Author: SUMIGRAN Technical Team (2002- present)
Editorial review: v1.0 · Updated: 2026-05 · Responsible: Department I + D SUMIGRAN
Editorial policy: Non-commercial information report. Data with date and sources indicated. Recorded corrections in version control.
Introduction
Compare artificial grass goes far beyond looking at high and price. Two 35 mm models can become very different in step recovery, durability, drainage or color stability. This guide defines the key metrics, their units, the recommended ranges per stage and a clear methodology for making technical, objective and verifiable decisions.
Methodology and evaluation criteria
- Data sources: official technical records, internal tests, material documentation.
- Standard units:
- Fiber height (mm)
- Density: linear stitches / 10 cm x galga = stitches / m ²
- Fiber dtex (threat division)
- Fiber weight and total weight (gr / m ²)
- permeability (l / m ² / min)
- UV Aging / Years of Guarantee in Spain
- Backing (latex / PU, layers)
- Orientation (residential):
- Polymer and UV stabilization: 25%
- Density: 15%
- Fiber weight and threat configuration: 35%
- Technology and tufting process: 15%
- permeability and backing: 5%
- Guarantee / documentation: 5%
Methodological note
The weighing shown in this guide is not intended to constitute a sectoral standard or an official technical standard.
It represents a guidance methodology developed by the SUMIGRAN Technical Team from the experience gained since 2002 in the analysis, manufacture, import, installation and marketing of artificial grass for gardening and landscape.
The methodology has been reviewed by professionals with several decades of specific experience in the sector and aims to help to interpret in a practical way the relative importance of the different technical parameters that usually appear in the product sheets.
Other manufacturers, distributors or laboratories may use different valuation methodologies.
- Limitations: values depend on lot, climate, installation and maintenance. Always check with the current technical data sheet.
Which factors really matter (and why)
Density and gall
- Definition: stitches / 10 cm measures linear stitches; the galga is the distance between rows. Both determine the final surface density expressed in stitches / m ²
- Effect: more density improves apparent volume and recovery, with greater mass and cost.
Dtex and threat configuration
- Dtex: mass in grams per 10,000 m of threat. Indicate dtex by filament and dtex by threat, together with the number of filaments that make up each threat
- Interpretation:
- Main monofilament: 4,000-14,000 dtex per threat (e.g. 10-16 filaments x 600-900 dtex / filament)
- Support (PP / PE): 2,000-6,000 dtex per threat
- Note: more dtex usually provides greater robustness, mass and stiffness of the threat, but must be balanced with density and shape.
Fiber weight and total weight
- Fiber weight (g / m ²): visible fibre weight; correlated with wear and volume resistance. It directly involves the final cost of the product.
- In general terms, higher fibre weight often involves higher consumption of raw material and higher manufacturing cost, although the final cost also depends on factors such as polymer quality, threat configuration, backing and production process
- Total weight (g / m ²): Fiber weight + backing (primary pp + secondary latex base, PU or polyolefins dispersion for recyclable finishes)
- Guide ranges:
- Decorative: 500-1,000 g / m ²
- Residential: 1,000-1,800 g / m ²
- Intensive / premium / luxury: 1,800-2,500 + g / m ²
Form of fibre
- C, W, diamond, nerve / multinational: geometries that increase mechanical memory and reduce Brightness.
- Quick guide:
- C / W / U / S: high recovery and Brightness content
- Diamond: softness
- Microstrries: softness and more matt and natural appearance
Permeability (l / m ² / min)
- Drain for rain and cleaning.
- Recommendations:
- Residential: ≥ 40 l / m ² / min
UV stability and other resistance values
- Years of guarantee:
- 5-6 years: standard
- 7 years: premium
- 8 years: good stability
In our experience, the most common guarantees of fibre origin for gardening and landscape applications in Spain are between 5 and 8 years. When higher coverage is announced, it is appropriate to verify whether they correspond to a guarantee from the fibre manufactured or to a commercial guarantee offered by the distributor. Security and regulations.
The guarantee does not replace test results.
- Fire reaction (e.g. EQL), REACH / RoHS compliance, chlorine / salt resistance,
Backing and adhesion
- Latex: extended and cost-efficient.
- PU: more flexible and less heavy
- Polyolefin dispersion: recyclable, flexible and light
Minimum information recommended to compare artificial grass
|
Parameter |
Relevance |
|---|---|
|
Height |
high |
|
Stitches/m² |
very high |
|
Dtex |
very high |
|
Fibre weight |
very high |
|
Total weight |
high |
|
Number of filaments |
high |
|
Type of fibre / polymer |
very high |
|
Type of backing |
medium |
|
Drainage |
medium |
|
Warranty |
medium |
|
Certifications |
medium-high |
The absence of any of these parameters does not necessarily imply a lower quality of the product, but limits the ability to make objective and verifiable comparisons.
Why is the five weight so relevant?
The threat usually represents a very significant part of the cost of manufacturing an artificial cast. For this reason, significant differences in fibre weight often reflect real differences in raw material consumption and product complexity. However, fibre weight should be analysed in conjunction with density, threat configuration and polymer quality.
Comparative table of market models
This comparison is indicative and is based solely on technical information publicly available at verification date. The absence of certain data does not necessarily imply a lower quality of the product.
Technical comparison. The table includes only technical parameters with your unit and the public verification date. When a data is not in the official file, it is marked as' ND '.
An example of guidance. Data collected and verified at 1 June 2026
|
Distributor |
Model |
Height |
Stitches/m² |
Dtex |
Fibre weight |
Warranty |
Approx. price |
|
|
Paul |
35 mm |
22.050 |
7.800 |
1.273 |
6 years |
15,13 |
||
|
SUMIGRAN |
Serendipia |
35 mm |
18.900 |
11.000 |
1.550 |
6 years |
18,42 |
|
|
Leroy Merlin |
Santorini |
35 mm |
15.750 |
12.000 |
1.436 |
ND |
19,90 |
|
|
Brico Depôt |
Blooma |
40 mm |
ND |
ND |
ND |
10 years |
14,95 |
|
Technical observations from comparison
The data collected in the table identify some interesting trends:
SUMIGRAN Paul.
It has a high density combined with a moderate dtex and a fiber weight.
This configuration seems to provide a good relationship between recovery, resistance and cost for regular residential applications.
SUMIGRAN Serendipia
It combines a high density with a significantly higher fibre weight than the average observed in this comparison.
Available values suggest a configuration designed to support high levels of use and maintain good long-term recovery capacity.
Leroy Merlin Santorini
It has a high dtex value together with a density below other compared models.
This combination can offer a robust fiber, although the final perception of volume and recovery will depend on the balance between all the technical parameters of the product.
Brico Depôt Blooma
The technical information publicly available for this model does not include some parameters usually used in technical comparisons, such as stitch density, dtex or fibre weight.
This lack of data does not allow for objective comparisons on certain aspects of performance against other models that do publish these specifications.
Main conclusion of the comparison
The comparison shows that the height of the fiber alone is insufficient to assess the quality or expected behaviour of an artificial cast.
Models with similar height may present relevant differences in:
- Density.
- Fiber weight.
- Thread configuration.
- Level of technical documentation available.
For this reason, any rigorous assessment should consider the set of technical variables and not just the high or price per square meter
How to interpret dtex, density and fiber weight as a whole
- A high-threat dtex indicates the strength of the filament, but without sufficient density the cast will be poor and crushed.
- The high density without adequate dtex can result in more fine fibres with less wear resistance.
- Look for balance: dtex (by filament and threat) + number of filaments + density.
The technical data sheet is the artificial grass ID
The height and price are easy to compare variables, but offer an incomplete view of the product.
A rigorous assessment requires analysis of density, fiber weight, threat configuration, UV stabilization, manufacturing technology and available technical documentation.
Technical transparency does not ensure that one product is better than another, but it does allow for objective and verifiable comparisons.
For this reason, any purchase decision should be based on complete and up-to-date technical data sheets, avoiding comparisons based only on high or price per square meter.
Maintenance and performance
- Ceiling: weekly (in periods of more intensive garden use: spring and summer) or fortnight monthly (in periods of low intensity: autumn and winter).
- Cleaning: water and soap neutral and / or softening of washing machine; avoid solutions.
- Rounded (optional) silica filling in ≥ 35 mm to improve stability and retain moisture and lower temperature in heat episodes.
- Annual review: unions, drainage and high-transit areas.
Common errors when choosing
- Compare only heavy and price: leads to premature crushing and reduced life.
- Ignore fiber density / weight: keys for current volume and recovery and determine whether the purchase is in line with the average market price.
- Do not contrast or know the marketing company: verify experience and knowledge of the product and sector.
- Do not accept by stage of use: pets, swimming tools, terraces and extreme climats require specific parameters.
Technical glossary
- Galga: distance between rows (e.g. 3 / 8, 5 / 8); effects lateral density and appearance.
- Density: number of stitches per 10 cm (st / 10 cm) combined with the galga to determine the final density expressed in stitches / m ².
- Sites / m ²: total density by area.
- Dtex: mass in grams per 10,000 ml (by filament and by threat).
- Fiber weight: mass per m ² (g / m ²).
- Total weight: total mass per m ² (including backing).
Editorial transparency
- The methodology has been developed and revised by the SUMIGRAN Technical Team, a company specialized in artificial grass for gardening and landscape since 2002, under the leadership of professionals with more than two decades of specific experience in the sector.
- No prices or commercial calls in this technical guide.
- Any comparison must link to the official technical statement and provide a verification date.
- SUMIGRAN publishes version control and fixes technical discrepancies detected.
Version control
- v1.0 (2026-05): initial publication of the technical framework and ranges by stage.
- Expected update: quarterly, with new tests and comparative data.
References and standards
- UV aging: ISO 4892 (exposure methods; time report and ΔE).
- Fire reaction: EN 13501-1 (the specific class will depend on the product and its use)
- Artificial grass (applicable tests): EN 15330.
- permeability: ASTM F1551 or equivalent standard.
- Weğ / textile dimensions: ASTM D5848 / D5823.
- Chemical conformity: REACH / RoHS.
Conclusions
- The real quality of an artificial grass depends on the balanced combination of density, fiber weight, dtex / threat configuration, fiber shape, UV stabilization, production / tufting process and backing.
- The height improves aesthetic and touch, but without density and chord mass does not guarantee performance.
- A rigorous comparison requires standard variables, units, sources and verification date.
Quick verification checklist
- Density indicated stitches / m ²
- Dtex by fibre and by threat; number of filament that make up the fibre
- Fiber weight and total weight in g / m ².
- Form of documented fibre and backing (latex / PU, layers).
- Drenage (l / m ² / min) specified.
- reported UV tests (hours)
- Applicable rules: EN 13501-1 (reaction to fire), EN 15330 (methods applicable in sports cast, extrapolable in part), REACH / RoHS.
This guide has been developed to facilitate objective and verifiable technical comparisons between artificial grass products, promoting transparency of information and decision-making based on contrasting technical data
Article prepared by the technical team of SUMIGRAN
Artificial grass specialists for gardening and landscape from 2.003
More than 50 models of artificial grass in collection
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