How to use the paver sand calculator
- Enter the paved area (the sand layer only needs to cover the pavers, not the extra base margin).
- Leave the depth at 1 inch for a standard bedding layer. Raise it only if your installation guide says so.
- Pick dry or damp sand. Bulk sand from an outdoor pile is usually damp and heavier per yard; bagged sand is typically dry.
- Choose your bag size and enter the price to compare bagged and bulk options.
Bedding sand vs joint sand
Bedding sand is a coarse, washed concrete sand (ASTM C33 grading is the common specification) screeded to an even 1-inch layer. It lets you seat pavers at a consistent height. This is what the calculator estimates.
Joint sand is swept into the gaps after the pavers are laid. It is usually a finer sand or a polymeric sand. Coverage for joint sand depends on paver shape and joint width, so follow the coverage chart on the bag. Coverage varies widely: narrow joints on thick, square-edged pavers use little, while wide joints and tumbled pavers use several times more.
Avoid play sand, masonry sand and stone dust for the bedding layer unless your paver manufacturer approves them; fine sands hold water and can lead to settling.
The formula
Cubic feet = area (sq ft) × depth (in) ÷ 12 × (1 + waste %)
Tons = cubic feet × density ÷ 2,000 · Bags = pounds ÷ bag weight
The Engineering ToolBox lists dry sand at about 97 lb/ft³ (1,555 kg/m³) and wet sand at about 119 lb/ft³ (1,905 kg/m³). In tons per cubic yard that is about 1.31 dry and 1.61 wet. Damp bulk sand also "bulks up" (takes more space), which roughly offsets the extra weight when you buy by the ton.
Worked example
A 12 × 12 ft paver patio with a 1-inch bedding layer and 10% waste:
- Area: 144 sq ft
- Volume: 144 × 1 ÷ 12 = 12 cu ft; with 10% = 13.2 cu ft = 0.49 yd³
- Weight at 97 lb/ft³: 1,280 lb = 0.64 tons
- In 50 lb bags: 1,280 ÷ 50 = 25.6 → 26 bags
For a project this size, bagged sand is convenient. For 400 sq ft or more, a half-yard or one-yard bulk delivery is usually cheaper.
Screeding tips
- Use screed rails. Lay two 1-inch steel pipes or conduit on the base, fill sand between them, and pull a straight board across. Remove the pipes and fill the grooves.
- Do not compact the bedding sand before laying pavers. It is compacted together with the pavers at the end.
- Do not use sand to fix low spots. Fix them in the base layer; thick sand areas settle unevenly. Use the paver base calculator to plan the base.
- Keep it dry-ish. Cover the sand pile if rain is expected; saturated sand is hard to screed.
Frequently asked questions
How much sand do I need under pavers?
About 1 inch of bedding sand. That is 1 cubic foot per 12 sq ft of pavers, or about 0.31 cubic yards per 100 sq ft before waste.
How many bags of paver sand do I need for 100 sq ft?
At 1 inch deep, 100 sq ft needs about 8.3 cu ft of sand, roughly 810 lb dry, or about 17 bags of 50 lb, plus 10% for waste.
How much does a cubic yard of sand weigh?
About 2,600 lb (1.3 tons) dry and up to about 3,200 lb (1.6 tons) wet, based on The Engineering ToolBox density figures.
Can I use stone dust instead of sand under pavers?
Some installers do, but many paver manufacturers recommend coarse concrete sand because stone dust can hold water. Follow your paver manufacturer's guidance.
How thick should the sand be under pavers?
About 1 inch, screeded flat. Layers much thicker than 1.5 inches tend to settle unevenly.