Worked example: 1 inch of bedding sand
| Step | Math | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Area | 16 ft × 16 ft | 256 sq ft |
| Volume at 1 in | 256 × 1 ÷ 12 | 21.3 ft³ |
| Add 10% extra | 21.3 × 1.10 | 23.5 ft³ |
| Cubic yards | 23.5 ÷ 27 | 0.87 yd³ |
| Tons | 0.87 × 1.35 | 1.17 tons |
| 0.5 ft³ bags | 23.5 ÷ 0.5 | 47 bags |
Sand by depth
| Depth | Cubic yards (+10%) | Tons | Bulk order (tons) | Delivered | 0.5 ft³ bags | Bag cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 in | 0.87 | 1.17 | 1.5 | $160 | 47 | $235 |
| 1.5 in | 1.30 | 1.76 | 2.0 | $180 | 71 | $355 |
| 2 in | 1.74 | 2.35 | 2.5 | $200 | 94 | $470 |
At 1 inch, bulk delivery is cheaper: $235 in bags versus $160 delivered. Use coarse concrete sand for bedding, screeded level to about 1 inch (not thicker than 1.5 in). Polymeric or fine joint sand is a separate small purchase.
Prices used: 0.5 ft³ sand bag $5.00; bulk sand $40/ton plus $100 delivery (1 ton minimum).
The rest of the 16 × 16 patio
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Gravel base, 4 in compacted | 4.9 tons (3.5 yd³) |
| 6 × 9 in pavers (+7%) | 731 pavers |
| Area | 256 sq ft |
See sand and gravel for pavers and how many pavers you need.
Nearby sizes
Also see 12×16 paver patio , 20×20 paver patio , 12×12 paver patio, or the sand by patio size chart.