Figure My Build

Sand Calculator

Enter the area and depth and get sand in the units suppliers actually sell: tons and cubic yards in bulk, or 50 lb bags for small jobs.

Diagram of a bed of material such as mulch or gravel, showing the area and the depth of the layer
A bed of material is just a shallow box: area × depth, then bags or bulk yards.

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Enter your measurements

How sand quantity is calculated

Volume is straightforward: length × width × depth. The step that trips people up is weight. Sand is sold by the ton in bulk, and dry sand weighs about 2,700 lb per cubic yard, or 1.35 tons (roughly 100 lb per cu ft, the standard figure bulk suppliers estimate with). Wet sand is heavier, 1.5–1.6 tons per yard, which is one reason deliveries vary a little from the ticket.

Tons = cubic yards (with your waste allowance) × 1.35, rounded up to the nearest tenth of a ton, how yards typically write the order. For bagged sand, the standard 50 lb bag holds about 0.5 cu ft, so bags = volume ÷ 0.5.

Depth guide: 1 in for a paver bedding layer (see the Paver Calculator for the full patio build-up), 1–2 in to level under an above-ground pool, 4–6 in for a sandbox, 2 in under a slab on grade. If you're compacting the sand, choose the 10–20% allowance. Loose sand settles noticeably.

Worked examples

12 × 12 ft patio bedding, 1 in deep

12 cu ft, +10% for compaction = 0.49 cu yd at 1.35 t/yd.

Order 0.7 tons (or 27 bags)

8 × 8 ft sandbox, 6 in deep

32 cu ft = 1.19 cu yd at 1.35 t/yd, no waste.

Order 1.6 tons (or 64 bags)

20 × 3 ft path bedding, 2 in deep

10 cu ft, +10% = 0.41 cu yd.

Order 0.6 tons (or 22 bags)

Frequently asked questions

How much does a cubic yard of sand weigh?
About 2,700 lb (1.35 tons) dry. Damp or wet sand weighs 3,000–3,200 lb per yard. This calculator uses the dry figure, 1.35 tons per cubic yard, which is what most suppliers quote.
How many 50 lb bags of sand make a cubic yard?
About 54. A 50 lb bag holds roughly 0.5 cu ft and a yard is 27 cu ft. For anything over a yard, bulk delivery is almost always cheaper than bags.
How much sand do I need under pavers?
A 1 in bedding layer of coarse concrete sand over the compacted gravel base. That's about 0.11 cu yd (0.15 tons) per 36 sq ft. The Paver Calculator works out the whole build-up, base gravel included.
What kind of sand should I order?
Coarse washed concrete sand for paver bedding and under slabs; mason sand for mortar and fine levelling; play sand (screened and washed) for sandboxes. 'Fill sand' is unscreened and only suits backfill.

Related calculators

Gravel Calculator

Tons and cubic yards for driveways and paths.

Mulch Calculator

Bags or cubic yards of mulch by bed area and depth.

Topsoil Calculator

Cubic yards and bags of topsoil for lawns, beds and levelling.

Paver Calculator

Pavers, base gravel and bedding sand for a patio.

Estimate disclaimer: results are planning estimates based on standard manufacturer yields and coverage figures. Site conditions, product choice and installation method change actual quantities. Verify before you buy, and follow local building code for structural work. This tool does not replace professional engineering advice.

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