[stonecalc id=”sand”]
Sand Calculator Guide
Sand shows up in almost every hardscape build — a one-inch bedding layer under pavers, joint fill between them, leveling under pools and hot tubs, backfill around pipes, and the fine aggregate in mortar and concrete. This calculator converts your dimensions into cubic yards, tons, and 50 lb bags at a practical ordering density of 1.5 tons per cubic yard.
Sand is deceptively heavy: a “small” half-yard order still weighs three-quarters of a ton. Check the bag count in your results before deciding between bagged and bulk — the crossover point where bulk delivery wins is lower than most people expect, at around half a ton.
How Much Does Sand Weigh?
| Condition | Tons per yd³ | Lb per ft³ |
|---|---|---|
| Dry, loose sand | 1.35 | ≈ 100 |
| Slightly damp (as delivered) | 1.50 | ≈ 110 |
| Wet sand | 1.60 | ≈ 120 |
| Compacted sand | 1.60+ | ≈ 120+ |
Moisture is why two identical loads can differ on the scale by 10–15%. Suppliers weigh what leaves the yard, so damp winter sand costs slightly more per usable yard than dry summer sand — worth knowing, not worth losing sleep over.
Which Sand for Which Job?
- Concrete (washed coarse) sand: the correct choice for paver bedding — sharp grains that drain and lock.
- Mason sand: finer and screened for mortar mixing and smooth finishes.
- Polymeric sand: joint filling between laid pavers — binds when wetted, resists weeds and washout.
- Play sand: washed, rounded, and certified for sandboxes — too soft for structural use.
- Fill sand: unwashed and cheap, for trench backfill and rough leveling.
The One-Inch Rule for Paver Bedding
Bedding sand is a leveling layer, not a structural one. Screed it to a uniform 1 inch — never more than 1.5 inches — over a properly compacted base. Every extra inch of sand is an inch that can wash out, shift, and telegraph waves into your finished surface. If your base is out of level by more than an inch, fix the base with more crushed stone (see the paver base calculator), don’t bury the problem in sand.
[stonecalc_faq id=”sand”]