Sand Calculator
Use this sand calculator to work out how much sand a paver bedding layer, a sandbox or a leveling job needs from its area and depth. Choose the use for a typical depth (about 1 in of bedding sand under pavers, 6 in for a sandbox, a thin leveling layer), then read cubic yards, tons and 50 lb bags with an allowance for compaction. For general bulk volume use the cubic yard calculator; for stone base use the gravel calculator, for garden soil the topsoil calculator, and for walls the retaining wall and concrete block calculators.
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Typical, varies by material and moisture. Adjust to match your supplier.
Cubic yards (cu yd)
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Cubic yards before waste
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Total surface area
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Cubic feet (cu ft)
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Cubic meters (m³)
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Estimated weight
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Bags needed
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One cubic yard covers (at this depth)
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Estimated cost
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Cubic feet = net area in sq ft × depth in inches ÷ 12; cubic yards = cubic feet ÷ 27. Weight uses a typical 1.35 US tons per cubic yard for dry sand (the cubic yard calculator's value); wet sand is heavier, so edit the density to match your supplier. The allowance (10% by default) is an adjustable extra for compaction and spillage, not a standard. ICPI Tech Spec 2 calls for bedding sand screeded to a nominal 1 in, uncompacted, over a compacted base, using concrete sand (ASTM C33), not masonry sand or stone dust. Clemson HGIC advises top-dressing a lawn with sand only where the native soil is sandy, at no more than ½ in at a time. Sandbox depth has no single standard.
Cubic Yard Calculator · Gravel Calculator · Topsoil Calculator · Asphalt Calculator · Concrete Calculator Bags · Retaining Wall Calculator · Concrete Block Calculator
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How it works
- How much sand do I need?
- Multiply the area in square feet by the depth in inches, divide by 12 for cubic feet and by 27 for cubic yards. A 10 × 10 ft area at 2 in deep is 16.67 cu ft, or 0.617 cu yd, which is about 0.83 US tons at 1.35 tons per cubic yard.
- How much sand goes under pavers?
- The Interlocking Concrete Pavement Institute (ICPI Tech Spec 2) specifies bedding sand screeded to a nominal 1 in, uncompacted, on a compacted aggregate base of at least 4 in for patios and walks on well-drained soil. The sand should not be used to fill dips in the base. A 12 × 12 ft patio at 1 in needs 12 cu ft, about 0.44 cu yd.
- How deep should sand be in a sandbox?
- There is no single standard. Sandbox kit makers give their own fill line (one asks for 4–6 in minimum), and many backyard boxes are filled 6–12 in. A 6 × 6 ft sandbox at 6 in holds 18 cu ft, about 0.67 cu yd or 36 bags of 50 lb. Fall-zone surfacing under play equipment is a separate question with its own guidelines.
- How many bags of sand are in a cubic yard?
- At a typical 1.35 US tons (2,700 lb) per cubic yard, a cubic yard of dry sand is 54 bags of 50 lb or 45 bags of 60 lb. Damp sand weighs more, so the count changes; set the density and bag weight to match your product.
- How much does a cubic yard of sand weigh?
- A common planning value for dry sand is about 1.35 US tons (2,700 lb) per cubic yard, or about 1.6 t per cubic meter. Moisture can add a lot of weight, and suppliers often sell by the ton, so ask for their conversion before you order.