How to Choose the Right Sand for Your Playground: What You Must Know Before You Buy
Don’t Just Buy Sand, Invest in Safety and Fun
Every parent, school administrator, or childcare operator knows the joy of a perfect sandpit. It’s where creativity flows, castles rise, and memories are made. But here at Soilworx, we know the truth behind the fun: not all sand is created equal.
If you’re looking to fill a new sandpit or replenish an old one, simply choosing the cheapest bag of “white sand” from a hardware store is a dangerous mistake. Construction sand or poorly washed beach sand can contain sharp particles, excessive dust that irritates lungs, or fail to provide the critical cushioning needed to break a fall.
As Melbourne’s trusted supplier of bulk materials for over 40 years, we’ve compiled the definitive guide to choosing the right sand for a safe, healthy, and compliant playground. We’ll cut through the confusion, explain the science behind particle safety, and show you exactly why investing in certified playground sand is the single most important step you can take.
Ready to ensure your play area meets the Australian standards for safety and delivers pure fun? Let’s dig in.
What Is Sand and How Does It Form?
What is sand made of? Sand is made up of tiny particles of rock and minerals, with quartz being the most common due to its hardness and durability. Depending on the source, sand can also contain feldspar, shell or coral fragments, iron oxides, and other rock pieces, giving it a variety of colours and textures. Essentially, sand forms as rocks are broken down and weathered over time by natural forces like wind, water, and temperature changes, creating the fine, granular material we see on beaches, deserts, and riverbeds.
Simply put, sand is a naturally occurring granular material composed of finely divided rock and mineral particles. It is defined more by its size than by its composition. By geological standards, a particle must range between 0.0625 mm (about the size of a fine grain of salt) and 2 mm (the size of a small pebble) in diameter to be classified as sand.
Here is a breakdown of how this common material forms across different environments:
The Composition: What is Sand Made Of?
The specific materials that make up sand depend entirely on the source rock and region.
Continental Sand | The Most Common
In inland areas like riverbeds and deserts, the most common ingredient is silica, usually in the form of quartz. Quartz is incredibly hard and chemically resistant, allowing it to survive millennia of weathering.
Tropical Sand | The Exotic)
In warmer, tropical marine environments, such as the Caribbean or parts of the Pacific, sand is often composed of calcium carbonate. This comes from the crushed skeletons of marine organisms, coral, shells, and calcareous algae.
Volcanic Sand | The Darkest
Near volcanoes, sand may be black, composed of heavier minerals like basalt or obsidian.
Sand Formation: Nature’s Grinding Process
Sand formation is an ongoing process driven by two main geological forces: Weathering and Erosion.
Weathering (Breaking Down the Rock)
Weathering is the initial process where large bedrock is broken down into smaller pieces.
- Physical Weathering: This is the mechanical process where temperature changes (freezing and thawing), wind, and water physically crack and grind rocks. Imagine a relentless, slow-motion hammer chipping away at a boulder.
- Chemical Weathering: This occurs when minerals within the rock dissolve or chemically react with rainwater (which is slightly acidic), breaking the rock’s internal structure apart.
Erosion and Transport (Shaping the Grains)
Once the parent rock is broken into small fragments, erosion takes over. This is the process that transports and shapes the particles.Water (The River Effect): Rivers are the world’s most effective sand movers. As water carries rock fragments downstream, the particles tumble, collide with one another, and scrape against the riverbed. This constant friction slowly rounds the jagged edges, producing the smooth, sub-angular grains we typically use for construction and landscaping.
What’s the Difference Between Playground Sand and Regular Sand?
For a sand supplier like Soilworx, the difference between Playground Sand and Regular Sand (like brick, paving, or general utility sand) is all about safety, quality, and grading.
| Feature | Certified Playground Sand | Regular/Construction Sand (e.g., Brick Sand, Paving Sand) |
| Primary Purpose | Safety surface, cushioning for falls, and hygienic play. | Used for mortar, concrete mixes, paver bedding, or structural fill. |
| Particle Shape | Sub-angular to Rounded. This shape is crucial as it is softer on skin, more comfortable for play, and minimizes the risk of cuts or irritation. | Angular or Sharp. These particles interlock well, which is great for structural applications (like concrete) but is rough and potentially unsafe for children’s hands and eyes. |
| Washing & Purity | Heavily Washed. It undergoes multiple washes to remove fine silts, clays, dust, and organic matter. | Minimal Washing. Often retains higher levels of fine dust, silts, and impurities that can stain clothes, track into the house, or pose inhalation risks. |
| Silica Content | Tested for Low Respirable Silica. Suppliers prioritize sand with low levels of very fine crystalline silica dust, which is a critical health consideration. | Not Tested/Variable. Often contains higher levels of very fine particles that can become airborne when dry. |
| Certification | Must meet Australian Standards (AS4422) if used under playground equipment to ensure adequate fall attenuation (cushioning). | No Safety Certification for play. Graded only for building/construction performance. |
| Texture & Feel | Light, fluffy, and soft. Easy for little hands to mould and build. | Coarse, dusty, and tends to clump when wet, or be too loose to hold shape. |
Playground sand is a highly specialised, premium product formulated to prioritise the safety and health of children.
“Regular” sand covers several types, each graded for a specific purpose where interlocking, compaction, or mixing strength is key, not softness or purity.
The Verdict: Use the Right Tool for the Job
| Area of Use | The Best Choice | Why |
| Playground / Sandpit | Certified Playground Sand | Mandatory for safety, comfort, hygiene, and compliance with AS 4422. |
| Paving Base | Paving Sand | Designed to compact tightly for a long-lasting, level surface. |
| Bricklaying | Brick/Mortar Sand | Contains the necessary fine materials to ensure mortar mix consistency and bond. |
What should I look for when choosing safe playground sand for schools and parks?
Here at Soilworx, we know that for schools, councils, and public parks, selecting the right material is not just about fun, it’s a serious matter of compliance, insurance, and duty of care. We insist our commercial clients focus on certification and performance above all else, as these are mandatory requirements for public and educational play areas in Australia.
Here are the four critical factors you must scrutinise when choosing safe playground sand:
1- Australian Standard (AS 4422:2016) Certification
This is the non-negotiable legal requirement for any playground sand used under equipment with a free height of fall of 600mm or more.
The playground sand must be tested and certified to comply with AS 4422 (“Playground surfacing, Specifications, requirements and test method”). This standard is your guarantee that the sand has the cushioning capacity necessary to minimise the risk of serious head injury in the event of a fall.
Always demand the certificate of compliance from your supplier. To meet your duty of care and insurance obligations, you must have documented evidence that the sand is suitable for the critical fall height of your specific equipment.
2- Particle Quality and Purity of Playground Sand | The Health Factor
How do I certify that sand meets safety standards for playgrounds? Safety extends beyond cushioning; it involves hygiene and the long-term respiratory health of children.
Cleaning Process: Look for sand that is explicitly described as triple-washed or similarly processed. This ensures the removal of fine dust (silts and clays), which are common in cheaper sands and can be inhaled by children, and also strips out organic matter and contaminants.
The Right Shape: The individual grains must be sub-angular to rounded. Unlike sharp, angular construction sands (which are hard on skin and eyes), premium play sand must be comfortable, soft, and less abrasive for delicate handling.
No Contaminants: The batch must be free of stones, sticks, and debris that could pose a choking, puncture, or splinter hazard.
3- Required Depth and Grading of Playground Sand | Ensuring Performance
The effectiveness of the sand as a safety surface depends entirely on maintaining its depth and consistency.
Uniformity and Grading: We ensure our sand has a consistent particle size (grading) so it performs reliably across the entire play zone. Inconsistent sand can compact unevenly, creating dangerous hard and soft spots.
Minimum Installation Depth: AS 4685.0:2017 requires loose-fill surfacing to be installed at a minimum depth of 300mm to provide the required impact attenuation.
Maintenance Depth: You must commit to maintaining the sand at a depth of no less than 200mm at all times. Since sand is easily displaced, especially under high-traffic areas like swings, we advise planning to install and top-up at a greater depth (e.g., 340mm–450mm) to account for scattering and usage. Regular top ups as part of maintenance works are also strongly recommended.
4- Colour and Maintenance Considerations for Playground Sand
While less critical than safety, these factors impact supervision and longevity.
Light Colour (White/Off-White): A lighter coloured sand is highly recommended because it provides a strong visual contrast, making it far easier for supervisors to spot foreign objects, debris, glass, or pet contamination.
Drainage: Our certified sand is specially graded to drain freely and prevent waterlogging. If sand holds too much moisture, it can harden and lose its critical impact-absorbing qualities (it essentially becomes ‘cement-like’ when saturated), compromising safety.
Conclusion
Choosing the right sand for playgrounds isn’t just about fun, it’s about safety, compliance, and peace of mind. Certified playground sand, like the premium options from Soilworx, ensures proper particle quality, purity, grading, depth, and drainage, all meeting Australian Standards (AS 4422). By selecting the correct sand, you’re creating a soft, safe, and hygienic surface where children can play freely, while also protecting your duty of care obligations for schools, parks, and childcare facilities.
Discover Soilworx’s range of premium playground sands today and provide a safe, durable, and enjoyable play environment for children everywhere.
Playground Sand FAQs
What are the best sand options for playgrounds in Australia and how much do they typically cost?
The best sand option for playgrounds in Australia is Certified Playground Sand.
This specialised sand is essential because it is triple-washed, free of harmful dust, and most importantly, it complies with the Australian Standard AS 4422 for critical fall height cushioning.
Typical Cost Estimates (prices are approximate and exclude delivery). Please check the product listings for current pricing.
- 20kg Bags: Typically cost between A$10 and A$18 per bag.
- Bulk (per Cubic Meter, m³): Usually ranges from A$120 to A$220 per m³.
Are there differences between playground sand and regular sand for landscaping, and which is better for each use?
Yes. Playground sand is soft, rounded, and heavily washed for safety, making it ideal for sandpits and play areas. Regular sand is coarser and angular, better suited for landscaping, paving bases, and construction.
How to Choose the Right Sand for Your Playground: What You Must Know Before You Buy
Choose certified playground sand that’s triple-washed, soft, and sub-angular, meets AS 4422 safety standards, drains well, and is free of debris or contaminants.
