Cool Turf and standard artificial grass can both provide an attractive, low-maintenance alternative to natural lawn, but there are important differences between the two systems.
Cool Turf includes additional technologies such as heat-reducing yarn, antibacterial and anti-moss technology, pool-friendly performance and premium turf engineering. Standard artificial grass can provide a simpler option where those additional features aren’t required.
In this guide, we’ll compare Cool Turf vs standard artificial grass, explain the main differences and help you understand which type of turf may be better suited to your property and how the area will be used.
What Do Cool Turf and Standard Artificial Grass Have in Common?
Both Cool Turf and quality standard artificial grass can provide the core benefits people expect from a synthetic lawn.
Both can provide:
- A green lawn throughout the year
- No mowing
- No regular watering
- Low ongoing maintenance
- A mud-free outdoor surface
- Good durability when the product is matched to the intended use
- Drainage when installed with an appropriate backing and prepared base
For many homes and landscaping projects, a quality standard artificial grass may provide everything that’s required.
The main differences appear when additional features such as heat reduction, antibacterial protection, anti-moss technology and premium turf engineering become important.
What Makes Cool Turf Different?
Cool Turf is Unreal Lawns' premium 5-in-1 artificial grass system, incorporating additional technologies that aren't included across our standard artificial grass range.
The main differences include:
- Heat-reducing yarn designed to reduce heat absorption compared with conventional artificial grass
- Antibacterial technology designed to help reduce the growth of certain bacteria on the turf surface
- Anti-moss technology designed to help reduce moss growth on the turf fibres
- Pool-friendly performance for chlorinated and saltwater swimming pool environments
- Premium turf engineering focused on appearance, resilience and durability
These features don't mean Cool Turf is automatically the right choice for every project. Their value depends on the conditions at your property, how the lawn will be used and which features are important to you.
Standard Artificial Grass May Be Suitable If:
- Your main priority is creating an attractive, low-maintenance lawn
- You're working within a tighter budget
- The area doesn't experience prolonged direct summer sun
- You don't require the additional antibacterial or anti-moss technologies
- You don't need the full Cool Turf 5-in-1 feature set
A quality standard artificial grass can still provide excellent appearance and durability when the product is correctly matched to the application.
Cool Turf May Be Suitable If:
- The area receives significant direct sunlight and reducing surface heat is important
- The lawn will be regularly used by children or pets
- Antibacterial or anti-moss technology is important for the application
- The artificial grass will be installed around a swimming pool
- You want the additional technologies included in the Cool Turf 5-in-1 system
- You're prioritising premium turf construction and long-term performance
The important difference is not simply standard versus premium. It's whether the additional Cool Turf technologies provide a practical benefit for how your particular outdoor area will be used.
Is Cool Turf Worth the Extra Investment?
Whether Cool Turf is worth the additional cost depends on which features are important for your property.
If your main goal is an attractive, low-maintenance lawn, a quality standard artificial grass may provide everything you need.
Cool Turf may justify the additional cost where features such as heat-reducing yarn, antibacterial protection, anti-moss technology, pool-friendly performance or premium turf construction provide a practical benefit for the way the area will be used.
The decision is therefore less about choosing the most expensive turf and more about whether the additional technologies are relevant to your site and priorities.
Comparing Cool Turf and Standard Artificial Grass
| Feature | Standard Artificial Grass | Cool Turf |
|---|---|---|
| Green, low-maintenance lawn | ✓ | ✓ |
| No mowing or regular watering | ✓ | ✓ |
| Drainage | Depends on product, backing and prepared base | Depends on backing option and prepared base |
| Heat-reducing yarn technology | — | ✓ |
| Antibacterial technology | — | ✓ |
| Anti-moss technology | — | ✓ |
| Suitable for pool environments | Product dependent | ✓ Pool-friendly technology |
| Premium 5-in-1 technology | — | ✓ |
Learn More About Choosing Artificial Grass
If you’re comparing Cool Turf with standard artificial grass, these guides explain the technology, heat performance and practical ways to manage surface temperature in more detail.
Helpful resources:
- Cool Turf – Premium 5-in-1 Artificial Grass – Explore the complete Cool Turf system and its five technologies.
- Why Does Artificial Grass Get Hot? – Understand why artificial grass heats up and the factors that affect surface temperature.
- How to Keep Artificial Grass Cool in Summer – Practical ways to help keep artificial grass more comfortable during hot New Zealand weather.
- How Does Cool Turf Technology Work? – Learn how Cool Turf’s heat-reducing yarn, fibre construction, backing and drainage technologies work.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main difference between Cool Turf and standard artificial grass?
Both can provide an attractive, low-maintenance lawn. The main difference is that Cool Turf includes additional technologies such as heat-reducing yarn, antibacterial and anti-moss technology, pool-friendly performance and premium turf engineering.
Does Cool Turf stay completely cool in direct sunlight?
No. Cool Turf is designed to reduce heat absorption compared with conventional artificial grass, but the surface can still become warm in strong direct sunlight. Surface temperature is also influenced by shade, airflow, weather and surrounding surfaces.
Is standard artificial grass still suitable for residential lawns?
Yes. A quality standard artificial grass can be a suitable option for many residential lawns where the additional Cool Turf technologies are not required. The appropriate product depends on the site, intended use and budget.
Can both Cool Turf and standard artificial grass be used around swimming pools?
Some standard artificial grass products may be suitable around swimming pools, depending on their materials and construction. Cool Turf includes pool-friendly technology designed for chlorinated and saltwater pool environments.
Is Cool Turf worth the extra cost?
That depends on whether the additional technologies provide a practical benefit for your property. Where heat reduction, antibacterial protection, anti-moss technology, pool-friendly performance or premium turf construction are important, Cool Turf may justify the additional cost.
About the Author: Paul Gardner
Founder & NZ Turf Specialist at Unreal Lawns
Paul Gardner has spent years developing his knowledge of synthetic turf technology, including travelling internationally to study manufacturing, yarn engineering and playground safety systems. His experience helps shape the artificial grass and playground surfacing systems Unreal Lawns provides for New Zealand conditions.
Ready to Choose the Right Artificial Grass?
Whether Cool Turf or standard artificial grass is better suited to your property depends on how the area will be used, the site conditions and which features matter to you.
Our team can explain the differences and help you choose an artificial grass product suited to your property, requirements and budget.
