How to use the sand calculator
Choose what the sand is for, then enter the size of the area and the depth. The use you pick changes the depth advice under the depth field, but the maths is the same: volume first, then weight. Sand is usually sold by the ton in bulk and in 50 lb bags at the store, so both are shown.
Moisture matters more with sand than with gravel. A damp pile can weigh 15 to 20% more than the same volume of dry sand, so if your supplier sells by weight from an outdoor pile, choose damp.
The formula
cubic feet = area (ft²) × depth (ft) × (1 + extra %)
cubic yards = cubic feet ÷ 27
tons = cubic yards × density
50 lb bags = (tons × 2,000) ÷ 50
Worked example: a 6 × 6 ft sandbox, 12 inches deep
- Area: 6 × 6 = 36 ft².
- Volume: 36 × 1 ft = 36 ft³.
- Add 5%: 36 × 1.05 = 37.8 ft³, which is 37.8 ÷ 27 = 1.4 yd³.
- Weight of dry sand at 1.35 tons per yard: 1.4 × 1.35 = 1.89 tons (3,780 lb).
- In 50 lb bags: 3,780 ÷ 50 = 75.6, so 76 bags.
Which sand for which job
| Job | Sand | Depth |
|---|---|---|
| Sandbox | Washed play sand | 6-12 in |
| Paver bedding | Coarse concrete sand (ASTM C33) | 1 in, screeded |
| Paver joints | Fine joint sand or polymeric sand | Swept in |
| Above-ground pool base | Masonry or mason sand | 1-2 in, or what the pool maker says |
| Topdressing a lawn | Sand-and-compost blend | ¼ in or less |
Don't use fine mason sand or play sand as paver bedding. It holds water and lets pavers sink. Concrete sand has sharper, larger grains that lock together. And don't put a thick sand layer under pavers to fix a bad base: more than about 1½ in of bedding sand moves under load.
Tips
- Sandboxes: lay landscape fabric or a breathable liner under the sand so it doesn't mix with the soil, and use a cover to keep animals out.
- Pool bases: sand is for smoothing and protecting the liner, not for leveling. The ground under it should already be level, because sand washes out over time and the pool will settle where it's thickest.
- Buying bulk: one ton of dry sand is about three-quarters of a cubic yard. Many landscape yards sell by the half yard if you have a trailer.
Questions people ask
How much does a yard of sand weigh?
Dry, loose sand weighs about 1.3 to 1.4 tons per cubic yard (around 2,700 lb). Damp sand from an outdoor pile is heavier, often 1.5 tons or more, because water fills the gaps between grains.
How many 50 lb bags of sand make a yard?
About 54 bags of dry sand at 1.35 tons per yard (2,700 lb ÷ 50). Play sand and other bagged sands vary a little, so check the volume printed on the bag if it's given.
How much sand do I need for a 6x6 sandbox?
At 12 inches deep, a 6 × 6 ft sandbox holds 36 cubic feet, or 1.33 cubic yards: about 1.8 tons of dry sand or 72 bags of 50 lb. Most sandboxes are filled 6 to 12 inches deep, leaving a few inches below the rim.
How much sand goes under pavers?
A 1 inch layer of coarse concrete sand, screeded flat over a compacted gravel base. For a 100 square foot patio that's about 8.3 cubic feet, or a little under a third of a yard.
How much sand do I need under an above-ground pool?
Pool makers typically call for a 1 to 2 inch sand base over level, compacted ground. A 24 ft round pool at 2 inches needs about 75 cubic feet, roughly 2.8 cubic yards or 3.8 tons. Follow your pool's own installation instructions.
Sources and assumptions
- Vulcan Materials product calculators: dry sand about 1.35 tons/yd³
- ICPI / CMHA Tech Spec 2: 1 in bedding sand layer under concrete pavers
- Bag counts are by weight (total pounds ÷ 50) and use the density you choose.
Last reviewed 26 October 2026. Every formula on this page is checked against the worked example above in our automated tests. Found a problem? Tell us.