Paver Sand

Paver Sand — Coarse Washed Sand for Patio Bedding, Walkway Bases & Drainage

Our Paver Sand is the larger-grain washed sand contractors and DIYers use specifically under pavers, flagstone, and patio stone. It's the ICPI-spec bedding layer that lets hardscape stay level for years without shifting. Sold loose by the cubic yard, delivered direct to your driveway or job site across Greater Boston. The bigger grain size drains water fast, which is what you want anywhere drainage is part of the install.

At a glance

What it's good for

• Paver bedding — the 1" leveling layer between your compacted base and the pavers
• Patio & walkway base sand — under flagstone, bluestone, brick, and stamped concrete
• Drainage backfill around foundations, French drains, and downspout extensions
• Wet-spot remediation in lawns and garden beds where water pools
• Mixing into heavy clay topsoil to lighten texture and improve drainage

How much paver sand do I need?

For a 12' × 12' paver patio with the standard 1" sand leveling layer, plan on about 0.5 cubic yards of paver sand. For a 30' × 4' walkway, you're looking at 0.4 cubic yards. For a French drain trench 50' long × 12" wide × 18" deep, roughly 2.8 cubic yards of drainage backfill.

Rule of thumb: 1 cubic yard of paver sand covers about 300 square feet at the standard 1" bedding depth. Order 10–15% extra to account for compaction and edge work.

Paver Sand vs Polymeric Sand vs Joint Sand — which do you need?

Three different sand products do three different jobs in a paver install:

• Paver Sand (this product) — the coarse washed bedding layer UNDER the pavers. Goes between the compacted base and the paver itself.
• Joint Sand / Mason Sand — fine sand swept into the joints BETWEEN pavers. We sell Mason Sand for joint work.
• Polymeric Sand — joint sand pre-mixed with binders that activate when wet. Sold in bags by hardscape suppliers; we don't carry it bulk.

You need Paver Sand (this) + joint sand for a complete paver install. Plus a compacted base material like our Dense Pack ¾" to minus underneath for structural support.

How Paver Sand compares

• vs. Coarse Sand — Coarse Sand is the broader-spec multi-purpose grade for drainage, traction, equestrian footing, and general fill. Paver Sand is the ICPI-spec hardscape bedding grade specifically tuned for paver and flagstone installs. Pick Paver Sand for hardscape; Coarse Sand for everything else.
• vs. Concrete Sand — Same material family. "Paver Sand" is the trade name for the ICPI-spec bedding grade; "Concrete Sand" is the formal ASTM C33 spec name for ready-mix and structural use. Functionally close, with Concrete Sand held to a tighter spec sheet.
• vs. Mason Sand — Mason sand is finer. Use mason for joints; paver sand for bedding.
• vs. Stone Dust — Stone dust was the traditional paver bedding material — ICPI guidance now favors paver/concrete sand because it doesn't shift over time. Stone dust is fine for stepping stones and flagstone in dry-laid applications.
• vs. Septic Sand — Septic sand is Title 5-spec for leach fields. Don't substitute for paver bedding.

Frequently asked questions

Is Paver Sand the same as Coarse Sand?
Same general material family, but the names point at different use cases at our yard. Paver Sand is the ICPI-spec grade we sell specifically for the bedding layer under pavers and flagstone. Coarse Sand is the broader-spec multi-purpose grade we sell for drainage, traction, footing, and general fill. Pick the one that matches the job.

How thick should paver bedding sand be?
1" per ICPI guidelines — no more, no less. Thicker beds settle and shift. Always screed level before setting pavers.

Do I need geotextile fabric under the paver sand?
Recommended for long-term performance. Fabric goes between the compacted base and the sand layer, preventing sand from migrating down into the base over years of freeze-thaw.

How much sand for a 12 × 12 paver patio?
About 0.5 cubic yards at 1" bedding depth.

How much does a cubic yard weigh?
About 2,600–2,800 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 paver sand across Suffolk, Middlesex, Norfolk, and Plymouth County daily.

Pair with our Concrete Sand when you need an even tighter spec for under-paver bedding, or our Dense Pack ¾" to minus for the compacted base layer underneath. For non-hardscape applications — drainage, traction, footing, fill — see Coarse Sand instead.

Order paver sand today — bulk delivery, no bags, no minimum, the right grain size for the job.

• 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 →