How Much Sand for a 20x20 Patio?
How much sand for a 20x20 patio is a quick volume problem. 400 square feet at 3 inches comes to 3.70 cubic yards. Sand usually weighs about 1.3 to 1.5 dry tons per cubic yard, so plan on roughly 5.0 tons.
Volume and tonnage calculator →The math for a 20x20 patio
- Area: 20 × 20 = 400 sq ft.
- Depth in feet: 3 ÷ 12 = 0.250 ft.
- Cubic feet: 400 × 0.250 = 100.0 cu ft.
- Cubic yards: ÷ 27 = 3.70 yd³.
- Tons: × 1.35 = 5.0 tons.
The volume and tonnage calculator does this for any size.
Sand needed by depth
| Depth | Cubic yards | Tons (approx.) | Tons +10% |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 in | 1.23 | 1.7 | 1.8 |
| 2 in | 2.47 | 3.3 | 3.7 |
| 3 in | 3.70 | 5.0 | 5.5 |
| 4 in | 4.94 | 6.7 | 7.3 |
About sand
For paver bedding, concrete sand (coarse, washed) is the usual pick. Mason sand is finer and used in mortar and play areas. If the yard sells by the cubic yard instead of the ton, use the cubic-yard column directly.
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. 5.5 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
Think twice 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 15x30 area at 2 inches takes about 3.8 tons.
- Weight used here: about 1.35 tons per cubic yard.
Where estimates go wrong
- Using inches as if they were feet. Depth has to be divided by 12 before you multiply; skipping that step inflates the order twelvefold.
- Skipping drainage. Water sitting under any surface softens the base and leads to ruts and potholes.
- Assuming every supplier uses the same weight. Two yards selling the same product name can quote different tons per yard.
- Ignoring the base. A thin surface layer over soft soil fails early no matter how much material is on top.
Questions people ask
How many tons of sand for a 20x20 patio?
About 5.0 tons at 3 inches deep, or 5.5 tons with 10 percent extra.
How many cubic yards is a 20x20 patio at 3 inches?
About 3.70 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 20x20?
400 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 20x16 Patio?
- How Much Sand for a 20x18 Patio?
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