How to calculate square footage for sand
Calculating sand is a two-part job: first find the area in square feet, then convert it to a volume you can actually order. Measure the length and width of the space in feet and multiply them together — a 20 by 20 foot patio is 400 square feet. If the space isn't a clean rectangle, break it into smaller rectangles, work out each one, and add the square footage together before moving on.
The square footage alone won't tell a supplier how much to load, because sand is sold by volume or weight, not by area. Multiply your area by the depth in feet, divide by 27, and you have cubic yards. For a quick weight estimate, multiply the cubic yards by 1.35 to get tons. The calculator above handles the arithmetic — you just enter the dimensions and the depth.
Paver bedding sand vs. paver base
These two layers are easy to confuse but do different jobs. The paver base is a thick layer of compacted crushed stone or road base — often 4 to 6 inches — that carries the load and drains water. If you are ordering that stone layer, the gravel calculator uses the same volume math. Bedding sand is the thin layer that sits directly under the pavers.
Bedding sand is spread about 1 inch thick and screeded flat so each paver seats evenly. Because it is so shallow, a single cubic yard stretches a long way — roughly 300 square feet at 1 inch. That is why a large patio can need several yards of base but barely more than a yard of bedding sand.
Turning cubic yards into a budget
Once you know the cubic yards, pricing is straightforward. Bulk sand is usually quoted per cubic yard or per ton delivered, while bagged sand is priced per bag with a stated coverage. Take your total cubic yards, multiply by the delivered price, and add a little for the 5–10% you should order to cover compaction and screeding waste.
To compare options or fold sand into a larger materials estimate, drop your quantity into the cost calculator with your price per yard or per ton. That turns the volume into a real number you can put next to the pavers, base, and edging for the whole project.