Sand Calculator
Enter your area and depth — get how much sand you need in cubic yards, cubic feet, tons, and 50 lb bags, plus a bagged-vs-bulk cost estimate.
Bagged sand is labeled about 100 lb/ft³ (50 lb per 0.5 cu ft) — the default here. Dry, loose sand runs a little lighter and wet or compacted sand heavier, so enter your supplier's figure if you have one.
How much sand you need.
Sand for a yard project is bought by volume, so the job always starts with the space you are filling. Measure the area, choose how deep you want the sand, and the calculator multiplies them into cubic feet, divides by 27 for cubic yards, and converts that into tons and the number of bags. Enter the dimensions in feet, inches, or yards and it normalises the units for you.
Depth matters more than people expect. A paver or patio leveling layer is usually about one inch, a sandbox might be eight to twelve inches, and a base under a play set or pool is set by the manufacturer. Pick the shallowest depth that does the job, because every extra inch is more cubic feet — and more bags to haul.
Which sand to buy.
The calculator works for any sand, but the kind you pick depends on the job. Play sand is washed and screened fine sand for sandboxes and play areas. All-purpose and concrete (sharp) sand are coarser, with angular grains that lock together — the usual choice for a paver base or mixing concrete. Masonry (mortar) sand is finer and is used in mortar and between thin pavers. Paver or leveling sand is sold for the bedding layer under pavers, and fill sand is a cheaper, coarser grade for backfill and raising low spots.
For estimating volume the differences barely matter: most landscaping sands fall in the same weight range when loose and dry. So pick the grade that suits the job, then use the figures here to work out how much of it to order.
Why sand is sold by the ton.
Sand is heavy, so bulk suppliers price it by weight. A cubic yard of typical loose sand weighs roughly 2,700 lbs — about 1.35 tons. That comes from a bulk density near 100 lbs per cubic foot — close to the USDA-NRCS benchmark for sandy soils — which is also why a bagged 0.5 cu ft sack is labeled 50 lbs. The calculator turns your cubic feet into tons using that density, and you can edit the figure for dry, wet, or compacted sand.
Moisture is the big variable. Damp sand weighs more than the same volume of bone-dry sand, and packing it down adds weight per yard as well. Treat the tonnage as a planning figure, round up, and confirm the exact density with your supplier before a bulk order so the truck brings enough.
Bags or bulk — and how much.
Bagged sand is easy to handle and makes sense for small jobs — a sandbox, a few pavers, a planter. Each 50 lb bag holds about half a cubic foot, so it takes 54 bags to make one cubic yard. Once a project needs more than about a third of a cubic yard (around 20 bags), bulk delivery is usually cheaper even after the delivery fee, which is what the cost estimate above compares for your numbers.
Whichever way you buy, order a little extra. Sand settles and works into uneven ground, and you do not want to stop a job one bag short. Rounding each part-yard up, or adding roughly 5–10%, covers the gap without much waste.
How far a yard of sand goes.
Coverage at common depths, for one 50 lb bag (0.5 cu ft) and for one cubic yard (27 cu ft). Use it as a quick check against the calculator above.
| Depth | One 50 lb bag covers | One cubic yard covers |
|---|---|---|
| 1 inch | 6 sq ft | 324 sq ft |
| 2 inches | 3 sq ft | 162 sq ft |
| 3 inches | 2 sq ft | 108 sq ft |
| 4 inches | 1.5 sq ft | 81 sq ft |
| 6 inches | 1 sq ft | 54 sq ft |
Coverage is volume ÷ depth, rounded for quick reference: a 0.5 cu ft bag spreads over 6 ÷ depth (in.) square feet, and a cubic yard over 324 ÷ depth (in.). Weight assumes typical sand near 2,700 lbs per cubic yard — wetter or compacted sand weighs more.
Frequently asked questions.
How much does a yard of sand weigh?
A cubic yard of typical loose sand weighs about 2,700 lbs, or roughly 1.35 tons. That is based on a bulk density near 100 lbs per cubic foot. Wet or compacted sand weighs more, so treat it as a planning figure and confirm with your supplier before a bulk order.
How many 50 lb bags of sand are in a cubic yard?
It takes 54 bags. A cubic yard is 27 cubic feet and each 50 lb bag holds about 0.5 cubic feet, so 27 ÷ 0.5 = 54. That is also why a yard of sand weighs about 54 × 50 = 2,700 lbs.
How much sand do I need for pavers?
For the bedding layer under pavers, a depth of about 1 inch is standard. At that depth one cubic yard covers roughly 324 square feet and one 50 lb bag covers about 6 square feet. Enter your patio's area with a 1-inch depth above and the calculator gives the exact amount. Joint sand swept between pavers is separate and small by comparison.
How much sand do I need for a sandbox?
Most sandboxes are filled with about 8 to 12 inches of play sand. Measure the box's length and width, set the depth in that range, and the calculator gives the exact number of 50 lb bags. Play sand — washed and screened so it's safe and comfortable underfoot — is the right type for a play area.
How do I convert cubic yards of sand to tons?
Multiply cubic yards by about 1.35 to get US tons, since a yard of typical sand weighs roughly 2,700 lbs and a ton is 2,000 lbs. The calculator does this for you and lets you adjust the density for dry or wet sand.
How many cubic feet are in a 50 lb bag of sand?
About 0.5 cubic feet. Most bagged sand at home centers is sold as a 0.5 cu ft, 50 lb bag, which works out to the standard ~100 lbs per cubic foot. Two bags make roughly one cubic foot, and 54 bags make a cubic yard.
Methodology & sources
Volume is standard geometry: the area is multiplied by the depth for cubic feet, divided by 27 for cubic yards, and multiplied by 0.0283168466 for cubic meters. Weight is cubic feet × density (lb/ft³) ÷ 2,000 for US tons, and the bag count is cubic feet ÷ 0.5 rounded up, since a standard bagged sack holds about half a cubic foot. All arithmetic was verified with Python's Decimal to avoid floating-point drift.
Sand density (.gov / .edu):
- USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service — Soil Quality Indicators: Bulk Density. For sandy textures the ideal bulk density runs up to about 1.6 g/cm³ (about 100 lb/ft³), and root growth becomes restricted above 1.8 g/cm³ (about 112 lb/ft³) — link
- Penn State Extension — bulk-density conversion factor (g/cm³ × 62.4 = lb/ft³) — link
The 100 lb/ft³ default matches both the NRCS sandy figure and the labeled weight of a bagged 0.5 cu ft, 50 lb sack sold at major home centers. Dry, loose sand can run lighter (~90 lb/ft³) and wet or compacted sand heavier — the density field is editable, and supplier weights vary, so confirm before a bulk order.
Unit conversions (27 cu ft = 1 cu yd; 1 cu ft = 0.0283168466 m³) are exact definitions. Last methodology review: June 2026.
Independence: Sources are cited for reference only. The universities, agencies and retailers named on this page do not sponsor or endorse MaterialCalcs, and we are not affiliated with them. Retail prices were checked by hand and vary by store and region.