grass options will be versatile enough to cover multiple needs. Still, there are also plenty of specialized options that may be just what you’re looking for depending on your goals.
Research
Make sure you do plenty of research into a company once you think you’ll be choosing their product.
While the product may be exactly what you’re looking for on paper, there are ways to see if you’ll be getting what you need. Be sure to scour through customer reviews, their history, and see how their customer support is.
You don’t want to be stuck in a position where the product ends up faulty or defective, and then you have to fight with the company to get the issue resolved. A little bit of initial research can save you a ton of heartache down the road.
Compare Features
Chances are, you’ll be stuck between a couple of options once you narrow it down based on your needs and the company quality. Now you have to compare the features to see which artificial lawn has an edge over the others.
One may be more firm than another, which makes it perfect for sports activities or a playground. If you want your grass lawn to last for a decade or two, then you’ll need to compare the materials used to see which has the most longevity.
So long as you know what your end goal is, this step should be a breeze. Just figure out why you’re getting this artificial grass, and keep that in mind as you compare seemingly identical options.
Characteristics
No matter what you intend on using this synthetic grass for, certain characteristics should be present if you want your purchase to be a quality one.
How much traffic is this artificial lawn going to endure? It doesn’t matter too much if you get something capable of handling heavier traffic when it doesn’t need to, but getting flimsy artificial grass for an area your kids will be playing in frequently is a quick way to wear out the material.
The appearance is also important if you plan on covering a large area or have the artificial grass in a spot intended to look nice like a garden. Grass blade length can heavily affect how lush and healthy the grass looks.
Color also plays a major part in appearance. One mistake new buyers make is to buy artificial grass that is entirely one shade of green. This tends to look great in stores and terrible once installed. Multiple shades give the grass a more natural look that many buyers desire.
Durability is another major feature to keep in mind. Outside use requires a good amount of weather resistance if you want the grass to last the test of time. The more durable it is, the more traffic and abuse the artificial grass can handle without beginning to show signs of wear and tear.
FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions that people new to artificial grass may ask.

Why does my artificial grass smell?
Bad odors typically have two causes when it comes to an artificial lawn, and will rarely be caused by the lawn itself.
The first is odor from dog urine, and the second is poor maintenance. These two tend to be connected, as not regularly cleaning your artificial grass can let something like pet urine stagnate and begin to stink.
An artificial grass mat is typically able to let liquids slide through permeated holes at the bottom so that the ground beneath can absorb them. Regular rain will typically handle this process, but if not, you need to go over the synthetic lawn with water to help with the drainage.
What do I put underneath artificial grass?
You should always have a layer of compact sand or dirt underneath the area you plan on laying your artificial turf product (unless you plan on using it indoors).
The key here is to avoid any vegetation or loose soil underneath. Compact soil prevents anything like weeds from sprouting up, but will still let liquid drain down. Leaving old grass or vegetation beneath will lead to rot that could affect the integrity of the artificial grass.
What are the cons of artificial grass?
While there are many pros, artificial grass isn’t the perfect replacement most people expect it to be.
No matter how great the quality is, it won’t last as long as regular grass would. Natural grass can self-regulate and is designed to flourish on its own. Fake grass begins to deteriorate over time.
Extreme heat also tends to be an issue with artificial grass. Even the best artificial grass will begin to heat up to painful levels if the heat is too intense. This isn’t too hard to avoid, but pay attention if you have younger children getting ready to walk around on hot artificial turf.
While not an issue for some, using an artificial grass product does lead to a loss in biodiversity. The normal critters and insects that can live in and beneath natural grass will not want to deal with the fake replacement you’ve installed.
Conclusion
Finding the best artificial grass depends completely on what you want it for, but Pet Grow’s PG1-4 Artificial Grass is the more versatile and all-around best option you can get. Specific needs may be better met with other choices, but the PG1-4 will handle anything you need.
Don’t be afraid to be picky when it comes to backing a decision. Do your research on the company, figure out what exactly you’re looking for, and pick the option that will be long-lasting and be capable of doing what you need it to do.
Hopefully, this artificial grass review gave you a head start to finding the product for you.