Paver Sand Calculator
Enter your paver area and sand depth to get the cubic feet, yards, and tons of bedding sand you need.
What your result means
Tons is the bulk order unit. Cubic feet and yards help you cross-check or buy bagged for a small patio. Use coarse bedding sand (concrete or torpedo sand), not play sand, and keep the layer at exactly 1 inch. Polymeric sand for the joints is a separate product, swept in after the pavers are down.
How to use this calculator
- Calculate paver area in sq ft.
- Sand depth for paver leveling = 1 inch standard.
- Read cubic feet, yards, and tons of sand.
- Buy bedding sand (also called concrete sand or torpedo sand).
- For joints, use polymeric sand separately.
The formula
Volume in cubic feet is the paver area times the sand depth in feet. Divide by 27 for cubic yards, and multiply cubic feet by the 100 lb density over 2,000 for tons.
Worked example
Say you've got a 200 sq ft patio with a 1 inch sand layer. That's 16.67 cubic feet, 0.62 cubic yards, or 0.83 tons. A bulk supplier usually has a 1 ton minimum, so you'd order a ton.
Paver bedding sand quick reference
| Item | Spec |
|---|---|
| Layer depth | 1 in (no more) |
| Sand type | Bedding / concrete / torpedo (coarse) |
| Joints | Polymeric sand (separate) |
| Coverage per ton | ~240 sq ft at 1 in |
Tips & gotchas
- Keep the leveling sand at 1 inch, no thicker, or the pavers will shift.
- Use coarse bedding sand (concrete or torpedo sand), not play sand.
- After the pavers are set, sweep polymeric sand into the joints. That's a separate product.
- Compact the base material before you add any sand.
- Screed the sand flat with a board before laying pavers.
Frequently asked questions
What kind of sand goes under pavers?
Bedding sand, also called concrete or torpedo sand. Coarse, angular grains.
How deep should paver sand be?
One inch is the standard. Don't go thicker or the pavers will shift.
Can I use play sand under pavers?
No. Play sand is too fine and round, and pavers sink into it.
Do I need polymeric sand?
Yes, for the joints between pavers. It hardens to lock them and keep out weeds and ants.
How much paver sand for a 200 sq ft patio?
About 1 ton at a 1 inch depth. Use the calculator for an exact figure.
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