Drainage Materials
Drainage Materials Sand
Drainage sand is a clean, washed sand with the fines rinsed out so water moves through it instead of pooling. The grains stay uniform enough to keep pore spaces open when a wall, pipe, or paver sits on top. You'll see it behind retaining walls, in French drain trenches, and as a bedding layer around perforated drainpipe.
"Drainage sand" describes a job. Any clean, well-graded sand that meets a filter spec will do it. Most crews call for ASTM C33 concrete sand because the Army Corps proved back in the 1930s that its gradation filters common soils without plugging up the drain. Plan on roughly 1.3 to 1.5 tons per cubic yard dry, and a bit heavier once it's damp.
Compare every grade
| Grade | Size | Shape | Washed | Top use | We deliver |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sand (#8 To #4, Drainage) | 3/8" to No. 8 | — | — | Soil amendment | Reference only |
| Sand (Deq) | — | — | — | Construction material | Reference only |
| Sand (Drainage, Septic) | — | — | — | Drainage systems | Reference only |
| Sand (Drainage) | — | — | — | Soil amendment | Reference only |
| Sand (Percolation, Drainage) | — | — | — | Soil amendment | Reference only |
| Sand (Presby Environmental) | — | — | — | Filtration systems | Reference only |
| Sand (Septic) | — | — | — | Septic system filtration | Reference only |
What people use it for
How to choose within drainage materials sand
French drain
Washed 3/4" to 1" stone. Angular so it locks around the pipe, washed so it doesn't clog with fines.
Foundation perimeter
Larger clean stone — river rock or #57 — moves water away without holding it.
Downspout dispersion
Cover the splash zone with clean rock so runoff spreads instead of digging a hole.
All drainage materials sand grades
Sand (#8 To #4, Drainage)
Sand (Deq)
Sand (Drainage, Septic)
Sand (Drainage)
Sand (Percolation, Drainage)
Sand (Presby Environmental)
Sand (Septic)
Other drainage materials families
Drainage Materials Drain Rock
ReferenceDrain rock is washed, clean stone with the fines rinsed out and the pieces sized close to the same.
Drainage Materials Rip Rap
ReferenceRip rap is big, angular broken stone placed along creek banks, ponds, and drainage channels to stop water from cutting into the ground.
Drainage Materials Bedding
ReferenceDrainage bedding is clean, angular crushed stone that you place under and around a pipe in a trench.
Drainage Materials Fill Material
ReferenceAny stone sold as drainage fill has been washed and screened so no dust or sand rides along with it.
Septic Rock
ReferenceSeptic rock is clean, washed stone that surrounds the perforated pipes in a septic drain field.