River Sand

What is River Sand?

Washed river sand with rounded grains and almost no clay in it. It spreads easy, packs with water and a tamp, and it is what most people here use to raise a low yard or bed a pipe.

River sand is dredged out of river deposits and washed, so the grains come out rounded and mostly free of silt and clay. Water sorting is what gives it that even, free running texture. It has been the everyday fill sand in this part of Louisiana for a long time, and across eleven years of orders it is the single most delivered material we haul.

A cost-effective way to buy sand: loose, in bulk.

Best uses for River Sand, ranked

1. Raising and leveling a low yard
2. Pipe bedding in utility trenches
3. Fill under pool decks and surrounds
4. Backfill around water and conduit lines
5. Rough grading on residential lots

When not to use River Sand

River Sand is fill only. For the jobs below, use the material listed instead.

• Concrete or mortar mixes. River Sand is fill only; Concrete Sand is the only concrete sand. Use Concrete Sand for concrete. We don't sell a mortar sand.
• The bedding or leveling layer under pavers. Concrete Sand is the only paver sand. Use Concrete Sand, the only paver sand we sell.
• Play sand, sandboxes, playground surfacing. Not sold as a play sand. We don't sell a play sand.
• Structural fill under foundations, footings or slabs. Needs an engineer's spec and compaction testing. Follow your engineer's spec. We can help you find the material it calls for.
• A planting layer on its own. Sand dries fast and holds no nutrients. Use Premium Garden Soil for anything that grows.
• French drains. Fine sand clogs a drain. Use #57 Limestone in the drain instead.
• Thick topdressing over a lawn. Smothers grass and can bring in torpedograss. Use Premium Garden Soil instead, in thin passes.

River Sand pros and cons

Pros

• Superior workabi
• Natural rounding

Cons

• Not sanitized
• Minor fines risk
• Weather impact

Tips for working with River Sand

DIY tips

• Always wet sand before mixing to improve workability and reduce dust.
• Screen oversized material before use in fine applications like joint filling.
• Store in weatherproof location to prevent excess moisture and contamination.

Pro tips

• Maintain sand moisture at 4–8% for optimal workability; dry sand reduces packing, wet sand causes segregation.
• Screen and grade sand on-site if project requires tight particle-size distribution for architectural finishes.

River Sand specs at a glance

Fine to medium natural sand, rounded grain, washed to take out silt and clay. Free running when dry, workable when damp. Measured in cubic yards.

Coverage

About 108 sq ft per yd³ at 3 in deep

Material

Silica sand

Size

0.075–4.75mm

Texture

Rounded grain

Color

Medium tan

Also called

Washed Sand

River Sand load size and minimum order

Before you order River Sand, check how it is sold and the smallest order we take. Both come from our live price list.

Sold by

the truckload

Truckload

Up to 9 yd³, one price

Minimum order

3 yd³

How much River Sand do I need?

Measure the low spot, deck area or trench and the calculator gives the River Sand to order, rounded up. For a pipe trench, pick the Trench shape and enter its own width and depth.

Material calculator

How River Sand delivery works

Ordering River Sand takes a few minutes. Here is what happens from the price to the drop.

Sand blows and washes. Keep the pile off the street and away from storm drains, and cover it if wind or rain is coming before you spread it.

Materials that work with River Sand

• Concrete Sand: Use it instead of River Sand for concrete and for the bed under pavers.
• Spillway Dirt: Silt fill that compacts in layers, for raising ground and building berms.
• Pea Gravel

River Sand guides and tools

• Which sand goes under pavers?
• How much fill to raise a low yard

Questions about River Sand

How much does River Sand cost?

River Sand is from $205.00 per load delivered. Up to 9 yd³ at the same price. Enter your address for a quote.

How is River Sand sold?

By the truckload.

What is the minimum order for River Sand?

The minimum order is 3 yd³.

Do you deliver River Sand?

Yes. We deliver River Sand, including to Chalmette, LA, Destrehan, LA, Edgard, LA, Harahan, LA, Harvey, LA, Jefferson, LA, Kenner, LA, Metairie, LA, New Orleans, LA, Reserve, LA, Slidell, LA and Terrytown, LA. Delivery to your exact address is confirmed when you get your quote.

How much River Sand do I need for a low yard or a trench?

Measure the area in feet and the depth in inches, then let the calculator on this page turn it into how much to order, rounded up. For a trench, use the Trench shape with the trench's own width and depth.

Can River Sand be compacted?

Yes, as fill. Wet it and tamp it in layers and it firms up for leveling, filling under a deck or backfilling a trench. It is not structural fill: under a foundation, footing or slab, follow your engineer's spec.

Does River Sand work in a French drain?

No. Its fine grains clog a drain, so use #57 Limestone for drains instead.

Can I use River Sand under pavers or in concrete?

No. River Sand is fill only. Concrete Sand is the only sand we sell for concrete and for the bed under pavers.

Is River Sand the same as play sand?

No. We don't sell a play sand, and River Sand isn't one.

How is River Sand delivered?

Our driver dumps it loose where you point. A spot on the driveway or next to the work area keeps it easy to shovel and off the lawn.

River Sand delivery by city

Looking for River Sand in your city? These pages cover delivery there.

• River Sand Delivery in Chalmette, LA
• River Sand Delivery in Destrehan, LA
• River Sand Delivery in Edgard, LA
• River Sand Delivery in Harahan, LA
• River Sand Delivery in Harvey, LA
• River Sand Delivery in Jefferson, LA
• River Sand Delivery in Kenner, LA
• River Sand Delivery in Metairie, LA
• River Sand Delivery in New Orleans, LA
• River Sand Delivery in Reserve, LA
• River Sand Delivery in Slidell, LA
• River Sand Delivery in Terrytown, LA