Bedding sand under pavers
Paver Sand Calculator for Bedding
A 16 × 12 ft patio with 1 in of bedding sand needs 0.59 cu yd, approximately 0.9 short tons.
Sources checked
Your estimate
0.59 cu yd
16 cu ft over 192 sq ft at 1 in deep.
- Approximate order weightRounded up to the next 0.1 ton; check your supplier's actual material density.0.9 short tons
This is bedding sand only. Joint sand goes between pavers and has a different coverage calculation.
How to calculate bedding sand
- Measure the area under the pavers in square feet: length times width for a rectangle.
- Multiply by the specified screeded depth in inches. Divide by 12 for cubic feet, then by 27 for cubic yards.
- For 16 × 12 ft at 1 in, the layer takes 16 cu ft, or 0.59 cu yd of sand.
Unilock and CMHA describe a 1 in screeded, uncompacted bedding layer. Pavestone permits up to 1.5 in for its Holland Stone. The estimated tons use Martin Marietta's loose fine sand and gravel density as a proxy; actual bedding sand and moisture can differ. Unilock Basic Tech Guide (2024); CMHA PAV-TEC-002-22, Construction of Interlocking Concrete Pavements; Pavestone Holland Stone cut sheet (CM 051v9); Martin Marietta aggregates calculator
- Unilock and CMHA bedding depth
- 1 in, screededUnilock Basic Tech Guide (2024); CMHA PAV-TEC-002-22, Construction of Interlocking Concrete Pavements
- Pavestone Holland Stone bedding
- 1–1.5 inPavestone Holland Stone cut sheet (CM 051v9)
- Reference bulk sand weight
- 1.44 short tons per cu yd, loose fine sand and gravelMartin Marietta aggregates calculator
Bedding sand at one and one-and-a-half inches
| Screeded depth | Cubic feet | Cubic yards | Approximate bulk weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 in | 16 cu ft | 0.59 cu yd | 0.9 tons |
| 1.5 in | 24 cu ft | 0.89 cu yd | 1.3 tons |
Choose the right sand
Pavestone specifies washed ASTM C33 sand for the bedding course of Holland Stone. Buy the material your paver maker calls for and check its delivered density with the yard. Do not assume a 50 lb bag contains a fixed volume across sand products. Pavestone Holland Stone cut sheet (CM 051v9)
This estimate excludes the sand swept into the joints. The full paver patio planner estimates joint sand separately. For the layer under the bedding, use the paver base calculator.
Paver bedding sand questions
How much sand do I need under pavers?
For 16 × 12 ft at 1 in, area × depth ÷ 12 gives 16 cu ft, or 0.59 cu yd. This is bedding sand under the pavers, not the polymeric sand swept into their joints.
How much bedding sand for 100 square feet of pavers?
At 1 in deep, 100 sq ft takes 8.33 cu ft or 0.31 cu yd of bedding sand. At Martin Marietta's reference density for loose fine sand and gravel, that is approximately 0.5 short tons.
How thick should the bedding sand be?
Unilock and CMHA print 1 in for the screeded, uncompacted bedding layer. Pavestone's Holland Stone guide allows 1–1.5 in. Follow the paver manufacturer's detail and do not use bedding sand to make up for an uneven base.
Can I use the weight of a 50 lb bag to calculate bedding sand?
Only with the yield for the specific bagged bedding sand you will use. This page gives volume and a bulk weight estimate; the reference density is for loose fine sand and gravel, not a guarantee of the volume in a bag. Check the bag's product type and stated yield.
A planning aid, not an engineering calculation: your local code and building inspector have the final word. Terms