Under-ordering is expensive. You pay for another small trip, wait for the vehicle, and your mason sits idle. Over-ordering isn't great either — sand sitting for weeks gets mixed with soil and rain. A rough plan before you call saves money.
The quick thumb rule
Many builders in Patna use about 1.8 to 2.2 CFT of sand for every square foot of built-up area on a single-storey RCC house, across all the work. G+1 and G+2 need more because of extra slabs, columns and walls. This covers both Ganga and Sone sand together — not Ganga alone.
Worked example for a 1,000 sq ft house
For a 1,000 sq ft single-storey house: roughly 1,800 to 2,200 CFT of sand in total. That's not one delivery — it's the whole project. Your engineer or mason will refine this based on foundation depth, slab thickness and plaster schedule.
How that splits between Sone sand and Ganga sand
Structure stage (foundation, columns, beams, slabs) uses mostly Sone sand. Brickwork, plaster and flooring use mostly Ganga sand. A common pattern is a bigger Sone order early, then Ganga loads later as finishing starts. Exact split depends on design — ask your engineer.
More on which sand goes where: Ganga vs Sone.
Ordering in stages vs all at once
Stages: better for cash flow and storage. Filling first, then brickwork, then plaster. You don't lose sand to weather or theft as easily.
All at once: sometimes cheaper per CFT on a truck, but you need space and good covering. Most home builders in Patna do better ordering in stages.
How to store sand at site so you don't lose any
Keep it on a clean base, away from soil and open drains. Cover it in the rains. Don't let labour shovel from the bottom into mud. If the pile sits for long, sieve again before plaster.
Always confirm the final quantity with your engineer or mason. The numbers here are a starting point, not a bill of quantities. Check today's rate when you're ready to order.