Artificial turf vs. sod

What each costs to put in

HomeGuide’s 2025 figures put new sod at $1 to $2 per square foot installed and artificial turf at $10 to $25 per square foot installed. LawnStarter’s 2026 figures put sod at an average of $1.65 per square foot installed and turf at $15 to $19 per square foot installed. HomeAdvisor’s 2026 figure for sod is $1 to $6 per square foot all in.

At yard scale, HomeGuide’s 2025 figures put 500 square feet of turf at $5,000 to $12,500. HomeGuide’s 2025 guide says the cost within its turf range depends on the ground prep required, including digging out soil and building a compacted rock base.

Upkeep after year one

Turf takes less upkeep than sod, though it still takes work. LawnStarter’s 2026 figures put turf upkeep at $250 to $350 a year for brushing, minimal watering, and occasional infill, the sand used in turf. Angi’s 2026 figures put maintenance and cleaning at $0.25 to $0.35 per square foot. In dog areas, LawnStarter says you’ll pick up after pets and use a cleaning solution from time to time, with a deodorizer if needed.

Sod is a living lawn, so you’ll water and mow it regularly. Lawn Love’s 2025 figures say leaf removal costs about the same for natural and artificial grass. Lawn Love says never use a leaf vacuum on turf because it sucks up the infill sand.

Heat on the surface

UF/IFAS reports that Marco Schiavon’s 2025 data from California urban landscapes found artificial turf reached up to 174°F on the hottest days, while natural turf was about 102°F. Schiavon credits grass’s lower temperature to shade and evapotranspiration, which is water evaporating from the leaves.

Brigham Young University found that synthetic turf on an athletic field averaged 117°F between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. in June 2002, while natural turf averaged 78°F over the same hours. The pros and cons guide sets five of these surface studies side by side.

How long each one lasts

HomeGuide’s 2025 guide puts turf life at 15 to 25 years, while Angi’s 2026 guide gives it 10 to 20 years. HomeAdvisor’s 2026 guide gives turf 5 to 10 years, or about 3 years in high-traffic areas.

HomeGuide’s 2025 guide puts turf replacement at $10 to $25 per square foot, the same as putting it in. A grass lawn that’s watered and cared for keeps growing, so it has no set replacement date.

Which one fits your yard

For a large lawn in full sun that gets ordinary use, we’d lay sod. HomeGuide’s 2025 figures put sod at $1 to $2 per square foot and turf at $10 to $25 per square foot. UF/IFAS in 2025 measured turf at up to 174°F and grass at about 102°F, so surface heat is another reason to choose sod there.

Turf fits smaller areas that take hard use, and it also makes sense when you can’t or won’t water and mow a lawn. For a dog run, Angi in 2026 says turf lasts about 10 to 15 years with dogs. A backyard putting green also suits turf, and under a swing set we’d lay turf over a shock pad. You can use turf where it earns its cost and keep grass everywhere else.