Sand Calculator
Size the sand for any job from real geometry — area and depth, sand type and compaction — with cubic yards, weight in tons, 50 lb bag counts, U.S. pricing, and a downloadable PDF.
Sand weight swings with moisture and grade — wet sand is heavier. Prices use 2024-2025 U.S. figures. For planning purposes only.
| Depth | Cubic Yards | Weight (ton) | Bags |
|---|
For your 400 sq ft area, includes 10% compaction. Deeper layers need much more sand.
How to use the sand calculator
Four quick steps turn your area and depth into a sand order — cubic yards, tons, and bags — with the right sand type, a waste allowance, a depth comparison, and a downloadable PDF.
Enter the area
Length and width, or the square footage, for the area you’re covering with sand.
Set the depth
Enter how deep in inches — depth is the biggest driver, so get it right.
Pick sand & waste
Choose the sand type, set a waste %, and enter the price per yard, ton, or bag.
Read results & save a PDF
Get cubic yards, tons, and bags, a cost breakdown, a depth comparison, and a material list.
How the sand estimate is calculated
Sand is a volume that you then weigh. The calculator turns your area and depth into cubic feet, converts to cubic yards and tons using sand’s density, and works out how many bags that is. Here is the exact math.
Worked example — a 200 sq ft area, 2 inches deep
Volume: 200 × 2 ÷ 12 = 33.3 cu ft
Cubic yards: 33.3 ÷ 27 ≈ 1.23 cu yd
Weight: 33.3 × 100 ÷ 2000 ≈ 1.67 tons
Bags: 33.3 × 100 ÷ 50 ≈ 67 × 50 lb bags
≈ 1.23 cubic yards, about 1.7 tons, or ~67 fifty-pound bags for 200 sq ft at 2″ deep.
Sand estimating charts
Handy lookups for the questions people ask most — sand by depth, by area, unit conversions, and which sand to use. Figures use a density of about 100 lb per cubic foot, so confirm your own sand.
| Depth | Cubic feet | Cubic yards | Tons |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 inch | 8.3 | 0.31 | 0.42 |
| 2 inches | 16.7 | 0.62 | 0.83 |
| 3 inches | 25.0 | 0.93 | 1.25 |
| 4 inches | 33.3 | 1.23 | 1.67 |
| 6 inches | 50.0 | 1.85 | 2.50 |
Per 100 sq ft. Depth scales the sand directly — doubling the depth doubles the volume and weight, so it’s the number worth measuring carefully.
| Area | Cubic feet | Cubic yards | Tons |
|---|---|---|---|
| 50 sq ft | 8.3 | 0.31 | 0.42 |
| 100 sq ft | 16.7 | 0.62 | 0.83 |
| 200 sq ft | 33.3 | 1.23 | 1.67 |
| 300 sq ft | 50.0 | 1.85 | 2.50 |
| 500 sq ft | 83.3 | 3.09 | 4.17 |
At 2 inches deep. For other depths, scale up or down — 4 inches is double these figures, 1 inch is half.
| 1 of this | Equals | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1 cubic yard | 27 cubic feet | The bulk-delivery unit |
| 1 cubic yard | ~1.35 tons | Dry sand; wet is heavier |
| 1 ton | ~20 cubic feet | ~0.74 cubic yards |
| 1 cubic foot | ~100 lbs | Typical sand density |
| 1 cubic yard | ~54 × 50 lb bags | Why bulk beats bags at scale |
Density varies with sand type and moisture, so these are working figures. Wet or compacted sand weighs more per cubic foot than loose dry sand.
| Sand type | Best for | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Concrete / sharp sand | Concrete & mortar mixes | Coarse, angular grains for strength |
| Masonry / soft sand | Bricklaying mortar | Finer, more workable |
| Paver / bedding sand | Under pavers | Screeded level as a bedding layer |
| Polymeric sand | Paver joints | Locks joints when wetted |
| Play sand | Sandboxes | Washed and screened, smooth |
Match the sand to the task — the wrong sand can weaken mortar or make a base unstable. Ask your supplier if you’re unsure which grade suits your project.
area × depth
~100 lb/cu ft
~54 bags / yd
Sand is ordered by volume and often paid for by weight, and depth is the lever that swings both.
- Volume — area times depth gives cubic feet; depth scales it directly, so measure it well.
- Weight — at ~100 lb per cubic foot, a cubic yard of sand is around 1.35 tons.
- Bulk vs bags — a cubic yard is ~54 fifty-pound bags, so bulk wins for all but small jobs.
Everything the calculator works out
One area and depth gives you a complete sand order — the volume, the weight, the bags, and the cost, however you buy it.
Key figures every sand order depends on
Built for any sand job
From a paver base to a sandbox or a bulk delivery, the same calculator scales to the area, the depth, and the sand type.
Laying a paver base or filling a sandbox and wants the right bags or yards without over-buying.
- Measure the area and depth
- Pick the right sand type
- Compare bags vs a bulk bag
Ordering bulk sand for bases and beds and needs yards, tons, and cost with delivery in one place.
- Work in cubic yards for bulk
- Add waste for compaction
- Save the PDF material list for the quote
Buying sand for concrete, mortar, or fill and wants the volume and weight figured correctly.
- Choose sharp or soft sand
- Convert volume to tons to order
- Total sand across the job
7 tips for an accurate sand order
Small habits keep your volume right and your delivery sensible, whether you buy bags or bulk.
Sand calculator FAQ
The volume, weight, bag, and sand-type questions people ask most before ordering sand.
Work out the volume as area times depth, then convert to weight. Multiply the area in square feet by the depth in feet to get cubic feet, divide by 27 for cubic yards, and multiply cubic feet by about 100 pounds to get the weight.
A 200 sq ft area at 2 inches deep is about 33 cubic feet, or 1.23 cubic yards, which is roughly 1.7 tons of sand.
A cubic yard of dry sand weighs roughly 2,600 to 2,900 pounds, or about 1.3 to 1.45 tons. Wet sand is heavier because the water adds weight.
As a working figure, one cubic yard of sand is about 1.35 tons and covers roughly 160 square feet at 2 inches deep. Delivery is usually sold by the cubic yard or the ton.
Multiply the cubic feet by the sand’s density in pounds per cubic foot, then divide by 2,000. Sand is roughly 100 pounds per cubic foot, so cubic feet times 100, divided by 2,000, gives tons.
For example, 40 cubic feet of sand is about 4,000 pounds, or 2 tons. Density varies with the sand type and moisture, so treat it as an estimate.
A cubic yard of sand is about 54 fifty-pound bags, or roughly 36 bags at 75 pounds each. A 50-pound bag holds only about half a cubic foot, so it takes a lot of bags to equal bulk sand.
For anything more than a small job, bulk sand by the cubic yard or ton is far cheaper and easier than bagged. Bags make sense for small repairs and topping up.
For a paver base, a bedding layer of sand is usually about 1 inch thick over a compacted gravel base, and it should be screeded level before laying. Too deep a sand bed can let pavers settle unevenly.
Polymeric joint sand then fills the gaps between pavers, which is a separate, much smaller quantity. Follow your paver manufacturer’s base guidance, since local practice and the sub-base matter.
The right sand depends on the job. Concrete or sharp sand is used in concrete and mortar; masonry or soft sand suits bricklaying mortar; paver or bedding sand goes under pavers; and play sand is washed and screened for sandboxes.
Polymeric sand is for locking paver joints, and all-purpose sand handles general fill. Using the wrong sand can weaken mortar or make a base unstable, so match the sand to the task.
Yes. Add about 5% to 10% extra for spillage, uneven ground, and settling, and a bit more if the sand will be compacted, since compaction reduces the loose volume you ordered.
It’s better to have a little sand left over than to stop a pour or a base part-way and wait for more. Round up to the nearest half or full cubic yard when ordering bulk.
Both. Bulk sand is commonly sold by the cubic yard or by the ton, while bagged sand is sold by weight, such as 50-pound bags. The calculator gives you cubic yards, tons, and bags so you can order either way.
When comparing prices, convert to the same unit first, since a cubic yard is roughly 1.35 tons of sand. Delivery fees often make bulk the better value once you pass a few bags’ worth.
General Estimating Notice: This calculator estimates sand volume, weight, bags, and cost from your area, depth, sand type, waste, and the prices you enter, using a typical density of about 100 lb per cubic foot and standard conversions. Actual weight varies with the sand type, grain, and moisture — wet and compacted sand weigh more — and delivered quantities can differ. Always confirm the density and quantities with your supplier and account for compaction before ordering. For planning purposes only.