Paver Sand Calculator — Bedding & Joint Sand
Calculate 1-inch bedding sand and polymeric joint sand needed for any paver installation. Returns bags and cubic yards for any patio or walkway area.
Enter Dimensions
Polymeric sand joints: 1/4 in typical
Use 10% for simple shapes, 15% for cuts
Results
Pavers Needed
264pavers
Total Area
120sq ft
Sand Base (50 lb bags)
12bags
1-inch bedding layer
Gravel Base
1.5tons
4-inch compacted gravel base
Editorial Standards
Each calculator is reviewed for formula accuracy, unit consistency, and alignment with current U.S. building practices before publication. We verify outputs against published engineering references and real-world project data. Learn more about our methodology.
Paver installations need two distinct sands: bedding sand (1 inch layer under the pavers, levels and beds them), and polymeric joint sand (between pavers, locks them in place after activation with water).
This calculator returns both quantities. Bedding sand is sized by area × depth; polymeric joint sand by area × paver thickness × joint width. Order both before starting installation — running out of either mid-project is a common cause of delayed completion.
How to Estimate Paver Sand
Bedding Sand (cu ft) = Area × 1 in ÷ 12. Bags 50 lb = ⌈Cubic feet ÷ 0.5⌉. Polymeric Joint Sand (bags) = Area ÷ Coverage per Bag.
Sand Coverage Quick Reference
- 50 lb bag concrete sand: ~0.5 cu ft = covers 12 sq ft at 1 inch deep bedding.
- 1 yd³ bulk concrete sand: covers 324 sq ft at 1 inch deep — beats bag pricing above 1 yd³.
- 50 lb bag polymeric sand (tight joints): 75-100 sq ft of 60 mm pavers with 1/8 inch joints.
- 50 lb bag polymeric sand (wide joints): 50 sq ft of 80 mm pavers with 1/4 inch joints.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much bedding sand do I need for 100 sq ft of pavers?
1 inch deep × 100 sq ft = 8.3 cu ft. That's about 0.31 cubic yards, or roughly nine 50 lb bags of concrete sand (each bag covers ~12 sq ft at 1 inch depth).
What kind of sand goes under pavers?
Coarse concrete sand (ASTM C33) — also sold as 'sharp sand' or 'leveling sand.' Avoid play sand or mason sand; they're too fine and don't compact properly. Bedding sand particles should be 0-3/8 inch with sharp angular faces.
What is polymeric sand?
Polymeric sand is fine sand mixed with polymer binders that hardens when wet, sealing the joints between pavers. It prevents weed growth, ant infiltration, and joint erosion. Apply after pavers are installed and compacted.
How much polymeric sand for joints?
Coverage depends on paver thickness and joint width. For 2-3/8 inch (60 mm) pavers with 1/8 inch joints: 1 bag (50 lb) covers ~75-100 sq ft. For larger joints (1/4 inch+) or thicker pavers: 1 bag covers ~50 sq ft.
Can I substitute stone dust for bedding sand?
Stone dust is too fine and holds water — leading to freeze-thaw heaving in cold climates. Use concrete sand for bedding and reserve stone dust for use as a leveling layer where drainage isn't critical.
Looking for the general calculator?
Calculate how many pavers you need for patios, walkways, and driveways. Includes bedding sand and gravel base estimates for any paver size and project area.
Open the Paver Calculator: Pavers, Sand & Base →