Sand calculator
Sandbox, volleyball court, paver bedding or mortar sand — enter the area and depth for yards, tons and 50 lb bag counts.
Result
Sand needed
How much sand do I need?
Formula
ft³ = area × depth ÷ 12 · yd³ = ft³ ÷ 27 · tons ≈ yd³ × 1.35 · bags = ft³ ÷ 0.5
Example — sandbox: an 8 × 8 ft sandbox filled 6 inches deep needs 64 × 6/12 = 32 ft³ = 64 fifty-pound bags, or 1.2 yd³ ≈ 1.6 tons delivered. Fill sandboxes 4–6 in for toddlers (they only dig the top few inches).
Which sand?
| Type | Use | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Play sand | Sandboxes | Washed, screened, rounded — get “washed” only |
| Concrete sand | Paver bedding, mixing | Angular; also called sharp sand |
| Masonry sand | Mortar, volleyball, under pools | Fine and clean; pools: check manufacturer spec |
| Fill sand | Base under pavers/slabs, backfill | Cheapest; drains well, compacts with water |
Coverage cheat sheet
- One 50 lb bag (0.5 ft³) covers 6 ft² at 1 inch.
- One yard of sand (≈1.35 tons) covers 324 ft² at 1 inch, 162 at 2, 108 at 3.
- A standard above-ground pool “sand cushion” (2 in under a 24 ft round liner) needs ~94 ft³ = 3.5 yd³ ≈ 4.7 tons.
Frequently asked questions
How many bags of sand for a sandbox?
Depth × area ÷ 0.5. A 5×5 ft box at 6 in = 12.5 ft³ = 25 bags (or half a yard bulk). The calculator rounds up.
How much does a yard of sand weigh?
About 1.35 tons (2,700 lb) dry. Deliveries are quoted by the ton — moisture can add 10–15%.
How much sand under an above-ground pool?
Typically 2 inches over the footprint: a 24 ft round pool needs ~3.5 yd³ ≈ 4.7 tons of masonry/fill sand (check your pool manual — some want a foam pad instead).
Play sand vs all-purpose sand?
Play sand is washed and screened for kids' sandboxes. All-purpose/building sand may contain fines and dust — fine under pavers, not in a sandbox.
How many bags of sand for pavers?
Bedding sand is 1 inch: each 0.5 ft³ bag covers 6 ft². A 200 ft² patio = ~34 bags, or order a half yard. More in the paver base calculator.