How Many Bags of Polymeric Sand Do I Need?

Each paving project is unique and requires varying quantities of polymeric sand. However, a few critical factors can be a compass during your next polymeric sand shopping spree. So, get your tape measure ready because, without further ado, here are the four primary parameters that will gauge how much polymeric sand you need: 

1. Total Area
   Let us begin by measuring the total square footage of the plot you intend to pave. If this region is a simple rectangle, such as a patio or a driveway, all you need to do is multiply the length of the rectangle by the width. If you have a more irregularly shaped patch of land, break it into smaller shapes and add the areas together. Typically, a 50-pound bag of polymeric sand can cover 50 to 85 square feet.
   
   
2. Paver Area
   The paver area is based on the number of pavers, the length and width of each paver, and the joint width.
   
   
3. Average Joint Width
   

   Let's move on to measuring the gaps between the pavers. After determining the size of these gaps, add the amounts and divide the sum by the total number of measurements you performed. The resulting number is your average. 
   
   Are you working with narrow joints or wide joints? If you have narrow joints (1/8” to 3/8”), then one 50-pound bag should cover approximately 65-85 square feet, but if you have wide joints (¾” to 1-¼”), that same size will only cover about 22-42 square feet.

4. Sand Depth 
   Across the board, a working depth is typically about 1 inch. Nevertheless, consulting the manufacturer’s instructions for the most appropriate depth for that brand and your specific project is best. Sand depth will vary with different paver heights, your materials, and the composition of the land.

How Many Square Feet Does a Bag of Polymeric Sand Cover?

So, now you know how to get the measurements required for your next polymeric sand purchase, but how should you apply that information? Well, one approach is using a lot of time and mental energy to convert from cubic feet to pounds yourself after you have already put in the work merely to combine those measurements. On the other hand, the recommended approach is simply to enter the measurements into our user-friendly polymeric sand calculator. Not to mention, our calculator will provide a much more precise quantity in no time! If you have any questions or need further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact us today!