Paver Sand Calculator
A 10 × 10 ft paver patio bedded at the standard 1-inch sand depth needs about 0.31 cubic yards of paver sand — with 10% waste, that is 19 bags of 0.5 cu ft bedding sand.
Reviewed by The ponderloop teamUpdated 2026-07-15How we calculate
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0 cu yd + 0% waste = 0 cu yd
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How this number is calculated
0 cu yd (no waste added) ÷ 0.0185 cu yd per bag = 0 bags
Shopping list
- Paver sand (0.5 cu ft bag)
- Screed rails / leveling pipes (1 inch)
- Plate compactor
- Stiff bristle push broom
- Landscape fabric
- Paver edge restraint
0.0 cu yd — ~0% of a standard truck load
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Methodology & assumptions
Volume is calculated as patio length × width × (sand depth in inches ÷ 12), then divided by 27 to convert cubic feet to cubic yards. A waste percentage is added for screeding overflow and an uneven sub-base, and the result is divided by the coverage per bag (about 0.0185 cu yd for a 0.5 cu ft bag) and rounded up to the next whole bag.
- Interlocking Concrete Pavement Institute (ICPI) — bedding sand and installation guidelines
- ASTM C33 concrete sand grading, used for bedding sand specification
- Manufacturer bag-yield specs (0.5 cu ft bag ≈ 0.0185 cu yd)
- Typical US paver sand retail price range, 2026
Worked examples
| Room | Result |
|---|---|
| 10 × 10 ft patio, 1 in depth, standard waste | 0.31 cu yd + 10% waste ≈ 0.34 cu yd → 19 bags |
| 12 × 14 ft patio, 1 in depth, standard waste | 0.52 cu yd + 10% waste ≈ 0.57 cu yd → 31 bags |
| 8 × 10 ft walkway, 1 in depth, minimal waste | 0.25 cu yd + 5% waste ≈ 0.26 cu yd → 15 bags |
Frequently asked questions
- How much paver sand do I need?
- Multiply the patio or walkway length by width in feet, multiply by the sand depth in feet (inches divided by 12), then divide by 27 to convert cubic feet to cubic yards. Add 10% for waste, then divide by the coverage per bag (about 0.0185 cu yd for a 0.5 cu ft bag) and round up.
- What is the difference between paver sand, play sand, and mason sand?
- Paver sand (also sold as bedding sand or concrete sand, typically graded to ASTM C33) is coarse and angular so it compacts firmly and drains well — the right choice for the layer under pavers. Play sand is fine and rounded for softness in sandboxes; it does not compact or drain the same way, so it is a poor substitute under pavers. Mason sand is a fine sand used for mortar joints in brick and block work, not for a compacted bedding layer.
- Why is the standard sand depth 1 inch and not more?
- 1 inch is the standard compacted bedding depth used across paver installation guidelines. A thicker sand layer is harder to compact evenly, which increases the risk of pavers settling or rutting unevenly once they see foot or vehicle traffic. If you need to make up more height under the pavers, add it in the compacted paver-base layer below the sand, not in the sand itself.
- Do I need polymeric sand too, and is it calculated differently?
- Yes, and it is a different product with a different calculation. This calculator covers bedding sand, the compacted leveling layer the pavers sit on. Polymeric sand is swept into the joints between pavers after they are laid, and contains a binder that hardens when watered to lock the joints and resist weeds. Polymeric sand quantities are based on joint width and paver surface area, not the bedding volume calculated here.
- Does sand go over or under the paver base?
- Sand goes on top of the compacted paver base (crushed gravel), not under it. The build order from the ground up is: compacted paver base, then a 1-inch bedding sand layer screeded level, then the pavers set directly on the sand, then polymeric sand swept into the joints last.