Material takeoff
How much sand do I need?
Set the area and depth for bedding sand, play sand, or leveling sand, and get volume, weight, and bag counts.
How the math works
cubic yards = square feet × depth in inches ÷ 324
tons = cubic yards × density, with sand running about 1.3 to 1.4 tons per cubic yard.
Sand is dense and heavy. A cubic yard weighs roughly 2,600 to 2,800 pounds, which is over the payload capacity of most half-ton pickups.
Which sand for which job
Paver bedding wants coarse concrete sand, sometimes labeled ASTM C33, at one inch screeded flat. It drains and it locks.
Paver joints want polymeric sand, which is a different product with binders that harden when wetted. It is not the same as bedding sand and cannot substitute.
Play areas want washed play sand, which has had the silt and fine particles removed so it does not stain or cake.
Leveling a lawn wants a sand and topsoil mix rather than pure sand, applied thinly. Pure sand over clay creates a layered profile that drains worse than either material alone.
Where people get it wrong
- Fine sand under pavers
- Mason or play sand under a patio holds water and washes out. Coarse concrete sand is the correct product.
- Bedding sand deeper than an inch
- A thick sand bed is not a substitute for base stone. It rolls and settles unevenly under load.
- Pure sand to fix clay soil
- Sand and clay together can compact into something denser than either. Organic matter is the better amendment.
- Overloading the truck
- A cubic yard of sand can exceed 2,700 pounds. Check payload before you load.
Background
Sand is one word covering several products that are not interchangeable. Concrete sand is coarse and drains, and it belongs under pavers. Play sand is washed and fine. Mason sand is fine and uniform, for mortar. Using the wrong one under a patio is a common and expensive mistake, because fine sand holds water and migrates.
What you need for the job
Common questions
How much does a yard of sand weigh?
About 2,600 to 2,800 pounds, heavier when wet.
How much sand do I need under pavers?
One inch of coarse concrete sand, screeded flat over compacted base. For 100 square feet that is about 0.31 cubic yards.
How many 50 lb bags of sand in a cubic yard?
About 54, since a 50 pound bag holds roughly half a cubic foot.
What kind of sand goes under a pool?
Most above-ground pool installations call for masonry sand or a similar fine, screened sand for the base, but follow the pool manufacturer's specification since it affects the warranty.
Can I use play sand under pavers?
No. Play sand is too fine, holds water, and migrates. Use coarse concrete sand for the bedding layer.
Measuring by hand is where estimates go wrong
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