Sand Calculator
Work out how much sand to buy for pavers, a sandbox, an above-ground pool base or leveling. Add several areas and compare bulk sand with bags.
Typical sand depths
| Job | Depth |
|---|---|
| Bedding layer under pavers | 1 inch, not more than 1½ inches |
| Leveling / top-dressing a lawn | ¼ – ½ inch |
| Base under an above-ground pool | about 2 inches (follow the pool maker's instructions) |
| Sandbox | about 12 inches |
For a paver patio, extension guides call for a compacted gravel base and then a thin, even layer of bedding sand, about 1 inch, screeded flat and not compacted before the pavers go down. A thicker sand layer tends to shift and let pavers settle unevenly. Use the gravel calculator for the base underneath.
Which sand?
Concrete sand (coarse, washed) is the usual bedding sand for pavers. Play sand is finer and washed for sandboxes. Masonry sand is fine and used in mortar. Polymeric sand goes into the joints between pavers, not under them; it is sold by the bag with coverage printed on it.
Worked example
A 12 × 16 ft paver patio with 1 inch of bedding sand: 192 sq ft × 1 ÷ 12 = 16 cu ft = 0.59 cu yd. With 5% extra, about 0.62 cubic yards, roughly 0.75–0.9 tons, or 34 bags of 0.5 cu ft (about 50 lb each).
How much does one cubic yard cover?
A cubic yard is 27 cubic feet, so at 1 inch deep it covers 324 sq ft. Divide 324 by the depth in inches:
| Depth | 1 cu yd of sand covers |
|---|---|
| 1 in | 324 sq ft |
| 2 in | 162 sq ft |
| 3 in | 108 sq ft |
| 4 in | 81 sq ft |
| 6 in | 54 sq ft |
| 12 in | 27 sq ft |
Bags per cubic yard
| Bag size | Bags of sand in 1 cu yd |
|---|---|
| 0.5 cu ft | 54 |
| 1 cu ft | 27 |
Past about one cubic yard, bulk delivery is usually cheaper and much less carrying than bags; compare both with the optional price fields above.
Cubic yards to tons
Sand typically weighs 1.2–1.5 US tons per cubic yard, depending on the product and how wet it is. If your supplier sells by the ton, ask for their weight per yard and enter it in the calculator.
| Volume | Approx. weight (US tons) |
|---|---|
| 1 cu yd | 1.2 – 1.5 |
| 2 cu yd | 2.4 – 3.0 |
| 5 cu yd | 6.0 – 7.5 |
| 10 cu yd | 12.0 – 15.0 |
Common questions
How many 50 lb bags of sand are in a cubic yard?
A 50 lb bag holds about 0.5 cu ft, so one cubic yard is roughly 54 bags.
How much sand do I need for pavers?
About 1 inch of bedding sand under the pavers: 1 cubic yard covers about 324 sq ft at 1 inch.
Does wet sand weigh more?
Yes. Dry sand is usually 1.2–1.4 tons per cubic yard; damp sand can reach 1.5 tons or more, so price per ton depends on how wet it is.
How much sand for a sandbox?
Multiply length × width × depth. A 5 × 5 ft sandbox filled 12 inches deep needs 25 cu ft, a little under 1 cubic yard, or about 50 bags of 0.5 cu ft.
Sources
- Oregon State University Extension: 10-step guide to installing pavers
- Iowa State University Extension: Installing concrete paver patios
Other calculators
Last updated 2026-09-19.