Are you confused by turf specifications? Getting them wrong means a bad investment. Understanding these terms helps you choose the perfect artificial grass for your project and avoid costly mistakes.

Pile height is the length of the artificial grass blades measured from the backing up. Face weight is the weight of the yarn itself, without the backing, in a given area. Essentially, pile height measures length, while face weight measures density and the amount of material used.

Now you know the basic definitions. But the real secret to sourcing great turf is understanding how these two specs work together. They control how the turf looks, feels, and how long it will last. Getting this relationship right is what separates a successful project from a disappointing one. Let’s dig deeper to make sure you can confidently evaluate any turf specification sheet and make the best purchasing decision for your business.

What is the difference between face weight and pile height?

Struggling to see how pile height and face weight are different? Confusing them could mean buying turf that’s too sparse for a lawn or too short for a sports field.

Pile height is simply a measure of length, telling you how tall the grass blades are. Face weight is a measure of mass, telling you how much yarn is packed into a square meter or yard. One tells you about height, the other about density.

When you look at a spec sheet, it’s easy to see two numbers and think they are related, but they measure completely different things. In my years as an engineer, I’ve seen many buyers make mistakes here. It is important to look at them as two independent but related quality indicators.

A Tale of Two Specs

I remember a client, Michael from the US, who was focused only on getting a tall, 50mm pile height. He thought taller meant lusher. However, the product he was looking at had a very low face weight. I had to explain that while the blades would be long, the turf would feel thin and sparse. It was designed for a soccer field that requires sand and rubber infill to stand up and feel full. For his residential landscaping projects, this turf would look weak and flatten easily. We switched him to a 40mm pile height product but with a much higher face weight. The result was a slightly shorter but significantly denser and more realistic-looking lawn, which made his customers very happy.

Questions to Ask Your Supplier

To avoid confusion, you should always clarify the pile height measurement. Some suppliers measure the total length of the fiber before it’s tufted into the backing. A more accurate and honest measurement is the length of the fiber above the backing. I always confirm this in writing.

Here is a simple table to show the difference:

Specification	What It Measures	Unit of Measure	What It Tells You
Pile Height1	Length / Height	Millimeters (mm) or Inches (in)	How tall the grass blades are.
Face Weight2	Mass / Density	Grams per Square Meter (g/m²) or Ounces per Square Yard (oz/yd²)	How much yarn material is used.

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Is high pile or low pile turf better?

Deciding between high and low pile turf can feel like a gamble. The wrong choice can lead to a lawn that looks unnatural or a sports field that performs poorly.

Neither is better; it depends entirely on the application. High pile turf is great for a lush, natural look in landscaping. Low pile turf is typically more durable and provides a consistent surface, making it ideal for sports like golf, padel tennis, or hockey.

The "best" pile height is the one that is right for the job. You wouldn’t use a putting green turf for a children’s playground, and you wouldn’t use a long, shaggy landscape grass for a field hockey pitch. The key is to match the pile height and face weight to the intended use. As a rule, a higher pile requires a higher face weight to help the blades stand up straight and resist matting. Let’s look at the most common combinations I recommend to my clients.

High Pile Height Applications

Turf with longer blades, typically from 35mm to 50mm, is what most people want for their yards. It mimics the look of a healthy, well-maintained natural lawn. When you combine a high pile height with a high face weight, you get a premium product. It’s soft, dense, realistic, and very durable against foot traffic. I often advise clients like José in Brazil, who distribute to high-end residential customers, to focus on these products. However, if you have a high pile height with a low face weight, the product is sparse. It’s not good for walking on and is mainly for sports fields where infill material provides the support.

Low Pile Height Applications

Shorter turf, usually under 25mm, is built for performance and durability. A low pile with a high face weight creates a very dense, firm, and resilient surface. This is perfect for sports where ball roll and consistency are critical, like golf putting greens, tennis courts, and padel courts. My customers in the UAE and Saudi Arabia, like Mohammed and Ahmed, often purchase this type for new sports complex projects. On the other hand, a low pile height combined with a low face weight results in a budget-friendly but very basic turf. It’s thin and not very durable. It’s best used for temporary events, displays, or decorative areas with zero foot traffic.

Does Dtex affect face weight?

Have you ever looked at a spec sheet, seen "Dtex," and just ignored it? Overlooking this number means you don’t fully understand the quality and durability of the yarn in your turf.

Yes, Dtex³ directly and significantly affects the face weight. Dtex is a measure of yarn thickness—specifically, the weight in grams of 10,000 meters of that yarn. A higher Dtex means a thicker, heavier yarn, which results in a higher face weight.

Think of Dtex as the building block of your turf’s quality. Face weight tells you the total weight of yarn in a square meter, but Dtex tells you the quality of each individual yarn strand that makes up that weight. I always pay close attention to Dtex because it’s a true indicator of the product’s intended durability and feel.

What Exactly Is Dtex?

To put it simply, Dtex is a unit of textile measurement for linear mass density. If you took 10,000 meters (10 kilometers!) of a single yarn strand and weighed it, the weight in grams is its Dtex. A common landscape yarn might be 11,000 Dtex, while a cheaper decorative one might be 6,000 Dtex. The 11,000 Dtex yarn is almost twice as thick and heavy. This heavier yarn is more resilient, stands up better to traffic, and feels more substantial.

Dtex, Density, and Final Face Weight

Face weight is ultimately a result of three factors working together: pile height, stitch density, and Dtex.

• Pile Height: How long each blade is.
• Stitch Density: How many blades are tufted in a square meter.
• Dtex: How thick and heavy each blade is.

Imagine two turf products with the exact same pile height and stitch density. If one uses a 12,000 Dtex yarn and the other uses an 8,000 Dtex yarn, the first one will have a much higher face weight. It will be more durable, more resilient, and feel more premium. It will also cost more to produce. This is why when a client like James in Australia needs turf for a public playground, I point him towards products with a high Dtex. The added durability is essential for safety and a long lifespan.

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Conclusion

Understanding pile height, face weight, and Dtex moves you from a buyer to an expert. These specs work together to define your turf’s look, feel, performance, and durability.