How Much Sand Do I Need for Pavers?
Quick answer: screed a 1-inch layer of sharp bedding sand over your compacted gravel base. A 100-square-foot patio needs about 0.3 cubic yards (roughly 8 cubic feet) of sand. Use the sand calculator at 1 inch deep, or the paver calculator, which sizes the sand, the base gravel, and the pavers all at once.
What kind of sand goes under pavers?
Use sharp sand (also called concrete sand or grit sand). Its coarse, angular grains lock together and stay put under the pavers. Avoid the alternatives for bedding:
- Masonry / play sand is too fine — it washes out and lets pavers shift.
- Polymeric sand is a different product entirely. It goes in the joints between pavers after they're laid, then hardens when misted. It is not a bedding sand.
So a paver patio uses two sands for two jobs: sharp sand under the pavers, polymeric sand in the joints.
How thick should the sand bed be?
One inch, and no more. Screed it level over the compacted gravel base using a pair of screed rails and a straightedge. This is the single most important step for a flat patio: a thick or uneven sand bed is the number-one reason pavers settle and rock over time. Don't use the sand to fix a lumpy base — get the base flat first, then lay a thin, even inch of sand.
A worked example
For a 100-square-foot patio at 1 inch of bedding sand:
- 100 sq ft × (1 ÷ 12) ft = 8.3 cubic feet ÷ 27 ≈ 0.31 cubic yards
Order a little extra — sand spills and you'll lose some screeding. The sand calculator gives you the cubic yards, tons, and bags.
Don't forget the base
Sand alone isn't a base. Under that 1 inch of bedding sand you need about 4 inches of compacted gravel (6 inches or more for a driveway) over firm subgrade. The gravel calculator sizes the base, or let the paver calculator do the base, the bedding sand, the paver count, and the edge restraint together.
Quick checklist
- Compacted gravel base — 4 in for a patio, in 2–3 in lifts.
- 1 in sharp bedding sand, screeded level.
- Pavers, set and tamped.
- Polymeric sand swept into the joints, then misted.
- Edge restraint around the perimeter.
Sources
- Concrete Masonry & Hardscapes Association (CMHA, formerly ICPI) — bedding sand type and 1-inch depth, base depth, and joint sand guidance
Frequently asked questions
How much sand do I need for a paver patio?+
Screed a 1-inch layer of sharp bedding sand over the compacted gravel base. A 100-square-foot patio needs about 0.3 cubic yards (roughly 8 cubic feet). Enter your patio size in the sand calculator at 1 inch deep for an exact figure.
What kind of sand goes under pavers?+
Use sharp (concrete) sand for the bedding layer — its angular grains lock in place. Don't use fine masonry or play sand, which washes out and lets pavers shift. Polymeric sand is different again: it goes in the joints, not under the pavers.
How thick should the sand bed be under pavers?+
Just 1 inch, screeded level over the gravel base. A thick or uneven sand bed is the most common reason pavers settle and rock, so keep it thin and consistent.
How many bags of sand for a paver patio?+
A 100-square-foot patio at 1 inch needs about 8.3 cubic feet of bedding sand — roughly 17 half-cubic-foot bags, or 0.3 cubic yards bulk. Sand is about 1.35 tons per cubic yard, so that is around 0.4 tons.
Can I use polymeric sand as bedding?+
No. Polymeric sand hardens when wetted and is made for the joints between pavers after they are laid. The bedding layer needs loose, sharp concrete sand that the pavers can be tamped into and that still drains.
How much does a cubic yard of sand weigh?+
About 1.35 tons, or roughly 2,700 pounds, for dry concrete sand — wet sand runs heavier. If your supplier quotes by the ton, multiply your cubic yards by about 1.35 to convert.
Why does a thick sand bed cause pavers to settle?+
Sand does not compact like crushed stone, so a thick or uneven bed keeps shifting under load and the pavers rock and sink unevenly. Keep the bedding to a screeded 1 inch and fix any low spots in the gravel base instead.