Mason Sand

Mason Sand — Fine-Grain Washed Sand for Mortar, Joints & Sandboxes

Mason Sand is the soft, fine-grained, light-colored sand that's screened and washed for the jobs where grain size and cleanliness matter. Masons mix it into mortar for tight, workable joints. Pool installers spread it as a leveling pad. Parents shovel it into sandboxes because it's clean, low in silt, and feels right under bare feet. One sand, a lot of jobs.

At a glance

What it's good for

• Brick and stone mortar where smooth, tight joints are required
• Backyard sandboxes and play areas
• Above-ground pool leveling pads and pool floor padding
• Paver polymeric joint sand prep and joint sweep-in

How much do I need?

A 10' × 10' sandbox at 12" depth needs about 3.7 cubic yards. A 24' round above-ground pool leveling pad at 2" thick needs roughly 2.8 cubic yards. For mortar, plan on roughly 1 part mason sand to 3 parts portland cement by volume, depending on your mix.

How Mason Sand compares

• vs. Concrete Sand: Mason sand is finer (ASTM C144). Concrete sand is medium-grain (ASTM C33). Mason for mortar and sandboxes; concrete sand for paver bedding and concrete mixes.
• vs. Paver Sand / Coarse Sand: Paver sand is coarser still — for paver bedding. Mason sand is too fine to bed pavers but ideal for the joints between them.
• vs. Stone Dust: Stone dust is angular crushed fines. Mason sand is round/sub-angular natural sand. Different feel, different applications — never substitute one for the other in spec'd jobs.
• vs. Play Sand (bagged): Bagged "play sand" is mason sand by another name (sometimes with additional washing). Buying bulk Mason Sand from a yard is the same product at a fraction of the per-pound cost.

Frequently asked questions

Is Mason Sand safe for sandboxes?
Yes. Mason sand is washed and screened, low in silt, and the right size for play. Some homeowners prefer to wash bulk sand again on-site with a hose before adding kids — it's optional, the sand is already clean.

What's the difference between Mason Sand and Concrete Sand?
Grain size. Mason sand is finer (meets ASTM C144 for mortar); concrete sand is coarser (meets ASTM C33 for concrete and paver bedding). Don't substitute — mortar made with concrete sand is too gritty; paver bedding made with mason sand floats and shifts.

Can I use Mason Sand under an above-ground pool?
Yes — it's the traditional pool-pad material. Spread 2" thick, screed level, tamp lightly before setting the pool liner.

How much sand for a sandbox?
A standard 4' × 4' sandbox at 12" depth needs ~0.6 cubic yards (about 1,600 lbs). A 6' × 6' box at 12" runs ~1.3 yards. Order a touch extra — kids dig more sand out than you'd expect.

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 bulk delivery, no minimum order. We run mason sand across Norfolk, Middlesex, Suffolk, and Plymouth County.

Pair with our concrete sand for ASTM C33-spec mortar and ready-mix work, or our coarse sand when drainage is the priority over fineness.

Order today — the clean, fine-grain sand contractors and homeowners both come back for.

• 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 →