Synthetic Turf Council (STC) Releases 2020 Synthetic Turf Market Report for North America

FOREST HILL, Md., June 11, 2020 /PRNewswire/ – The Synthetic Turf Council (STC) (www.syntheticturfcouncil.org) announced the release of the 2020 Synthetic Turf Market Report for North America. The report is the most comprehensive examination of the North American synthetic turf market ever to be developed. FMI, a major national consulting and research firm, reached out to all major industry participants in order to produce this complete, fact-driven analysis.

STC President and CEO Dan Bond stated, “I am pleased to announce that the most accurate, in-depth assessment of the North American synthetic turf market is now available. I would like to thank all industry participants (members and non-members included) for their input, and member volunteers and staff for their incredible work.”

Executive Summary

In North America¹, the total value of installed synthetic turf systems is expected to be approximately $2.7 billion USD in 2020. This activity translates into approximately 265 million square feet of installed turf and 777 million pounds of infill. Overall the market has seen an approximate increase of 15 percent since 2017.

Future growth of the market is tempered due to the impacts that are anticipated from COVID-19, with a best-case scenario of total growth of 5.7 percent through 2022. Prior to the pandemic, it was expected industry growth would outpace that of prior years.

Geographically, the United States represents approximately 90 percent of the North American market with the Midwest being the largest region at an estimated 27 percent of the total opportunity. Demand is expected to accelerate in the South region with an approximate 10 percent growth through 2022. 

Sports field applications represent slightly over 63 percent of the installed turf in 2020 and is expected to remain the largest end application, though use in landscape applications is increasing at a faster pace as both residential and commercial buyers see the increasing benefit of synthetic turf. 

Education segments represent approximately 62 percent of the sports field end market opportunity, with a strong emphasis being on new construction and the replacement of natural turf surfaces. 

In the sport field market dual material turf (monofilament/slit film) and new crumb rubber/sand blend infill are the preferred materials. The use of shocks pads has increased considerably in recent years and is expected to continue.

The synthetic turf market has many tailwinds pushing it forward over the next 5 to 10 years with increasingly favorable regulatory environment and increasingly positive public perceptions. The sustainability, performance and increased usability of synthetic turf systems is expected to continue to drive demand and create wider acceptance for a wide variety of end applications. 

¹ For the purposes of this study, North America refers to the U.S. and Canada. 

The 2020 report is free to all STC Full Members and available for purchase by Affiliate, Allied and Non-Member organizations.

About the Synthetic Turf Council (STC)

The STC is the world's largest organization representing the synthetic turf industry. Founded in 2003, the STC assists buyers and end users with the selection, use and maintenance of synthetic turf systems in sports field, golf, municipal parks, airports, landscape and residential applications. It is a resource for current, credible, and independent research on the safety and environmental impact of synthetic turf, as well as technical guidance on the selection, installation, maintenance, and environmentally responsible disposal of synthetic turf. Membership includes builders, landscape architects, testing labs, maintenance providers, manufacturers, suppliers, installation contractors, infill material suppliers and other specialty service companies.

For more information, visit www.syntheticturfcouncil.org.