Sand Calculator
Estimate sand for paver bases, sandboxes and leveling in cubic yards, tons and 50 lb bags.
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How to Calculate
Volume (yd³) = length × width × depth in feet ÷ 27. Dry sand weighs about 1.35 tons per cubic yard.
Pavers typically need a 1 inch bedding layer of concrete sand over a compacted gravel base.
A 50 lb bag holds roughly 0.5 ft³.
See our methodology for how every calculator on this site is built.
Worked Example: Bedding Sand for a Paver Patio
A paver patio 14 ft by 12 ft, with the standard 1 inch of bedding sand over a compacted gravel base:
- Area: 14 × 12 = 168 ft²
- Depth in feet: 1 ÷ 12 = 0.0833 ft
- Volume: 168 × 0.0833 = 14 ft³
- Cubic yards: 14 ÷ 27 = 0.52 yd³
- Weight: 0.52 × 1.35 = 0.70 tons (1,400 lb)
- 50 lb bags: 1,400 ÷ 50 = 28 bags
Add a few bags because screeding always pushes some sand off the edges. You will also need joint sand after the pavers go down. Polymeric sand for a patio this size with standard joints is usually 3 to 5 bags, but check the coverage chart on the bag for your paver size and joint width.
Sand per 100 Square Feet
| Depth | Cubic yards | Tons | 50 lb bags |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 in (paver bedding) | 0.31 | 0.42 | 17 |
| 2 in (leveling) | 0.62 | 0.83 | 34 |
| 6 in (sandbox) | 1.85 | 2.50 | 100 |
| 12 in (deep sandbox, volleyball) | 3.70 | 5.00 | 200 |
Which Sand for Which Job
Concrete sand
Coarse and angular. It's the standard bedding layer under pavers and flagstone because the grains lock together and drain well. Also what you'd mix with cement and gravel for site-mixed concrete.
Mason sand
Finer and more uniform. Used for mortar and stucco. Some people use it in sandboxes because it's softer. It's not ideal under pavers since it holds water and shifts.
Play sand
Washed and screened fine sand sold in bags for sandboxes. Look for bags that say they've been washed. Don't use it under pavers.
Polymeric sand
Joint sand with a binder that hardens when wetted. It resists weeds and ants and keeps joints from washing out. It goes between pavers only, never as a bedding layer.
Common Mistakes
- Using sand to fix a bad base. If the gravel base is uneven, adding 2 or 3 inches of sand to level it causes sinking and wavy pavers later. Fix the base and keep the sand at 1 inch.
- Compacting the bedding sand before laying pavers. Screed it smooth and leave it loose. The pavers are set on top and the whole thing gets compacted together.
- Walking on screeded sand. Every footprint is a dip. Work from the pavers you've already laid.
- Polymeric sand on a wet patio. The pavers must be completely dry before you sweep it in, or it hardens on the surface and leaves a haze that's hard to remove.
Rough Cost
Bulk concrete or mason sand typically runs around $25 to $55 per ton, plus delivery. A 50 lb bag of all-purpose or play sand is usually $5 to $8, and polymeric sand is more, often $25 to $45 per bag. For anything over about half a ton, bulk delivery tends to be cheaper and saves a lot of lifting.
Sources
Common questions
Frequently Asked Questions
How much sand under pavers?
Use 1 inch of bedding sand. Too much sand causes pavers to shift and sink.
How much sand for a sandbox?
A 5×5 ft box filled 12 in deep needs about 0.9 yd³, roughly 1.25 tons.
What type of sand for pavers?
Coarse concrete sand for bedding; polymeric sand for filling joints.
Can I use play sand for pavers?
No. Play sand is fine and rounded, so it shifts and washes out. Use coarse, angular concrete sand for bedding.
Should sand be compacted?
Bedding sand is screeded flat and left loose; the plate compactor goes over the pavers after they are laid. The gravel base underneath is what gets compacted in lifts.