Sand Calculator
- Materials
- Labor
- Profit
Profit is 20.0% of the price. Joint sand for pavers is extra: check the coverage on the polymeric sand bag.
Turn this into a quote
A one-page PDF for your customer, filled in from the numbers above. Your markup isn't shown.
How the sand calculation works
Cubic feet = area × depth in feet
A 16 × 12 ft patio with 1 in of bedding sand is 192 × 0.0833 = 16 cu ft.
Add 10% for compaction and waste
16 cu ft + 10% = 17.6 cu ft, which is 0.65 yd³.
Convert to the unit you buy
In 0.5 cu ft bags that is 36 bags (always round up). At a starting figure of 1.35 tons per yard it is 0.88 tons.
Add labor and markup
Screeding and compacting hours at your hourly cost, plus your markup on the total cost, is the price to quote.
Worked example. A 16 × 12 ft paver patio with 1 in of bedding sand and 10% extra needs 17.6 cu ft (0.65 yd³), or 36 bags of 0.5 cu ft. At $6 a bag the sand costs $216. With 4 labor hours at $50 ($200) and a 25% markup ($104), the job price is $520.
Sand FAQ
How much sand do I need for pavers?
Pavers sit on 1–2 in of bedding sand over a compacted gravel base (QUIKRETE's paver sand instructions). 100 sq ft at 1 in is 8.3 cu ft, about 17 bags of 0.5 cu ft, before extra. At 2 in, double it.
How many bags of sand are in a yard?
About 54 bags of 0.5 cu ft (50 lb), since a cubic yard is 27 cu ft. For bigger jobs, compare the bag price with a bulk quote that includes delivery.
How much does a yard of sand weigh?
About 1.35 tons (2,700 lb) as a starting figure. QUIKRETE labels a 50 lb bag of play sand at about 0.5 cu ft, which is 100 lb per cu ft, and a cubic yard is 27 cu ft. Damp sand and sand from other pits weigh more or less, so use your supplier's figure when you buy by the ton.
How many tons of sand do I need?
Work out cubic yards, then multiply by the weight per yard. A 20 × 15 ft area at 2 in with 10% extra is 55 cu ft, or 2.04 yd³. At 1.35 tons per yard that is 2.75 tons.
How much play sand do I need for a sandbox?
Multiply length × width × depth in feet. A 5 × 5 ft sandbox filled 12 in deep holds 25 cu ft (0.93 yd³), which is about 50 bags of 50 lb play sand at 0.5 cu ft each.
Can I use this as a polymeric sand calculator?
Not directly. Joint sand fills only the gaps between pavers, so how far a bag goes depends on paver size, joint width and depth. Use the coverage printed on the polymeric sand bag. This page covers the bedding sand under the pavers.
How much should I charge for paver base and sand work?
Add the sand, base gravel, delivery and crew hours at your full hourly cost, then your markup. Many paver installers then quote the whole patio per square foot.
Sources: QUIKRETE: Sand and Gravel Products data sheet (bag sizes, Play Sand label) · QUIKRETE: Patio Paver Sands data sheet (1–2 in bedding depth)