Find out exactly how much sand your project needs — in tons, cubic yards, bags, and estimated cost. Paver, play, masonry, concrete, and fill sand.
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Depth:
~1″ for paver leveling, deeper for bedding or fill.
Sets the density used to convert volume → tons.
Useful for base & fill sand that gets tamped down.
Bulk sand often runs ~$25–50 / ton delivered.
You will need
Estimated sand cost:
Bags assume 0.5 cu ft each (≈50 lb bag). Tons are US (short) tons. Sand weight varies with moisture — always round up and confirm with your supplier.
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How much sand do I need?
Sand is sold by the ton or cubic yard. Work out the volume, then convert:
Cubic yards = length (ft) × width (ft) × depth (ft) ÷ 27. Multiply cubic yards by the density to get tons. Most sand weighs roughly 1.35 tons per cubic yard.
As a rule of thumb, one ton of sand covers about 120 square feet at 2 inches deep, or roughly 240 sq ft at 1 inch for paver leveling.
How deep should sand be?
Use
Depth
Paver leveling / bedding sand
1 inch
Under-slab or pipe bedding
2–3 inches
Sandbox / play area
fill to play depth
Base / fill sand
4 inches+ (in layers)
Sand densities used
Material
Density (tons / cu yd)
Concrete / all-purpose sand
1.35
Paver / leveling sand
1.35
Masonry sand
1.30
Play sand
1.35
Fill sand (damp)
1.45
Densities are typical averages; actual weight varies with moisture and source. Use them as a close estimate.
Sand FAQs
How much sand do I need for pavers?
For a 1-inch leveling layer, a 100 sq ft patio needs about 8.3 cubic feet of sand — roughly 0.31 cubic yards or about 0.4 tons. Multiply area × depth (in feet), divide by 27 for cubic yards, then by density for tons.
How many tons are in a cubic yard of sand?
About 1.35 US tons per cubic yard for most sand. Masonry sand is slightly lighter at around 1.30 tons, while damp fill sand can reach about 1.45 tons.
How much area does a ton of sand cover?
About 120 square feet at 2 inches deep, or roughly 240 square feet at 1 inch (typical for paver leveling). One cubic yard (≈1.35 tons) covers about 160 sq ft at 2 inches.
How much play sand do I need for a sandbox?
Multiply the sandbox length × width × sand depth in feet, then divide by 27 for cubic yards. For example, an 8 × 8 ft box filled 6 inches deep needs about 1.2 cubic yards, roughly 1.6 tons of play sand.
What type of sand should I use under pavers?
Use coarse concrete/all-purpose sand or dedicated paver leveling sand for the bedding layer, then polymeric sand to fill the joints. Masonry sand is too fine for the base layer.