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Sand Calculator & Estimator
Quick answer: One cubic yard of sand covers about 100 sq ft at 3 in deep and weighs roughly 1.35 tons. Multiply area × depth in feet and divide by 27 for cubic yards.
Find how much sand you need in cubic yards, tons, and 50 lb bags — for paver bedding, sandboxes, and leveling — with a built-in waste factor.
Results update automatically as you type.
Which sand do you actually need?
This is the part that costs people money, and it is worth getting right before you calculate a quantity. "Sand" at a supply yard is half a dozen different products, and they are not interchangeable. Using the wrong one under pavers is the most common and most expensive sand mistake in DIY hardscaping.
| Type | Also called | Use it for | Do not use for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Concrete sand | Coarse sand, C-33, bedding sand | Paver and flagstone bedding, concrete mixing, base leveling | Sandboxes (too coarse and unwashed) |
| Mason sand | Masonry sand, mortar sand | Mortar, grout, stucco, pool bases | Paver bedding — too fine, it migrates and pavers sink |
| Play sand | Washed play sand | Sandboxes and play areas — washed and screened for safety | Any structural or bedding use |
| Polymeric sand | Joint sand, jointing sand | Sweeping into paver joints only; binds when wetted | Bedding layers — it will set solid |
| Fill sand | Bank run, utility sand | Backfill, drainage, raising grade, pipe bedding | Anything requiring a finished or compacted surface |
| White / silica sand | Decorative, filter sand | Decorative features, pool filters, sports courts | General construction — substantially more expensive |
Sand coverage chart
Cubic yards required, by area and depth. Multiply by 1.35 for tons of dry sand, or by 54 for 50 lb bags.
| Area | 1" | 2" | 3" | 4" | 6" |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50 sq ft | 0.15 | 0.31 | 0.46 | 0.62 | 0.93 |
| 100 sq ft | 0.31 | 0.62 | 0.93 | 1.23 | 1.85 |
| 200 sq ft | 0.62 | 1.23 | 1.85 | 2.47 | 3.70 |
| 300 sq ft | 0.93 | 1.85 | 2.78 | 3.70 | 5.56 |
| 400 sq ft | 1.23 | 2.47 | 3.70 | 4.94 | 7.41 |
| 500 sq ft | 1.54 | 3.09 | 4.63 | 6.17 | 9.26 |
| 750 sq ft | 2.31 | 4.63 | 6.94 | 9.26 | 13.89 |
| 1000 sq ft | 3.09 | 6.17 | 9.26 | 12.35 | 18.52 |
Cubic yards = area (sq ft) × depth (in) ÷ 12 ÷ 27. Figures exclude waste — add 5–10% for spillage and uneven subgrade.
Bagged or bulk? The crossover is lower than people expect
Bagged sand is convenient and it is also, by volume, dramatically more expensive. The ratio is stable even though prices vary regionally:
| Volume needed | Cubic feet | 50 lb bags | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.25 cu yd | 6.8 | 14 | 0.34 tons |
| 0.5 cu yd | 13.5 | 27 | 0.68 tons |
| 1 cu yd | 27.0 | 54 | 1.35 tons |
| 2 cu yd | 54.0 | 108 | 2.70 tons |
| 3 cu yd | 81.0 | 162 | 4.05 tons |
| 5 cu yd | 135.0 | 270 | 6.75 tons |
Bagged sand typically runs several times the per-yard cost of bulk, so the arithmetic usually favours bulk somewhere between half a yard and one yard — the exact point depends on your local delivery fee, which is often flat and therefore the deciding factor.
Get a delivered bulk price before assuming bags are simpler. Fifty-four bags is roughly 1.35 tons you will move twice: once into the vehicle, once out of it. Most people who have carried 54 bags do not do it a second time.
Depth guide by project
| Project | Typical depth | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Paver bedding | 1 in | Over compacted gravel base. Do not exceed 1 in — thicker bedding lets pavers rut. |
| Sandbox | 6–12 in | Washed play sand only. Deeper is better for actual play. |
| Above-ground pool base | 1–2 in | Mason sand, screeded dead level. Check the pool manufacturer's spec. |
| Under-slab levelling | 1–2 in | Smoothing layer over compacted subgrade. |
| Pipe / utility bedding | 4–6 in | Fill sand, below and around the pipe. Follow local utility spec. |
| Horse arena / sports | 2–4 in | Specialist graded sand; general fill will not perform. |
Why your delivered quantity may not match the calculator
- Moisture weight. Sand is sold by weight but used by volume. Wet sand runs near 1.5 tons per cubic yard against 1.35 dry — so a ton of wet sand gives you noticeably less volume. After rain, this gap widens.
- Compaction. Sand settles when compacted or wetted. A loose cubic yard does not stay a cubic yard.
- Bulking. Damp sand occupies more volume than dry sand of the same weight — the opposite of what intuition suggests. Damp sand can bulk by 20–30%, which is why yard-measured loads can look inconsistent.
- Subgrade irregularity. The calculator assumes a flat base. Real ground is not flat, and low spots absorb material quietly.
For anything over a cubic yard, order about 10% extra. Returning surplus bulk sand is not usually possible, but running short mid-screed means the job stops.
How sand estimating works
Sand is a volume material: measure length × width × depth to get cubic feet, then convert to the unit your supplier uses. Bulk sand is sold by the cubic yard or ton; bagged sand by the 50 lb bag. This calculator gives all three at once so you can compare prices.
Common uses and depths
- Paver bedding sand: about 1 inch over a compacted gravel base.
- Sandbox: 6–12 inches for good play depth.
- Leveling / under-slab: 1–2 inches as a smoothing layer.
- Paver joints: polymeric sand swept into the gaps — estimated separately.
Weight and bag reference
| Measure | Approximate value |
|---|---|
| 1 cubic yard of dry sand | ~1.35 tons (~2,700 lb) |
| 1 ton of sand | ~0.74 cubic yards |
| 50 lb bag | ~0.5 cubic feet |
| Bags per cubic yard | ~54 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cubic yard of sand weigh?
About 1.35 tons (2,700 lb) dry; wet sand is heavier, near 1.5 tons.
How many 50 lb bags are in a cubic yard?
About 54 (27 cu ft ÷ 0.5 cu ft per bag).
How much sand for a paver base?
About 1 inch of bedding sand over compacted gravel — roughly 0.3 cu yd per 100 sq ft.