Which sand?
- Concrete sand is coarse and angular. It's the right bedding layer under pavers and flagstone.
- Mason / play sand is fine and washed, for sandboxes, mortar and leveling under above-ground pools.
- Polymeric sand goes in paver joints only. It's sold in bags, and our paver calculator counts it.
Don't use sand as a base
Thick sand layers wash out and shift. Pavers and slabs need a compacted gravel base with only 1" of sand on top.
Common questions
How much does a yard of sand weigh?
Dry sand weighs about 2,600–2,800 lb (1.3–1.4 tons) per cubic yard. Damp sand, as most yards deliver it, can top 3,000 lb.
How much sand do I need for pavers?
You need 1" of bedding sand, screeded flat, under the pavers. 100 sq ft takes about 0.31 yd³, roughly 17 × 50 lb bags. Joint sand is separate. Use the paver calculator to get both.
How much sand for a sandbox?
Fill it 6–12" deep. A 5 × 5 ft box at 8" needs about 16.7 cu ft, or 34 × 0.5 cu ft bags of play sand.
How many bags of sand are in a yard?
About 54 bags of the common 50 lb / 0.5 cu ft size.
Prices last checked October 2026.