Sand Calculator
Estimate sand for a sandbox, paver bedding, or fill in tons, cubic yards, and 50 lb bags. Choose dry, damp, or wet sand, or enter the weight your supplier gives you.
Sand calculator
Paver bedding sand: about 1 in. Sandboxes have no standard depth, and the example uses 6 in.
The sizes below are an example. Type over them with your own.
Allowances
Leave blank to use 10%. Allows for settling, spillage and uneven ground. Play sand also gets scattered over time.
Leave blank to use 1.40 tons per cubic yard (typical range 1.35 to 1.50). Use your supplier's number if you have it.
Cost (optional)
The cost is your price times the rounded amount in the result, plus delivery. Tax and minimum-order charges are not included.
- Area
- 64 sq ft
- Volume
- 32 cu ft1.19 cu yd, before the extra
- Extra
- 10%Adds 3.2 cu ft
- Order quantity
- 1.30 cu yd35.2 cu ft
- Weight
- 1.83 tonsAbout 3,700 lb, at 1.40 tons per cu yd (preset: damp sand)
- Bags
- 71 bags0.5 cu ft bag (50 lb), rounded up
How to use the sand calculator
- Choose dry, damp, or wet sand. This sets the weight per cubic yard, which you can override.
- Enter the length and width in feet and inches. For a round area, choose Circle. If you already know the square footage, choose Known area.
- Enter the depth in inches. Use Add another area for separate sections.
- Read the order in cubic yards, tons, and 50 lb bags. Change the bag size if your bags hold a different amount.
The sand formula
Cubic feet = length (ft) × width (ft) × depth (in) ÷ 12
Cubic yards = cubic feet ÷ 27
Order = volume × (1 + extra % ÷ 100)
Tons = cubic yards × tons per cubic yard
Bags = cubic feet ÷ cubic feet per bag, rounded up
Worked example: an 8 ft by 8 ft sandbox, 6 inches deep
- Volume: 8 × 8 × 6 ÷ 12 = 32 cubic feet, or 1.19 cubic yards.
- Add 10%: 32 cubic feet becomes 35.2. Divided by 27, that is 1.3037, shown as 1.30 cubic yards.
- Weight of damp sand at 1.40 tons per cubic yard: 1.3037 × 1.40 = 1.83 tons, about 3,700 lb.
- Bags of 0.5 cubic foot (50 lb): 35.2 ÷ 0.5 = 70.4, rounded up to 71 bags.
How much does a cubic yard of sand weigh?
| Moisture | Tons per cu yd | Typical range | Lb per cu ft |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dry sand | 1.35 | 1.20 to 1.50 | 100 |
| Damp sand (typical delivery) | 1.40 | 1.35 to 1.50 | 104 |
| Wet sand | 1.60 | 1.50 to 1.75 | 119 |
The ranges follow the EPA table of volume-to-weight factors: dry sand 90 to 110 lb per cubic foot, moist 100 to 110, wet 110 to 130.
One check on the presets: a 50 lb bag that holds 0.5 cubic foot works out to 100 lb per cubic foot, which is 1.35 tons per cubic yard. That matches the dry sand preset. Delivered sand usually carries some moisture, so it weighs a little more.
How deep should sand be?
Depth depends on the use. CMHA's guide specification for interlocking concrete pavement has bedding sand screeded to a nominal 1 inch, and it calls for concrete sand, not mason sand. A sandbox has no standard depth, so choose one that suits the children and the box. The example above uses 6 inches. For paver jobs, follow the installation guide for your pavers, because the base and the sand grade matter as much as the depth.
| Depth | Sq ft per ton | Tons per 100 sq ft |
|---|---|---|
| 1 in | 231 | 0.43 |
| 2 in | 116 | 0.86 |
| 3 in | 77 | 1.30 |
| 4 in | 58 | 1.73 |
| 6 in | 39 | 2.59 |
Based on 1.40 tons per cubic yard and no extra.
Which sand is which?
| Sand | Intended use |
|---|---|
| Play sand | Washed and screened for children's sandboxes; best kept damp |
| Mason sand | Washed fine sand for mortar; also used to fill joints between pavers, bricks, or stone |
| All-purpose sand | General-use sand that meets the ASTM C33 concrete sand standard; also used under brick pavers and for traction on snow and ice |
Dry sand makes fine dust that contains crystalline silica. The Quikrete data sheet warns against breathing the dust and recommends wearing a mask, gloves, and eye protection. Wet the sand lightly when you pour or sweep it.
Frequently asked questions
How many 50 lb bags of sand do I need?
A 50 lb bag of Quikrete mason sand holds about 0.5 cubic foot, according to its data sheet. Divide the cubic feet you need by 0.5 and round up. The 8 ft by 8 ft sandbox in the worked example above takes 71 bags. A cubic yard is 54 such bags.
How much does a cubic yard of sand weigh?
Damp sand, the usual condition on delivery, weighs about 1.40 tons per cubic yard (2,800 lb). Dry sand is about 1.35 tons and wet sand about 1.60 tons, so a rain-soaked pile can be noticeably heavier than the same volume dry. Use your supplier's figure if you have it.
How much sand do I need for a sandbox?
Multiply length by width by depth. An 8 ft by 8 ft box filled 6 inches deep holds 32 cubic feet. With 10% extra for settling and spillage, order 1.30 cubic yards, which is about 1.83 tons of damp sand.
How many square feet does a ton of sand cover?
About 231 sq ft at 1 inch deep, 116 sq ft at 2 inches, and 58 sq ft at 4 inches, using damp sand at 1.40 tons per cubic yard and no allowance for extra.
Which sand should I buy?
It depends on the job. Quikrete describes play sand as washed and screened for sandboxes, mason sand as a fine sand for mortar and for filling paver joints, and all-purpose sand as a general-use sand that meets the concrete sand standard (ASTM C33). For bedding under pavers, the Concrete Masonry & Hardscapes Association (CMHA) specifies sand that meets concrete sand gradations and says not to use mason sand. If a project has a written specification, such as a paver installation guide, buy the sand it names.
Sources
- Quikrete Mason Sand data sheet: 50 lb bag yield
- Quikrete sand and gravel products data sheet
- CMHA PAV-TEC-009: Guide specification for interlocking concrete pavement (bedding sand)
- U.S. EPA: Standard volume-to-weight conversion factors
- Penn State Center for Dirt and Gravel Road Studies: DGLVR Materials Calculator
- NIST Guide to the SI, Appendix B.8: conversion factors (the yard and the cubic yard)