Artificial Turf for Balconies: Instant Green, Cut to Size

From grey slab to green space in an afternoon

Ready to put artificial turf on your balcony? Here's the range that works on a hard surface, what it costs, and how to fit a piece to yours. Turf comes off the roll at a fixed 3.71m width, wider than almost any balcony, so you measure the depth, order the shortest length that covers it, unroll it, and trim the width down to fit. You won't need a tradie or glue, and the only tools are a sharp knife and a broom.

A balcony is the easiest turf job there is. The hard parts of a backyard install (excavation, road base, compacting, levelling) don't exist here. The surface is already flat and structural, and it's already built to drain. You're essentially laying a very good outdoor rug.

Renter-friendly: loose-lay and take it with you

You don't need to glue turf down on a balcony. Loose-laid turf stays put under its own weight plus your furniture, and on a wind-exposed balcony a few strips of removable double-sided outdoor tape at the edges will hold it without marking the surface.

That makes it one of the few genuine upgrades a renter can make. When the lease ends, roll it up and take it to the next place, saving a patch job and an awkward conversation at the exit inspection.

Which turf works on a hard floor

Shorter pile performs better on concrete and tiles than it does in a garden. There's no soil or infill doing the support work, so a dense short-to-mid pile stands up straighter and copes better with furniture legs. A 40mm premium pile is lovely in a backyard but overkill on a balcony, where the extra height just flattens under chairs.

	Turf Starter 20mm	Turf Classic 30mm
Feel underfoot	Firm and tidy	Softer, more lawn-like
Furniture marks	Minimal	Recovers with an occasional brush
Typical Australian market price (supply only)	$15-30/m²	$30-45/m²
Best suited to	Tight budgets, high traffic, pet corners	Barefoot comfort, entertaining

Those are general market ranges for those pile heights rather than our price list; see current pricing on each product page. And because balconies are small, the totals are too. A 2m x 4m balcony is 8m², so even mid-range turf typically lands somewhere around $240-360 in materials at market rates. The pile height guide has the full theory if you want it.

Drainage and strata, quickly

Quality turf has holes punched through the backing roughly every 10cm, so rain passes straight through to the fall and drain your balcony already has. If you're in a strata scheme, loose-laid turf is generally treated like outdoor carpet rather than a fixture, but check your by-laws before ordering, since some schemes have rules about anything visible from the street.

Sizing turf for a balcony narrower than the roll

Standard turf rolls are a fixed 3.71m width, wider than almost any balcony. A 1.8m-deep balcony only needs a fraction of that width, so on a balcony job the roll width almost never limits you. Length is what you're choosing.

The supplier cuts to set lengths off the roll, at the full 3.71m width, rather than to an arbitrary width and length. In practice that means picking the shortest length that covers your balcony's depth, commonly 5m on most products (the lengths on offer vary a little by product, so check the calculator on the page before you order), then trimming the extra width off yourself once it's down. Unroll it, mark the width you need against the wall, and cut along the line with a sharp knife and a straightedge. Keep the offcut: it's usually enough for a small runner by the door or a strip along a side ledge. Ordering a length shorter than a full roll carries a flat cutting fee, shown at checkout.

The same approach handles an L-shaped balcony, a tapered end, or a column in an awkward spot. Order enough length to cover the longest straight run, then cut the piece to shape by hand once it's in place, working around the column or tapering the edge as you go. Nobody can supply a pre-cut curve or a custom shape before dispatch, so any shaping happens on site with a knife.

Not sure how to measure? The measuring guide takes five minutes, and the calculator on any product page prices a length and quantity instantly, for example Turf Classic 30mm.

Looking after balcony turf

• Brush against the pile every few weeks with a stiff broom to keep it standing upright, especially where chairs sit.
• Hose or wipe up spills as they happen; rain and the drainage holes handle the rest.
• Lift the turf once or twice a year and sweep the slab underneath so leaf litter doesn't build up.

Like every balcony surface, turf gets warm in direct summer sun, and darker, denser turf holds more heat. If your balcony faces west, a lighter colour is worth considering.

For the deeper walkthrough covering rooftops, wind and weight questions, read the full balcony and rooftop turf guide.

Frequently asked questions

Can I put artificial turf on a balcony if I'm renting?

Yes, and it's one of the best rental upgrades going. Loose-lay the turf without glue and it stays put under its own weight, with removable outdoor tape at the edges if wind is an issue. When you move out, roll it up and take it with you, leaving no residue or damage behind.

Does water drain through artificial turf on a balcony?

Yes. Quality artificial turf has drainage holes punched through the backing, typically around every 10cm, so rain passes through to the balcony's existing fall and drainage. Keep the turf edge clear of the drain outlet, and lift the turf occasionally to sweep out any debris underneath.

What pile height is best for a balcony?

A 20-30mm pile suits hard floors best. Short pile around 20mm stays firm and shows almost no furniture marks, while a 30mm pile feels noticeably softer underfoot and still recovers with a quick brush. Piles of 40mm and above are designed for gardens and tend to flatten under balcony furniture.

Do I need strata approval to lay turf on my balcony?

Usually not for loose-laid turf, because it's treated like an outdoor rug rather than a permanent alteration. Rules differ between schemes, so check your by-laws first, particularly if your balcony is visible from the street or common areas. Anything glued down is more likely to need formal approval.