Sand for a 12×12 ft patio
A 12 × 12 ft patio at 1 in deep needs 0.44 cubic yards of sand — about 24 × 50 lb bags, roughly 0.60 tons and $16.89 of material. Fine-tune below.
Full breakdown
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Volume before waste | 12.0 ft³ |
| Volume with 10% waste | 13.2 ft³ |
| Cubic yards | 0.49 |
| Cubic metres | 0.37 |
| Cubic feet | 13.2 |
| Weight | 0.66 tons (1,320 lb) |
| Full dump-truck loads | 1 × 10 yd³ truck |
| 50 lb bags | 27 bags · $114.75 |
| Sq ft covered at 1 in deep | 158 |
| Sq ft covered at 3 in deep | 53 |
- Formula: length × width × depth, with depth converted from inches to feet (÷ 12), then × (1 + waste%).
- Sand: Masonry sand and concrete sand are sold by the cubic yard; play sand and polymeric sand come bagged for joints and small areas.
- Bedding sand goes down at 1 inch and is screeded, not dumped — a 2-inch sand bed under pavers shifts and the surface will rock within a season.
- Prices are national averages for planning, not quotes. Confirm with a local supplier — delivery, short-load fees and tax are extra.
12 × 12 ft is 144 square feet. Spread 1 in deep, that is 12.0 cubic feet, or 0.44 cubic yards, of sand. Expect to order around 0.60 tons.
The calculator above is pre-filled with these dimensions — change any field to see the numbers update. Masonry sand and concrete sand are sold by the cubic yard; play sand and polymeric sand come bagged for joints and small areas.
Frequently asked questions
How many cubic yards of sand for a 12×12 ft patio?
About 0.44 cubic yards at 1 in deep, which is 12.0 cubic feet or 0.60 tons. Add 10% waste if the ground is uneven.
How many bags is that?
24 × 50 lb bags, or 24 × 50 lb bags. Bagged is only worth it at this size if you cannot take a truck delivery.
What depth should a patio be?
1 in is the standard for sand in this application. Bedding sand goes down at 1 inch and is screeded, not dumped — a 2-inch sand bed under pavers shifts and the surface will rock within a season.