How this sand calculator works
Sand sells by the ton or the yard, and the bridge between them is density — about 1.35 tons per cubic yard dry, 1.5 damp. The calculator turns your area and depth into both, with a spillage allowance:
tons = yd³ × density × (1 + allowance%) → rounded up to ¼ ton
Worked example: how much sand for a 20 × 10 paver bed
A 1 in bedding layer over 200 ft² is 16.7 ft³ — 0.62 yd³. As dry sand with 10% allowance that's 0.92 tons, so you order 1 ton (about $40 bulk) or 37 bags at half a cubic foot each — roughly $185, which is why anything past a walkway comes by truck.
How much does a ton of sand cover?
| Depth | Coverage |
|---|---|
| 1 in | ≈ 240 ft² |
| 2 in | ≈ 120 ft² |
| 3 in | ≈ 80 ft² |
Sand depth by job
- Paver bedding: 1 in screeded — no more; thick sand beds rut. The structure is the compacted stone base below.
- Sandboxes: 6–8 in of washed play sand feels right; deeper just disappears into the yard.
- Under a pool: 2 in leveled and compacted, dead flat.
- Mortar work: figure sand from your mix ratio — a 1:3 mortar uses about 1 ton of sand per 9 bags of cement.
Sand FAQ
How much sand do I need for pavers?
A 1 in screeded bedding layer: the default 20 × 10 ft patio takes 1 ton of sand (0.62 yd³ exact, ordered as 0.75 yd³ or 37 half-cubic-foot bags). Concrete or coarse washed sand screeds best — fine play sand stays spongy underfoot.
How many tons of sand are in a cubic yard?
About 1.35 tons dry, rising to roughly 1.5 tons when damp — sand holds water, which is why the scale ticket on a wet load reads heavy. The calculator lets you pick either figure.
How much does a ton of sand cover?
At 1 in deep, about 240 ft²; at 2 in, 120 ft²; at 3 in, 80 ft². The live coverage line under the drawing recomputes for whatever depth you set.
How much sand for a sandbox?
An 8 × 8 ft sandbox filled 8 in deep takes about 42.7 ft³ — roughly 2.5 tons of play sand, or 94 half-cubic-foot bags. Buy washed, screened play sand for anything kids touch.
What kind of sand for masonry and concrete work?
Masonry (mason) sand is finer and screeds smooth for mortar beds; concrete sand is coarser and sharper for mixing and paver bedding. They weigh about the same for estimating — the difference is gradation, not density.
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