How Much Sand for a 5x20 Walkway?
How much sand for a 5x20 walkway: at 3 inches deep you need about 0.93 cubic yards, which is roughly 1.2 tons at 1.35 tons per yard. The walkway covers 100 square feet, so every inch of depth adds about 0.31 yards.
Volume and tonnage calculator →The math for a 5x20 walkway
- Area: 5 × 20 = 100 sq ft.
- Depth in feet: 3 ÷ 12 = 0.250 ft.
- Cubic feet: 100 × 0.250 = 25.0 cu ft.
- Cubic yards: ÷ 27 = 0.93 yd³.
- Tons: × 1.35 = 1.2 tons.
The volume and tonnage calculator does this for any size.
Sand needed by depth
| Depth | Cubic yards | Tons (approx.) | Tons +10% |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 in | 0.31 | 0.4 | 0.5 |
| 2 in | 0.62 | 0.8 | 0.9 |
| 3 in | 0.93 | 1.2 | 1.4 |
| 4 in | 1.23 | 1.7 | 1.8 |
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 walkway
Dig the path a few inches below grade, compact the bottom, add fabric if needed and install edging on both sides so the material stays on the walk. This walkway sees foot traffic, 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. 1.4 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 about 1.2 tons this job is small enough that bagged material could work; a 0.5 cubic foot bag holds about 1/54 of a yard, so compare the bag count with a bulk minimum.
- Where it drops. Have the truck dump as close to the walkway 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 14x28 area at 4 inches takes about 6.5 tons.
- Weight used here: about 1.35 tons per cubic yard.
Mistakes that throw off the order
- Ordering exactly the math. Uneven ground and spillage nearly always need a little more than the flat calculation.
- Ignoring the base. A thin surface layer over soft soil fails early no matter how much material is on top.
- Mixing up cubic yards and tons. Yards are volume, tons are weight; convert with the product’s weight per yard.
- Skipping drainage. Water sitting under any surface softens the base and leads to ruts and potholes.
Questions people ask
How many tons of sand for a 5x20 walkway?
About 1.2 tons at 3 inches deep, or 1.4 tons with 10 percent extra.
How many cubic yards is a 5x20 walkway at 3 inches?
About 0.93 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 walkway?
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 5x20?
100 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 5x10 Walkway?
- How Much Sand for a 5x15 Walkway?
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