Sand Calculator
Calculate how much sand you need — enter your area and depth to get the volume in cubic yards and cubic feet, the weight in tons, and the number of 50 lb bags, with cost.
United States — national average · 2026 prices
Material only unless stated as installed. Excludes tax, permits and local labour. Verify with local suppliers — see how we calculate.
How this calculator works
Every figure above comes from the formula below, applied to the assumptions listed. Nothing is looked up from a hidden table — you can reproduce the result by hand.
Formula
cubic yards = area (sq ft) × depth (in) ÷ 324
tons = cubic yards × 1.35
bags = cubic feet ÷ 0.5 cu ft per 50 lb bag, rounded up
Assumptions & limits
- Sand density is taken as 1.35 tons per cubic yard, mid-range for dry bulk landscape and masonry sand. Wet sand weighs noticeably more, and suppliers sell by weight.
- A 50 lb bag is treated as 0.5 cubic feet, so about 54 bags fill a cubic yard.
- Bulk sand is priced at $30 per cubic yard and bags at $5, showing the break-even against bagged.
- For paver bedding, the layer is 1 inch — enter that depth rather than the default. Joint sand is a separate product and a separate calculation.
- No compaction allowance is added. Screeded bedding sand compacts under plate-compacted pavers, so order slightly over.
Worked example
Paver bedding sand for a 100 sq ft patio at 1 inch deep
- Cubic yards = 100 × 1 ÷ 324 = 0.31 yd³
- Cubic feet = 100 × 1 ÷ 12 = 8.33 cu ft
- Bags = 8.33 ÷ 0.5 = 16.7 → 17 bags
- Tons = 0.31 × 1.35 = 0.42 tons
Result:0.31 cubic yards, about 17 × 50 lb bags — bagged is the sensible buy at this size.
Built and maintained by Christoph Ballmer, Honeygoat GmbH
Method and constants last checked against the calculator code on August 17, 2026. Independent trade review is not yet in place for this calculator — see how we handle review.
Read the site-wide calculation methodology · estimate vs. quote and safety limits
How much sand do I need?
Sand is sold both in bags and in bulk by the cubic yard or ton. Work out the volume by multiplying the area in square feet by the depth in inches and dividing by 324 for cubic yards. The calculator above also converts that to tons — sand weighs about 1.35 tons per cubic yard — and to 50 lb bags.
cubic yards = area (sq ft) × depth (in) ÷ 324 · tons ≈ cubic yards × 1.35
Sand weight & bags
| Amount | Equals |
|---|---|
| 1 cubic yard of sand | ≈ 1.35 tons (about 2,700 lb) |
| 1 cubic yard | ≈ 54 × 50 lb bags |
| 50 lb bag | ≈ 0.5 cubic feet |
| Paver bedding (1″) | ≈ 0.31 yd³ per 100 sq ft |
For paver bedding, use a 1-inch depth. For other materials, see the soil calculator, the mulch calculator, or the cubic yards calculator.
Which sand for which job
| Sand type | Use | How it is sold |
|---|---|---|
| Concrete / coarse sand | Paver bedding, concrete mixing, drainage | Bulk by yard or ton |
| Masonry sand | Mortar, fine leveling, play areas (washed) | Bulk or 50 lb bags |
| Play sand | Sandboxes — washed and screened | 50 lb bags |
| Polymeric sand | Paver JOINTS only — binds when wetted | 50 lb bags |
The paver distinction matters most: bedding takes coarse concrete sand that drains and locks, while the joints take polymeric sand — two different products, sized separately in the paver calculator and the polymeric sand calculator.
Common mistakes
- Play sand under pavers. It is too fine, holds water and never locks — the classic cause of wavy paver patios. Bedding wants coarse, angular concrete sand.
- Ordering by weight without asking about moisture. Wet sand weighs 20–30% more per yard; a “ton” of soaked sand is less sand than a ton of dry.
- Buying bags past the break-even. At 54 bags per cubic yard, anything beyond a dozen bags is bulk territory.
- Skipping compaction of deep fills. Sand placed more than a few inches deep should be dampened and compacted in lifts, or it settles under whatever sits on it.
Densities and prices are typical 2026 figures — washed, dried and specialty sands cost more than bulk fill sand. Confirm with your supplier what their “sand” actually is before ordering.
Frequently asked questions
How much sand do I need?
Multiply the area in square feet by the depth in inches and divide by 324 for cubic yards. The calculator above also converts that to tons (sand weighs about 1.35 tons per cubic yard) and to 50 lb bags, so you can order bulk or bagged.
How much does a yard of sand weigh?
A cubic yard of dry sand weighs roughly 2,400–2,900 pounds — about 1.2 to 1.45 tons. Wet sand weighs more. The calculator uses about 1.35 tons per cubic yard as a working figure, which is typical for bulk landscape and masonry sand.
How many 50 lb bags of sand are in a cubic yard?
A 50 lb bag of sand holds roughly 0.5 cubic feet, and a cubic yard is 27 cubic feet, so it takes about 54 bags to make a yard. For anything more than about a dozen bags, bulk sand is usually cheaper — the calculator shows both.
How much sand do I need for pavers?
Paver bedding sand is usually laid about 1 inch thick, which is roughly 0.31 cubic yards (about 17 of the 50 lb bags) per 100 square feet. Add polymeric sand separately for the joints. Enter your area at a 1-inch depth above for the bedding amount.