Box / room
Also: rectangular prism, bed, trench, room
V = L × W × H
L = length, W = width, H = height or depth.
Example: Bedding sand under a 12 × 16 ft paver patio, 1 in deep: 12 × 16 × 0.0833 = 16 cu ft = 0.59 cu yd, about 0.8 tons of dry sand.
Quick answer: cubic yards of sand = length × width × depth (all in feet) ÷ 27. Multiply cubic yards by about 1.35 to get tons of dry sand. One cubic yard is about 54 bags of 50 lb.
How to calculate how much sand you need
- Measure the area in feet. For a round area, measure across the widest point (the diameter) and pick “Cylinder”.
- Decide the depth in inches, then divide by 12 to get feet (2 in = 0.167 ft). Use the depth guide below if you are not sure.
- Multiply length × width × depth to get cubic feet, then divide by 27 for cubic yards.
- Convert to tons if your supplier sells by weight: cubic yards × 1.35 for dry sand.
- Add extra: 5–10% for waste and, for sand you will compact or screed, another 5–15% depending on how loose it arrives.
Tons of sand = L × W × D (ft) × density (lb/cu ft) ÷ 2,000
A 12 × 16 ft paver patio needs a 1 in bed of sand.
1 ÷ 12 = 0.0833 ft. 12 × 16 × 0.0833 = 16 cu ft = 0.59 cu yd.
16 × 100 lb = 1,600 lb = 0.8 tons of dry sand, or 32 bags of 50 lb.
Cubic yards to tons of sand
The weight of sand depends mostly on how much water it holds. Sand fresh from the pile in a wet spell can weigh a fifth more than dry, bagged sand. Choose dry, damp or wet in the calculator, or enter the density your supplier quotes.
| Sand condition | lb per cu ft | lb per cu yd | Tons per cu yd | Cu yd per ton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry | ≈ 100 | ≈ 2,700 | ≈ 1.35 | ≈ 0.74 |
| Damp | ≈ 110 | ≈ 2,970 | ≈ 1.49 | ≈ 0.67 |
| Wet | ≈ 120 | ≈ 3,240 | ≈ 1.62 | ≈ 0.62 |
Sand for different shapes
Sand jobs come in all shapes: square patios, round pool bases, long paths and beds that are thicker at one end. Here are the formulas you will use most, each with a sand example. More shapes are in the calculator, and you can add several areas into one order.
Area × depth
Also: square feet to cubic feet
V = A × d
A = area, d = depth or thickness.
Example: Leveling sand for 300 sq ft of artificial turf base, ½ in deep: 300 × 0.0417 = 12.5 cu ft = 0.46 cu yd, or 25 bags of 50 lb.
Cylinder
Also: round hole, post hole, tank, planter
V = π × r² × h
r = radius (half the diameter), h = height.
Example: A sand base for a 24 ft round above-ground pool, 2 in deep: π × 12² × 0.167 = 75.4 cu ft = 2.79 cu yd, about 3.8 tons.
Sloped slab
Also: ramp, uneven depth, tapered bed
V = L × W × (h₁ + h₂) ÷ 2
L = length, W = width, h₁ and h₂ = depth at each end.
Example: A sand bed for a 20 × 10 ft slab that runs from 2 in to 1 in deep: 20 × 10 × (0.167 + 0.083) ÷ 2 = 25 cu ft = 0.93 cu yd.
Types of sand and what they are for
Buying the right sand matters as much as buying the right amount. Names vary by region, so describe your job to the supplier.
| Sand | What it is | Use it for |
|---|---|---|
| Concrete sand | Coarse, washed, angular | Paver bedding, concrete mixes, under pool liners |
| Mason sand | Fine, washed, smooth | Mortar, sandboxes, finishing |
| Play sand | Fine, washed and screened, bagged | Sandboxes and play areas |
| Fill sand | Unwashed, mixed grain sizes | Filling holes and trenches, raising grade |
| Polymeric sand | Fine sand with a binder, bagged | Filling paver joints (sold by the bag, not the yard) |
| Volleyball / beach sand | Washed, rounded, low in fines | Courts and beach areas that need to drain |
How deep should the sand be?
These are typical depths. Always check the instructions for your product, such as the paver or pool maker’s guide.
| Job | Typical sand depth |
|---|---|
| Paver or flagstone bedding | 1 in, over a compacted gravel base |
| Artificial turf leveling layer | ¼–½ in, over compacted base |
| Above-ground pool base | About 2 in |
| Sandbox | 6–12 in |
| Beach volleyball court | 12 in or more |
| Pipe bedding in a trench | Around 4–6 in under and over the pipe |
How far a ton or a yard of sand goes
Already have a load, or comparing quotes? This shows how much area one ton or one cubic yard of dry sand covers. The “Already have a load?” box in the calculator does the same for any amount and depth.
| Depth | 1 ton of dry sand covers | 1 cu yd covers |
|---|---|---|
| ½ in | ≈ 480 sq ft | 648 sq ft |
| 1 in | ≈ 240 sq ft | 324 sq ft |
| 2 in | ≈ 120 sq ft | 162 sq ft |
| 4 in | ≈ 60 sq ft | 81 sq ft |
| 6 in | ≈ 40 sq ft | 54 sq ft |
| 12 in | ≈ 20 sq ft | 27 sq ft |
Bags of sand: sandbox chart
For small jobs, bagged sand saves a delivery fee. A 50 lb bag usually holds about half a cubic foot. Here is how many bags a square sandbox takes when filled 12 in deep; halve it for 6 in.
| Sandbox | Volume at 12 in | 50 lb bags | Tons |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 × 4 ft | 16 cu ft (0.59 cu yd) | 32 | 0.8 |
| 5 × 5 ft | 25 cu ft (0.93 cu yd) | 50 | 1.25 |
| 6 × 6 ft | 36 cu ft (1.33 cu yd) | 72 | 1.8 |
| 8 × 8 ft | 64 cu ft (2.37 cu yd) | 128 | 3.2 |
Above about 40 bags, bulk delivery of a yard or two is usually cheaper and saves a lot of lifting.
Worked examples
Beach volleyball court
A recreational court 30 × 60 ft, 12 in deep: 30 × 60 × 1 = 1,800 cu ft = 66.7 cu yd. At about 1.35 tons per yard of dry sand, that is around 90 tons, several truckloads.
Pool base
A 24 ft round pool with a 2 in sand base: π × 12² × 0.167 = 75.4 cu ft = 2.79 cu yd, about 3.8 tons. Many installers order a little extra to build a cove where the wall meets the floor.
Patio with a path
A 12 × 16 ft patio and a 20 × 3 ft path, both with 1 in of bedding sand: 16 + 5 = 21 cu ft = 0.78 cu yd. Add both to the project total and include 10% for screeding: 0.86 cu yd, so order 1 yard.
Notes for contractors
Bulking. Damp sand takes up more space than dry sand of the same weight, because water films push the grains apart. Buying by the ton avoids arguments about how full the truck was.
Screeding loss. Bedding sand is screeded and some is left in the joints. 10% extra is a common allowance on paver jobs.
Compaction. Fill sand placed in lifts and compacted needs more loose material than the finished volume. Use the compaction allowance and check the spec’s target density.
Spec it. For pavers, many specs call for washed concrete sand to ASTM C33 grading. Ask for the gradation sheet.
Tips
- Cover the pile so rain doesn’t make it heavier and harder to spread.
- Don’t use beach sand from the shore; it is often illegal to take and full of salt.
- Need the gravel base too? Use the pea gravel calculator or the cubic yards calculator.
- Send the order to your supplier with WhatsApp or Email under the result.
Frequently asked questions
How much sand do I need?
Multiply length × width × depth in feet to get cubic feet, divide by 27 for cubic yards, and multiply by about 1.35 for tons of dry sand. A 12 × 16 ft patio with a 1 in sand bed needs 16 cu ft, which is 0.59 cu yd or about 0.8 tons.
How much does a cubic yard of sand weigh?
Dry sand weighs about 2,700 lb per cubic yard, or 1.35 tons. Damp sand is closer to 3,000 lb and wet sand can reach about 3,200 lb, because water fills the gaps between grains.
How many bags of sand are in a yard?
A typical 50 lb bag holds about 0.5 cu ft, so one cubic yard (27 cu ft) is about 54 bags. Check the bag label, as volumes vary by product.
How much area does a ton of sand cover?
A ton of dry sand is about 20 cu ft. At 1 in deep that covers roughly 240 sq ft, at 2 in about 120 sq ft, and at 4 in about 60 sq ft.
How much sand do I need for a sandbox?
A 6 × 6 ft sandbox filled 12 in deep holds 36 cu ft, which is 1.33 cubic yards or about 72 bags of 50 lb play sand. Many people fill 6–8 in deep instead, which needs half to two thirds as much.
How much sand goes under pavers?
Most installers use a 1 in layer of bedding sand, screeded flat on top of a compacted gravel base. That is about 0.31 cu yd per 100 sq ft. Follow the paver maker’s instructions for your product.
Should I buy sand by the ton or the yard?
Quarries and landscape yards often sell sand by the ton, while some sell by the cubic yard. The calculator shows both, and you can enter the price in either unit to compare quotes.
Is wet sand heavier than dry sand?
Yes. The same volume of wet sand can weigh 20% or more than dry sand. If you are hauling it yourself, plan for the heavier figure.
Is this sand calculator free to use online?
Yes. The CalcWall Sand Calculator is completely free and works online in any browser, on a phone, tablet or computer. There is nothing to download and no account to create, and the math runs right in your browser, so results appear as you type.