Measure the longest side of your area.Please enter a valid length greater than 0.
The shorter side of your area.Please enter a valid width greater than 0.
Typical depths: 1–2 in for paver base, 3–4 in for play sand, 4–6 in for concrete subbase.Please enter a valid depth greater than 0.
Affects weight calculation. Cubic yard volume is the same for all types.
Add 10% for standard fills. Add 15% for irregular areas or loose delivery.
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Leave blank to skip cost estimate. US average: $25–$50/ton delivered for most sand types.
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Your Sand Estimate
Sand Volume (with waste)
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Cubic Yards (yd³)
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Cubic Feet (ft³)
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Cubic Meters (m³)
Weight (with waste)
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US Short Tons
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Pounds (lb)
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Kilograms (kg)
—Area (sq ft)
—Area (m²)
—Depth
—Waste Factor
Estimated Material Cost
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Sand material cost only at your entered price per ton. Add delivery ($50–$150 per load), spreading labor, and compaction equipment for a full project budget.
Density values (tons/yd³): All-Purpose: 1.35 | Mason Sand: 1.30 | Play Sand: 1.25 | Concrete Sand: 1.45 | Compacted Fill: 1.50 | Silica Sand: 1.20
1 ton = 2,000 lb = 907.2 kg
How to Use This Sand Calculator
Measure your area length and width.
Use a tape measure to get the full dimensions of the area you're filling. For irregular shapes, break them into rectangles and run a calculation for each section. Measure to the inside of any edging or forms — not to the outside of border material. Pick the unit that's most natural for your tape measure.
Enter the required sand depth.
Depth is the vertical thickness of sand you need to place. Use inches for most residential work — the dropdown defaults to inches because that's how most spec sheets and material guides describe sand courses. Common references: 1 inch for a thin leveling bed under pavers, 2–3 inches for most base applications, 4 inches or more for a concrete subbase.
Select the correct sand type.
The sand type only affects the weight calculation — the volume in cubic yards is the same regardless. Select the type closest to what your supplier stocks. If you're not sure, leave it on All-Purpose Sand — it's the most commonly stocked type and uses a density that gives you a reasonable middle estimate for ordering.
Use the cubic yards figure to order from your supplier.
Bulk sand is priced and delivered by the cubic yard or by the ton depending on your region. Use the cubic yards value when ordering by volume, or the tons figure when ordering by weight. If you entered a price per ton, the cost estimate shows your material-only budget. Always confirm with your supplier whether their delivery is by weight or by volume.
⚠ Pro Tip: Always order 10–15% more sand than your calculation shows. Sand delivered loose in a dump truck is not compacted — it will settle significantly after placement and compaction. Running short mid-job and waiting for a second delivery is far more disruptive than having a small pile left over.
Sand Volume Formula
Sand quantity is calculated using the same volumetric method used for any fill material. The key extra step for sand — compared to concrete — is converting volume to weight using the sand's bulk density. Here's the process:
Step
Formula
Example (10 × 10 ft, 2 in deep)
1. Convert depth to feet
inches ÷ 12
2 ÷ 12 = 0.167 ft
2. Volume in cubic feet
L × W × D
10 × 10 × 0.167 = 16.67 ft³
3. Convert to cubic yards
ft³ ÷ 27
16.67 ÷ 27 = 0.617 yd³
4. Add waste factor (10%)
Volume × 1.10
0.617 × 1.10 = 0.679 yd³
5. Convert to tons
yd³ × density
0.679 × 1.35 = 0.917 tons
Common Sand Project Reference Table
Sand volumes at common project sizes — no waste factor applied. Add 10% for real-world ordering. Uses all-purpose sand density (1.35 t/yd³).
Area
Depth
Cubic Yards
Cubic Feet
Tons
10 × 10 ft
1 in
0.31 yd³
8.3 ft³
0.42 tons
10 × 10 ft
2 in
0.62 yd³
16.7 ft³
0.83 tons
10 × 10 ft
4 in
1.23 yd³
33.3 ft³
1.66 tons
20 × 20 ft
2 in
2.47 yd³
66.7 ft³
3.33 tons
20 × 20 ft
4 in
4.94 yd³
133.3 ft³
6.67 tons
30 × 30 ft
2 in
5.56 yd³
150.0 ft³
7.50 tons
30 × 30 ft
4 in
11.11 yd³
300.0 ft³
15.00 tons
50 × 50 ft
3 in
23.15 yd³
625.0 ft³
31.25 tons
100 × 100 ft
2 in
61.73 yd³
1,666.7 ft³
83.33 tons
No waste factor included. Add 10% before ordering. Tonnage based on all-purpose sand at 1.35 t/yd³.
What Sand Depth Does My Project Need?
Sand depth is the most commonly under-specified variable in estimating. Too little sand fails to provide a stable, level bed; too much wastes money and creates instability under pavers or concrete. The table below reflects standard industry practice for residential and light commercial work.
Recommended sand depth by application type.
Application
Recommended Depth
Sand Type
Notes
Paver / Brick Setting Bed
1 inch (25 mm)
Concrete / Coarse Sand
Screeded perfectly level; do not compact after pavers are set
Polymeric Sand Joints
Varies by paver
Polymeric Sand
Fill joints only; see paver spec for joint depth
Playground / Play Area
9–12 inches (230–300 mm)
Play / Washed Sand
ASTM F1292 fall height attenuation guideline
Landscape / Top Dressing
1–2 inches (25–50 mm)
Mason / Fine Sand
Lawn leveling; mix with compost for planting beds
Concrete Subbase Layer
4–6 inches (100–150 mm)
All-Purpose / Utility Sand
Compact in 2 in lifts with plate compactor before pour
Pool Installation Base
2–4 inches (50–100 mm)
Mason / Fine Sand
Hand-trowel smooth; no plate compaction
Pipe Bedding
4–6 inches below pipe
All-Purpose Sand
Plus 6–12 in cover above pipe crown
Volleyball / Beach Court
12–18 inches (300–450 mm)
Silica / Fine Sand
FIVB recommends minimum 400 mm depth for competition
For paver setting beds, the ICPI (Interlocking Concrete Pavement Institute) specifies exactly 1 inch of coarse concrete sand — not mason sand, not play sand. Using fine or dusty sand causes paver creep and joint failure over time. Thicker isn't better here: a 2-inch setting bed is harder to keep stable than a 1-inch bed.
Common Mistakes When Estimating Sand
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Ordering by volume when your supplier quotes by weight.
Bulk sand suppliers in many regions quote and deliver by the ton, not the cubic yard. If you calculate 2 cubic yards and call to order "2 cubic yards" from a supplier who sells by weight, you'll get a blank stare. Know which unit your supplier uses. This calculator gives you both — use the right one for the conversation.
📐
Not accounting for compaction.
Loose sand delivered by truck has more air voids than compacted sand in place. When you compact a layer of loose sand with a plate compactor, the depth drops — typically 10–20% depending on sand type and initial compaction. If you need 4 inches of compacted sand, order for 4.5–5 inches of loose sand, not 4 inches exactly. This is the main reason to always use a 10–15% waste factor for structural applications.
🏖️
Using the wrong sand type for the application.
Play sand (washed, rounded grains) is terrible under pavers — it doesn't lock and causes paver settlement. Coarse concrete sand (angular grains) is the correct choice for setting beds. Mason sand is excellent for mortar joints but too fine for structural fill. Silica sand is used for specific industrial and sports applications, not general fill. Specifying the wrong type doesn't just waste money — it causes the project to fail.
📦
Confusing bulk sand with bagged sand for large jobs.
Bagged play sand from a hardware store runs $6–$10 per 50 lb bag. At roughly 17 bags per ton, that's $100–$170 per ton in material cost alone — 3x to 5x the price of bulk delivered sand. For anything over a quarter cubic yard, bulk sand from a landscape supplier is almost always the more economical choice, even factoring in a minimum delivery charge.
🌧️
Measuring depth after rain or compaction without re-leveling.
If you're filling an area that has existing settled sand, don't measure from the top of the old sand — measure from where you want the final finished surface to end up, back to the current lowest point. Sand that has been rained on and settled sits 10–25% lower than freshly placed sand. Measure from a fixed reference point, not just eyeballing the existing surface.
Frequently Asked Questions
Multiply the area's length by width by depth — all in feet — to get cubic feet. Divide by 27 to convert to cubic yards. Multiply by the sand's bulk density in tons per cubic yard to get weight in tons. Then add 10% for waste. For example, a 10 × 10 ft area at 2 inches deep = 16.67 ft³ ÷ 27 = 0.617 yd³. With 10% waste = 0.68 yd³. At 1.35 tons/yd³ (all-purpose sand) = 0.92 tons. This calculator does all of that in one step.
It depends on the type of sand and its moisture content. Dry all-purpose sand weighs approximately 1.35 US short tons per cubic yard. Concrete/coarse sand runs about 1.45 t/yd³. Compacted fill sand can reach 1.50 t/yd³. Play sand and washed sand are lighter at around 1.25 t/yd³ because they have more rounded particles and higher void space. Wet sand can weigh 10–15% more than dry sand due to the water weight. Always confirm density with your supplier when ordering by weight, because real-world moisture conditions vary.
Mason sand (also called mortar sand or fine sand) is finer and more uniform in grain size. It's used for mortar joints, stucco, plastering, pool installations, and anywhere a smooth, consistent texture is needed. Concrete sand (also called coarse sand or sharp sand) has larger, more angular grains conforming to ASTM C33. The angular shape creates better interlock, making it the correct choice for paver setting beds, concrete mix aggregate, and structural subbase work. Using mason sand as a paver setting bed is a common mistake — the fine grains don't interlock and pavers will shift over time.
The ICPI standard for paver installation calls for exactly 1 inch of coarse concrete sand screeded level as the setting bed. This is one of the most specifically defined applications in hardscaping — the 1-inch specification is not a range. More than 1 inch of setting sand creates a spongy, unstable base that causes pavers to rock and settle unevenly. Less than 1 inch doesn't provide enough cushion for leveling. Below the sand bed, you also need 4–6 inches of compacted gravel base. Calculate your sand needs for the 1-inch setting course separately from any gravel base calculations.
A cubic yard of dry all-purpose sand weighs approximately 2,700 pounds (1.35 US short tons). Coarse concrete sand is heavier at around 2,900 pounds per cubic yard. Play sand and washed sand run lighter at about 2,500 pounds. These are bulk (loose) densities for dry material — wet sand delivered after rain can weigh noticeably more. As a rule of thumb, most contractors use 1.35 tons per cubic yard as a working figure when they don't know the exact sand type, which gives a reasonable midpoint estimate for ordering.
A standard single-axle dump truck carries 7–8 cubic yards of sand. A tandem-axle dump truck carries 10–14 cubic yards, and a tri-axle can carry 14–16 cubic yards depending on weight limits. In weight terms, most standard dump trucks are rated for 10–14 US tons per load. If your order is under 2–3 cubic yards, many suppliers charge a short-load delivery fee that can significantly increase your cost per yard — sometimes it's more economical to rent a trailer and pick up smaller quantities yourself.
No. Play sand has rounded, uniform grains that don't interlock — it behaves more like a fluid under load. It's not appropriate as a paver setting bed (ICPI requires coarse concrete sand), not suitable as a concrete subbase fill (use compacted granular fill or crushed stone), and shouldn't be used in concrete mixes. Play sand is specifically designed for sandboxes and play areas. Using it as a structural material will lead to settlement, paver shift, and premature failure. The cost difference between play sand and the correct material is usually small — there's no economic case for using the wrong product.
Bulk sand prices vary widely by region, supplier, and sand type. As a general US baseline in 2025–2026: all-purpose or utility sand runs $15–$30 per ton at the yard, or $25–$50 per ton delivered. Mason and concrete sand are similar in price. Play sand and washed sand command a slight premium due to processing. Silica sand can run $40–$80 per ton depending on grade. Delivery charges add $50–$150 per load on top of material cost. Bagged sand from a hardware store costs $6–$10 per 50 lb bag — equivalent to $240–$400 per ton, making bulk delivery far more economical for any project over half a yard.
For a residential sandbox, 6 inches of play sand is the practical minimum — enough to dig and play without hitting the bottom constantly. For under playground equipment, the ASTM F1292 standard governs fall attenuation: for equipment with a fall height up to 4 feet, 9 inches of loose sand is the minimum to pass the impact test. For equipment up to 8 feet tall, 12 inches of sand is required. These depths are measured as loose, uncompacted sand maintained in that state — compacted sand loses its fall attenuation properties. Only washed, rounded play sand should be used under play equipment, not coarse or sharp sand.
Yes — absolutely. Loose, uncompacted sand under a concrete slab is one of the leading causes of slab settlement and cracking. All sand fill intended to support a concrete pour must be compacted in lifts no thicker than 4–6 inches using a plate compactor. Make multiple passes in perpendicular directions until the sand no longer deflects under the compactor's weight. At the correct moisture content (typically 10–15% for most sands), compaction is most effective — bone-dry sand doesn't compact well, and saturated sand is unstable. Always verify compaction is complete and the surface is firm before setting your forms and pouring.
