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 size a piece to fit yours. Measure the space, order a piece cut to size, unroll it, put the furniture back. No tradie, no glue, no tools beyond 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, already structural, and 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. Nothing to patch, nothing to explain 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 — 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, not 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

Drainage: 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. Strata: loose-laid turf is generally treated like outdoor carpet rather than a fixture, but check your by-laws before ordering — some schemes have rules about anything visible from the street.

Cut to your exact balcony, odd shape and all

Standard turf rolls are 3.71m wide. That's sized for backyards, not for a 1.8m-deep balcony, and it's why buying turf the usual way often means paying for offcuts you'll never use.

We cut to your measurements instead. Enter the exact length and width when you order and the piece arrives ready to unroll, with just enough edge to trim for a snug fit against the walls. L-shaped balcony, tapered end, a column in an awkward spot — none of it is a problem. Break the shape into rectangles, order the pieces, and join them with tape underneath if needed.

Not sure how to measure? The measuring guide takes five minutes, and you can price your exact size straight away with the calculator on any product page.

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.

One honest note: 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.