Sand calculator
Area and depth give you cubic metres, kilos and tonnes.
Your inputs
Your inputs are processed on your device and are not sent to a server.
Example loaded. You can change any value.
There is no figure yet: nothing is calculated until you ask for it.
- Enter your measurements.
- Check the units and the assumptions.
- Press Calculate, or load the example.
Rather see a worked case? Press “Load example” and change any value afterwards.
Next step
Almost no sub-base is sand alone: gravel goes underneath, over the same area.
Where each number comes from Conversion constants are exact; densities and coverage rates come from cited sources; everything else is an assumption you can change. Methodology · Sources and updates
How to use it
- Measure the area you are covering: length and width.
- Enter the depth of the sand layer.
- If your supplier gives a density, enter it in the advanced options.
- If you buy in bags, enter the bag weight.
How it is calculated
Volume first, weight second. They are two different questions and worth keeping apart:
Bulk density is the delicate figure. Dry loose sand runs about 1,400-1,600 kg/m³ (88-100 lb/ft³); the same sand damp or compacted goes past 1,800. That is why the default (1,500) is editable and worth changing if your supplier quotes theirs.
No aggregate density is exact: it depends on the sand type, the grading, the moisture and how it was loaded. Anyone quoting a figure to the kilogram is inventing a precision that does not exist.
Worked example
A sand bed for a 16 x 6.5 ft patio, 2 in deep, density 1,500 kg/m³, 5 % waste:
- Volume: 0.5 m³ (17.7 cubic feet)
- With waste: 0.525 m³ (0.69 cubic yards)
- Weight: 787 kg, or 0.87 short tons
- In 25 kg bags: 32 bags
Nearly a ton for a small patio. Above about 1,300 lb it is usually cheaper and easier to order loose than to carry bags.
Good to know
- Sand settles. A 2 in loose layer ends up 1.6-1.8 in once compacted. If you need 2 in compacted, order a little more.
- Sharp, building and play sand differ. They do not weigh the same and are not interchangeable. For mortar, ask for washed sand.
- Mind the transport. A cubic yard of sand weighs well over a ton: check the vehicle's payload.
- Tons or cubic yards. Suppliers sell both ways. The result gives both so you can compare prices properly.
Frequently asked questions
How much sand do I need per square foot?
It depends on the depth. A 2 in layer is 0.167 cubic feet per square foot, about 15 lb. A 4 in layer is double that. Multiply the depth in feet by the area.
How much does a cubic yard of sand weigh?
Between 2,400 and 2,700 lb dry and loose, and up to 3,200 lb damp or compacted. There is no single value, which is why the calculator lets you change it.
How many 50 lb bags make a cubic yard?
At 1,500 kg/m³, about 51 bags. That is a lot of weight and a lot of plastic: above half a cubic yard, bulk almost always wins.
Is sand ordered by weight or by volume?
Both, depending on the supplier. The calculator gives volume and weight so you can compare quotes without converting by hand.