Whether maintaining a real lawn is too much effort, or you want an effortless solution to spruce up your outdoor space, artificial grass might be the answer.
In this guide, we’ve reviewed 6 of the most popular artificial grasses based on their appearance, durability, ease of cleaning, and overall value for money.
Brand: Tuda Grass Direct
Price: £-££
Appearance: Dark green, medium-height
Pile Height: 26mm
Drainage: Drainage holes included
Maintenance Requirements: Occasional brushing
Brand: Ark Mat
Price: £-££
Appearance: Dark green, medium-to-long-height
Pile Height: 35mm
Drainage: Water permeable backing
Maintenance Requirements: Occasional brushing
Brand: Simpa
Price: £-££
Appearance: Dark green, short-height
Pile Height: 20mm
Drainage: Drainage holes included
Maintenance Requirements: Occasional brushing
Brand: GardenKraft
Price: £-££
Appearance: Dark green, short-height
Pile Height: 15mm
Drainage: Drainage holes included
Maintenance Requirements: Occasional brushing
Brand: Juvale
Price: £
Appearance: Dark green, medium-height
Pile Height: Not specified
Drainage: Not specified
Maintenance Requirements: Occasional brushing
Brand: Tuda Grass Direct
Price: ££-£££
Appearance: Dark green, medium-height
Pile Height: 30mm
Drainage: Drainage holes & water-resistant latex backing
Maintenance Requirements: Occasional brushing
Table of Contents
Best Artificial Grass
Best Overall: Tuda Grass Direct Lisbon 26mm Pile Height Artificial Grass
Best Natural Looking: Ark Mat 35mm Artificial Grass
Best Easy-Clean: Simpa 20mm Pile Quality Non Fade Artificial Grass
Best Budget: GardenKraft 15mm Pile High Artificial Grass
Best For Small Areas: Juvale 4-Pack Artificial Grass Mat Squares
Best Premium: Tuda Grass Direct Luxury 30mm Pile Height Artificial Grass
📊 Comparison Chart of Artificial Grass
Scroll right on mobile to see the whole table chart
| Product | Price Range | Appearance | Pile Height | Drainage | Maintenance Requirements |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuda Grass Direct Lisbon 26mm Pile Height | £-££ | Dark green, medium-height | 26mm | Drainage holes included | Occasional brushing |
| Ark Mat 35mm Artificial Grass | £-££ | Dark green, medium-to-long | 35mm | Water permeable backing | Occasional brushing |
| Simpa 20mm Pile Quality Non Fade Artificial Grass | £-££ | Dark green, short-height | 20mm | Drainage holes included | Occasional brushing |
| GardenKraft 15mm Pile High Artificial Grass | £-££ | Dark green, short-height | 15mm | Drainage holes included | Occasional brushing |
| Juvale 4-Pack Artificial Grass Mat Squares | £ | Dark green, medium-height | Not specified | Not specified | Occasional brushing |
| Tuda Grass Direct Luxury 30mm Pile Height Artificial Grass | ££-£££ | Dark green, medium-height | 30mm | Drainage holes & water-resistant latex backing | Occasional brushing |
| Product | Price Range | Appearance | Pile Height | Drainage | Maintenance Requirements |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuda Grass Direct Lisbon 26mm Pile Height | £-££ | Dark green, medium-height | 26mm | Drainage holes included | Occasional brushing |
| Ark Mat 35mm Artificial Grass | £-££ | Dark green, medium-to-long | 35mm | Water permeable backing | Occasional brushing |
| Simpa 20mm Pile Quality Non Fade Artificial Grass | £-££ | Dark green, short-height | 20mm | Drainage holes included | Occasional brushing |
| GardenKraft 15mm Pile High Artificial Grass | £-££ | Dark green, short-height | 15mm | Drainage holes included | Occasional brushing |
| Juvale 4-Pack Artificial Grass Mat Squares | £ | Dark green, medium-height | Not specified | Not specified | Occasional brushing |
| Tuda Grass Direct Luxury 30mm Pile Height Artificial Grass | ££-£££ | Dark green, medium-height | 30mm | Drainage holes & water-resistant latex backing | Occasional brushing |
⭐ Reviews – Best Artificial Grass Of 2024
In our opinion, the Tuda Grass Direct Lisbon 26mm Pile Height Artificial Grass is the best overall artificial grass available today.
This realistic grass makes it easy to achieve a natural-looking lawn that’s pet- and child-friendly, weather-resistant, equipped with good drainage, and easy to install. It’s priced lower than many competing products, while offering the same (often better) features – and there are nearly 80 roll sizes to choose from, so you’ll be able to order only exactly as much as you need for your space.
Quick Specs:
Brand: Tuda Grass Direct
Price: £-££
Appearance: Dark green, medium-height
Pile Height: 26mm
Drainage: Drainage holes included
Maintenance Requirements: Occasional brushing
Best For:
Anyone looking to invest in the best medium-height modern artificial grass that has great-quality grass blades and a good texture and is thoughtfully designed to last for years after application.
What Customers Think:
Customers had a lot of positive things to say about the Lisbon 26mm Pile Height Artificial Grass, awarding the grass an average 4.6-star rating on Amazon from more than 1,000 reviews. We found one review from a customer who said they’d had the grass for three years and it hadn’t faded, started to smell, rotted, gone bald, or been targeted by wildlife, and still looked like real grass. Some customers said the quality didn’t quite meet their expectations.
Pros:
You’ll find everything you’re looking for in an affordable, quality fake grass with this Tuda Grass Direct artificial grass product. It has a soft feel and a realistic look – it’s not super shiny or bright green like some artificial turf we’ve reviewed.
We found the grass to be firm and thick, with none of the flimsiness of a poor-quality product. It sits well on the ground with no structural issues, and the colour fades after a few months to give a more natural appearance.
Maintenance is refreshingly minimal for this grass product, too. The drainage holes prevent the grass from getting wet, boggy, and smelly when it rains, and the occasional sweep with a brush is all that’s needed to remove accumulated debris.
We used multiple rolls of grass and found that they joined well on our lawn (just make sure to check the direction of the pile and make sure to lay the rolls the right way).
Cons:
Keep in mind that this is a cheap and cheerful artificial grass. If you want super thick, long, premium-quality fake grass, you’ll need to be prepared to spend more money upfront.
Different batches may have different colour tones, so make sure to buy all the grass you need in one batch.
We recommend the Ark Mat 35mm Artificial Grass as the best natural-looking artificial grass for your outdoor space.
This 35mm grass is around 9mm taller than our top pick Tuda Grass Direct product, so it’s ideal for anyone looking to achieve a thicker, longer, fluffier-looking lawn. It’s another great affordable option, costing less than £25 for a 1-by-2-metre roll, and you can choose between 10 lengths and 5 widths, making it easy to tailor your order to the size of your outdoor area.
Quick Specs:
Brand: Ark Mat
Price: £-££
Appearance: Dark green, medium-to-long-height
Pile Height: 35mm
Drainage: Water permeable backing
Maintenance Requirements: Occasional brushing
Best For:
Anyone looking for the best natural-looking affordable synthetic grass with a good pile height, pet and child-friendliness, and great durability.
What Customers Think:
The Ark Mat 35mm Artificial Grass is another popular artificial grass on Amazon, with an average rating of 4.4 stars out of 700+ reviews. Customers said that the grass is easy to lay, looks very natural, and is much better quality than fake grass sold by high-street retailers. Some customers said the pile was a bit shorter than advertised.
Pros:
Ark Mat has taken extra steps to give this synthetic grass product a more natural appearance compared to other artificial grass options on the market. The pile is tall and thick, and – our favourite feature – four different grass colour tones are combined to give it a more realistic feel.
Good news if you plan to install this grass yourself: you don’t need sand infill, so installation is easy and mess-free. The turf simply lays flat over a surface, and you can secure it down with artificial grass pegs (sold separately).
We were pleased with the quality of the grass, especially a few weeks after laying when the colour faded slightly. You don’t have to do much to maintain its appearance, either – just occasional brushing will do to keep it debris-free.
Cutting the grass is also easy and doesn’t cause the cut edges to shed or fray, helping you to maintain a realistic appearance when shaping the grass around curved borders. However, you will need some stronger heavy-duty scissors if you plan to do any cutting.
Cons:
Depending on the size of the turf you order, you might end up with folded, rather than rolled, turf. We found that the creases from these folds do eventually flatten after a few weeks.
The backing was a bit thinner than on other artificial grasses we’ve reviewed.
If you’re on the hunt for a low-maintenance, easy-clean, and easy-brush artificial lawn, we think the Simpa 20mm Pile Quality Non Fade Artificial Grass can’t be beaten.
This soft, high-quality artificial grass has a 20mm pile height, so it sweeps clean easily and provides less of an opportunity to accumulate debris compared to longer grass. It’s also easy to cut with scissors or a sharp knife. Anyone with a smaller budget should appreciate that the starting price for a 4×1-metre roll is just under £30.
Quick Specs:
Brand: Simpa
Price: £-££
Appearance: Dark green, short-height
Pile Height: 20mm
Drainage: Drainage holes included
Maintenance Requirements: Occasional brushing
Best For:
People who want a low-maintenance, shorter artificial grass with a neater, more ornamental lawn appearance without compromising on thickness or quality.
What Customers Think:
More than 700 customers rated the Simpa Non Fade Artificial Grass an average 4.5 stars, commenting that it’s good quality, easy to cut, and great value. Some of the customer uses for the grass included as a lawn replacement, on decking areas, over gravel areas, and on balconies. Some customers had issues with different shades of grass arriving with different orders.
Pros:
Of all the artificial grasses we reviewed, we found this Simpa grass particularly easy to cut to size and lay. No need for special scissors – just a pair of sturdy kitchen scissors or a sharp knife should do the job.
Sweeping this grass is also easier due to the shorter blades. Plus, we found that the grass accumulated less dirt compared to artificial lawn products with longer grass blades. That means less frequent maintenance in the long run.
We ordered multiple rolls and found it easy to lay the rolls next to one another without an obvious line between the two. Just make sure the grass blades are facing in the same direction (otherwise the light reflection off the grass will give the rolls two different colour tones).
Cons:
The grass is a bit thin, which makes us question its durability.
We think the GardenKraft 15mm Pile High Artificial Grass is the best artificial grass for people with smaller budgets.
At the time of writing this review, a 4×1-metre roll of grass cost just under £25 – that’s around £5-£10 cheaper than most other products we reviewed. The reason for the more affordable cost is that the grass is shorter, at just 15mm – but from our experience, this doesn’t affect quality or give the grass a fake appearance.
Quick Specs:
Brand: GardenKraft
Price: £-££
Appearance: Dark green, short-height
Pile Height: 15mm
Drainage: Drainage holes included
Maintenance Requirements: Occasional brushing
Best For:
Folks with smaller budgets who want to spend less money upfront on artificial grass without compromising on quality or durability.
What Customers Think:
Customers were overwhelmingly pleased with the GardenKraft 15mm Pile Height Artificial Grass – it has an average 4.4-star rating from more than 2,700 reviews. Generally, reviewers agreed that the grass is good quality and has a realistic appearance, is easy to cut and shape, and is great value for money.
Pros:
Price is the obvious benefit of this GardenKraft synthetic grass. Artificial turf is an expensive business, especially if you’re turfing a full lawn, so it’s great to have a more affordable option that helps you save pennies on your investment.
Don’t think that by spending less on a fake grass product, you have to compromise with a poorer design quality. The GardenKraft Artificial Grass still has all the essential features of the best artificial grass, including different shades of brown and green to give a realistic appearance, built-in holes for drainage, and easy cutting/shaping potential.
We were pleasantly surprised by the plush, thick appearance of this synthetic grass, despite its shorter pile height. It looks genuinely grass-like, rather than like green carpet, like some of the other shorter artificial turf we reviewed. It also darkens over time, giving it a more natural appearance.
Cons:
If you want a longer, thicker, plusher artificial lawn, this 15mm pile height will probably be a bit short for your tastes.
Based on our testing, we found that the Juvale 4-Pack Artificial Grass Mat Squares is the best artificial grass for small areas.
This 4-pack of 30.5×30.5-centimetre grass squares is the ideal solution for balconies, puppy training, and even indoor installations – and it’s cheap, too, costing around £10 (when we reviewed).
Quick Specs:
Brand: Juvale
Price: £
Appearance: Dark green, medium-height
Pile Height: Not specified
Drainage: Not specified
Maintenance Requirements: Occasional brushing
Best For:
Anyone looking for a small artificial grass product that they can use on smaller areas for specific purposes, and doesn’t want to spend any more money than necessary.
What Customers Think:
The 2,000+ customers who reviewed the Juvale 4-Pack Artificial Grass Mat Squares gave the product a 4.1-star rating overall. Many customers used the grass for puppy toilet training and said they were ideal for the purpose. Others used it to make “apartment gardens” and to line chicken coops and were pleased with the turf quality.
Pros:
We love the versatility of the Juvale 4-Pack Artificial Grass Mat Squares. You can use them on a balcony or a roof terrace, install them in your garden for puppy training, for creating indoor installations, for reptile tanks and small animal enclosures, and for crafting.
If you just want to turf a small area, you don’t need to pay a fortune on a roll of artificial turf. These 4 fake grass squares should do the job, and at a fraction of the price.
Cleaning this fake grass is easy thanks to the individual squares – you can either sweep the squares with a broom or pick them up one-by-one to brush them off.
Cons:
We don’t recommend using these artificial grass squares for a complete artificial lawn. Compared to other grass products we reviewed, they’re not as realistic-looking and have a harder feel.
We could find no mention of drainage by the manufacturer, which makes us think that this fake grass doesn’t have drainage holes – something that could affect its longevity when used outdoors.
If you’re keen to spend a bit more money upfront on the highest quality premium artificial grass, we think the Luxury 30mm Pile Height Artificial Grass, another offering from Tuda Grass Direct, is ideal for you.
A 4×1-centimetre roll of this grass is on the more expensive end, costing around £40 – but you get what you pay for: superior quality turf with a good density and grass height, excellent drainage and water resistance, and a sturdy, long-lasting, weather-resistant design.
Quick Specs:
Brand: Tuda Grass Direct
Price: ££-£££
Appearance: Dark green, medium-height
Pile Height: 30mm
Drainage: Drainage holes & water-resistant latex backing
Maintenance Requirements: Occasional brushing
Best For:
Anyone with a bigger budget who’s in the market for the best premium artificial grass that’s slightly more expensive and better quality than other grasses available online.
What Customers Think:
The Tuda Grass Direct Luxury 30mm Pile Height Artificial Grass is one of the best-reviewed artificial grass products we’ve found, with a 4.5 aggregate star rating from more than 1,600 customer reviews. Customers said that the grass is “amazing quality” and “looks so real”, and one customer commented that they’d had the grass for three years and were still impressed with the quality.
Pros:
In terms of quality and appearance, the Tuda Grass Direct Luxury 30mm Pile Height Artificial Grass is our favourite. It might be a bit costlier than others, but of all the artificial lawns we tested, this one had the best natural grass colour, the sturdiest base, and a lovely soft feel.
We were pleased to see all the essential features in an artificial grass that’s designed for longevity in all weather conditions, including UV resistant material, and a combination of latex backing and holes to allow for proper drainage during rainy spells.
Of course, like all artificial grass products, you don’t have to water or mow this fake turf, and it’s super easy to clean with brushing (some customers even hoovered it).
Laying the grass is easy because it comes on a roll, so there are no folds to flatten out. We also found it easy to cut to size with scissors.
Cons:
Some customers had issues with receiving different coloured grasses when ordering two different batches.
✅ 6 Benefits Of Artificial Grass
Let’s start with a few of the benefits of artificial lawns compared to natural lawns.
Maintains an attractive appearance year-round – Artificial grass doesn’t go muddy or suffer from seasonal lawn problems like moss, and it’s fake, so it won’t accumulate weeds or be damaged by winter frost. That means the grass will maintain an attractive green appearance throughout the year, regardless of the season.
Low maintenance – Another major benefit of artificial grass is that it’s very easy to maintain when compared to a natural lawn. You don’t have to mow the grass, apply fertiliser, tackle weeds and moss, or deal with drainage issues. Your artificial lawn will look great simply with occasional brushing.
Environmental benefits – Because you don’t need to use power tools or water to maintain artificial grass, you can reduce your carbon footprint, conserve water, and do your bit for the environment. Some artificial lawns are made from recyclable materials and can be recycled at the end of their lifespans.
Helps you save money – While the upfront cost of artificial grass is expensive, you can save money in the long term because you won’t need to pay for lawn maintenance products or deal with the energy costs of using a lawn mower and other lawn care tools.
Child and pet-friendly – Artificial turf is easy to clean and maintain, and you can quickly remove and rinse away pet waste, making it a practical choice for pet owners. Plus, it can withstand a lot of foot traffic and won’t get muddy like natural grass, so it’s an ideal play surface for both pets and children – and you won’t have to deal with mud and grass stains after!
Customizable – Trying to control a natural lawn is difficult, but artificial turf is much more versatile. You can choose between a variety of fake grasses, with different pile heights and appearances, at different price points. Regardless of what you go for, the best artificial turf should look like genuine grass.
🤔 8 Things To Consider When Choosing Artificial Grass For Your Garden
When choosing between the best artificial grass options, make sure to consider the following things:
💰 Your Budget
First, determine how much you can afford to spend to buy and install fake grass.
Your required budget depends on the area size (we’ve discussed how to work this out below).
If you’re planning to turf an entire lawn space, the cost will be higher than if you just want to turf a specific section of your garden, like a decking area.
The starting price for a 2-metre by 1-metre piece of turf is as little as £20, but this won’t get you very far. The average cost of artificial grass for an 80-100m² space is £800-£1,200.
Your upfront cost will be higher if you pay for your grass to be installed by a professional. Most artificial grass installers charge around £150-£200 per day in labour costs, and the artificial grass installation process can take weeks, depending on the size of the area you want to cover. You could end up spending hundreds, or even thousands, on professional installation alone.
📏 The Area Size
Following on from our above discussion, make sure to also consider the area size that you’ll be buying artificial grass for.
It’s best to accurately measure the size of the area before buying artificial grass so you can avoid wasting money (if you buy too much) and eliminate the potential for getting a slightly different shade of turf if you have to order a separate batch (which we saw a few customers complaining about).
To work out the size of the area that you want to turf, use this simple sum:
Area (m²) = Length (m) × Width (m).
Artificial grass is usually measured in metres, making it easy for you to determine the exact amount you need for your space.
So, let’s say the space you want to turf is 5 metres long and 5 metres wide, you’d do the following calculation:
Area =5 meters × 5 meters = 25 square meters (m²).
You could then use the same sum to buy the right amount of artificial turf for your lawn. In this case, your best bet would be a 4 x 6.5-metre turf because this would cover a 26m² space, giving you an extra square metre just in case.
Read More: How To Calculate Your Lawn Size
👀 Grass Appearance
Before you settle on a specific type of artificial grass, be sure to make yourself familiar with everything on offer.
Artificial turf varies in color, length, and density. You might have specific preferences when it comes to these aspects of your lawn’s appearance.
While cheaper fake grasses are sold in unrealistic bright shades of green, the best artificial grass is made from multiple shades of green and brown, giving a more natural look.
You can also buy artificial grass in several different pile heights (which refers to the height of the grass blades). The average pile height for artificial grass is 15-35mm.
We recommend choosing a longer pile (between 25 and 35mm) if you prefer the look of a taller, springier lawn. Or, if you prefer the neat, ornamental look of short grass, or you want your grass to be more practical for walking on (e.g. if you’re turning a balcony or decking space), go for a shorter pile (15-20mm).
🧰 Ease Of Installation
If you plan to install your artificial grass yourself, make sure you’re familiar with the installation process and are willing to take on the job.
The best artificial grass is easy to install in most outdoor spaces. As long as you have flat land, you can simply lay the turf and peg it down with artificial grass pegs. These are sold separately – we used these GardenPrime pegs and found that they did the job perfectly.
You might want to consider using sand infill if you’re turning a larger area, especially for sports surfaces. However, most artificial grass for residential use doesn’t need sand infill. Check with the manufacturer if you’re unsure.
So, as long as you have the time and patience to lay and peg the turf, you’ll be able to install fake grass yourself.
🗓 Longevity, Durability, & Weather Resistance
The best artificial grass can last up to 20 years. If you want to get the most value from your upfront spend, look for high-quality fake grass made from durable, weather-resistant materials.
We recommend looking for the following quality and durability features in your artificial grass:
Strong material – High-quality synthetic grass is usually made from polyethylene or a blend of polyethylene and polypropylene yarns, which are known for their durability, UV resistance, and soft texture.
Good pile density – The pile height and density (how closely the blades are spaced) can impact the appearance and resilience of the turf. We recommend looking for dense, thick grass that won’t start to look patchy with normal shedding over the years.
Weather-resistant design features – We get a range of weather conditions here in the UK, so it’s important to look for synthetic grass that’s both resistant to sunlight and rain. The best artificial grass is made from materials that shouldn’t fade or be damaged by sunlight, and has built-in holes to prevent damage from waterlogging and drainage issues.
Stain-resistant – Since it’s designed for installation in outdoor spaces, the best artificial turf is usually designed to be resistant to stains and soiling from pet waste, foods, and beverages. That means you’ll be able to maintain a green lawn without having to replace stained sections of the turf.
Premium grass should retain its colour, appearance, and sturdiness for decades, so you can enjoy a quality green lawn with minimal effort on your part.
🛠 Maintenance/Cleaning
Artificial grass is easier to maintain than natural grass – but it still needs to be cleaned occasionally to retain a lush appearance year-round.
A good maintenance schedule for artificial grass is:
Remove debris and leaves with a brush, rake, or leaf blower – Once every 1-2 weeks
Brush the grass against the grain with a stiff brush to keep it standing upright – Once a month
Clean spills and pet waste – As needed
Remove weeds from around the perimeter of the grass – As needed
Make sure you’re happy with these maintenance commitments to keep your lawn looking clean, green and fresh year-round and to extend its lifespan, giving you more years to enjoy your investment.
If your artificial lawn has heavily soiled areas, you might need to invest in an artificial grass cleaner, which will have more cleaning power than water and is safe to use on fake grass (unlike many standard household cleaners).
🐶 Child And Pet-Friendliness
If you have children or pets, also make sure that your artificial grass of choice is child- and pet-friendly.
The good news is that most artificial grass products are safe for children and pets – and, in fact, are often more child- and pet-friendly than natural grass by default: they’re not muddy, they don’t contain weeds that could be toxic to pets, and they’re generally easy to clean.
Quality is an important factor, here. Poor-quality artificial grass may be made from scratchy materials, have poor drainage, and disintegrate easily, meaning it’s not ideal for children or pets. You need a high-quality artificial grass that’s made from soft materials, has good drainage, is easy to wash and clean, and can withstand pets’ paws and children playing.
If you’re uncertain of the suitability of a synthetic turf product for children or pets, check the product description, read customer reviews, or contact the manufacturer with any questions you have.
💬 Manufacturer Reputation & Customer Feedback
Finally, consider the manufacturer’s reputation and read customer feedback before clicking “buy” on an artificial grass product.
From the manufacturer’s images alone, it’s difficult to get a clear picture of what an artificial grass product will look like in your garden. That’s where we recommend checking out customer reviews to find real, unedited images of the grass in other customers’ gardens.
Customer reviews will tell you everything you need to know about how the actual product lived up to their expectations.
They’ll also give you an understanding of the manufacturer’s customer support, which, in our opinion, is just as important as the product itself. You never know if you might encounter an issue with your order, whether you have problems with shipping or the product itself, and it’s good to know in advance how the manufacturer deals with customer issues.
The best place to read genuine customer reviews is Amazon. You can use the search bar to search for specific keywords based on what you want to find out, and filter reviews based on star rating. This should give you a broader understanding of the positive and negative customer experiences, and ultimately help you to make a decision on a product.
Important note: this review was last updated in July 2024. We apologise if pricing or availability has since changed for any of the products mentioned above.