Sand Calculator
Find how much sand you need for any project in cubic yards and tons. Enter your area and depth, choose a sand type, and get volume, weight, and cost in seconds.
A sand calculator estimates how much sand a project needs, in both volume (cubic yards) and weight (tons), based on the area you are covering, the depth of sand, and the type of sand. Landscapers, masons, and DIYers use it to order the right amount for paver bases, sandboxes, pipe bedding, and fill, avoiding both a short delivery and a pile of leftover sand.
This calculator multiplies your area by the depth to get volume, then converts that to weight using the density of the sand you select. Sand density changes with moisture and compaction, from about 90 pounds per cubic foot for loose dry sand up to 130 for wet packed sand, so the calculator lets you pick a type or enter a custom density. It supports imperial and metric dimensions, and prices by the ton or cubic yard.
A sand calculator estimates how much sand a project needs, in both volume (cubic yards) and weight (tons), based on the area you are covering, the depth of sand, and the type of sand. Landscapers, masons, and DIYers use it to order the right amount for paver bases, sandboxes, pipe bedding, and fill, avoiding both a short delivery and a pile of leftover sand.
This calculator multiplies your area by the depth to get volume, then converts that to weight using the density of the sand you select. Sand density changes with moisture and compaction, from about 90 pounds per cubic foot for loose dry sand up to 130 for wet packed sand, so the calculator lets you pick a type or enter a custom density. It supports imperial and metric dimensions, and prices by the ton or cubic yard.
How to Use This Calculator
Step 1: Measure your area
Enter the length and width of the area you are filling. For an irregular area, break it into rectangles, calculate each, and add the results. Units can be feet, inches, yards, meters, or centimeters.
Step 2: Set the depth
Enter how deep the sand layer will be. Common depths: about 1 inch for paver bedding sand, 2 inches for leveling under a base, 6 to 12 inches for a sandbox, and as specified for pipe bedding or fill.
Step 3: Choose your sand type
Select the sand that matches your project. The type sets the density used to convert volume to weight. Use dry natural (100 lb/ft³) for typical bagged or screened sand, wet sand (120) if it will be delivered damp, or Custom to enter a density from your supplier’s spec sheet.
Step 4 (optional): Add cost
Enter your price and choose whether it is per ton or per cubic yard, matching how your supplier quotes. Bulk screened sand commonly runs $15 to $40 per cubic yard or $20 to $50 per ton, plus delivery.
Step 5 (optional): Adjust density and waste
Open the advanced section to fine-tune the density or change the waste factor. The default 10 percent suits most jobs. Raise it to 15 percent for uneven subgrade, voids, or projects where compaction will consume extra material.
Reading the results
Volume Needed (cubic yards) is what to order from a yard that sells by volume. Weight (tons) is for suppliers that sell by weight. Estimated Cost appears once you enter a price. Use the copy button to send the figures to a material order.
How the Calculation Works
The sand calculator works in two stages: first volume, then weight. Cost is an optional third step.
Step 1: Volume
Volume = Length × Width × Depth
All three dimensions must be in the same unit. The calculator converts everything to feet internally, so depth entered in inches is divided by 12 first. The result is cubic feet.
For a 24 by 16 foot area at 1 inch deep: 24 × 16 × (1/12) = 32 cubic feet.
Step 2: Apply waste
Volume with waste = Volume × (1 + waste)
The default 10 percent covers settling, voids, and spillage. 32 × 1.10 = 35.2 cubic feet.
Step 3: Convert to cubic yards
Cubic yards = Cubic feet / 27
Bulk sand is commonly sold by the cubic yard. 35.2 / 27 = 1.30 cubic yards.
Step 4: Convert to weight
Weight (lb) = Cubic feet × Density
Weight (tons) = Weight (lb) / 2000
Density depends on the sand. Using dry natural sand at 100 lb/ft³: 35.2 × 100 = 3,520 lb, which is 1.76 tons.
Cost (optional):
Cost = Quantity × Price
Priced by the ton, cost = tons × price per ton. Priced by the cubic yard, cost = cubic yards × price per cubic yard. The calculator switches the math based on the pricing basis you select.
Why density matters: Sand weight is not fixed. Loose dry sand is about 90 lb/ft³, natural dry sand 100, compacted 110, and wet sand 120 to 130. Wet sand can weigh 30 percent more than loose dry sand for the same volume, which directly changes the tonnage and the cost if you buy by weight. Always confirm the supplier’s density for accurate weight ordering.
Worked Example
Scenario: Bedding sand for a 24 by 16 foot paver patio
You are building a paver patio measuring 24 feet by 16 feet and need a 1 inch layer of bedding sand over the compacted base. The sand will be delivered dry, and your supplier quotes $30 per ton. You will use a 10 percent waste allowance.
Step 1: Volume
Volume = 24 × 16 × (1 / 12) = 32 cubic feet
Step 2: Add 10% waste
32 × 1.10 = 35.2 cubic feet
Step 3: Cubic yards
35.2 / 27 = 1.30 cubic yards
Step 4: Weight
Dry natural sand at 100 lb/ft³: 35.2 × 100 = 3,520 lb
3,520 / 2000 = 1.76 tons
Step 5: Cost
1.76 tons × $30 = $52.80
Final estimate: Order about 1.3 cubic yards (1.76 tons) of bedding sand, budget roughly $53 plus delivery. If your supplier sells by the cubic yard at $25, the same job costs about 1.3 × $25 = $32.50, which is why checking the pricing basis matters.
Bagged alternative: If buying 50 lb bags, 1.76 tons is 3,520 lb, which is about 70 bags. Bulk delivery is far cheaper at this volume, but bags make sense for small touch-ups.
Understanding the Variables
Length and Width
The footprint of the area you are covering with sand. Measure the actual area to be filled, not the whole yard. For curved or irregular shapes, divide into rectangles, estimate each, and total them.
Depth
How thick the sand layer will be. This has the biggest effect on the total, so measure or specify it carefully. Typical depths: 1 inch for paver bedding sand, 2 to 4 inches for a leveling course, 6 to 12 inches for a sandbox or play area, and per engineering spec for pipe bedding. Entering depth in inches is usually easiest, the calculator converts it.
Sand Type
Sets the density used to convert volume to weight. The options cover the realistic range:
- Dry sand, loose: 90 lb/ft³ (freshly tipped, not compacted)
- Dry sand, natural: 100 lb/ft³ (the common default for screened and bagged sand)
- Dry sand, compacted: 110 lb/ft³ (tamped or vibrated)
- Wet sand: 120 lb/ft³ (damp from rain or delivery)
- Wet sand, packed: 130 lb/ft³ (saturated and compacted)
- Custom: enter a density from your supplier’s data sheet
Cost
The price you pay, with a toggle for per ton or per cubic yard so it matches your supplier’s quote. Bulk screened sand is roughly $15 to $40 per cubic yard or $20 to $50 per ton, varying by region, sand type, and delivery distance. Specialty sands (play sand, polymeric jointing sand) cost more, often sold bagged. This input is optional.
Sand Density (advanced)
The weight of sand per cubic foot, prefilled by the sand type you select. Editing it switches the type to Custom. Density rises with moisture and compaction, so for accurate weight ordering, use the figure your supplier provides rather than a generic value, especially for large loads where a 10 percent density difference is a meaningful tonnage.
Waste Factor (advanced)
The percentage added for settling, voids in the subgrade, and spillage during handling. Defaults to 10 percent. Use 5 percent for a clean, level base with short handling, 10 percent for typical jobs, and 15 percent for uneven ground, deep fills that compact significantly, or long wheelbarrow runs.
Industry Standards & References
ASTM C33 (Concrete Aggregates)
The standard specification for fine and coarse aggregates used in concrete. The fine aggregate (sand) gradation in ASTM C33 is also the reference for concrete sand and most paver bedding sand, which is why a clean, well-graded “C33 sand” is commonly specified for paver and slab bases.
ASTM C144 (Aggregate for Masonry Mortar)
Governs the sand used in masonry mortar. Masonry sand is finer and more uniformly graded than concrete sand, which is what makes mortar smooth and workable. If your project is laying brick or block, the mortar sand is specified to C144, not C33.
ASTM C778 (Standard Sand)
Defines the standardized graded and Ottawa sand used in cement and mortar testing laboratories. Not a project material, but the reference sand that strength tests are calibrated against.
ASTM C150 (Portland Cement) context
When sand is mixed into mortar or concrete, the proportions reference the cement standard. A typical mortar is roughly one part cement to three parts sand by volume, which is useful for estimating how much sand a masonry job needs beyond bedding.
CPSC play sand guidance
For sandboxes and play areas, the US Consumer Product Safety Commission recommends washed, non-toxic play sand that is free of crystalline silica dust and tracer materials. Play sand sold for children’s use is processed to meet this guidance, so for a sandbox, buy labeled play sand rather than generic fill or mason sand.
Industry note: Sand is sold under many names (concrete sand, mason sand, fill sand, play sand, polymeric jointing sand) that describe gradation and use, not density. For weight estimating, density depends mainly on moisture and compaction. For the right material, match the sand name to the job: C33 concrete sand for paver bedding, C144 mason sand for mortar, washed play sand for sandboxes.
Frequently Asked Questions
A cubic yard of dry sand weighs roughly 2,400 to 2,800 pounds, about 1.2 to 1.4 tons, depending on grain size and moisture. Wet sand is heavier, often 3,000 pounds or more per cubic yard. The calculator above uses the density you select to give an exact weight for your sand type.
For paver bedding, you typically need a 1 inch layer of sand over the compacted base. A 24 by 16 foot patio at 1 inch deep needs about 32 cubic feet, or roughly 1.3 cubic yards (about 1.76 tons) with a 10 percent waste allowance. Enter your patio size in the calculator above for an exact figure.
A cubic yard is 27 cubic feet, and a 50 lb bag of dry sand holds roughly half a cubic foot. That works out to about 54 bags per cubic yard. For anything above a few cubic feet, bulk delivery by the ton or cubic yard is far cheaper than bags.
Concrete sand (ASTM C33) is coarser and used for paver bedding, concrete mixes, and base leveling. Mason sand (ASTM C144) is finer and more uniform, used in mortar for brick and block. They are not interchangeable: mason sand is too fine for a paver base, and concrete sand is too coarse for smooth mortar joints.
Measure the sandbox length and width, and choose a fill depth of 6 to 12 inches (leave a few inches of freeboard at the top). For example, an 8 by 8 foot sandbox filled 10 inches deep needs about 53 cubic feet, or roughly 2 cubic yards. Always use washed, non-toxic play sand for children's sandboxes.
Either works, as long as you match your supplier's pricing. The calculator gives both. Buying by the cubic yard is simpler because it does not change with moisture, while buying by the ton can cost more if the sand is delivered wet and therefore heavier. Ask your supplier which basis they use and whether the sand is dry.
Many projects layer gravel as a base with sand on top, such as under pavers. Calculate each separately: use this calculator for the sand layer and our gravel calculator for the base. For a typical paver job, plan a 4 to 6 inch compacted gravel base with a 1 inch sand bedding layer. See our gravel calculator for the base material.
Yes, significantly. Dry sand is about 90 to 100 pounds per cubic foot, while wet sand is 120 to 130. The same volume of wet sand can weigh 25 to 30 percent more, which matters when buying by the ton. If your delivery may be damp, select a wet sand density in the calculator for a more accurate weight.