Concrete Sand

Concrete Sand — ASTM C33-Grade Sand for Concrete, Mortar & Paver Bedding

Concrete Sand is the medium-grain washed sand that meets ASTM C33 — the spec for ready-mix concrete, mortar, and the bedding layer under interlocking pavers (per ICPI guidelines). Whether you're a homeowner pouring a small slab, a contractor batching mortar, or a paver installer who needs sand that locks in joints without floating, this is the workhorse pick.

At a glance

What it's good for

• Ready-mix and bagged concrete batches
• Brick, block, and stone mortar mixes
• Under-paver bedding (ICPI-spec interlocking concrete pavement)
• Joint sweep-in on permeable paver installations

How much do I need?

For 100 sq ft of paver patio with the ICPI-recommended 1" sand bedding, plan on about 0.31 cubic yards — round up to 0.5 yards to allow for screeding waste. For a 4" thick concrete slab 10' × 10', you'll need about 0.62 yards of sand as part of the mix design (plus aggregate and cement).

How Concrete Sand compares

• vs. Mason Sand: Mason sand is finer (ASTM C144) — for mortar, joint sweep, and sandboxes. Concrete sand is medium-grain (ASTM C33) — for concrete and paver bedding.
• vs. Paver Sand (Coarse Washed): Same product family. Some yards label coarser washed sand "paver sand"; the ASTM C33 spec is the technical name. Functionally equivalent for paver bedding.
• vs. Septic Sand: Septic sand has a Title 5 gradation specific to leach fields. Concrete sand is the general-purpose engineered fine aggregate. Don't substitute septic for concrete or vice versa in spec'd jobs.
• vs. Stone Dust: Stone dust is angular crushed fines. Concrete sand is round/sub-angular natural sand. ICPI guidance now favors concrete sand over stone dust for paver bedding because it doesn't shift over time.

Frequently asked questions

Is Concrete Sand the same as ASTM C33?
Yes — our Concrete Sand meets the ASTM C33 fine aggregate gradation. When a spec calls for "ASTM C33 sand" or "C33 fine aggregate," this is the material.

Can I use Concrete Sand for paver bedding?
Yes — it's the ICPI-preferred bedding sand for interlocking concrete pavers. Spread 1" thick over your compacted Dense Pack base, screed level, set pavers on top.

What's the difference between Concrete Sand and Mason Sand for mortar?
Concrete sand makes a stronger mortar but a slightly grittier finish. Mason sand is fine enough for smooth-finish joints. Most pros use mason sand for finish mortar work and concrete sand for ready-mix and structural applications.

How much Concrete Sand do I need for a small concrete slab?
A 10' × 10' × 4" slab takes about 1.2 cubic yards of total mix (sand + aggregate + cement). Sand portion alone is about 0.62 yards. For bagged concrete, follow the bag's mix ratio.

How much does a cubic yard weigh?
About 2,700 lbs per cubic yard.

Do you deliver in the Boston area?
Yes — same-day and next-day bulk delivery across Suffolk, Middlesex, Norfolk, and Plymouth Counties.

Same-day and next-day delivery, no minimum order. We deliver concrete sand throughout Middlesex, Suffolk, Plymouth, and Norfolk County.

Pair with our mason sand for finer mortar work and joint applications, or our dense pack ¾" to minus for the compacted base under your bedding layer.

Order today — the spec-grade sand for concrete, mortar, and pro-grade paver work.

• Same-day & next-day delivery available — weekends fill fast, order early.
• Curbside or on-property drop — let us know at checkout.
• Up to 6 yds per load for dense materials (gravel, soil, rock, sand) — mulch loads carry up to 10 yds. $100 flat rate, no minimum order.
• Job site delivery available — live load tickets and signed BOLs on request.
• Questions? Call (617) 645-0987 or see full delivery info →