Types of Geotextiles: 11 Types of Geotextile Fabric Explained
Geotextile fabric is a versatile material used for soil stabilization, drainage, and erosion control. There are a few types of geotextiles, each designed for specific functions. The main categories include woven geotextiles, non-woven geotextiles, and knitted geotextiles, with differences in structure, strength, and filtration capabilities.
Geotextiles are used across construction, landscaping, and civil engineering projects. Below, we explore each type of geotextile fabric, breaking down its key characteristics, applications, and how to choose the right one for your projectโs needs.
Types of geotextile fabric table
To better understand the differences between the types of geotextiles, the table below provides a side-by-side comparison of each geotextile fabric type, highlighting their structure, key properties, and common applications.
Use this overview to identify which fabric best fits your projectโs needs quickly.
| Term | Category | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Monofilament | Woven | High strength + filtration; good for drainage too |
| Slit Film | Woven | Great for stabilization; low permeability |
| Needle Punched | Nonwoven | Common, soft, breathable; ideal for filtration/drainage |
| Heat-Bonded | Nonwoven | Designed for stability and reduced fiber migration |
| Polyspun | Nonwoven (Spunbond) | Marketing term; usually lightweight spunbond |
| Knitted | Other | Flexible; niche uses |
| Composite | Combo | Tailored performance (e.g., drainage + barrier + strength) |
| High-Strength | Often Woven | Specialty category; heavy-duty geotechnical use |
| Geogrid-Geotextile Composites | Other | Tensile strength and separation with enhanced load distribution |
| Drainage Geocomposites | Other | Improve subsurface water flow while filtering fine particles |
| Bituminous-Coated Geotextiles | Other | Reduce permeability and increase chemical resistance |
Looking for high-quality geotextile fabric? Browse our selection of woven and non-woven geotextiles here to find the right solution for your next project.
Geotextile types and uses: A deeper look
What are geotextiles, and how do their different forms shape performance in real-world applications? Geotextiles are engineered fabrics used to stabilize soil, enhance drainage, and prevent erosion across construction, landscaping, and civil projects.
What is geotextile fabric used for? Geotextile fabric is commonly used for soil stabilization, filtration, drainage, separation, and erosion control in road construction, retaining walls, embankments, and landscaping projects. Its function depends on the type of geotextile selected and the specific site conditions.
The main types of geotextile fabric include woven, non-woven, knitted, and composite variationsโeach suited to specific needs. Choosing the right geotextile depends on the applicationโs structural requirements, filtration needs, and site conditions.
Woven
Woven geotextiles are created by weaving polypropylene filaments into strong, durable sheets. These are commonly used for soil separation, reinforcement, and load support in road construction and embankments. Their tight weave structure offers low permeability, making them less suitable for filtration but ideal where strength and stability are essential.
Monofilament
Made from single continuous filaments, monofilament woven geotextiles allow for moderate water flow while offering excellent durability and soil retention. Theyโre often used in marine and drainage applications requiring both filtration and strength.
๐ย According to AASHTO M288 standards, monofilament fabrics are recommended for filtration under drainage structures like culverts and retaining walls.
Industries: Marine construction, roadways, landfill liners, and erosion control near waterways.
Slit Film
Slit film geotextiles are produced by slitting plastic sheets into ribbons and weaving them. These offer high tensile strength but poor filtration due to their flat, tape-like structure.
Used in the I-85 road widening project in Georgia to prevent subgrade mixingโengineers reported a 20% improvement in base stability over non-reinforced areas.
Industries: Highway construction, parking lots, and athletic field bases.
Non-woven
Non-woven geotextiles are made by bonding spunbond polypropylene or polyester fibers through needle-punching or heat. These fabrics are ideal for filtration, drainage, and erosion control due to their high permeability and flexibility.
Needle-Punched
These are commonly used as non-woven filter fabric in drainage systems because they allow water to pass while retaining fine soil particles. They’re also used as cushion layers in landfill liners.
Industries: Stormwater management, drainage trenches, and roadway subsurface systems.
According to the FHWA (Federal Highway Administration), needle-punched non-wovens are standard for sub-surface drainage systems.
Heat-Bonded
Designed for stability and reduced fiber migration, heat-bonded non-wovens are used in lightweight separation and filtration where strength is less critical.
Industries: Landscaping, filtration under pavers, and agricultural use.
Spunbond
Spunbond non-wovens are created by extruding continuous filaments that are then bonded together. This process results in a stronger surface and a more uniform structure compared to other non-wovens. These geotextiles are suitable for applications requiring consistent strength and dimensional stability.
Industries: Agricultural coverings, weed barriers, and geocomposites in civil engineering.
Knitted
Knitted geotextiles are produced by interlocking yarns in a knitted structure, offering flexibility and strength but lower resistance to deformation. Theyโre often used in temporary applications or in conjunction with other fabrics.
Use Cases: Steep slope stabilization, turf reinforcement, and lightweight erosion control where conformability to uneven surfaces is needed.
Industries: Environmental restoration, slope protection, and geosynthetics installation where high flexibility is needed.
Other types of geotextiles
Some geotextiles donโt fall neatly into the woven, non-woven, or knitted categories. These specialized fabrics are engineered for advanced structural or environmental needs, providing tailored solutions in challenging or highly regulated applications.
Composite Geotextiles
Composite fabrics combine woven and non-woven layers to deliver both reinforcement and filtration in one product. They are particularly effective in sites with poor subgrade soils or where dual functionality is required.
Industries: Mining, railroads, coastal engineering, levees, and landfill capping systems.
High-Strength Geotextiles
Designed for extreme load-bearing situations, high-strength geotextiles feature exceptional tensile strength and elongation resistance. Theyโre used where soil reinforcement under heavy structures is critical.
Industries: Infrastructure, industrial civil engineering, steep embankments, retaining walls, bridge abutments, and geotextile road fabric in high-traffic zones.
Geogrid-Geotextile Composites
These materials combine a geotextile fabric with a geogrid layer for added reinforcement. They offer tensile strength and separation with enhanced load distribution.
Industries: Reinforced slopes, base reinforcement under paved and unpaved roads, mechanically stabilized earth (MSE) walls.
Drainage Geocomposites
Drainage geocomposites integrate geotextiles with drainage cores or nets to improve subsurface water flow while filtering fine particles.
Industries: Retaining walls, landfill drainage systems, sports fields, and green roofs.
Bituminous-Coated Geotextiles
These are geotextiles coated with bitumen to reduce permeability and increase chemical resistance, used in containment or waterproofing applications.
Industries: Road overlays, waterproofing membranes, containment liners.
Selecting the correct geotextile depends on knowing theย difference between woven and non-woven geotextile, knowing your siteโs soil conditions, and matching the fabricโs physical properties to the application. Whether itโs a geotextile driveway fabric for residential use or geotextile road fabric for highways, choosing the right type ensures performance, durability, and cost-efficiency.
Is polypropylene fabric waterproof? It dependsโwoven polypropylene offers good moisture resistance and is commonly used in many types of waterproof fabric, but breathability and permeability vary by weave type.
Consider Palmetto Industries for your geotextiles needs
When it comes to reliable geotextile solutions, Palmetto Industries offers high-quality products tailored for construction, landscaping, and industrial applications. We supply durable woven polypropylene fabric for soil stabilization and reinforcement, as well as spunbond polypropylene fabric for filtration and drainage applications. Both options are engineered for long-term performance in demanding environments.
Whether you need geotextile fabric for roadways, retaining walls, or erosion control, we can help you choose the right material for your project.
Contact us today atย 888-307-6595 or visit our Contact Us page to request pricing and expert recommendations for your geotextile needs.
Key takeaways on the types of geotextile fabric
Geotextile fabric is vital in civil engineering applications, offering solutions for soil stabilization, separation, filtration, and drainage. Different typesโwoven geotextiles, nonwoven geotextiles, knitted geotextilesโserve unique functions depending on soil characteristics and particular applications.
Woven fabrics are ideal for reinforcement, preventing soil mixing and enhancing load capacity in geotextiles in construction like roads and railways. Nonwoven fabrics, including needle-punched geotextiles, are best for filtration purposes and erosion control due to their highly permeable structure. Knitted geotextiles are made by interlocking a series of loops of yarn together, providing flexibility for irregular surfaces.
Each manufacturing method affects strength, dimensional stability, and durability under direct sunlight. Geotextiles may also be used in environmental applications, asphalt reinforcement, or geomembranes, depending on project demands.
Selecting the right geotextile ensures performance and prevents issues like clogging or soil migration over time.
Types of Geotextiles FAQs
By Purvis King
Bringing over 35 years of textile and flexible packaging experience to Palmetto, Mr. King earned his Bachelorโs Degree in Mathematics and Physics from Augusta College in 1985. He is skilled in all aspects of manufacturing and engineering of flexible, woven polypropylene plastics. In his free time Mr. King enjoys playing disc golf with his two sons and enjoying the outdoors.
