Calculate your materials
What you'll need to buy
- Sand (bags or bulk)All-purpose, mason, play, or fill sandShop
- Polymeric joint sandFor locking paver joints (separate)Shop
- Tamper / plate compactorLevels and firms the sand bedShop
- Screed board + pipesStrikes the sand to a uniform 1" depthShop
- Landscape fabricSeparates sand from the soil belowShop
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How the math works
A 100 sq ft paver patio with a 1" sand bed = 100 × (1 ÷ 12) = 8.33 cu ft = 0.31 cubic yards ≈ 0.42 tons, or 17 bags of 0.5 cu ft sand. With 10% waste, round up to 19 bags.
Formula
Reference values
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Dry sand | ≈ 1.35 tons / yd³ (~2,700 lb) |
| Fill / damp sand | ≈ 1.45 tons / yd³ |
| 1 cubic yard | = 27 cu ft = 54 bags (0.5 cu ft) |
| 0.5 cu ft bag @ 1" | covers 6 sq ft |
| 1" paver bed | standard bedding depth |
Step by step
- Measure the area length and width for square footage.
- Pick a depth (1" for paver bedding, 2–3" for a sandbox).
- Multiply area × depth in feet for cubic feet, then divide by 27 for cubic yards.
- Convert to 0.5 cu ft bags or tons (×1.35 dry), add waste, and round up.
Waste allowance
Always add a waste factor: more for diagonal, herringbone, or irregular layouts and for trenches in rocky soil. It's cheaper to round up than to pay for a second delivery.
Bags vs. bulk
Bagged material is convenient for small jobs, but loose/bulk delivery is almost always cheaper per unit once you pass roughly 1–3 cubic yards. Compare the per-cubic-yard price before deciding.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a yard of sand weigh?
Dry sand weighs about 1.35 tons per cubic yard — roughly 2,700 lb. Damp or fill sand holds water and weighs more, closer to 1.45 tons (2,900 lb) per cubic yard, which is why suppliers sell by volume.
How many 0.5 cu ft bags of sand are in a yard?
A cubic yard is 27 cubic feet, so it equals 54 bags of 0.5 cu ft sand. Past about a yard, ordering bulk sand by the ton is much cheaper than buying bags.
How much sand do I need for a sandbox?
Multiply the box's length × width × sand depth in feet for cubic feet. A 6 ft × 6 ft box filled 3" deep needs 36 × 0.25 = 9 cubic feet — about 18 bags of 0.5 cu ft play sand.
What kind of sand goes under pavers?
Use coarse concrete or all-purpose 'bedding' sand in a 1" leveling layer — not fine play sand, which shifts. Polymeric sand goes in the joints afterward to lock the pavers and resist weeds.
How many tons of sand do I need?
Find your cubic yards (area × depth in feet ÷ 27), then multiply by 1.35 for dry sand. For example, 1 cubic yard of dry sand is about 1.35 tons; order a touch more for fill or damp sand.
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