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Sand calculator: cubic yards, tons and 50 lb bags

Work out how much sand a sandbox, paver bed or fill job needs, in cubic yards, tons and bags.

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Sand needed

0.67 cu yd

Weight

0.90 tons

Or 50 lb bags
36 bags
Bags are practical This fits in a pickup or a couple of car trips.
Surface covered
36.0 sq ft
Bulk cost (before delivery)
$41

Sand needed by depth

Sand neededWeightOr 50 lb bags
1 in deep current0.110.156
2 in deep current0.220.3012
4 in deep current0.440.6024
6 in deep current0.670.9036
12 in deep current1.331.8072

How much sand to order

Sand is sold by the bag, the cubic yard or the ton, and the same volume weighs more when it is wet. This calculator works out the volume for a rectangular or round area, the weight for the type of sand you buy, and the number of 50 lb bags if you would rather carry it home yourself.

The formula

  1. Area = length × width, or 3.14 × (diameter ÷ 2)² for a round area.
  2. Volume (cu yd) = area × depth in feet ÷ 27.
  3. Tons = cubic yards × density: about 1.35 tons per cubic yard for dry sand, 1.5 for damp sand as it is usually delivered, and 1.6 for wet sand.
  4. Bags = tons × 2,000 ÷ 50.

Worked example: a backyard sandbox

The sandbox is 6 × 6 ft and you want 6 in of play sand.

  1. Area: 6 × 6 = 36 sq ft.
  2. Volume: 36 × 0.5 = 18 cu ft, or 0.67 cubic yards.
  3. Weight: 0.67 × 1.35 = 0.9 tons.
  4. That is 36 bags of 50 lb, or about $41 if bought in bulk at $45 a ton.

Sand by depth for the same box

Depth Cubic yards Tons 50 lb bags
1 in 0.11 0.15 6
2 in 0.22 0.30 12
4 in 0.44 0.60 24
6 in 0.67 0.90 36
12 in 1.33 1.80 72

Which sand for which job?

  • Play sand: washed and screened, with few fine particles, for sandboxes and play areas.
  • Concrete sand (coarse sand): the standard bedding layer under pavers and flagstone, and an ingredient in concrete.
  • Masonry sand: finer and more uniform, for mortar and brick joints.
  • Fill sand: cheap, unwashed, to raise grade or backfill around pipes and pools.
  • Polymeric sand: only for paver joints. It hardens when wet and should never be used as a bedding layer.

Typical depths

Use 1 in of concrete sand under pavers, 2 in under flagstone, 6 to 12 in in a sandbox, and 2 in under an above-ground pool, according to the pool maker’s instructions.

Bags or bulk?

Up to about 40 bags, or one ton, bags are easy to handle. Beyond that, bulk delivery is usually cheaper and saves your back. Sand delivered in bulk is often damp, which makes it heavier per cubic yard: order by volume when you can, and keep a tarp over the pile so rain does not wash it away.

Frequently asked questions

How much sand do I need for a sandbox?

For a 6 × 6 ft sandbox filled 6 in deep, you need 18 cubic feet, or 0.67 cubic yards: about 0.9 tons of dry play sand, or 36 bags of 50 lb.

How many 50 lb bags of sand are in a ton?

Forty. A 50 lb bag of play sand holds roughly half a cubic foot, so a cubic yard of dry sand (about 1.35 tons) is around 54 bags.

How much sand goes under pavers?

A 1 in bedding layer of coarse concrete sand on top of the compacted gravel base. More than about 1.5 in tends to shift and settle. For a 12 × 12 ft patio, that is about 0.44 cubic yards.

What kind of sand should I buy?

Play sand for sandboxes, coarse concrete sand for paver bedding and mixing concrete, masonry sand for mortar, and polymeric sand only to fill paver joints. They are not interchangeable.

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Results are estimates provided for information purposes. They do not replace professional advice.

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