How to use the paver sand calculator
- Choose the shape. Rectangle, circle, several parts for L-shapes and curves, or type in the area if you already know it.
- Enter the size and depth. Length and width in feet; depth in inches. Feet and inches like 12' 6" work too.
- Read the result in cubic yards, tons and bags. Under Adjust assumptions you can change the weight per yard, extra and bag size.
- Add your supplier's price per ton, yard or bag to see the cost, including delivery.
The paver sand formula
Cubic feet = area (sq ft) × depth (in) ÷ 12
Cubic yards = cubic feet × (1 + extra) ÷ 27
Tons = cubic yards × weight per cubic yard
Bags = cubic feet with extra ÷ bag size, rounded up
Worked example
A 12 × 12 ft patio, 1 inch of bedding sand
- 144 sq ft × (1 ÷ 12) = 12 cu ft; with 5% = 12.6 cu ft.
- 12.6 ÷ 27 = 0.47 cubic yards, about 0.63 tons.
- Or 26 bags of 0.5 cu ft (50 lb).
How far a cubic yard goes
| Depth | One cubic yard covers | 0.5 cu ft bags per 10 sq ft |
|---|---|---|
| 1 in | 324 sq ft | 1.7 |
| 2 in | 162 sq ft | 3.3 |
| 3 in | 108 sq ft | 5.0 |
| 4 in | 81 sq ft | 6.7 |
| 6 in | 54 sq ft | 10.0 |
A cubic yard is 27 cubic feet, or 54 bags of 0.5 cu ft.
Paver layers from the bottom up
- Compacted subgrade, sloped for drainage.
- Crushed-stone base, 4 to 12 in, compacted in lifts.
- Bedding sand, about 1 in, screeded.
- Pavers, compacted into the sand.
- Joint sand, swept in and activated.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Using sand to level the base. Get the base level; the sand is only a thin bedding layer.
- Walking on screeded sand. Footprints show through as dips; lay pavers from the finished side.
- Wrong sand type. Fine sand washes out of joints and beds.
- Forgetting joint sand. Joint sand is a separate product, usually polymeric.
Frequently asked questions
How much sand do I need under pavers?
A 1 inch bedding layer: divide the area by 12 for cubic feet. A 144 sq ft patio needs 12 cu ft, about 24 to 26 bags of 50 lb sand.
What sand goes under pavers?
Coarse, washed concrete sand (ASTM C33). Fine play or masonry sand holds water and shifts.
How thick should the sand bed be?
About 1 inch, screeded flat. Thicker sand beds let pavers settle unevenly.
How much polymeric sand do I need for the joints?
It depends on paver size and joint width. As a rough guide, a 50 lb bag fills joints on about 30 to 75 sq ft of standard pavers with narrow joints; check the bag chart for your paver.
Can I use stone dust instead of sand?
Some installers do, but many paver makers recommend concrete sand because stone dust can hold water and stain.