Sand Calculator
Tons, cubic yards and 50 lb bags of concrete, masonry, paver, play and fill sand for any area and depth.
- Yards, tons, bags & cost
- US & metric units
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Add a price for a cost estimate
How this was calculated
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Whether you need a 1″ bedding layer under pavers, 8″ of play sand in a sandbox, a leveling bed under a pool or a few tons of fill, this sand calculator converts your area and depth into cubic yards, tons and the number of 50 lb bags. Pick the type of sand – concrete, masonry, paver, play or fill – and the density adjusts automatically.
How to use the sand calculator
- Enter the area
Length and width in feet for a patio or sandbox, or diameter for a round pool. Use “I know the area” if you already have the square footage.
- Set the depth
Paver bedding sand is 1″. Pool base sand is 1–2″. A sandbox is 6–12″. A sand layer under artificial turf is 1–2″. Volleyball courts are 12″ or more.
- Choose the sand
Concrete (sharp) sand for paver bedding and mixing; masonry sand for mortar and joints; play sand for sandboxes; fill sand for backfill. Wet sand weighs 20–30% more, so pick the wet option if it has been raining at the yard.
- Compare bags and bulk
The calculator shows tons and cubic yards for bulk delivery and the equivalent in 50 lb or 0.5 cu ft bags. Add prices to see which is cheaper for your quantity.
Sand formula
Cubic feet = Length (ft) × Width (ft) × Depth (in) ÷ 12Cubic yards = cubic feet ÷ 27 · Tons = cubic feet × 100 lb ÷ 2,000 · 50 lb bags = cubic feet × 2
Example: 8 × 8 ft sandbox, 8 inches of play sand
- Area = 8 × 8 = 64 sq ft
- Volume = 64 × 8 ÷ 12 = 42.7 ft³ (1.58 yd³)
- Weight = 42.7 × 95 lb = 4,050 lb = 2.0 tons
- Bags = 4,050 ÷ 50 = 82 bags of 50 lb – or one bulk delivery
How much sand for common projects
| Project | Depth | Sand per 100 sq ft | 50 lb bags per 100 sq ft |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paver bedding layer | 1″ | 0.31 yd³ · 0.42 tons | 17 |
| Pool base (above-ground pool) | 2″ | 0.62 yd³ · 0.83 tons | 34 |
| Under artificial turf | 1.5″ | 0.46 yd³ · 0.62 tons | 25 |
| Sandbox | 8″ | 2.47 yd³ · 3.2 tons | 127 |
| Sandbox | 12″ | 3.70 yd³ · 4.8 tons | 190 |
| Volleyball court | 12–18″ | 3.7–5.6 yd³ · 5.0–7.5 tons | bulk only |
| Horse arena footing | 2–3″ | 0.62–0.93 yd³ · 0.8–1.25 tons | bulk only |
Weights use 100 lb/ft³ (dry sand) except the sandbox rows (play sand, 95 lb/ft³). Add 5% for waste.
Sand weight and coverage by type
| Material | Density | Tons per yd³ | sq ft per ton at 1" | sq ft per ton at 2" | sq ft per ton at 4" | sq ft per ton at 6" |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sand, dry (general) | 100 lb/ft³ | 1.35 | 240 | 120 | 60 | 40 |
| Masonry / mortar sand | 100 lb/ft³ | 1.35 | 240 | 120 | 60 | 40 |
| Concrete / sharp sand | 105 lb/ft³ | 1.42 | 229 | 114 | 57 | 38 |
| Paver / leveling sand | 100 lb/ft³ | 1.35 | 240 | 120 | 60 | 40 |
| Fill sand | 105 lb/ft³ | 1.42 | 229 | 114 | 57 | 38 |
| Play sand | 95 lb/ft³ | 1.28 | 253 | 126 | 63 | 42 |
| Sand, wet | 120 lb/ft³ | 1.62 | 200 | 100 | 50 | 33 |
| Sand, wet packed | 130 lb/ft³ | 1.76 | 185 | 92 | 46 | 31 |
Coverage = 2,000 lb ÷ (density × depth in feet). Figures are for loose material; add 5–10% for waste and up to 20% for compacted base layers.
Which sand should I buy?
- Concrete sand (sharp / coarse sand, ASTM C-33) – the correct bedding sand for pavers. Its angular grains lock together; fine sand shifts and washes out.
- Masonry sand – finer and softer; for mortar, stucco, and for sweeping into paver joints if you are not using polymeric sand.
- Play sand – washed and screened to remove dust and sharp particles; the only sand to use where children play.
- Pool sand – a fine, clean sand used as a smooth 1–2″ base under above-ground pool liners (not the filter sand that goes inside a sand filter, which is a specific 20-grade silica).
- Fill / utility sand – unscreened, cheapest; for backfill, trench bedding and raising grade.
- Polymeric sand – sold by the bag for paver joints only; it hardens when wetted. It is not covered by this calculator because coverage depends on joint width and paver size.
How much does sand cost?
Bulk sand is inexpensive – typically $15–$50 per ton for fill and concrete sand at the yard, more for washed play sand and specialty products – but delivery adds a flat fee, so a single ton delivered can cost as much as the sand itself. A 50 lb bag is usually $4–$7 ($160–$280 per ton), which is fine for a small sandbox or one pallet of pavers and expensive for anything larger. Put your local prices into the calculator to compare.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cubic yard of sand weigh?
Dry sand weighs about 2,700 lb (1.35 tons) per cubic yard. Wet sand weighs 3,200–3,500 lb per yard. Always check whether your supplier sells by weight or volume – wet sand bought by the ton gives you less sand.
How many 50 lb bags of sand are in a cubic yard?
About 54 bags. Each 50 lb bag holds roughly half a cubic foot, and there are 27 cubic feet in a cubic yard.
How much sand do I need under pavers?
A 1 inch bedding layer, which is 0.31 cubic yards (about 0.42 tons or 17 bags) per 100 sq ft. Do not go thicker – thick sand shifts and the pavers settle unevenly. Any extra depth belongs in the compacted gravel base. The paver base calculator works out both layers.
How much sand do I need for a sandbox?
For an 8 × 8 ft sandbox filled 8″ deep you need about 1.6 cubic yards, 2 tons, or 82 bags of 50 lb play sand. A smaller 4 × 4 ft box at 6″ needs 8 cubic feet – about 16 bags.
How much sand goes under an above-ground pool?
Most manufacturers specify a 1–2″ leveling layer of fine sand. For a 24 ft round pool (452 sq ft) at 2″ that is about 2.8 cubic yards or 3.8 tons. Enter the pool diameter with the “Circle” shape to get an exact figure.
How many square feet does a ton of sand cover?
At 1 inch deep, a ton of dry sand covers about 240 sq ft; at 2 inches about 120 sq ft; at 4 inches about 60 sq ft.
