"Sand" covers several genuinely different materials, and picking the wrong one causes real problems: a paver base that shifts, a sandbox with sand that's too coarse for kids to play in, a pipe bedding layer that doesn't protect the pipe the way it's supposed to. Here's how the main types differ and which one fits which job.
Construction Sand
Construction sand has a coarse, angular grain that locks together under compaction — the opposite of what you want for comfort, but exactly what you want for stability. It's the standard choice for under-slab bedding, pipe and conduit bedding in utility trenches, and the compacted base layer under pavers and flagstone. The angular edges interlock when compacted, resisting the lateral shift that causes paver patios to spread or settle unevenly over time.
Masonry Sand
Masonry sand is finer and smoother than construction sand, purpose-built for mortar mixes and as a leveling/screeding layer. Use it as the thin top layer under pavers (after the coarser construction sand base has been compacted) for a smooth, even surface to set the pavers into. Because it's finer, it doesn't compact as densely as construction sand — it's a leveling material, not a load-bearing base by itself.
Play Sand
Play sand is washed and screened specifically to be safe and comfortable for direct skin contact — rounded grains, not angular, and free of the fine dust that can be an inhalation or eye irritation concern in some sand products. It's the right choice, and really the only choice, for sandboxes and playground surfacing. It performs poorly as a structural or drainage material because the rounded grains don't lock together or compact well — don't substitute it for construction sand under a patio or driveway.
Comparison Table
| Sand Type | Grain | Best For | Avoid For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Construction sand | Coarse, angular | Paver/slab base, pipe bedding, concrete mix | Sandboxes, play areas |
| Masonry sand | Fine, smooth | Mortar, paver leveling layer | Structural base layers |
| Play sand | Fine, rounded, washed | Sandboxes, playgrounds | Paver base, drainage, driveways |
Sand for Drainage
Beyond bedding and base uses, sand layers under and around slabs, pavers, and utility lines give water somewhere to go instead of pooling against a structure — a meaningful concern on both DFW's clay soil and Colorado's freeze-thaw-prone ground, where trapped water either keeps clay soggy and expansive or freezes and heaves whatever it's under. Construction sand is the right grade for this — it compacts enough to stay stable while still draining far better than clay.
How Much Do You Need?
Paver and patio bases typically use a 1-inch compacted layer of construction sand under a thinner leveling layer of masonry sand. Pipe bedding calls for 4-6 inches of sand below and around the pipe. A typical residential sandbox needs 1-3 yards of play sand depending on size and depth. Text us your project dimensions and we'll calculate the exact yardage and which grade fits.
How We Help
We deliver construction sand, masonry sand, and play sand by dump truck across DFW and the Denver metro, screened and ready to use. See our fill dirt vs sand comparison if you're still deciding whether your project needs sand at all versus fill dirt or structural fill.