How Much Sand for a 20x24 Patio?
How much sand for a 20x24 patio: at 3 inches deep you need about 4.44 cubic yards, which is roughly 6.0 tons at 1.35 tons per yard. The patio covers 480 square feet, so every inch of depth adds about 1.48 yards.
Volume and tonnage calculator →The math for a 20x24 patio
- Area: 20 × 24 = 480 sq ft.
- Depth in feet: 3 ÷ 12 = 0.250 ft.
- Cubic feet: 480 × 0.250 = 120.0 cu ft.
- Cubic yards: ÷ 27 = 4.44 yd³.
- Tons: × 1.35 = 6.0 tons.
The volume and tonnage calculator does this for any size.
Sand needed by depth
| Depth | Cubic yards | Tons (approx.) | Tons +10% |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 in | 1.48 | 2.0 | 2.2 |
| 2 in | 2.96 | 4.0 | 4.4 |
| 3 in | 4.44 | 6.0 | 6.6 |
| 4 in | 5.93 | 8.0 | 8.8 |
About sand
Sand weight changes a lot with moisture. Damp sand can weigh noticeably more per yard than dry sand, so a ton of wet sand covers less area than the same ton dry. 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. 6.6 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
Works well for:
- Paver and flagstone bedding
- Leveling under above-ground pools (with the right product)
- Filling joints and backfilling pipe
Less suited to:
- 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 14x28 area at 4 inches takes about 6.5 tons.
- Weight used here: about 1.35 tons per cubic yard.
Common estimating mistakes
- Forgetting that compaction shrinks loose material. A loose 4-inch spread of a dense-graded stone may finish closer to 3 inches after rolling.
- Mixing up cubic yards and tons. Yards are volume, tons are weight; convert with the product’s weight per yard.
- Measuring only the main rectangle. Aprons, turnouts and curved edges add real square footage.
- 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 20x24 patio?
About 6.0 tons at 3 inches deep, or 6.6 tons with 10 percent extra.
How many cubic yards is a 20x24 patio at 3 inches?
About 4.44 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 20x24?
480 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
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