Sand Calculator
Sand is fine granular material used for paver bedding, joint filling, concrete and mortar mixes, and leveling. Work out exactly how much you need below.
Sets a typical depth — tweak anything below.
For a 20 ft × 10 ft area at 2 in deep, order about 1.36 cubic yards (1.83 US tons) of sand.
Estimates only. Densities vary by moisture, compaction and supplier — confirm quantities before ordering.
What is sand?
Sand is fine granular material with grains from about 0.06 to 2 mm. Common landscaping and construction types include sharp/concrete sand, masonry sand, and paver (bedding) sand.
What is sand used for?
Used as a bedding layer under pavers, for filling paver joints, in concrete and mortar mixes, in sandboxes, and for leveling. Different jobs call for different sands — paver bases use sharp/concrete sand, joints use fine sand.
How much does sand weigh?
A cubic yard of sand weighs about 1.35 US tons — roughly 1600 kg/m³, or about 100 lb/ft³. Moisture and compaction shift this, so the calculator applies this density and lets you change it in the extra options if your supplier quotes a different figure.
Coverage by depth
| Depth | Coverage per ton | Coverage per cubic yard |
|---|---|---|
| 1 inch | ~240 sq ft | 324 sq ft |
| 2 inches | ~120 sq ft | 162 sq ft |
| 3 inches | ~80 sq ft | 108 sq ft |
| 4 inches | ~60 sq ft | 81 sq ft |
| 6 inches | ~40 sq ft | 54 sq ft |
Based on about 1600 kg/m³. Actual coverage varies with compaction and moisture.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Guessing the depth. Too shallow and the material shifts and shows the ground beneath. Most surface layers want 2–4 inches; load-bearing bases are built up thicker.
- Forgetting to convert inches to feet. Depth is quoted in inches but volume math is in feet — 4 inches is 0.33 ft, not 4. The calculator handles this, but hand estimates often don't.
- Skipping the waste allowance. Ground is never perfectly flat and material settles once it's placed. Order 5–10% extra so a small shortfall doesn't trigger a second delivery.
- Using the wrong density. Each material weighs differently, so tonnage can be off by 20%+ if you use a generic figure. Pick the right material and adjust the density if your supplier differs.
- Buying bags for a big job. Bagged material costs far more per cubic yard than bulk. Past roughly one cubic yard, a bulk delivery is almost always cheaper.
Frequently asked questions
How much sand for a paver base?+
A 1-inch sand bedding layer over a compacted road-base sub-base is standard. Enter your paver area and 1 inch of depth to get the sand amount; order a little extra for screeding.
How much does a yard of sand weigh?+
Dry sand runs roughly 1.2–1.4 tons per cubic yard; wet sand is heavier. The calculator uses a typical dry-sand density you can adjust in the options.
What kind of sand goes under pavers?+
Sharp, coarse sand — sold as concrete sand or ASTM C33 — for the bedding layer. It stays put and drains. Don't use fine masonry sand or play sand for bedding; they hold water and let pavers settle unevenly. For the joints between pavers, use polymeric sand, which hardens to lock them and resist weeds. Bedding sand and joint sand are two different products.
How thick should the sand layer under pavers be?+
One inch, screeded flat and level — no more. A thicker bed feels like it should help, but it's the classic mistake: pavers sink into deep sand and go wavy. The strength comes from a compacted road-base underneath (around 4 inches); the sand is just a thin, even setting layer on top.