Sand Calculator: Tons, Yards and Bags
This sand calculator tells you how much sand to order for a sandbox, a paver or patio base, a volleyball court, a play area or a leveling layer. Enter the length and width, or the diameter of a round area, then the depth. The tool gives the volume in cubic feet, cubic yards and cubic meters, and the weight in pounds, tons and kilograms. It also counts how many bags you need and, if you enter a price, the cost. Pick the sand type because dry play sand, concrete sand, masonry sand and damp sand all weigh a different amount per cubic foot. A waste or compaction allowance is added on top so you do not run short on delivery day.
Sand Calculator
Work out how much sand you need for a sandbox, paver base or fill. Get cubic feet, cubic yards, tons, kilograms and bags.
How to use the Sand Calculator
- Choose imperial (feet and inches) or metric (meters and centimeters).
- Pick rectangle, circle or a known area, then enter the size and depth.
- Choose the sand type, the extra allowance and the bag size.
- Read the volume, weight and number of bags, then copy the result.
Features
- Rectangle, circle or direct area input
- Imperial and metric units
- Four sand types with typical weights per cubic foot
- Waste and compaction allowance
- Cubic feet, cubic yards, cubic meters, tons, tonnes and kg
- Bag count and optional cost
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cubic yard of sand weigh?
Dry sand weighs roughly 2,700 pounds per cubic yard, about 1.35 tons. Damp sand is heavier, closer to 3,200 pounds, and wet or packed sand can be more.
How much sand do I need for a sandbox?
Multiply length by width by depth. A 4 ft by 4 ft sandbox filled 6 inches deep needs 8 cubic feet, so about 800 pounds of play sand before any extra allowance.
How deep should the sand be under pavers?
A leveling or bedding layer under pavers is usually about 1 inch of coarse sand on top of a compacted gravel base. Enter 1 inch as the depth for that layer.
Why add a waste or compaction allowance?
Sand settles when it is wet, raked or walked on, and some is lost when spreading. Adding 5 to 10 percent keeps you from ordering twice. The default here is 10 percent.
Which sand type should I pick?
Choose play sand for sandboxes, concrete sand for paver bases and mixes, masonry sand for fine joints and mortar, and damp sand if the pile is wet when it is weighed or delivered.