# Sand Calculator: How Much Sand Do I Need? Yards, Tons and Bags

> Sand calculator guide: cubic feet = area × depth ÷ 12, about 100 lb per cu ft dry. Tons, yards and 50 lb bags for pavers, sandboxes, pools and fill.

Published 2026-10-17 by Evergreen Packaging (Yantai Evergreen Packaging Co., Ltd.). Canonical: https://www.egpbags.com/blog/sand-calculator-how-much-sand/

**Key takeaways:** - **Sand (cu ft) = length (ft) × width (ft) × depth (in) ÷ 12**; divide by 27 for cubic yards. ;; Dry sand typically weighs **about 100 lb per cu ft** (1,600 kg/m³), so a **cubic yard is about 2,700 lb (1.35 tons)**. ;; **One short ton of sand is about 20 cu ft (0.74 yd³)**; a **50 lb bag is about 0.5 cu ft**. ;; Paver bedding sand is about **1 in**: one cubic yard covers about **324 sq ft**. ;; Wet sand is **10–30% heavier** than dry; order by volume, not weight, when sand is damp.

To calculate how much sand you need, multiply length × width in feet by the depth in inches and divide by 12 to get cubic feet; divide by 27 for cubic yards. Dry sand typically weighs about 100 lb per cubic foot, so each cubic foot is roughly two 50 lb bags and a cubic yard weighs about 2,700 lb (1.35 short tons, about 1.6 tonnes per m³). A 12 × 16 ft patio with 1 in of bedding sand needs 16 cu ft: about 0.6 cubic yard, 1,600 lb or 32 bags of 50 lb.

> **Skip the maths:** our free [gravel, sand and topsoil calculator](/tools/gravel-calculator/) turns area and depth into cubic yards, m³, tons, bulk bags and 50 lb bags.

**Key formula:** Sand (cu ft) = length (ft) × width (ft) × depth (in) ÷ 12; weight (lb) ≈ cu ft × 100 for dry sand; 50 lb bags ≈ cu ft × 2. In metric: tonnes ≈ m³ × 1.6.

The same arithmetic sits behind every sand calculator, whether it is labelled a paver sand calculator, play sand calculator, leveling sand calculator or fill sand calculator. What changes is the depth and how wet the sand is.

## How much does sand weigh?

Weight per volume, or bulk density, depends on grain size and especially moisture. Typical values:

| Sand condition | Weight per cubic foot | Weight per cubic yard | Metric (kg/m³) | Volume of 1 short ton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry, loose (play, masonry, concrete sand) | 90–110 lb | 2,430–2,970 lb | 1,440–1,760 | 18–22 cu ft (0.67–0.82 yd³) |
| Typical planning figure | 100 lb | 2,700 lb (1.35 tons) | 1,600 | 20 cu ft (0.74 yd³) |
| Damp | 110–120 lb | 2,970–3,240 lb | 1,760–1,920 | 17–18 cu ft |
| Wet / saturated | 120–130 lb | 3,240–3,510 lb | 1,920–2,080 | 15–17 cu ft |

So the **weight of sand per cubic foot** is typically about 100 lb dry, and the **weight of sand per cubic yard** is typically about 2,700 lb. **How many pounds in a yard of sand?** Plan on 2,500–3,000 lb for dry or slightly damp sand, more if it has been rained on. (Our online calculator uses a slightly lower 1.3 tons per cubic yard for dry sand; the difference is well within normal supplier variation.) A half cubic foot of dry sand weighs about 50 lb, which is why most retail bags are that size.

## Quick reference: sand by depth, yard, ton and bag

| Depth | Area covered by 1 cu yd | Area covered by 1 short ton | 50 lb bags per 100 sq ft |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 in (25 mm) | 324 sq ft (30 m²) | about 240 sq ft (22 m²) | about 17 |
| 2 in (50 mm) | 162 sq ft (15 m²) | about 120 sq ft (11 m²) | about 34 |
| 4 in (100 mm) | 81 sq ft (7.5 m²) | about 60 sq ft (5.6 m²) | about 67 |
| 6 in (150 mm) | 54 sq ft (5.0 m²) | about 40 sq ft (3.7 m²) | 100 |

Based on dry sand at 100 lb/cu ft and 0.5 cu ft per 50 lb bag; round up and add about 10%.

## How much is a ton of sand?

Here "how much" means volume. **One short ton (2,000 lb) of dry sand is about 20 cu ft, or 0.74 cubic yard** — enough to fill a box about 2.7 ft on each side. **One metric tonne (1,000 kg)** is about 0.62 m³ (0.82 yd³). A ton of sand is about **forty 50 lb bags**.

When a yard sells by the ton and the sand is wet, you receive less volume for the same weight. If your project is volume-driven (a sandbox or a base), ask how damp the pile is or buy by the yard.

## Paver sand calculator: how much sand for pavers?

Pavers use sand twice:

1. **Bedding sand** — a screeded layer typically about **1 in (25 mm)** thick on top of a compacted gravel base. Use coarse, washed concrete sand rather than fine play sand.
2. **Joint sand** — swept into the gaps after laying. Ordinary jointing sand or polymeric sand coverage depends heavily on joint width and paver depth; use the coverage chart on the bag rather than a volume formula.

**Worked example — 12 × 16 ft patio, 1 in bedding sand**

1. Area = 12 × 16 = 192 sq ft (17.8 m²)
2. Volume = 192 × 1 ÷ 12 = **16 cu ft** (0.59 yd³, 0.45 m³)
3. Weight = 16 × 100 = **1,600 lb** (about 0.8 ton)
4. 50 lb bags = 16 ÷ 0.5 = **32 bags**, or about 36 with 10% extra

The gravel base under it is covered in our [gravel calculator guide](/blog/gravel-calculator-how-much-gravel/).

## How much sand for a sandbox?

Most sandboxes are filled about 6–12 in deep. Use washed, screened play sand.

**Worked example — 4 × 4 ft sandbox, 6 in deep**

- 4 × 4 × 6 ÷ 12 = **8 cu ft** (0.23 m³)
- Weight ≈ 800 lb, or **16 bags of 50 lb** (0.5 cu ft each)

A 5 × 5 ft box filled 8 in deep holds about 16.7 cu ft: roughly 33–34 bags, or about 1,670 lb. Many play sand bags hold 0.5 cu ft, but check the label.

## Pool sand calculator: sand under an above-ground pool

A layer of masonry sand under an above-ground pool is typically about 2 in deep; follow the pool manufacturer's instructions, which take priority.

**Worked example — 24 ft round pool, 2 in sand base**

1. Area = 3.1416 × 12² = **452 sq ft** (42 m²)
2. Volume = 452 × 2 ÷ 12 = **75.4 cu ft** = 2.79 cu yd (2.1 m³)
3. Weight ≈ 7,540 lb, about **3.8 short tons**, or about 151 bags of 50 lb

At this size, bulk delivery or a few bulk bags is far less work than bags.

## Leveling sand and fill sand calculator

For a **leveling sand calculator**, measure the average depth you need to fill, not the deepest point. For general **fill sand**, compaction matters: loose sand typically settles by roughly 10–15% when compacted in layers, so add that to the order.

**Example:** a 20 × 30 ft area raised 3 in with fill sand: 600 × 3 ÷ 12 = 150 cu ft = 5.56 cu yd, about 7.5 tons. With a 15% compaction allowance, order about 6.4 cu yd, or roughly 8.6 tons.

## Sand calculator tons vs bags: which should I buy?

| Quantity needed | Practical option |
|---|---|
| Under about 10 cu ft | 50 lb bags (20 bags or fewer) |
| About 10–27 cu ft (up to 1 yd³) | Bags or a single bulk bag |
| Over 1 yd³ | Loose bulk delivery or 1-tonne bulk bags |

A **50 lb bag of sand** is easy to carry and store dry, which suits play sand, small repairs and paver joints. A **1-tonne bulk bag** of dry sand holds about 0.6 m³ (about 0.8 yd³), delivered by crane truck and placed where a tipper cannot reach.

### Sand for sandbags

Flood sandbags hold about 35–40 lb (16–18 kg) of sand each, so **one short ton fills about 50–57 standard sandbags**. Our [sandbag calculator](/tools/sandbag-calculator/) and the guide [how many sandbags do I need](/blog/how-many-sandbags-do-i-need/) give wall-size tables, and [how to fill and stack sandbags](/blog/how-to-fill-and-stack-sandbags-for-flooding/) covers technique.

## Bags for sand suppliers and distributors

Sand is abrasive and heavy, so the bag matters. Woven polypropylene resists punctures and handles rough stacking better than film; UV stabilization protects bags stored outdoors. For retail and sandbag packs, consider the [UV Stabilized PP Woven Bag with Top Drawstring for Sand](https://www.egpbags.com/products/pp-woven-bags/uv-stabilized-pp-woven-bag-with-top-drawstring-for-sand-construction/) or the [Heavy Duty Moisture Proof PP Woven Bag with Reinforced](https://www.egpbags.com/products/pp-woven-bags/heavy-duty-moisture-proof-pp-woven-bag-with-reinforced-stitching-and/); for 50 kg packs, the [Recyclable PP Woven Bag 50kg Heavy Duty Eco-Friendly](https://www.egpbags.com/products/pp-woven-bags/recyclable-pp-woven-bag-50kg-heavy-duty-eco-friendly-moisture-proof/). For bulk, the [FIBC Bulk Jumbo Big Bag 1 Ton PP Woven Food Grade Super](https://www.egpbags.com/products/fibc-bulk-bags/fibc-bulk-jumbo-big-bag-1-ton-pp-woven-food-grade-super-sack-for-sand/) is a 1-tonne bag designed for sand. Fine, dry sand can sift through uncoated fabric, so ask for coated fabric for kiln-dried or play sand. Browse [PP Woven Sacks](https://www.egpbags.com/products/pp-woven-bags/) or read [bulk bags for sand, gravel and aggregates](/blog/bulk-bags-for-sand-gravel-aggregates/).

EGP manufactures in Yantai, Shandong, in a 3,500 m² facility with 110 staff, and supplies sand packers, distributors and municipalities factory-direct in custom sizes and prints. Send your bag size and fill weight through our [contact page](/contact/) for a quote.

## Frequently asked questions

### How many 50 lb bags of sand make a yard?
About 54. A 50 lb bag of dry sand is typically 0.5 cu ft, and a cubic yard is 27 cu ft, so 27 ÷ 0.5 = 54 bags. That is about 2,700 lb of sand.

### How much does a yard of sand weigh?
Typically about 2,700 lb (1.35 short tons, about 1,220 kg) for dry sand, with a range of about 2,400–3,000 lb. Wet sand can exceed 3,200 lb per cubic yard.

### How much does a cubic foot of sand weigh?
Dry sand typically weighs 90–110 lb per cubic foot, with 100 lb a good planning figure (about 1,600 kg/m³). Damp sand is around 110–120 lb and saturated sand up to about 130 lb.

### How much sand do I need for a 4x4 sandbox?
At 6 in deep, a 4 × 4 ft sandbox holds 8 cu ft of sand: about 800 lb, or 16 bags of 50 lb. Fill it 8–12 in deep and you need 11–16 cu ft, or 22–32 bags.

### What does 1 ton of sand cover?
At 1 in deep, one short ton of dry sand (about 20 cu ft) covers about 240 sq ft; at 2 in about 120 sq ft. Wet sand covers less per ton because water adds weight.

### How much sand do I need for pavers?
Plan on about 1 in of bedding sand: 1 cubic yard covers about 324 sq ft. A 12 × 16 ft patio needs about 16 cu ft (32 bags of 50 lb), plus joint sand according to the bag's coverage chart.

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Contact: doristeng2013@yt-evergreen.com · +86 186 6389 6305