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Sand Calculator

How much sand to order for a sandbox, paver bedding or fill, in tons, cubic yards and bags.

Area
Shape
Sand
Sand
Delivered sand is often damp, which makes it heavier per yard.
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Your price
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Price is
Sand to order 1.83 tons That's 1.40 cubic yards (37.8 cu ft) for 36 sq ft, including 5% extra.

Volume

Cubic yards
1.40 cu yd
Cubic feet
37.8 cu ft
Weight
3,667 lb

Bags

Or 50 lb bags (0.5 cu ft)
76 bags

Area

Area
36 sq ft
Cubic yards before extra
1.33 cu yd

Cost

How much sand do I need?

Multiply the area in square feet by the depth in feet to get cubic feet, divide by 27 for cubic yards, then multiply by the sand's weight, about 1.31 tons per cubic yard dry or 1.61 wet. A 6 × 6 ft sandbox 12 inches deep needs 1.40 cubic yards with 5% extra, about 1.83 tons of dry sand.

Worked example: a 6 × 6 ft sandbox, 12 inches deep

  1. Volume: 6 × 6 × 1 ft = 36 cu ft. Add 5%: 37.8 cu ft.
  2. Cubic yards: 37.8 ÷ 27 = 1.40 cu yd.
  3. Tons: dry sand weighs about 97 lb per cu ft (1.31 tons per cubic yard): 1.40 × 1.31 = 1.83 tons (3,667 lb).
  4. Bags: a 50 lb bag holds 0.5 cu ft, so 76 bags. A bulk load is cheaper at this size.

How far a ton of sand goes

Area covered by one cubic yard and by one ton of dry sand (1.31 tons per cubic yard). No extra allowance included.

Depth1 cubic yard covers1 ton covers
1 in (paver bedding)324 sq ft247 sq ft
2 in162 sq ft124 sq ft
4 in81 sq ft62 sq ft
6 in54 sq ft41 sq ft
12 in (sandbox)27 sq ft21 sq ft

One ton of dry sand is about 0.76 cubic yards. Wet sand is heavier, so a ton covers less.

Dry or wet sand?

Sand holds a lot of water. The same cubic yard weighs about 1.31 tons dry and about 1.61 tons wet, more than 20% heavier. Sand from a yard is usually damp, so if you are buying by the ton, pick "Wet sand" or ask the supplier for their figure.

Which sand for which job

  • Sandboxes: use bagged play sand, which is washed and screened for children.
  • Paver bedding: coarse, washed concrete sand is the usual choice for the thin layer under pavers. The paver calculator works out the base and bedding together.
  • Concrete and mortar: use the sand the mix calls for; for bagged concrete, use the concrete calculator.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a cubic yard of sand weigh?
About 2,620 lb (1.31 tons) dry, and about 3,210 lb (1.61 tons) wet, based on 97 and 119 lb per cubic foot.
How many bags of sand are in a cubic yard?
54 bags of the common 50 lb, 0.5 cu ft size.
How much sand do I need for a sandbox?
Length × width × depth in feet, divided by 27. A 6 × 6 ft sandbox filled 12 inches deep needs 36 cu ft, about 1.33 cubic yards or 72 bags of 50 lb.
How much sand do I need under pavers?
The bedding layer is usually about 1 inch. That is 1 cubic yard per 324 sq ft, or about 2 bags of 50 lb per 12 sq ft. The gravel base underneath is extra.
How many tons of sand are in a cubic yard?
About 1.31 tons of dry sand, or 1.61 tons of wet sand.

Guides

Related calculators

Gravel CalculatorTons, cubic yards and bags of gravel for a driveway, path or patio.Paver CalculatorPavers, base gravel, bedding sand and edging for a patio or driveway.Concrete CalculatorCubic yards and 40, 60 or 80 lb bags for slabs, footings, posts and steps.Cubic Yard CalculatorTurn feet, inches or meters into cubic yards, cubic feet, m³ and tons.

Sources and method

Last checked October 12, 2026. How we build and test every calculator: methodology.