Polymeric Sand Calculator
Polymeric sand coverage depends on the joints, not just the area. Enter the paver size, joint width and depth to get the bags you need and the real coverage per bag.
Coverage depends on paver size and joint width. A 50 lb bag covers about 59 sq ft of 4 × 8 in pavers with ⅛ in joints 2¼ in deep, but only about 31 sq ft with ¼ in joints. Large 24 × 24 in slabs with ⅛ in joints go about 258 sq ft per bag. Joint volume = the joint share of each paver cell × the depth.
Square feet per 50 lb bag (2¼ in deep joints)
| Paver | ⅛ in joints | ¼ in joints | ½ in joints |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 × 8 in (brick / holland) | 59 | 31 | 16 |
| 6 × 6 in | 66 | 34 | 18 |
| 6 × 9 in | 79 | 40 | 21 |
| 12 × 12 in | 130 | 66 | 34 |
| 16 × 16 in | 173 | 87 | 45 |
| 24 × 24 in | 258 | 130 | 66 |
| Flagstone, about 18 × 18 in | 194 | 98 | 50 |
Getting polymeric sand right
- Install on a dry day with no rain forecast for 24 hours, and make sure the pavers are completely dry.
- Fill joints to about ⅛ in below the paver top (the chamfer), compact with a plate compactor fitted with a pad, and top up.
- Blow every grain off the paver surface before misting; leftover dust leaves a haze.
Frequently asked questions
How much polymeric sand do I need?
Find the joint volume: for each paver, (length + joint) × (width + joint) − length × width is the joint area, times the depth. Divide by the paver cell area for the share of surface that is joint, then multiply by the patio area, depth and about 100 lb per cu ft. Or use the calculator above.
How many square feet does a bag of polymeric sand cover?
From about 30 sq ft (small pavers, wide joints) to well over 100 sq ft (large slabs, tight joints) per 50 lb bag. The table above shows typical cases.
How deep should polymeric sand be?
At least 1½ in, and ideally the full joint depth to about ⅛ in below the top of the paver, so it can bind and resist washout.
Can you use polymeric sand on wide joints?
Standard products handle joints up to about ½ in; wider flagstone joints need a wide-joint polymeric sand or stone dust product.
Is polymeric sand better than regular sand?
It binds when wetted, which resists weeds, ants and washout far better than loose joint sand, but it must be installed dry and in the right weather.
Run a garden club, nursery or landscaping site? Embed this calculator free with one line of code.
Related free tools
Gravel Calculator
Cubic yards, tons and bags of gravel by stone type and depth.
Open tool →Paver Calculator
Pavers, base gravel, bedding sand, polymeric sand and edging.
Open tool →Pea Gravel Calculator
Pea gravel for paths, patios and play areas in yards, tons and bags.
Open tool →Driveway Gravel Calculator
Tons of stone for each driveway layer: base, middle and top.
Open tool →Sources and assumptions
Joint share = ((L + j)(W + j) − L·W) ÷ ((L + j)(W + j)) for a grid of pavers; volume = share × area × depth. Settled polymeric sand weighs about 100 lb per cu ft; 10% added for spillage and top-ups. Bag coverage tables from the manufacturers vary by product; follow the bag's joint-width and depth limits.