Sand and crush (bajri) rates: Ravi, Chenab, Lawrencepur, Margalla
How sand and crush are priced in Pakistan: Ravi, Chenab and Lawrencepur sand, Margalla and Sargodha crush, cubic feet vs truckloads and simple quality tests.
Published 4 min read
The short answer
Sand (rait) and crush (bajri) are priced by source and volume. Ravi sand is fine and suits plaster and masonry; Chenab and Lawrencepur sand are coarser and suit concrete. Margalla, Sargodha, Sakhi Sarwar and Jhelum crush are named after their quarries. Compare rates per cubic foot for the same source and delivery terms, measure the load, and test sand for silt before you pay.
Key takeaways
- Ravi sand: fine, for plaster, masonry and fill. Chenab and Lawrencepur: coarser, for concrete.
- Crush is named by quarry — Margalla, Sargodha, Sakhi Sarwar, Jhelum — and graded by size.
- Compare per cubic foot (cft); trolley and truck loads vary in size.
- Measure the load: length × width × height in feet gives cubic feet.
- Test sand for silt with a jar of water; damp sand looks like more than it is.
On this page
Sand types
| Sand | Grain | Typical use | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ravi | Fine, can be silty | Plaster, brick mortar, filling | Common and cheaper in Lahore; too fine for structural concrete |
| Chenab | Medium to coarse | Concrete, plaster | Widely used across central Punjab |
| Lawrencepur | Coarse, clean | Concrete | Valued for quality; common in the north; freight raises the price further away |
Your engineer should specify which sand goes into concrete. Using fine Ravi sand in a slab to save money is a false economy.
Try asking DAAM“Lawrencepur sand rate per cft in Islamabad”Crush (bajri) types
Crush is crushed stone, the coarse aggregate in concrete. It’s named by its quarry:
- Margalla — hard stone from quarries near Islamabad, used widely in the north.
- Sargodha — common in Lahore, Faisalabad and central Punjab.
- Sakhi Sarwar — from the Dera Ghazi Khan area, common in south Punjab.
- Jhelum — used in parts of northern Punjab.
Crush is also graded by size, such as ½-inch or ¾-inch. Your engineer specifies the size for slabs, beams and columns; don’t accept a different grade without asking.
Units: cft and loads
Sand and crush are priced per cubic foot (cft), but they’re delivered in loads — trolley, dumper, truck, mazda or shehzore. The size of a “load” isn’t standard: it varies with the vehicle and how it’s filled. So:
- Get the rate per cft and the total cft in the load, in writing.
- Measure on arrival: multiply the length, width and average height of the load in feet.
- Compare the numbers — a load that measures short means you’re paying for sand you didn’t get.
DAAM keeps prices in the unit they were quoted. It never converts a “per trolley” price into cubic feet by guesswork, because loads differ — ask your supplier for the cft.
Quality tests you can do on site
Silt test for sand:
- Fill a clear jar about halfway with sand.
- Add water with a pinch of salt, until the jar is about three-quarters full.
- Shake well and leave it to settle for a few hours.
- Silt settles as a fine layer on top of the sand. A thick layer — more than a small fraction of the sand, often taken as about 8% — means dirty sand that weakens concrete and plaster.
Bulking: damp sand takes up more space than dry sand — noticeably more. A wet load can look full while holding less sand. Measure dry sand where you can, or allow for moisture.
Crush checks: look for dust, clay lumps and flat or elongated pieces. Good crush is clean, hard and angular, with a consistent size. Dusty crush may need washing.
Free · no sign-up needed
Check sand and crush rates before the load arrives
Ask DAAM for the source, unit and city. See the verified range and the cheapest verified offer, with delivery terms.
Opens DAAM with: “Sargodha crush rate per cft in Lahore”
What moves the rates
- Distance from the source — freight is a large part of sand and crush prices.
- Fuel prices — diesel costs feed straight into delivered rates.
- Rules on extraction — restrictions on river-bed mining or quarrying can tighten supply.
- Season — floods and heavy rains can halt river-bed sand extraction.
Comparing rates fairly
In DAAM, a sand or crush price is tied to the material, its source (Ravi, Chenab, Lawrencepur, Margalla and so on), the unit, the city and the delivery terms. Ask like this: “Chenab sand rate per cft Lahore” or “Margalla crush price Rawalpindi”. If you leave out the unit, DAAM asks for it.
Related guides
- Delivery and unloading charges — the lines most often padded.
- Estimating house construction cost — where sand and crush fit in.
- Construction material rates in Islamabad and Rawalpindi — Margalla crush and Lawrencepur sand country.
Frequently asked questions
Which sand is best for concrete in Pakistan?
Coarser, clean sands such as Chenab and Lawrencepur are generally preferred for concrete. Fine Ravi sand suits plaster, masonry mortar and filling. Follow your engineer’s specification.
How do I calculate the cubic feet in a sand load?
Measure the length, width and average height of the load in feet and multiply them. Compare the result with the cubic feet the supplier charged for.
How can I test sand for silt?
Half-fill a clear jar with sand, add salty water, shake and leave it for a few hours. Silt forms a fine layer on top; a thick layer, often more than about 8%, means the sand is too dirty.
What is Margalla crush?
Margalla crush is hard crushed stone from quarries near Islamabad, widely used as coarse aggregate in concrete in the north. Crush is named after its quarry and graded by size.
Free · no sign-up needed
Check sand and crush rates before the load arrives
Ask DAAM for the source, unit and city. See the verified range and the cheapest verified offer, with delivery terms.
Opens DAAM with: “Sargodha crush rate per cft in Lahore”
Written by
Hamza writes DAAM’s price guides for shoppers in Pakistan: where to buy, what to check before paying and how to use verified prices to avoid being overcharged.
