How much sand do I need?

Multiply length x width x depth in feet for cubic feet, divide by 27 for cubic yards, then multiply cubic feet by about 100 lb per cubic foot and divide by 2,000 for tons. A 20 x 10 ft paver patio with a 1 inch bedding layer needs about 16.7 cubic feet — 0.62 cubic yards, roughly 0.85 tons.

How many tons of sand are in a cubic yard?

About 1.35 tons for dry concrete sand (2,700 lb per cubic yard). Damp fill sand runs closer to 1.5 tons per yard because of the water it holds.

How thick should paver bedding sand be?

1 inch of screeded bedding sand over compacted base — never more. A thick sand layer keeps compacting under traffic and the pavers settle unevenly. Do not compact the bedding layer before laying pavers.

How much sand does a 50 lb bag cover?

A 50 lb bag is about 0.5 cubic feet, which covers 6 square feet at 1 inch deep. A 20 x 10 ft patio bedding layer therefore takes roughly 34 bags — worth ordering bulk above about 20 bags.

What sand goes under pavers?

Coarse, angular concrete or bedding sand for the setting layer. Fine play sand or masonry sand is too rounded and keeps moving under load. Joints get polymeric jointing sand, which is a different product.

Sand Calculator

Bedding, paver, concrete or fill sand by cubic yards, tons and 50 lb bags — with bulk versus bagged cost so you know which way to buy.

Quick answer

You need 0.88 tons of bedding / paver sand — 0.65 cubic yards, or 35 bags of 50 lb sand. Bulk delivery costs about $37 in material against $193 in bags, so buy bulk.

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Area, depth and sand type

Length(ft)

Width(ft)

Depth(in)

1 in for paver bedding

Sand type

1 in bedding layer is typical

Waste(%)

Bulk price($/ton)

Bag price($/50 lb)

tons = length x width x depth/12 x (1 + waste) x 100 lb/ft³ / 2000

Quantities

Tons

0.88tons

Cubic yards

0.65yd³

Cubic feet

16.7cu ft

50 lb bags

$193

Bulk material cost

$37

Before delivery

Bag coverage at common depths

Depth	Per 50 lb bag	Per ton	Per cubic yard
0.5 in	12 sq ft	480 sq ft	648 sq ft
1 in	6 sq ft	240 sq ft	324 sq ft
2 in	3 sq ft	120 sq ft	162 sq ft
3 in	2 sq ft	80 sq ft	108 sq ft
4 in	1.5 sq ft	60 sq ft	81 sq ft
6 in	1 sq ft	40 sq ft	54 sq ft

Square feet covered by one 50 lb bag (≈0.5 cubic feet) and by one ton.

For pavers, sand is a setting layer, not a base. Compacted crushed stone carries the load; the 1 inch of coarse sand above it only lets you seat each unit flush. Screed it with pipe rails, lay the pavers, then compact the field — compacting the sand first defeats the point.

Under a shed, hot tub pad or above-ground pool the sand layer is 1 to 2 inches over compacted base. Deeper sand is not more support, it is more settlement.

Source & method: Geometry computed in your browser; sand unit weights are typical values (100 lb/ft³ dry, 110 lb/ft³ damp) and bag volume assumes the standard 0.5 cubic foot 50 lb bag.

Paver and bedding supplies

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Frequently asked questions

How much sand do I need?: Multiply length x width x depth in feet for cubic feet, divide by 27 for cubic yards, then multiply cubic feet by about 100 lb per cubic foot and divide by 2,000 for tons. A 20 x 10 ft paver patio with a 1 inch bedding layer needs about 16.7 cubic feet — 0.62 cubic yards, roughly 0.85 tons.
How many tons of sand are in a cubic yard?: About 1.35 tons for dry concrete sand (2,700 lb per cubic yard). Damp fill sand runs closer to 1.5 tons per yard because of the water it holds.
How thick should paver bedding sand be?: 1 inch of screeded bedding sand over compacted base — never more. A thick sand layer keeps compacting under traffic and the pavers settle unevenly. Do not compact the bedding layer before laying pavers.
How much sand does a 50 lb bag cover?: A 50 lb bag is about 0.5 cubic feet, which covers 6 square feet at 1 inch deep. A 20 x 10 ft patio bedding layer therefore takes roughly 34 bags — worth ordering bulk above about 20 bags.
What sand goes under pavers?: Coarse, angular concrete or bedding sand for the setting layer. Fine play sand or masonry sand is too rounded and keeps moving under load. Joints get polymeric jointing sand, which is a different product.