Sand looks simple, but not all sand is the same. Avanni Landscape Supply carries two kinds, river sand and mason sand, and using the wrong one can mean poor drainage, an uneven paver base, or a job that doesn't hold up. Here's how to choose.
River sand
River sand is, as the name suggests, sand shaped by moving water. Its grains are coarser, rounded, and varied in size. That coarseness gives it good drainage, water moves through it readily, and the rounded grains make it easy to work with.
River sand is a strong choice for:
- Drainage and fill where you want water to pass through
- Backfilling around pipes and structures
- General leveling and grading where fine uniformity isn't critical
Mason sand
Mason sand (also called masonry sand) is processed to be finer and far more uniform than river sand. The grains are screened to a consistent small size, which gives it a smooth, even texture.
Mason sand is the better pick for:
- Paver and flagstone bases, where a smooth, level setting bed matters
- Mortar and masonry work, where consistency affects the mix
- Play areas and sandboxes, where a soft, fine texture is preferred
- Filling joints between pavers
The key difference
It comes down to texture and uniformity. River sand is coarse and great for drainage and fill. Mason sand is fine and uniform, and shines anywhere you need a smooth, even surface or a consistent mix. If you're building something that needs to sit level, like a patio, lean toward mason sand. If you're moving water or filling a void, river sand usually does the job for less fuss.
A note for the Gulf Coast
Our coastal soils are often sandy and prone to heavy rain. For drainage-focused projects, river sand's free-draining nature is an advantage. For finished hardscapes like patios and walkways, mason sand gives you the stable, even base that holds up to our weather.
Order your sand
Both sands are in our sand collection, sold by the ton with no minimum order. If you also need a base layer, see our crushed limestone options and our guide to building a solid base. We deliver across Harrison and Hancock counties Monday through Saturday. Questions? Call (985) 205-3396.
