What Is the Difference Between Masonry Sand and Fill Sand?

The main difference is what the sand is designed to do.

Masonry sand is selected for mortar and masonry work where texture and workability matter. Fill sand is primarily used for filling, levelling and building up areas where a finishing sand is not required.

They should not automatically be substituted for each other.

In Australia, masonry-type sand may also be described as brickies sand or bricklaying sand, depending on the supplier and product.

Masonry Sand vs Fill Sand at a Glance

Project	Sand normally considered
Bricklaying mortar	Masonry/brickies sand
Blockwork mortar	Masonry/brickies sand
Building up a low area	Fill sand
Filling a trench or void	Fill sand
General levelling beneath another material	Fill sand
Paver bedding	Use paving sand suited to the installation
Concrete	Use material specified for the concrete mix

Product names and classifications can vary between suppliers, quarries and regions, so always check the intended use before ordering.

What Is Masonry Sand?

Masonry sand is sand selected for masonry work.

The sand needs to produce a workable mortar that can be spread between bricks or blocks.

Depending on the product, it may be used for:

• Bricklaying
• Blockwork
• Mortar
• Masonry repairs
• Some rendering applications

In Sydney and elsewhere in Australia, you may hear brickies sand used more often than the term masonry sand.

Turtle Nursery supplies sand products including white brickies sand.

What Is Fill Sand?

Fill sand is used when the main job is to fill space or build up levels.

Common uses can include:

• Filling low areas
• Filling excavations
• Trench backfilling
• Building up landscape levels
• General site levelling
• Filling beneath another landscape layer

Because the material is usually going underneath something else, appearance is generally not the priority.

Turtle Nursery supplies fill sand for landscape and building projects.

The Simplest Way to Choose

Ask one question:

Am I making mortar, or am I filling space?

If you are making mortar for bricklaying or masonry work, choose sand suitable for that purpose.

If you are filling or building up an area that will later receive another surface, fill sand may be the appropriate product.

That single distinction eliminates a lot of confusion.

Can Fill Sand Be Used for Bricklaying?

Do not assume it can.

Bricklaying mortar needs sand with suitable grading and workability. General fill material has been selected for a different purpose.

Using the wrong sand can affect how mortar mixes, spreads and performs.

If the project calls for brickies or masonry sand, use a sand supplied for that job.

Can Masonry Sand Be Used as Fill?

Technically, a finer sand could fill a space, but that does not make it the sensible product to order.

Using masonry-grade material simply to fill a deep area can be unnecessary when a product specifically intended for filling is available.

The better approach is to match the material to the job.

Does Fill Sand Drain Well?

Fill sand may allow water to move through more readily than heavy clay soil, but it should not be treated as a drainage product by itself.

Drainage depends on:

• Sand grading
• Compaction
• Surrounding soil
• Ground slope
• Depth
• Where the water can escape

If a site has a genuine drainage problem, simply replacing soil with sand does not guarantee a solution.

For drainage projects, Turtle Nursery also supplies a range of gravel products.

Is Fill Sand the Same as Concrete Sand?

No.

Concrete sand is selected to suit concrete applications, while fill sand is primarily used to fill and level areas.

If a construction specification calls for a particular material, use the specified sand rather than substituting general fill.

Is Fill Sand the Same as Paving Sand?

Not necessarily.

Paving sand is selected for paving work, particularly where a suitable bedding layer is required.

Fill sand may be used lower in a landscape build-up in some situations, but it should not automatically replace the sand specified for the paver bedding layer.

For more information, read Turtle Nursery’s guide on what paving sand is used for.

How Much Fill Sand Do You Need?

For a straightforward rectangular area, use:

Length × width × depth = cubic metres

For example:

5 metres × 3 metres × 0.2 metres

= 3 cubic metres

The actual order may need to allow for settlement, compaction and uneven site levels.

Which Sand Should You Order?

Before ordering, identify exactly what the sand needs to do.

Choose masonry or brickies sand when:

• Making bricklaying mortar
• Working with masonry
• A mortar specification requires it
• Workability and finish matter

Choose fill sand when:

• Filling a low area
• Building up levels
• Filling a void or excavation
• The sand will sit beneath another material
• A general filling product is required

If the project has engineering or building specifications, those requirements take priority.

Sydney Sand Supplies

Turtle Nursery carries different sand products because a single sand cannot do every job well.

You can browse the full range of sand supplies and choose material based on the job rather than simply ordering “sand”.

For larger quantities, Turtle Nursery offers delivery across Sydney from its Rouse Hill and South Windsor yards.

Summary

Masonry sand and fill sand are designed for different jobs. Masonry sand is selected for mortar and masonry work, where workability matters. Fill sand is used mainly for filling, levelling and building up areas. They should not automatically be substituted for one another. Identify what the material needs to do first, then choose the sand suited to that application.