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Types of Sand: Mason, Play, Washed & More

Sand isn’t one material with different names slapped on it. It’s graded by grain size, shape and how much it’s been washed or screened, and grabbing the wrong type can ruin a batch of mortar, wreck a paver patio, or turn a sandbox into a hazard. Here’s every type of sand that matters for construction and landscaping, and exactly what to buy each one for. Browse all sand once you know which type your project needs.

All Sand Types Compared

The table below lines up the five types of sand buyers ask about most: grain size, how it’s processed, typical cost, and the one job each does best.

Polymeric sand is the one exception on this list: it’s sold by the bag, not the ton, because it’s a manufactured jointing product rather than raw aggregate.

Types of Sand for Construction and Landscaping

Mason sand (fine, screened)

Mason sand is a fine, uniformly screened sand with rounded edges, made for bricklaying and plaster work. Its small, even grain packs tightly into mortar joints without leaving gaps or grit that weaken the bond. Contractors also use mason sand as a leveling layer under pavers and as top-dressing for horse arenas and volleyball courts, where softness matters more than drainage.

• Mortar and plaster mixes
• Bricklaying joints
• Arena and riding ring footing
• Fine leveling layer under pavers

Play sand (washed, screened, kid-safe)

Play sand is washed, screened and dried specifically for sandboxes and playgrounds, free of the sharp edges, silt and organic debris found in construction-grade sand. The Public Playground Safety Handbook recommends at least 9 inches of loose-fill sand under play equipment as fall-height surfacing, not just a light scattering in a sandbox. Reusing old fill sand instead of certified play sand is a common safety mistake. See this playground sand safety guide for depth and drainage details.

• Sandboxes
• Playground fall-zone surfacing
• Kids’ play areas

Washed / concrete sand (coarse)

Washed sand, also called concrete sand, is coarser and angular, rinsed to strip out silt and clay. That coarser grain gives concrete strength and lets water drain instead of pooling, which is why washed sand is the standard bedding layer under pavers and patio stone. Most installations use a 1 inch screed layer of washed sand between the base and the paver. It’s also common in septic drain fields, where drainage matters more than fine texture.

• Concrete mixing
• Paver bedding layer
• Septic drain fields
• General fill where drainage matters

Fill sand

Fill sand is a coarse, largely unwashed sand sold by volume, and its job is to compact solidly under weight. Builders use it to raise and level low spots under slabs, patios and pool bases, where a stable base matters more than drainage or grain uniformity. Because it isn’t washed, fill sand costs less per ton than mason or washed sand, but it isn’t clean enough for mortar or play areas.

• Base fill under slabs and pools
• Grading and leveling low spots
• Backfill around foundations

Polymeric sand

Polymeric sand is regular fine sand blended with a polymer binder that hardens once watered in, locking paver joints against weeds, ants and washout. It’s sold in bags rather than by the ton, and coverage depends on joint width and paver thickness rather than square footage alone. Figuring how much polymeric sand a project needs starts with joint volume, not surface area.

• Paver and flagstone joints
• Locking joints against weeds and washout

Which Sand for Your Project?

Match the job to the sand, not the other way around, and most of the common problems below never happen.

Sands to Avoid

A few common substitutes look like a bargain and cause real problems on site.

• Beach sand: salt corrodes metal and rounded grains won’t lock for mortar or joints.
• Unwashed pit sand: leftover silt and clay weaken concrete and clog drainage layers.
• “All-purpose” bagged sand: fine for casual fill, but too inconsistent for structural mixes or certified play surfacing.

Bulk vs Bagged Sand

Buying sand in bulk by the ton costs less per pound than bagged sand, often by half or more once packaging and retail markup are factored in. Bagged sand earns its price on small jobs or tight access, where hauling less than half a ton makes no sense. For anything larger, bulk delivery wins even after delivery fees. Knowing roughly how much a yard of sand weighs before it shows up helps you order the right amount instead of guessing.

FAQs

What are the main types of sand?

The main types are mason sand for mortar and fine finishing work, play sand for sandboxes and playgrounds, washed or concrete sand for paver bedding and concrete mixing, fill sand for compacted base work, and polymeric sand for locking paver joints. Each is graded differently for grain size and processing, so swapping one for another usually causes problems rather than saving money.

What kind of sand goes in a sandbox?

Play sand that’s washed, screened and dried specifically for children’s play areas belongs in a sandbox, not construction-grade fill sand or mason sand. Certified play sand is free of sharp grit, silt and debris, and checking depth and drainage matters even for a backyard sandbox, not just public playground equipment.

What sand do you use for pavers?

Washed concrete sand is the standard bedding layer under pavers, screeded to about 1 inch before the stones go down, because its coarser grain drains well and holds its shape under weight. Polymeric sand goes on top afterward to fill the joints between pavers and lock them against weeds and washout.

What is washed sand?

Washed sand is sand that’s been rinsed to remove silt, clay and organic material before it’s sold, leaving a cleaner, coarser product that performs better in concrete and drainage applications. It’s also called concrete sand, and it’s the standard choice for paver bedding, concrete mixing and septic drain fields.

Can I use mason sand for concrete?

Mason sand isn’t the right choice for structural concrete because its fine, rounded grains don’t provide the strength or drainage that coarser washed sand delivers. Mason sand is built for mortar joints, plaster and fine leveling work, so save it for those jobs and use washed sand for actual concrete mixes.

Written by Joe Korgenson

Materials Specialist at Gravel Monkey

Joe Korgenson is Gravel Monkey's materials specialist. He's spent more than twenty years in the aggregate business - running loader crews, dispatching bulk deliveries, and helping homeowners and contractors spec the right stone, gravel, and base material for the job. His guides cover what materials really cost, how much to order, and the installation mistakes that are cheapest to avoid before the truck arrives.