Sand Calculator

Not All Sand Is the Same

Sand comes in at least five common types, and they aren't interchangeable. Mason sand is finely screened for mortar mixes. Concrete sand has a coarser grain for structural mixes. Paver base sand (also called leveling sand) is graded specifically for the bedding layer under interlocking pavers. Play sand is washed and sifted for safety. Polymeric sand is engineered with binding agents to lock paver joints in place after activation with water.

The Sand Calculator covers all five types with separate density values, because sand weight varies significantly by type. A cubic yard of dry mason sand weighs about 2,700 lb. The same volume of play sand weighs closer to 2,500 lb. Getting the density right matters when your supplier quotes in tons but you've measured in cubic yards.

For paver projects, depth is standardized: the Interlocking Concrete Pavement Institute (ICPI) recommends a 1-inch bedding layer of concrete sand beneath pavers, compacted to ¾ inch. The calculator applies this standard when you select paver base as the sand type.

Related Materials

Sand is almost always part of a larger project. If you're building a paver patio, you'll need a gravel base beneath the sand layer — typically 4–6 inches of compacted crushed stone. For block walls and masonry, mason sand gets mixed with portland cement and water; you'll want the Block Calculator for the block count and mortar volumes. And if you're building a play area, you'll need to decide between sand and playground mulch for the safety surfacing — both meet CPSC fall-height standards at the correct depth.