Updated · Built and checked by the PlinzoTools team, formulas tested against published sources
Calculate how much sand you need in cubic yards and tons for a paver base, sandbox, or leveling job.
This calculator sizes a sand order -- for a paver or paving-stone bedding layer, a sandbox fill, a leveling course, or any other project that needs a measured layer of sand -- in both cubic yards and tons.
Enter the area to be covered and your desired sand depth in inches. A paver bedding layer is commonly 1 inch; a sandbox or play area might use 6 inches or more. Adjust the density in "Advanced" if you know your specific sand type's weight -- dry play sand, damp bedding sand, and coarse construction sand all differ somewhat in density.
Cubic Yards = (Area in sqft × Depth in inches) ÷ 324
Tons = (Cubic Yards × Density in lb/cu yd) ÷ 2000
Dry sand commonly weighs around 2,700 lb per cubic yard, a bit heavier than average topsoil or mulch because sand grains pack more densely with less air and organic material between them.
Use this for a paver or flagstone patio's bedding sand layer (the Paver Calculator also estimates this bedding sand as part of a full patio material takeoff), a sandbox, or leveling a play area. Sand is also commonly used as backfill around underground utility lines, where local code requirements should guide the depth.
"Sand" covers several different products -- fine play sand, coarse construction/paver sand, and polymeric jointing sand all serve different purposes and are not interchangeable. Make sure you're ordering the type appropriate for your project, since this calculator only estimates quantity, not which product to buy.
Suppose a hypothetical sandbox is 6 feet by 6 feet with sand 8 inches deep. The area is 36 sqft. Volume is 36 times 8 divided by 324, which is about 0.89 cubic yards. At 2,700 lb per cubic yard that is about 1.2 tons. That is a lot of weight to move, so plan where the delivery will be dumped and how you will carry it to the box. A wheelbarrow holds only a few cubic feet, so expect a large number of trips.
A bedding layer is thin, but it adds up across a large patio. A hypothetical 200 sqft patio at one inch needs about 0.62 cubic yards, roughly 0.83 tons at the default density. Bedding sand is normally screeded flat and not compacted heavily before the pavers are placed, and it settles a bit as the pavers are compacted, so many installers order slightly more. Follow the paver manufacturer guidance and use the sand type they name.
Ask your supplier which product matches your job, because the volume from this tool does not tell you that.
Damp sand weighs noticeably more than dry sand for the same volume, and sand stored outdoors soaks up rain. If you are ordering by weight, expect the delivered tonnage to be higher than a dry estimate suggests. Enter the supplier weight per cubic yard if they give one. If you are ordering by volume, the weight does not change what you pay, though it changes how heavy your loads are.
A bedding layer of about 1 inch is standard for most paver and flagstone patios -- the Paver Calculator includes this as part of a full patio takeoff alongside the pavers themselves.
Not exactly -- they're similar but not identical, since grain size and moisture content both affect density. The default 2,700 lb/cu yd is a reasonable general estimate for either.
That is 100 sqft at 2 inches, so 100 times 2 divided by 324, or about 0.62 cubic yards. Enter your own numbers for the weight at your density.
Yes, for the quantity. Enter the area and the depth required by the design, and pick the sand type recommended for the use.
Usually yes. Sand settles and gets lost during spreading, so many people order a little extra, and suppliers often sell in half or whole yard steps.