For most school and town crews, a three-pin mechanical gauge is the right tool: press the foot onto the infill, slide the pins down to the backing, read the depth. Turf-Tec's Professional Model (IDG1-M) is aluminum and stainless steel and reads 0 to 2 inches (0 to 50 mm); its Economy Model (IDG2-M) is a 1-ounce plastic-and-steel version that reads to 6 inches. Deltec's Infill Depth Meter (to 50 mm, with spare pins and a hard case) and Redexim's Infill Thickness Tester (three replaceable prongs, in a toolbox) do the same job. If you want every reading logged and mapped, the Mascaro Infill and Cleat Depth Tester, sold by Turf-Tec, reads to a hundredth of an inch, sends readings to an app over Bluetooth and also measures cleat penetration. The gauge is the easy part. The value comes from measuring the same grid every time and acting on it. Disclosure: DreamFields USA inspects, grooms, top-dresses and repairs turf fields in NJ, NY and CT. We don't sell any of these tools, and no manufacturer paid for placement.
On an infilled sports field, the sand and rubber or organic infill between the fibers does real work. It holds the fibers upright, it gives cleats something to bite into, and it does part of the cushioning. When play kicks it out of the goal mouths and the center circle and piles it up along the sidelines, those high-wear zones get harder and the fibers lie down and wear faster. Our infill depth by sport guide covers the targets for each sport and why low infill shows up in Gmax results.
You don't need a contractor to know whether your infill has moved. An infill depth gauge takes seconds per reading. A crew that checks a fixed set of points before each season, and after heavy stretches like a tournament weekend, can catch low spots early, groom material back where it belongs, and save top-dressing for the places that actually need it. It also gives you a record to show your field builder if a warranty question ever comes up.
All specs below come from each manufacturer's own product pages, accessed November 10, 2026. We list no prices. We didn't test these tools, and the order is not a ranking.
| Tool | Type | Range | Readout | Build / weight | Logging | Maker notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Turf-Tec Professional Model Infill Depth Gauge (IDG1-M) | Three stainless pins, aluminum foot plate | 0–2 in / 0–50 mm | Scale in inches or mm | Aluminum and stainless steel; 8.5 oz (232 g) | Manual | Turf-Tec also labels it "Floortest FT 50" |
| Turf-Tec Economy Model Infill Depth Gauge (IDG2-M) | Single stainless probe, plastic foot plate, locking knob | 0–6 in / 0–15 cm | Scale in inches or mm | High-impact plastic and stainless steel; 1.0 oz (28 g) | Manual | Loosen the knob, slide the shaft to the backing, read |
| Deltec Infill Depth Meter | Pin depth meter with interchangeable pins | Up to 50 mm | Scale in mm and inches | Includes 3 spare interchangeable pins and a hard plastic case | Manual | Deltec lists FIFA and EN 1969 as standards |
| Redexim Infill Thickness Tester | Three-prong depth tester | Not stated on the product page (spec download available) | Scale | Replaceable prongs; toolbox and manual included | Manual | Pairs with Redexim's ball roll and rebound tester |
| Mascaro Infill and Cleat Depth Tester (MICDT-M) | Stand-up digital tester with infill and cleat feet | 1 in and 2 in infill feet shown by maker | Digital, 0.01 in increments | 34 in (86 cm) tall, used standing | Bluetooth to SpecConnect app (free grid mode; paid GPS mapping); also connects to the Clegg Impact Tester app | Also measures cleat penetration on turf and natural grass |
Figures as published by each manufacturer on November 10, 2026. Confirm current specs with the seller.
Turf-Tec, a Tallahassee maker of turf diagnostic tools, describes the IDG1-M as a depth gauge built specifically for infilled synthetic turf, to measure the depth of rubber, or rubber and sand, on sports fields and check that depth is consistent across the playing surface. It's aluminum and stainless steel, weighs 8.5 ounces, and measures from 0 to 2 inches or 0 to 50 millimeters. Turf-Tec also lists it as the "Floortest FT 50."
Its instructions are simple and worth copying into your crew's checklist. Set the aluminum foot plate firmly on the infill surface. Slide the black center shaft down until the three stainless steel spikes touch the carpet backing. Lift it out and read the gauge. Turf-Tec adds that you should check two or three spots at each location and average them, and test wear areas more often, because that's where infill gets moved. It also makes a point owners often miss: infill usually doesn't break down so much as get redistributed, so grooming and brushing it back can do more than adding new infill.
Where it fits: any crew that wants a durable, repeatable gauge for a standard sports field. Its 2-inch range covers typical sports-field infill. If your system is deeper, check the range before you buy.
The IDG2-M is Turf-Tec's light version, made of high-impact plastic with a stainless steel probe and weighing just 1 ounce. It works a little differently: you loosen the black knob, set the white foot plate on the infill, slide the center shaft down until it touches the backing, then lift it out and read inches or millimeters. Turf-Tec lists a range of 0 to 6 inches (0 to 15 cm), deeper than the Professional Model, and gives the same advice about averaging two or three spots and testing wear areas more often.
Where it fits: spot checks by coaches, groundskeepers or a parks crew that covers several fields, or as a second gauge so a reading can be taken whenever someone notices a hard spot. A single probe is more sensitive to where you put it than a three-pin foot, so take the extra readings.
Deltec Equipment, a maker of sports-surface test equipment, sells an Infill Depth Meter that it says accurately measures the depth of the rubber infill and sand layer on artificial turf, to a maximum of 50 millimeters, with a scale in millimeters and inches. The kit includes three extra interchangeable pins and a hard plastic transport box. Deltec names football, hockey and other sports on rubber and sand-filled turf as applications and lists FIFA test standards and EN 1969 (the European method for measuring the thickness of synthetic sports surfaces) on the product page.
Where it fits: an owner or consultant who wants a gauge from a company whose catalog is built around sports-surface testing, with spare pins in the box. The 50 mm range matches typical sports-field infill.
Redexim, which makes the Verti-Top cleaners in our groomer and sweeper comparison, also sells an Infill Thickness Tester. Redexim says it measures the quantity of infill in a synthetic turf field: you press its three prongs into the surface and read the infill depth on an easy-to-read scale. The prongs are replaceable, and the tester comes with a toolbox and manual. Redexim's product page doesn't list a measuring range (there's a spec download), so check it against your system's depth.
Where it fits: owners who already run Redexim equipment and buy through a Redexim dealer, and who want the depth tester and the company's ball roll and rebound tester from one source.
The Mascaro Infill and Cleat Depth Tester (MICDT), sold by Turf-Tec, is a different class of tool. It stands 34 inches tall, so you use it upright instead of kneeling. With the infill depth foot fitted, you set it on the surface, press down on the handle, and it displays and records infill depth in hundredths of an inch. Swap to the cleat foot, raise the center shaft to the stop and drop it, and it measures how far a cleat penetrates the surface, on synthetic turf or natural grass. Turf-Tec's photos show 1-inch and 2-inch infill feet, and it says the cleat foot is designed to mimic a 5/8-inch cleat.
The reason to pay for it is data. Readings go over Bluetooth to the SpecConnect app. The free version records readings as you go in a grid mode. A paid yearly subscription adds GPS mapping, contour plots and trend reports. Turf-Tec says it also connects to the Clegg Impact Tester app, so depth and Clegg impact readings can be taken and logged together. Turf-Tec's example shows 57 readings taken in 15 minutes.
Where it fits: a district, county or college that manages several fields and wants a defensible record of field condition over time, or that already uses a Clegg tester for hardness screening.
A gauge is only as good as the plan behind it. Readings from random spots don't tell you much. Readings from the same points every time show you where infill is moving. Set up a grid you can repeat, mark it on a field diagram, and add extra points where wear concentrates:
| Zone | Why it matters | What to look for |
|---|---|---|
| Goal mouths and penalty areas | Constant cutting, planting and diving | Infill pushed out; lowest readings on the field |
| Center circle / midfield | Kickoffs, restarts, drills | Low spots in a ring pattern |
| Hash marks and line of scrimmage (football) | Every play starts there | Low strips between the hashes |
| Bench and sideline areas | Standing, warm-ups, equipment | Low in front of benches, high along fences |
| Field edges and corners | Where displaced infill ends up | High readings and piles at fence lines |
| A low-use reference spot | Baseline for comparison | Close to installed depth |
At each point, follow Turf-Tec's advice and take two or three readings and average them. Write down the date, the gauge used and the conditions, so later readings are comparable. Compare each zone against your field builder's specified depth, not against a number from another field.
Depth is the easiest measurement to bring in-house, but it isn't the only one. The Clegg Impact Tester, which Turf-Tec sells in a Bluetooth model, is a portable impact hammer many owners use for spot checks of surface hardness between formal tests; our Gmax guide explains why it doesn't replace a certified Gmax test. Redexim sells a ball roll and rebound tester for checking how the surface plays. And a simple record (a field diagram, a dated spreadsheet, or the SpecConnect app) turns all of it into something your builder, your athletic director and your insurer can read.
Want the whole field checked?
DreamFields inspects synthetic turf fields across NJ, NY and CT: infill depth across a mapped grid, Gmax testing, seams and wear, with a written report and a fix plan. Tell us the field, the turf age and what you're seeing.
Request a field inspection quoteFor most in-house crews, a three-pin mechanical gauge is enough: you press the foot onto the surface, slide the pins down to the turf backing and read the depth in inches or millimeters. Turf-Tec's Professional Model (IDG1-M, aluminum and stainless steel, 0 to 2 inches / 0 to 50 mm), Deltec's Infill Depth Meter (up to 50 mm, with spare pins and a case) and Redexim's Infill Thickness Tester (three replaceable prongs) all work that way. If you want readings logged and mapped, the Mascaro Infill and Cleat Depth Tester sold by Turf-Tec records to an app over Bluetooth and also measures cleat penetration.
There's no single interval for every field. Your field builder's maintenance manual and warranty set the target depth and inspection schedule, so start there. Turf-Tec's own instructions say to test wear areas more often than the rest of the field, because that's where infill gets displaced. Many crews check high-wear zones (goal mouths, center circle, hash marks, bench areas) before each season and after heavy-use stretches, and the whole grid before a formal inspection.
Take readings on a consistent grid so you can compare them over time, and add extra points in high-wear zones: goal mouths, penalty areas, the center circle, hash marks, bench and sideline areas, and anywhere teams warm up. Turf-Tec's instructions say to check two or three spots at each location and average them.
You can get a rough idea by parting the fibers and measuring to the backing, but the reading depends on how hard you push and where you stop. A gauge with a foot plate that rests on the infill surface and pins that stop at the backing gives a repeatable number, which is the point of measuring. Economy gauges such as Turf-Tec's IDG2-M cost little compared with a top-dressing job done in the wrong places.
No. An infill depth gauge measures how much infill is between the fibers. Gmax testing measures how hard the surface is on impact, using a weighted missile and an accelerometer. They're related, because low infill usually means a harder surface, but a depth reading doesn't replace a Gmax test. Our Gmax testing guide explains the formal test.
Not always. Turf-Tec's guidance makes the point that infill is often redistributed rather than lost, so grooming and brushing material back from the edges and low spots can fix a lot of readings. Measure first, groom, then measure again. Top-dress only where depth is still below your builder's spec.
Related: infill depth by sport · Gmax testing · infill top-dressing · infill types · best groomers and sweepers · field inspections
Sources (accessed November 10, 2026): Turf-Tec Professional Model Infill Depth Gauge (IDG1-M); Turf-Tec Economy Infill Depth Gauge (IDG2-M); Deltec Equipment Infill Depth Meter; Redexim Infill Thickness Tester; Redexim Ball Roll and Rebound tester; Mascaro Infill and Cleat Depth Tester (MICDT-M), Turf-Tec. Specs are manufacturer-published and may change, so confirm them with the seller.