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Industrial, masonry & recreation sands
Paver beds, courts, bunkers & mixes
Bags, supersacks, and bulk
Common Uses for Sand
From paver setting beds to volleyball courts, golf bunkers, and masonry mixes, see where the right grade of sand earns its place on a project.
Paver & Flagstone Setting Beds
A screeded layer of sand gives pavers and flagstone a level base to seat into. Spread it over a compacted aggregate base, screed it flat, then set your stone. Concrete and masonry sand are the usual picks because they level cleanly and lock the surface in place.
Volleyball & Beach Courts
Recreation and volleyball sand is washed and graded so it plays soft and clean without packing hard. Build the court over a drainage base and keep a consistent depth so players land safely. It rakes back into shape after a weekend of use.
Golf & Sport Bunkers
Bunker sand is graded for play, holding a ball without crusting over and draining fast after rain. Use it to build or top up a practice bunker or a course hazard. Keep the depth even across the face so the surface stays consistent shot to shot.
Sandboxes & Play Areas
Clean recreation sand is soft for kids and easy to mold. Fill a sandbox or a backyard play area and keep a consistent depth for a comfortable surface. Buy it by the bag for a single box or by the supersack for a larger play space.
Arena & Footing
Graded sand builds the footing layer in a riding arena or work area, cushioning each step without packing hard. Spread it over a stable base and keep the depth even across the ring. Top it up as it settles to hold the cushion you want.
Materials That Pair Well With Sand
Round out your build with the base rock, decomposed granite, pea gravel, and pebbles that work alongside a sand layer.
Base & Ground Materials
The compacted base that goes under a sand setting bed. Road base and drain rock build a stable, well-draining foundation for pavers, courts, and bunkers.
Decomposed Granite
A firmer, more walkable surface for paths and patios. Where sand stays loose, decomposed granite compacts into a stable finish that holds its shape underfoot.
Pea Gravel
Small, rounded stone for paths, drainage, and play areas. A coarser companion to sand that drains fast and reads clean over the same compacted base.
Pebbles
Smooth, rounded stone for decorative beds, water features, and accents. Sand makes the level base under a pebble path while pebbles finish the surface.
Sand Buying Guide
Pick the right grade for the job, learn placement and mixing tips, and find the sand that works for your project.
Sand spans a wide range of grades, from coarse concrete and masonry sand for mixes and setting beds to washed recreation, bunker, and industrial sands graded for play, filtration, and traction. The right grade depends entirely on the job, so it pays to match the sand to the use.
Browse the full sand collection across every grade. Sand is sold by the bag for small jobs, by the supersack for mid-size projects, and in bulk by the ton for large surfaces.
Sand Grades vs Use Cases
| Material | Best For | Compaction | Drainage | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Concrete / Masonry Sand | Concrete mixes, mortar, paver setting beds | Varies | Good | $ |
| Industrial #12–#30 | Filtration, blasting, traction sanding | Varies | Excellent | $$ |
| Recreation / Volleyball | Courts, sandboxes, play areas | Varies | Excellent | $$ |
| Bunker / Plaster | Golf bunkers, pool plaster mixes | Varies | Excellent | $$$ |
Build sand setting beds and courts over a compacted base material so the surface drains and stays level.
What Contractors Know
- Use a screeded sand bed under pavers. Spread sand over a compacted base, screed it flat to a consistent depth, then set your stone so each piece seats evenly and the surface stays level.
- Bunker and volleyball sands are graded for play, not mixing. They are washed and screened to drain fast and stay soft. Use a concrete or masonry sand when you need sand for mortar or a concrete mix instead.
- Sand is sold by the ton, bag, or supersack. Bags suit small jobs and single sandboxes, supersacks fit a court or play area, and bulk by the ton is the cheapest way to cover a large surface.
- Industrial sands are numbered by grit. A lower number is coarser and a higher number is finer. Match the grit to the job, whether that is filtration, blasting, or traction, so the sand performs the way the spec calls for.
- Keep a consistent depth for paver beds. An even setting bed means every paver sits at the same height. Screed to a fixed depth across the whole area so the finished surface reads flat and stays put.
- Buy by the right unit and use the calculator. Sand comes in bags, supersacks, and bulk by the ton. Use the calculator at the top of this page to size your order, then pick the unit that matches the job.
FAQ
Use a concrete or masonry sand for the setting bed. Spread it over a compacted aggregate base, screed it flat, then set your pavers into it. Browse the full sand collection to find the grade you need, and pair it with a base material underneath.
A washed recreation or volleyball sand. It is graded to play soft and clean without packing hard, and it rakes back into shape after use. Build the court over a drainage base and keep the depth consistent so players land safely.
Concrete sand is coarser and goes into concrete mixes for footings, slabs, and pours. Masonry sand is finer and mixes smooth into mortar for brick, block, and stone work. Both also work as setting beds, so pick the one your mix calls for.
Use the coverage calculator at the top of this page. As a quick rule, 1 cubic yard covers roughly 100 square feet at 3 inches deep. Sand weighs about 1.3 tons per cubic yard since it is finer than rock.
Both. Sand comes in bags for small jobs and single sandboxes, supersacks for courts and play areas, and bulk by the ton for large surfaces. Call (800) 215-7372 with your zip and project size for help picking the right unit.
Find the Right Sand for Your Project
Industrial, masonry, and recreation sands in every grade, by the bag, supersack, or ton. Project consultation available.
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