How much sand do I need for a paver base?

Use 1 inch of sand over a 4 to 6 inch compacted gravel base. For a 100 square foot patio, you need about 8.3 cubic feet or 0.31 cubic yards of sand.

How much does a cubic yard of sand weigh?

A cubic yard of sand weighs approximately 1.35 tons (2,700 pounds). Wet sand is heavier than dry sand.

What type of sand is best for pavers?

Use coarse concrete sand or bedding sand for paver bases. Its angular grains compact well and resist shifting. Avoid play sand or mason sand for structural bases.

Sand calculator

How much sand do I need?

Estimate sand volume in cubic feet, cubic yards, and tons for paver bases, sandboxes, and construction projects.

Sand calculator

Sand calculator result

Choosing the Right Sand Type

Sand type matters for drainage, compaction, and the specific requirements of your project. Using the wrong sand can lead to poor concrete, unstable pavers, or drainage problems.

Concrete Sand: Coarse sand with angular grains that lock together well. Used as a key ingredient in concrete mixes and as a base layer for patios, pavers, and retaining walls. Provides excellent compaction and drainage.

Mason Sand: Finer and softer than concrete sand, mason sand is used for mortar mixes, sandboxes, and as a base for above-ground pools. Its smooth texture makes it easy to work with but less stable for load-bearing bases.

Play Sand: Washed and screened to remove impurities and sharp particles. Safe for sandboxes, play areas, and volleyball courts. Not suitable for construction or concrete work due to its fine, round grain structure.

Fill Sand: A general-purpose, unprocessed sand used for backfilling, grading, and raising ground levels. It compacts moderately well and is the most economical option for large-volume fill projects.

Sand Type Cheat Sheet

Use this reference to select the right sand:

Type	Best For	Grain
Concrete Sand	Concrete mixes, paver bases, retaining wall backfill	Coarse, angular
Mason Sand	Mortar mixes, sandboxes, pool bases, leveling	Fine, smooth
Play Sand	Sandboxes, play areas, volleyball courts	Very fine, round
Fill Sand	Backfilling, grading, raising ground levels	Varies

Sand types and uses

Concrete sand: Coarse sand used in concrete mixes and as a base for pavers
Play sand: Fine, clean sand for sandboxes and playgrounds
Mason sand: Fine sand for mortar and paver joints
Fill sand: Used for backfill and grading, may contain small stones

Different sand types have slightly different weights. The calculator uses 1.35 tons per cubic yard as an average for damp sand.

Worked example

For example, for a 10×8 ft paver base, 1 inch of sand over 4 inches of gravel:

Area = 10 × 8 = 80 sq ft
Sand volume = 80 × (1 ÷ 12) = 6.67 cu ft
Cubic yards = 6.67 ÷ 27 = 0.25 yd³
Weight = 0.25 × 1.35 = 0.34 tons
Order 0.5 tons to have extra for screeding and leveling

Common mistakes

Mistake	Why it matters
Using the wrong sand type	Concrete/paver sand, not play sand — it has angular grains that lock together
Skipping the gravel base	Sand alone is not enough — 4 inches of compacted gravel is needed under sand for patios
Not screeding level	Use 1-inch PVC pipes as guides to screed the sand perfectly flat before laying pavers