Paver Sand Calculator
A paver patio sits on two layers: a compacted crushed-stone base and a one-inch screeded bed of coarse sand. This paver sand calculator sizes both for your patio, adds a compaction allowance to the base, and prices the sand in bulk or in 50 lb bags.
What you'll need
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Aqua Joe Premium Pool & Spa Filter Sand, 50 Lb Bag, FLTSAND50
$32.97
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BlumeTrec 8"x8" Steel Tamper with 48" Handle, Heavy Duty Hand Compactor Tool for Leveling Soil, Gravel, Sand, Asphalt, Ground, Paver, Driveway, Garden, Yard and Blacktop Repair
$43.99
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33ft. Galvanized Steel Landscape Edging (10-Pack) – 40" Metal Edging for Landscaping with 11 Stakes, Hammer-in Metal Landscaping Edging for Yard Pathway & Flower Beds – Lawn Edge for Garden Design
$69.99
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Palmetto Pool Filter Sand for Swimming Pools, 50 Lbs, Natural Silica
$29.99
View on Amazon →Prices as of Sep 25, 2026, 6:18 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Get the Gravel & Stone Calculator app for Android
Estimate gravel, stone, sand, and mulch on the job site, save projects, and share quantities with your supplier.
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Frequently asked questions
- How much sand do I need under pavers?
- One inch of coarse concrete sand, screeded flat over a compacted gravel base. For a 12 by 16 foot patio that is about 0.6 cubic yards, or 0.8 tons including a 10% allowance — roughly 33 bags of 50 lb sand.
- Can I use play sand under pavers?
- No. Play sand and mason sand are fine and rounded, so they hold water and migrate, and the pavers settle unevenly. Use coarse, sharp concrete sand for the bedding course and a polymeric or fine joint sand only between the pavers.
- How thick should the base be under a paver patio?
- Four inches of compacted crusher run for patios and walkways over firm soil, six inches over clay, and eight to twelve inches for driveways. The base carries the load; the one inch of sand only lets you set the pavers level.
- Should I put gravel or sand under pavers?
- Both. Gravel forms the compacted structural base and sand forms a thin setting bed on top. Pavers laid on sand alone sink and shift, and pavers laid on gravel alone are hard to set level and rock underfoot.
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