CalcBrite

Sand Calculator

Calculate how much sand you need for leveling, paver bedding or play areas, in cubic yards, estimated tons or bags.

Under 30 secondsShows every assumptionLast reviewed October 2026
Choose a material

Your area

Area 1

ft
ft
in
½ in12 in
Example for sand: 1 in. An editable starting point, not a recommendation.
This area: 120 sq ft × 1 in = 0.37 cu yd of sand
Sand

Material needed: 0.37 cubic yards

10 cu ft of sand · covers 120 sq ft at 1 in deep

How are you buying it?
Volume
0.37 cu yd
Estimated weight
≈ 0.48 tons
Estimate at 1.3 tons per cu yd: the loose, dry figure from the FHWA table (sand, dry (loose)). Stone type, moisture and compaction change it.
t / cu yd
We don’t round to an order size. Ask your supplier about minimums and delivery increments.
12 ft10 ft1 in deep
Drawn to scale · grid squares = 1 ft · front cut away to show the layer · layer thickened slightly so it stays visible
Close-up · depth to scale1 in
1 in of sand on soil. Ruler marks every inch.
What it looks like
6 ft person
0.37 cu yd = 37% of one 3 × 3 × 3 ft cube, next to a person for scale.

Types of sand and what they’re used for

Concrete or sharp sand is common for paver bedding and leveling; play sand is washed and screened for sandboxes; masonry sand is fine and used in mortar. Pick the type with your supplier. Volume is calculated the same way for all of them.

Sand volume vs weight

Sand is often sold by the ton. We estimate weight from the FHWA design-manual table: dry sand at 2,590 lb per loose cubic yard, about 1.30 tons2. Enter your supplier’s figure under “Supplier’s figure” to use theirs instead.

Why moisture changes sand’s weight

Wet sand weighs noticeably more than dry sand for the same volume: the same table lists wet sand at 3,230 lb per loose cubic yard against 2,590 dry, about 25% more2. A ton of wet sand therefore covers less area, which is one reason tonnage is shown as an estimate.

Estimating sand for leveling and bedding

Paver bedding is thin: the usual bedding layer is 1 inch of sand over a 4 to 6 inch compacted base7, so the calculator starts at 1 inch as an example. Compacted sand takes up less room than loose sand; in the FHWA table dry sand runs 2,880 lb per cubic yard in place against 2,590 loose2. For a sandbox, choose its shape and enter the fill depth you want.

Worked example: paver patio bedding, 12 × 12 ft at 1 in deep

  1. Area = 12 × 12 = 144 sq ft
  2. Volume = 144 × 0.0833 ft = 12 cu ft
  3. 12 ÷ 27 = 0.44 cu yd
  4. Weight ≈ 0.44 × 1.30 = 0.58 tons (estimate, dry)

Frequently asked questions

How much sand do I need?

Area × depth (in feet) gives cubic feet; divide by 27 for cubic yards. Enter your area above for an instant answer.

How many tons of sand is a yard?

For dry sand the FHWA design-manual table gives 2,590 lb per loose cubic yard, about 1.30 tons. Wet sand is heavier, about 3,230 lb or 1.62 tons.

How many bags of sand for a sandbox?

Work out the volume, then divide by the bag size and round up. A 4 × 4 ft box filled 6 in deep holds 8 cu ft: 16 bags of 0.5 cu ft.

Does compacted sand need more material?

Compacting reduces volume, so a compacted layer needs more loose sand than its finished volume; the FHWA table shows dry sand about 11% denser in place than loose. The calculator shows the loose volume only.

Sources & assumptions

  • Volume = area × depth. Circles use π × r²; triangles use ½ × base × height.
  • 1 cubic yard = 27 cubic feet; 1 cubic foot = 28.3168 liters; 1 m³ = 1.30795 cu yd.
  • Bags are rounded up to whole bags from the exact, unrounded volume.
  • Weights are estimates from loose, dry unit weights in the FHWA 1988 design-manual table: gravel 1.37, sand 1.30, topsoil 0.81 tons per cu yd. Moisture and stone type change them; your supplier’s figure replaces ours. Mulch weight isn’t estimated.
  • No allowance is added for compaction, settling or waste, and no order size is suggested.
  • Prices are only what you enter. CalcBrite doesn’t store or estimate local prices.
  • Example depths are editable starting points taken from extension guidance cited in the sections above, not recommendations for your site.
  • Metric bag sizes are examples of retail sizes (40–80 L); aggregates in metric markets are often sold by weight, so use Custom with the liters printed on the bag.

Sources

  1. Guide to the SI, Appendix B.8: cubic yard, cubic foot and short ton factors, NIST Special Publication 811.
  2. Table 6-12, Shrink/Swell Factors for Common Materials (loose and in-situ unit weights), Federal Highway Administration, Federal Lands Highway Project Development and Design Manual, Chapter 6 (September 1988); reproduced in Ohio DOT Technical Memo GE-65, Earthwork Factors (2008) — loose weights in lb per cubic yard: gravel, dry, average gradation 2,730 (wet 3,290); sand, dry 2,590 (wet 3,230); topsoil 1,620 (in place 2,430); earth loam, damp 2,360. Table notes a ±5% variation.
  3. Proper Mulching Techniques (Tree Care Basics infosheet), University of Illinois Extension; Sarah Vogel & Jenny Lee; modified March 2024 — recommended depth 2 to 4 inches; composted materials 2–3 in, coarse mulches 3–4 in; keep mulch at least 4 inches from the trunk; a 3-foot radius ring is the maximum for most trees.
  4. Mulching Landscape Trees, Penn State Extension; David R. Jackson; updated April 12, 2018 — 2 to 4 inches on well-drained soils, less on poorly drained; fine or double-shredded mulch 1 to 2 inches; keep mulch away from the trunk so the root flare shows; pull back 3–5 in from young trees, 8–10 in from mature trees.
  5. Planting and Mulching Trees and Shrubs (fact sheet), University of New Hampshire Extension; Cathy Neal — two to three inches deep, out to the drip line; pull the mulch back a few inches from the trunk; “volcano mulching” can kill the plant.
  6. Gravel Pathways in the Garden, University of California Master Gardeners, Contra Costa County; Earlene Millier; August 4, 2011, reissued March 2, 2020 — two inches is a practical minimum depth; allow four inches if thick stones or pavers are incorporated; river-run gravel never packs down, angular gravel packs to a nearly solid surface.
  7. 10-Step Guide to Installing Pavers, hosted by Oregon State University Extension Service (2011 document) — excavation depth = base (4 to 6 inches) + sand bedding (1 inch) + paver thickness; base of crushed rock such as ¾-minus, compacted in layers (retail or trade listing).
  8. Lawn Establishment, Penn State Extension; updated September 19, 2025 — a minimum of 4 to 6 inches (firmed or settled depth) of good-quality topsoil for good turf; till at least 4 inches.
  9. Improving a Struggling Lawn and Repairing Damage, University of Maryland Extension; updated March 16, 2026 — about ¼ to ¾ inch of topsoil or compost can usually be put on turf without smothering the crown.
  10. Timberline 2 cu. ft. Pine Bark Mini Nuggets Bagged Mulch, The Home Depot (retail listing) — example of the 2 cu ft bag size used as the default (retail or trade listing).
  11. Rindenmulch grob 0-40 mm, 60 l, Hornbach (retail listing, Germany) — example of a 60 L metric bag (retail or trade listing).
  12. Decorative garden bark, 1 × 80 litre bag, B&Q (retail listing, UK) — example of an 80 L metric bag (retail or trade listing).
Last reviewed:
October 2026
Last updated:
October 11, 2026
Calculator version:
1.0
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