Sand for pavers
Pavers sit on 1 inch of bedding sand over 4 to 6 inches of compacted gravel base. One cubic yard of sand covers about 324 sq ft at 1 inch. A 10 × 10 ft patio needs about 0.34 cubic yards, roughly half a ton with extra.
Tons = length × width × depth (ft) ÷ 27 × tons per yard
Which sand?
| Sand | Use |
|---|---|
| Concrete (coarse) sand | Paver bedding, concrete mix |
| Mason sand | Mortar, smooth play areas |
| Play sand | Sandboxes (washed and screened) |
| Fill sand | Backfill, raising grade |
| Polymeric sand | Paver joints only, sold in bags |
How many bags of sand are in a yard?
54 bags of 0.5 cubic feet make one cubic yard. Many 50 lb bags of sand hold about 0.5 cubic feet, so a yard is roughly 54 of those bags, about 1.35 tons in all.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a yard of sand weigh?
About 1.3 to 1.4 tons dry, more when wet.
How many bags of play sand fill a sandbox?
A 5 × 5 ft box 6 inches deep holds 12.5 cubic feet, about 25 bags of 0.5 cubic feet.
How much sand do I need under pavers?
1 inch, which is about 1 cubic yard per 324 sq ft.
Reference charts
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