Rate depends on joint width
Polymeric sand goes into the joints between pavers: figure roughly 100 lbs per 1,000 sq ft for standard 1/8-inch joints, and up to double that for ½-inch joints or thick beveled pavers. The calculator uses your area at the standard rate — check the joint width note and adjust if yours are wide.
Activate it correctly
Polymeric sand sets when wetted, so the pour-and-sweep must be followed by a careful, gentle watering that washes polymer off the paver faces before it clouds them. One pass, no soaking. Done right, the joints lock hard enough to block weeds and ants for years.
Sources and standards
Where these figures come from
Every formula on this page is implemented from the published reference material below. Where a value depends on a regional code, the calculator lets you override it rather than assuming one jurisdiction.
- USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service — soil texture, bulk density and seeding rate guidance.
- US Geological Survey — mineral commodity data and aggregate density references.
- National Stone, Sand & Gravel Association — aggregate grading and product specification references.
Figures, formulas and reference tables last verified: 19 September 2026.