Planning a paver project? One of the most common questions homeowners ask is how much sand they actually need. Getting this right is essential — too little and your pavers will shift; too much and you'll have drainage problems. As a general rule, you need about a 1-inch layer of bedding sand beneath your pavers. For every 100 square feet of surface area at 1 inch deep, you'll need roughly 0.3 cubic yards or about 400 pounds of sand.

To calculate your specific needs, multiply the length by the width of your project area to get square footage, then multiply by 0.0031 to convert to cubic yards at a 1-inch depth. Always add about 10% extra to account for waste and adjustments during installation.

The type of sand matters too. Coarse concrete sand — sometimes called sharp sand — is the industry standard for paver bedding. Avoid fine or beach sand, which compacts poorly and can wash away. Polymeric sand is used for the joints between pavers rather than the base, and it helps lock pavers in place while resisting weeds and insects.

For a basic patio measuring 200 square feet, you'd need approximately 0.62 cubic yards of bedding sand, which typically comes to about two to three bags from a home improvement store or a small bulk delivery from a landscape supplier. Buying in bulk is significantly more cost-effective for larger projects.

Beyond the bedding layer, don't forget your base material. A 4-inch compacted gravel base is standard for residential patios, and you'll need much more of that than sand. Calculate your gravel needs separately using the same square footage formula but multiplying depth in inches by 0.0031 per inch of depth.

Professional installers typically recommend ordering materials from a local landscape supplier rather than bagged products for any project over 100 square feet. You'll save money and get a more consistent product. Many suppliers offer delivery, which is a huge convenience when you're talking about hundreds of pounds of material.

When in doubt, always order a little extra. Leftover sand stores easily for future repairs or touch-ups, and running short mid-project means delays waiting for another delivery.