How to Get Sand in Minecraft

Guide Java Bedrock

Quick answer: Dig sand with a shovel in deserts and beaches, where it generates in layers about four blocks deep. It also appears on shallow riverbeds and lakebeds and in desert pyramid chests (1-8, 59%). Sand drops itself, falls with gravity, and smelts into glass. Wandering traders sell 8 sand for 1 emerald.

What you need

Shovel

Step by step

Go to a desert or beach: sand generates in abundance there, generally in layers four blocks deep supported by sandstone.
Check shallow water: sand also forms disks replacing dirt on the bottom of rivers, lakes and oceans in most grassy biomes except swamps. Lukewarm and warm oceans have a single layer of it.
Break it with a shovel. It drops itself.
Mind gravity: sand falls when the block below it is removed, and floating clusters fall when one block updates.
Loot desert pyramid chests (1-8 sand, 59%) or buy 8 sand for 1 emerald from a wandering trader.
Use it: smelt it into glass, craft sandstone, TNT (with gunpowder), or concrete powder (dye + sand + gravel).

Java vs Bedrock

In Bedrock Edition, a wandering trader killed while showing the sand trade can drop 8 sand with a 25% chance (plus 1% per Looting level) if the player holds an emerald.

Versions: Trading with a wandering trader is the only renewable way to get sand, but it is slow, so most players dig it.

Frequently asked questions

Where is the best place to find sand?

Deserts and beaches, where it generates in layers about four blocks deep.

Is sand renewable?

Wandering traders (8 sand for 1 emerald) as the only renewable method, though they spawn slowly.

What is sand used for?

Glass (smelted), sandstone, TNT and concrete powder.