<p>The properties of sandy clays are governed by clay matrix and regulated by sand content (ψ_s). To study influence mechanism of sand contents on compression behavior of reconstituted sandy clays, one-dimensional incremental load consolidation tests were performed on specimens with different ψ_s, initial void ratios of clay matrix (<i>e</i>_c0) and void ratios at liquid limit of clay matrix (<i>e</i>_cL). Results show that for specimens with the same <i>e</i>_c0 and <i>e</i>_cL, the overall compression curves of sandy clays gradually shift downward as ψ_s increases, due to non-compressible sand particles replacing compressible clay matrix, reducing overall compressibility. The reconstituted yield stress and compression behavior can be used to divide sandy clays into two stages. When sand particles are dispersed and play only a volumetric filling role, the compression curves of clay matrix and reconstituted yield stress in sandy clays with different ψ_s are identical at the same <i>e</i>_c0 and <i>e</i>_cL. When some sand particles contact directly or are connected via clay bridges (structural effect of sand particles), for specimens with the same <i>e</i>_c0 and <i>e</i>_cL, the frequency of structural effects increases with ψₛ and σ́_v, leading to effective stress redistribution and an increased yield stress. A method for determining threshold sand content (ψ_s-threshold) that distinguishes the two stages is proposed. ψ_s-threshold is a function of <i>e</i>_c0, <i>e</i>_cL, and σ́_v. ψ_s-threshold gradually decreases with increasing <i>e</i>_c0 and σ́_v and decreasing <i>e</i>_cL. For investigated sandy clays at <i>e</i>_cL = 1.10–1.73 and <i>e</i>_c0/<i>e</i>_cL = 1.0-1.6, ψ_s-threshold ranges from 30% to 45%.</p>