Sand Calculator

Sand is sold by the ton, by the cubic yard or in bags labeled by volume. Loose sand weighs 90.4 lb per cubic foot, so a cubic yard weighs about 2,450 lb, or about 1.22 tons. A short ton is 2,000 lb, and a bag of play sand in the count holds 0.5 cu ft. Use your supplier's conversion when it gives one.

How to use this calculator

1. Pick the shape that fits the spot: rectangles for a sandbox or patio bed, a circle for a round play area or a pool base, and a triangle for a corner.
2. Enter the length and width, or the diameter for a circle, using the unit selector beside each field. The calculator converts everything to feet first.
3. Enter the depth you will spread, before the sand is packed.
4. Leave the waste field at its starting value for an exact volume, or add an allowance for uneven ground.
5. Match the unit to your supplier's price, tons for a per-ton quote or cubic yards for a per-yard quote. For a small job, a cubic yard takes 54 bags, and each one has to be carried.
6. Enter the price per ton for an estimated material cost. Delivery and any short-load fee are not included.

Worked examples

Bags of sand for common sandbox, bedding and play area sizes, 50 lb (0.5 cu ft) each

Number of 50 lb (0.5 cu ft) bags, exact volume without extra for waste.

Sand under pavers and in a base

Bedding sand under concrete pavers is about 1 inch, screeded 1 to 1.5 inches before compaction, according to the ICPI application guide. Enter the screeded depth, because you buy the loose sand and not the packed layer.

The gravel base under the pavers is a separate material with its own depth, so order it on its own. Work out the base with the gravel calculator, then use this page for the sand on top of it.

Bags or bulk, and which type to buy

Bagged play sand suits a sandbox or a small patch. Each bag in the count holds 0.5 cu ft, so a cubic yard takes 54 bags. Check the volume printed on your bag, since yields differ between products.

Bulk delivery is easier for a patio bed, a play area or a pool base. Ask how the supplier bills and weighs a load. Wet sand weighs more than dry sand, so the supplier's weight for its own material beats the loose-sand figure used here.

Buy the type the job calls for. Play sand is sold for sandboxes and play areas. Concrete or mason sand is the choice for mixing with cement, and paver sand is sold for bedding pavers.

How the calculation works

Convert each measurement to feet, then find the area of the shape. Multiply the area by the depth to get cubic feet, and divide by 27 to get cubic yards. If you only need that last step, the cubic yard calculator covers it.

The tons figure multiplies the cubic feet by the weight of loose sand, 90.4 lb per cubic foot, and divides by the pounds in a short ton, 2,000 lb. The bag count divides the cubic feet by the yield of each bag and rounds up. Any extra for waste is added before either count. Treat the result as an estimate, and check any play surface's depth rules with its maker.

Mistakes to avoid

• Ordering from the finished depth. Sand compacts, so the layer you spread is deeper than the layer you end with.
• Mixing up the depth unit. Check the selector beside the depth field before you read the result.
• Budgeting from dry weight. A wet load weighs more, so compare quotes on the same basis.
• Buying the wrong type. Play sand, mason sand and paver sand are sold for different jobs.

How deep should the sand be?

Under concrete pavers, spread bedding sand about 1 inch deep (1 to 1.5 inches), and enter the depth you spread, not the packed depth. Under play equipment, the CPSC wants at least 9 inches of sand after it settles, so start with about 12 inches. A ground-level sandbox needs no safety surfacing, and for a pool base you should follow your pool maker's instructions.

Volleyball court sand

An official beach court is 16 m by 8 m, and FIVB wants sand at least 40 cm deep. For a backyard court, USA Volleyball's building guide suggests 1 to 2 ft of sand. A layer that deep over a court-sized area adds up fast, so bulk delivery by the ton is the usual way to buy it.

Common questions