Worked example: 1 inch of bedding sand
| Step | Math | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Area | 20 ft × 20 ft | 400 sq ft |
| Volume at 1 in | 400 × 1 ÷ 12 | 33.3 ft³ |
| Add 10% extra | 33.3 × 1.10 | 36.7 ft³ |
| Cubic yards | 36.7 ÷ 27 | 1.36 yd³ |
| Tons | 1.36 × 1.35 | 1.83 tons |
| 0.5 ft³ bags | 36.7 ÷ 0.5 | 74 bags |
Sand by depth
| Depth | Cubic yards (+10%) | Tons | Bulk order (tons) | Delivered | 0.5 ft³ bags | Bag cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 in | 1.36 | 1.83 | 2.0 | $180 | 74 | $370 |
| 1.5 in | 2.04 | 2.75 | 3.0 | $220 | 110 | $550 |
| 2 in | 2.72 | 3.67 | 4.0 | $260 | 147 | $735 |
At 1 inch, bulk delivery is cheaper: $370 in bags versus $180 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 20 × 20 patio
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Gravel base, 4 in compacted | 7.6 tons (5.4 yd³) |
| 6 × 9 in pavers (+7%) | 1,142 pavers |
| Area | 400 sq ft |
See sand and gravel for pavers and how many pavers you need.
Nearby sizes
Also see 16×16 paver patio , 12×16 paver patio, or the sand by patio size chart.