Home › Home & Construction › Sand Calculator
Sand Calculator
How much sand do you actually need? Enter the length, width, and depth of the area you want to fill and this free sand calculator gives you the volume in cubic yards, the weight in tons, and the number of 50 lb bags — so you can order bulk sand by the yard or pick up bags at the store with confidence.
Depth is the thickness of the sand layer. For a sandbox, 6–12 inches is typical; under pavers, about 1 inch of bedding sand.
| Volume | 0.93 cu yd |
| Weight (1.3 tons per cu yd) | 1.21 tons |
| Weight in pounds | 2,420 lb |
| 50 lb bags | 49 bags |
Results are estimates for planning only. Weight assumes sand at about 2,600 lb per cubic yard; damp sand weighs more.
Common sand jobs
| Project | Size | Cubic yards | Tons | 50 lb bags |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sandbox | 8 × 8 ft, 6 in deep | 1.19 | 1.54 | 62 |
| Paver bedding | 10 × 10 ft, 1 in deep | 0.31 | 0.40 | 16 |
| Small patio base | 10 × 10 ft, 3 in deep | 0.93 | 1.21 | 49 |
| Large patio base | 20 × 15 ft, 4 in deep | 3.70 | 4.81 | 193 |
| Play area | 12 × 12 ft, 12 in deep | 5.33 | 6.93 | 278 |
How it works
Sand is measured by volume first and by weight second. You need volume to know how much space the sand will fill, and weight to know what the delivery will cost and whether your vehicle can carry it. The calculator starts with the three measurements of the space: length, width, and depth. Multiply all three together and you get the volume in cubic feet. Because sand is sold by the cubic yard, the next step is to divide by 27 — there are 27 cubic feet in one cubic yard (3 feet × 3 feet × 3 feet).
Depth is where most estimates go wrong, because depth is usually talked about in inches while length and width are talked about in feet. Three inches of sand is 0.25 feet, six inches is 0.5 feet, and one inch is about 0.083 feet. This calculator asks for depth in inches and converts it for you, so you can think in the units you actually measure with a tape or a ruler. A small error in depth makes a big difference: doubling the depth from 3 inches to 6 inches doubles the sand you need, so measure the depth at several spots and use the average if the ground is uneven.
The weight figure rests on one assumption: a cubic yard of sand weighs about 2,600 pounds, which is 1.3 tons. That is a good planning figure for dry to slightly damp sand. Real sand varies. Fine, dry sand can be lighter, while coarse, wet sand can be noticeably heavier — a cubic yard of soaked sand can push toward 3,000 pounds. If you are ordering a large amount and the ground is wet, or the sand will sit out in the rain before you use it, allow a little extra capacity in the delivery truck and a little extra in the budget. The calculator shows the weight in pounds as well as tons so you can check it against your trailer or truck rating.
Bags are the other way sand is sold. A standard bag holds 50 pounds, and there are 2,000 pounds in a ton, so one ton equals 40 bags. The calculator divides the total weight by 50 and rounds up, because a part bag cannot be bought. For small jobs — a bag or two to level a stepping stone, or a handful to fill a planter — bags are convenient. For anything over about half a cubic yard, bulk sand delivered by the yard is almost always cheaper per pound, and you skip the work of hauling and opening dozens of bags. A 10 × 10 foot area at 3 inches deep needs 49 bags, which is a lot of lifting; the same sand as one bulk delivery is a single pile on the driveway.
Two practical tips before you order. First, if the area is not a neat rectangle, split it into rectangles, work out each one, and add the volumes together. An L-shaped patio is two rectangles, not one awkward shape. Second, add 5 to 10 percent extra if the base is uneven or the sand will be compacted. Sand settles and packs down when it is walked on or tamped, so a layer that starts at 3 inches can end up closer to 2.5 inches after compaction. Ordering a little extra is cheaper than ordering a second small load.
Worked example
Mark is building a sandbox for his children. The sandbox frame is 10 feet long and 10 feet wide, and he wants the sand 3 inches deep — deep enough to dig in, shallow enough to stay inside the frame.
Step 1: Convert the depth to feet: 3 inches ÷ 12 = 0.25 feet.
Step 2: Find the volume in cubic feet: 10 × 10 × 0.25 = 25 cubic feet.
Step 3: Convert to cubic yards: 25 ÷ 27 = 0.93 cubic yards.
Step 4: Find the weight: 0.93 × 1.3 tons per cubic yard = 1.21 tons.
Step 5: Find the bags: 1.21 tons × 2,000 lb per ton = 2,420 lb; 2,420 ÷ 50 = 48.4, rounded up to 49 bags.
So Mark needs 0.93 cubic yards of sand, weighing 1.21 tons. If he buys bags, that is 49 bags of 50 lb sand. If he orders bulk, he would order 1 cubic yard — suppliers sell whole yards — and have a little left over for topping up later.
FAQ
How many cubic yards of sand do I need for a 10x10 area at 3 inches deep?
You need 0.93 cubic yards. Multiply 10 ft x 10 ft x 0.25 ft to get 25 cubic feet, then divide by 27 cubic feet per cubic yard, which gives 0.93 cubic yards.
How much does a cubic yard of sand weigh?
A cubic yard of sand weighs about 2,600 pounds, or 1.3 tons. Damp sand can weigh more, so this calculator uses 1.3 tons per cubic yard as a planning figure.
How many 50 lb bags of sand make a ton?
Forty 50 lb bags make one ton, because one ton is 2,000 pounds and 2,000 divided by 50 is 40. A 1.21 ton order needs 49 bags of 50 lb sand.
Is sand sold by the cubic yard or by weight?
Bulk sand from a landscape supplier is usually sold by the cubic yard, while bagged sand at a store is sold by weight, most often in 50 lb bags. This calculator gives you both figures so you can order either way.
How deep should sand be under pavers?
A bedding layer of about 1 inch of sand is common under pavers, over a compacted gravel base of 4 to 6 inches. For a sandbox, 6 to 12 inches of sand is typical so children can dig in it.