Sand Calculator
✓ Your estimate
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Sq Feet
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Cu Feet
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Cu Yards
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Est. Tons
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Bags
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+Waste Yards
⚠ Confirm quantities with your landscape supplier before ordering. Bulk delivery is cheaper than bags for anything over 1 cubic yard.
What the Result Means
Sand is sold in bags (0.5 to 2 cubic feet each) at home improvement stores, or by the cubic yard or ton for bulk delivery. For paver projects, a 1-inch setting bed is standard -- most projects need far less sand than people expect. If you need base gravel under the sand layer, use the gravel calculator. For the full paver count and materials, the paver calculator handles those estimates together.
For landscaping fills, playgrounds, and leveling, bags work well for small areas. Bulk delivery becomes cost-effective around 1 cubic yard and above.
How the Calculation Works
Square Feet = Length x Width
Cubic Feet = Square Feet x (Depth in inches / 12)
Cubic Yards = Cubic Feet / 27
Tons = Cubic Yards x Density (tons/yd)
Bags = Cubic Feet (with waste) / Bag size in cu ft
Density varies: concrete sand ~1.35 t/yd | play sand ~1.2 t/yd | fill sand ~1.4 t/yd
Worked Example
Example: 10 ft x 10 ft paver setting bed, 1 inch deep
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Square feet: 10 x 10 = 100 sq ft
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Cubic feet: 100 x (1 / 12) = 8.33 cubic feet
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Cubic yards: 8.33 / 27 = 0.31 cubic yards
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Tons: 0.31 x 1.35 = 0.42 tons
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With 5% waste: order 0.33 cubic yards -- about 18 bags of 0.5 cu ft
Ordering Notes
Assumptions Used by This Calculator
- Depth is entered in inches and divided by 12 to convert to feet.
- Volume is calculated as length x width x depth (in feet).
- Cubic feet are divided by 27 to get cubic yards.
- Tons are estimated using the selected sand density (tons per cubic yard).
- Actual weight varies by moisture content, compaction, and supplier material.
- Bag counts are approximate -- actual bag fill and sand density vary by manufacturer.
- The waste factor is applied to the final cubic yard and bag estimates.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much sand do I need for a 10x10 area?
At 2 inches deep, a 10x10 area needs about 1.85 cubic feet or 0.07 cubic yards of sand -- roughly 4 bags of 0.5 cu ft. At 1 inch deep for a paver setting bed, that drops to about 0.93 cubic feet or 2 bags. Use the calculator above for any dimensions.
How deep should sand be under pavers?
For a paver setting bed, 1 inch of coarse concrete sand is standard. Do not use more -- a thick sand bed compresses unevenly and causes pavers to shift and rock over time.
What type of sand should I use for pavers?
Use coarse concrete sand (also called sharp sand or washed concrete sand) for the setting bed under pavers. Do not use play sand or fine sand -- they compact unevenly and allow pavers to move. Polymeric sand fills the joints after installation.
How many bags of sand are in a cubic yard?
One cubic yard equals 27 cubic feet. A 0.5 cu ft bag takes 54 bags per cubic yard. For anything over 1 yard, bulk delivery from a landscape supplier is almost always cheaper.
How much does a cubic yard of sand weigh?
Sand weighs roughly 1.3 to 1.5 tons per cubic yard depending on moisture content and sand type. Wet sand is significantly heavier. Dry concrete sand averages about 2,700 lbs per cubic yard.
Should I compact sand before installing pavers?
Do not compact the sand setting bed before placing pavers -- it should be loose and screeded flat. After the pavers are placed, compaction with a plate compactor sets them into the sand. Compact the base gravel layer below the sand, not the sand itself.
What is the difference between play sand and concrete sand?
Play sand is very fine, rounded, and washed -- safe for sandboxes but too fine for structural use. Concrete sand is coarser and angular, making it better for paver bases and mortar mixes. Fill sand is unscreened and inexpensive, used for leveling and filling, not for finished surfaces.
Disclaimer: This calculator provides estimates only. Actual quantities depend on site conditions, product density, and installation method. Verify all quantities with your sand supplier before ordering. See all outdoor calculators.