How Much Sand for a 20x12 Patio?
A 20 by 12 foot patio is 240 square feet. How much sand for a 20x12 patio depends on depth: at 3 inches it is about 2.22 cubic yards or 3.0 tons. Suppliers usually sell by the ton, so the tonnage is the number to give them.
Volume and tonnage calculator →The math for a 20x12 patio
- Area: 20 × 12 = 240 sq ft.
- Depth in feet: 3 ÷ 12 = 0.250 ft.
- Cubic feet: 240 × 0.250 = 60.0 cu ft.
- Cubic yards: ÷ 27 = 2.22 yd³.
- Tons: × 1.35 = 3.0 tons.
The volume and tonnage calculator does this for any size.
Sand needed by depth
| Depth | Cubic yards | Tons (approx.) | Tons +10% |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 in | 0.74 | 1.0 | 1.1 |
| 2 in | 1.48 | 2.0 | 2.2 |
| 3 in | 2.22 | 3.0 | 3.3 |
| 4 in | 2.96 | 4.0 | 4.4 |
About sand
For paver bedding, concrete sand (coarse, washed) is the usual pick. Mason sand is finer and used in mortar and play areas. Ask your supplier for their own tons-per-yard figure, since stone source and moisture shift it.
Preparing the patio
Remove sod, level the area with a slight slope away from the house, and lay landscape fabric if weeds are a concern. Edging keeps loose material inside the patio footprint. This patio sees foot traffic and furniture, so match the depth to that load rather than to the minimum.
Ordering tips
- Round up. Compaction and uneven ground eat material. Adding about 10 percent is common.
- Delivery size. 3.3 tons fits in a single typical dump truck load; small loads may carry a delivery fee. See how many tons of gravel in a dump truck.
- Bulk vs bags. At this size bulk delivery is usually the practical choice.
- Where it drops. Have the truck dump as close to the patio as firm ground allows.
When to choose sand
Best suited to:
- Paver and flagstone bedding
- Leveling under above-ground pools (with the right product)
- Filling joints and backfilling pipe
Poor fit for:
- Driveway bases, since sand shifts under load
- Steep areas exposed to runoff
- Thick layers under pavers, which settle unevenly
Quick reference numbers
- Per inch over 100 sq ft: about 0.42 tons of sand (0.31 cubic yards).
- Per inch over 1,000 sq ft: about 4.2 tons.
- Another size for comparison: a 10x20 area at 4 inches takes about 3.3 tons.
- Weight used here: about 1.35 tons per cubic yard.
Mistakes that throw off the order
- Skipping drainage. Water sitting under any surface softens the base and leads to ruts and potholes.
- Forgetting that compaction shrinks loose material. A loose 4-inch spread of a dense-graded stone may finish closer to 3 inches after rolling.
- Using inches as if they were feet. Depth has to be divided by 12 before you multiply; skipping that step inflates the order twelvefold.
- Mixing up cubic yards and tons. Yards are volume, tons are weight; convert with the product’s weight per yard.
Questions people ask
How many tons of sand for a 20x12 patio?
About 3.0 tons at 3 inches deep, or 3.3 tons with 10 percent extra.
How many cubic yards is a 20x12 patio at 3 inches?
About 2.22 cubic yards.
How much does a cubic yard of sand weigh?
Usually around 1.3 to 1.5 dry tons, depending on stone size, fines and moisture.
How deep should sand be for a patio?
The table above shows 1 to 4 inches. Shallower depths suit top dressing; deeper depths suit new installs and heavier use.
How many square feet is 20x12?
240 square feet.
Related guides
- How Much Does a Ton of Sand Cover?
- Tons to Cubic Yards for Gravel: Conversion Chart
- How Many Tons of Gravel in a Dump Truck? Loads and Coverage
- How Much Does a Ton of Gravel Cover? Depth Chart
- How Much Sand for a 16x30 Patio?
- How Much Sand for a 20x10 Patio?
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