How much sand do I need?
One cubic yard of sand covers 324 square feet at 1 inch deep, 162 square feet at 2 inches, and 108 square feet at 3 inches. A ton covers about 250 square feet at 1 inch.
For paver bedding the depth is not negotiable: 1 inch of screeded sand, over a compacted base. That is the figure in every interlocking-paver specification, and the reason is that bedding sand does not stop compacting — a 2-inch bed will keep settling under traffic long after the job is signed off. If you need more height, add base, not sand.
Worked example: a 20 ft × 12 ft patio at 1 inch is 240 sq ft × 0.0833 ft = 20 cubic feet = 0.74 cubic yards. Add 10% for the screed losses and you order 0.8 yards, about 1.1 tons.
How the calculation works
Cubic yards = length × width × (depth ÷ 12) ÷ 27. Tons = cubic yards × pounds per cubic yard ÷ 2,000.
Dry loose sand runs about 2,500–2,700 lb per cubic yard depending on grading. Damp yard stock — which is what you will actually be sold — is around 6% heavier, and sand that has sat through rain can be 15% heavier. That water is invisible on the scale ticket.
Sand is one of the few materials where buying more than you need is genuinely cheap, and running short is expensive: you cannot screed half a patio, walk away for a day, and expect the joint to be invisible. A 10% allowance is standard.
Bagged sand is quoted in pounds, not volume. A 50 lb bag holds about half a cubic foot, so 54 bags make a cubic yard. Past roughly 20 bags, bulk is cheaper even with a trip charge.
Typical sand cost, mid-2026
| Material | Unit | Typical range |
|---|---|---|
| Fill sandBackfill and grading only | per yd³ | $10.00 – $25.00 |
| Concrete / sharp sandThe correct paver bedding | per yd³ | $20.00 – $45.00 |
| Mason sandMortar and grout — not bedding | per yd³ | $25.00 – $50.00 |
| Play sand (washed) | per yd³ | $30.00 – $60.00 |
| Bagged sand | per 50 lb bag | $4.00 – $8.00 |
| Polymeric joint sandJoints only, ~100 sq ft/bag | per 50 lb bag | $25.00 – $45.00 |
| Delivery | per load | $75.00 – $175 |
Polymeric sand fills the joints between pavers and is a different product at roughly five times the price. It is not a substitute for bedding sand and does not go under anything.
What goes wrong on this job
- Bedding sand must be angular. Ask for concrete sand or ASTM C33 — if the yard offers you mason sand for a patio, they are selling you a callback.
- Screed to exactly 1 inch and do not compact the bedding before laying. You compact through the pavers at the end, which locks the sand into the joints from below.
- Buy bedding and joint sand at the same time, but never interchange them. Polymeric joint sand under a paver sets hard and cracks; bedding sand in a joint washes out in the first storm.
- Order damp, work damp. Bone-dry sand will not hold a screed line and blows off the board; sopping sand drags. Yard-damp is what you want.
- A cubic yard of sand weighs well over a ton. A half-ton pickup legally carries about half a yard — two trips and a bent leaf spring is not a saving.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a yard of sand weigh?
About 2,600 lb dry, roughly 2,750 lb at typical damp yard moisture, and up to 3,000 lb after heavy rain. That is 1.3 to 1.5 tons per cubic yard.
How much sand do I need under pavers?
One inch of screeded concrete sand over a compacted base — no more. One cubic yard covers about 324 square feet at that depth. Extra sand is the most common cause of a patio going wavy in its second year.
How many 50 lb bags of sand make a cubic yard?
About 54. Each 50 lb bag holds roughly 0.5 cubic feet, and there are 27 cubic feet in a yard.
What is the difference between mason sand and concrete sand?
Mason sand is finely screened and smooth, made for mixing mortar. Concrete sand is coarser and angular, so it interlocks and holds its shape under load. Bedding, base and concrete want concrete sand; brick and block joints want mason sand.
Can I use play sand under pavers?
No. Play sand is washed and rounded so it is safe to handle, which is exactly what makes it unstable under load. It will consolidate and rut.