At a glance
Sled-friendly
Short, dense, non-infill turf that sleds glide over without tearing fibres.
Pads where needed
Foam or rubber underlay for fielding, agility and anywhere people land.
Clean indoors
Non-infill turf keeps sand and rubber out of offices and change rooms.
Ask for fire data
Landlords and inspectors often want the product's fire test results for interior use.
What indoor turf is used for
Indoor turf has moved well beyond indoor soccer. Strength gyms lay a turf strip for sled pushes and agility drills, sports academies turf whole warehouses, physiotherapy and performance clinics use it for return-to-play work, and retailers and event spaces lay it for displays. Each of those uses wants a slightly different product.
- Gym and sled turf. A short, very dense, non-infill turf with a tough backing, so sleds and prowlers glide without ripping fibres. Often laid as a strip or lanes, with painted or inlaid lines for distance.
- Training and fielding turf. A slightly longer pile over a foam or rubber pad, for cutting, diving and landing. Common in baseball, football and multi-sport academies.
- Indoor fields. Small-sided and full indoor soccer fields use sports turf systems much like outdoor fields, usually with a pad and sometimes an infill.
- Display and event turf. Lightweight landscape turf rolled out over a floor, for trade show booths, retail and photo walls.
The floor underneath
Indoor turf almost always goes over concrete. The slab needs to be clean, dry and level; high spots and cracks telegraph through a thin gym turf. For a permanent install, turf is glued down or taped at the seams and perimeter. For a space that might change, loose-laid turf with taped seams can come up again.
A pad changes how the floor feels. Strength and sled areas usually go straight on the slab (a pad makes sleds drag). Agility, fielding and kids' areas benefit from a pad.
Fire documentation
Interior finishes in commercial buildings are subject to building and fire code requirements, and landlords, insurers and inspectors often ask for a turf product's fire test results before it goes down. Ask the supplier for the test reports for the exact product, and give them to whoever signs off on your fit-out.
Infill indoors
Most gym and training turf is non-infill. Sand or rubber infill tracks across the building, gets into equipment and needs regular grooming. Indoor soccer fields are the exception, and those are usually in purpose-built facilities with the space to manage it.
Planning the layout
Draw the floor before you order. Mark where sled lanes run (they need a clear, straight path long enough for a push and a turn), where agility and fielding areas sit, where equipment, mirrors and racks will be, and the routes people walk between change rooms and the floor. Turf seams should run along the lanes rather than across them. Inlaid or painted lines for distances and zones are much easier to add at the start than later.
Looking after indoor turf
Indoor turf collects chalk, dust, sweat and debris. A regular vacuum with a turf-safe brush head, wiping spills, and periodic deep cleaning keep it hygienic. Sled lanes flatten first; rotating which lanes get used, or brushing them up, evens the wear. Keep heavy equipment off unpadded areas where it can crease the turf.
Most gym and facility installs take a day or a few days, depending on size, floor prep and whether the turf is glued. Plan the work for a closure or a quiet weekend.
Leased spaces add a step: check the lease for what you can glue to the floor and what has to come up when you leave. Loose-laid turf with taped seams is often the landlord-friendly choice.
What it costs
We haven't found published Ontario prices for gym or facility turf that we can cite, so we don't print a range. Product price varies widely, from basic event turf to premium sled turf with inlaid lines, and a pad, glue-down and floor prep add to it. A local installer quotes after measuring. For outdoor prices, see the artificial turf cost guide.
Getting a quote
Send the floor dimensions, what the space is for (sled lanes, agility, fielding, a field), whether you need a pad, and whether the space is leased. One installer who does indoor and facility turf gets back to you.
Questions people ask
What turf is best for sled pushes?
A short, very dense, non-infill turf with a strong backing, laid straight on the slab. Pads and long pile make sleds drag.
Can indoor turf go straight on concrete?
Yes. The slab should be clean, dry and level. Glue-down is usual for permanent installs; loose-lay with taped seams works for spaces that may change.
Does indoor turf need infill?
Gym and training turf usually doesn't. Indoor soccer fields sometimes use an infill system.
Does indoor turf need to meet fire codes?
Interior finishes in commercial buildings are regulated, and landlords and inspectors often ask for the product's fire test results. Get them from the supplier before you order.