Aggregates & landscaping · free tool
Sand Calculator
How much sand do you need? Enter your area and depth, pick your sand, and get the cubic yards, tons and bags — with overage built in.
Sand Calculator
How much sand you need — yards, tons & cost.
1 Your area
2 Your estimate
Order in bulk by the ton or yard.
Based on 0.5 cu ft bags (about 50 lb each). Bags suit small jobs; larger areas are cheaper in bulk.
Estimates only — density, moisture and compaction vary; confirm local tonnage before ordering. See how we calculate · Updated monthly
Method · how it works
How to calculate how much sand you need
Area times depth for the volume, then convert to tons with the sand's density. Here is exactly what the calculator does.
Find the volume
Multiply area × depth (in feet), then divide by 27 for cubic yards.
Convert to tons
Multiply cubic yards by the density — dry sand is about 1.35 tons/yd³ (wet is heavier).
Add overage
Add about 10% for spillage and uneven ground — more if you're compacting a base.
Bags or bulk
A 50-lb bag holds about 0.5 cu ft. Past ~1 yard, bulk by the ton is cheaper.
A 10 × 10 ft area, 2 in deep
16.7 ÷ 27 = 0.62 yd³
0.62 × 1.35 = 0.83 tons
concrete sand, before overage
Sources: sand density references (dry ~1.35 t/yd³) · square footage method
Verified against material-density data · Updated monthly
Estimates only. Density and tonnage shift with sand type and moisture — confirm local weight before ordering, and buy the overage shown.
Sand · by depth
How much sand per 100 sq ft?
At concrete-sand weight (~1.35 t/yd³), here's the sand for 100 sq ft at common depths. Set yours in the calculator above.
About 0.42 tons — a paver or screed bedding layer.
BeddingAbout 0.83 tons — a leveling or thin base course.
BaseAbout 1.7 tons — a full base or backfill layer.
BackfillAbout 2.5 tons — a deep sandbox or fill.
SandboxOne cubic yard covers about 162 sq ft at 2 in, or 324 sq ft at 1 in — deeper layers cover less.
Pick your sand
Types of sand and where to use each
They estimate by the same volume, but the grain and use differ — and using the wrong one under pavers is a common, costly mistake.
Angular, sharp grains that drain and lock together — the right choice for paver bedding and mixing concrete.
Fine and smooth for mortar and grout. Too fine and washy for a paver base.
Washed and screened fine sand for sandboxes and play areas — soft and clean, not structural.
Coarse bedding sand screeded flat under pavers; polymeric sand goes in the joints on top.
Cheap, coarse sand for backfill and raising grade — compacts well under slabs and footings.
Any sand holding water weighs more — expect heavier tonnage and adjust the density if it's damp.
The golden rule: use coarse concrete sand under pavers, not play or mason sand — fine sand washes out and lets pavers shift. See the paver calculator for the full base.
Common jobs
Sand for pavers, sandboxes & bases
The most-searched sand jobs come down to the right sand at the right depth. Here's what to buy for each.
Paver bedding
1 in · coarseA screeded 1 in layer of coarse concrete sand over the compacted gravel base. A 10 x 10 patio needs about 0.3 yd³ (~half a ton). Full base on the paver calculator.
Sandbox
~6 in · play sandUse clean, washed play sand at about 6 in deep. A 5 x 5 ft box at 6 in is roughly 0.5 yd³ — buy a little extra for topping up.
Base & backfill
2 in+ · fillCoarse fill or concrete sand under slabs, pipes and pools, compacted in lifts. Add extra overage since it settles when compacted.
Not sure of your area, or an odd shape? Work it out with the square footage calculator, then bring the total here.
Buying sand
Bags vs bulk & delivery
Small jobs go by the bag; bigger ones by the ton or yard. Here's where the line usually falls.
By the bag
50 lb · ~0.5 cu ftA 50-lb bag holds about half a cubic foot, so it takes roughly 54 bags to make a cubic yard. Easy for small patches and sandboxes, pricey at scale.
By the ton / yard
bulkOnce you pass about 1 cubic yard (~1.35 tons), bulk sand is far cheaper per unit. Ordered loose and dumped or delivered in a bag.
Delivery
confirm tonnageSuppliers sell by weight, so confirm the local tons per yard — it shifts with moisture. Round up so you're not short mid-job.
Rule of thumb: bags under about a yard, bulk above it. The calculator shows both, so you can compare before you order.
Answers
Sand calculator FAQs
How much sand do I need for a 10x10 area?
At 2 in deep, about 0.62 yd³ (~0.83 tons). For a 1 in paver bedding layer it's roughly 0.31 yd³, about half a ton.
How many tons is a yard of sand?
About 1.35 tons for dry sand (2,700 lb). Wet sand is heavier — closer to 1.6 tons per cubic yard.
What sand do I use under pavers?
Coarse concrete (bedding) sand — a 1 in screeded layer. Don't use play or mason sand; the fine grains wash out and let pavers shift.
How many bags of sand in a yard?
About 54 bags of 50-lb sand — each holds roughly 0.5 cu ft, and a yard is 27 cu ft.
Is mason sand the same as play sand?
No. Both are fine, but play sand is washed and screened for safety in sandboxes, while mason sand is graded for mortar and grout.
How deep should paver bedding sand be?
Exactly 1 in, screeded flat over the compacted gravel base — thicker beds let pavers settle unevenly.
How much sand for a sandbox?
Fill to about 6 in with play sand. A 5 x 5 ft box is roughly 0.5 yd³ — buy a little extra to top up over time.
Should I buy sand by the bag or bulk?
Bags are easiest under about 1 cubic yard; past that, bulk by the ton or yard is much cheaper. The calculator shows both.