About this calculator
Sand is sold by volume at some yards, by weight at others and in 50 lb bags at home centers. This calculator gives you all three for a rectangular area: a sandbox, the bedding layer under pavers, a volleyball court, or sand for leveling a pool base or above-ground tub.
Damp sand weighs noticeably more than dry sand, so pick the condition that matches how your supplier weighs it.
How to use it
- Enter the length and width of the area.
- Enter the depth: 6–12 in for a sandbox, 1 in for a paver bed, 2 in for leveling under a pool.
- Choose dry or damp sand.
- Enter the bag weight (most bagged sand is 50 lb) and, optionally, a bulk price per ton.
The formula
Volume = length × width × depth
Weight (lb) = volume (cu ft) × density (100 dry / 120 damp)
Bags = weight ÷ bag weight, rounded up
Tons = pounds ÷ 2,000
Dry sand weighs about 100 lb per cubic foot — roughly 1.35 tons per cubic yard. Damp sand, which is how most bulk sand is delivered, is closer to 120 lb per cubic foot (about 1.6 tons per cubic yard).
Worked example
These are the calculator’s starting values and the results they produce:
| Length | 6 ft |
|---|---|
| Width | 6 ft |
| Depth | 8 in |
| Sand condition | Dry sand (≈100 lb/cu ft) |
| Bag weight | 50 lb |
| Bulk price per ton (optional) | $0.00 |
Tips before you buy
- Use washed play sand for sandboxes; it’s screened and free of silt and sharp particles.
- For paver bedding, use coarse concrete sand, not fine mason or play sand.
- A 50 lb bag of sand holds only about ½ cubic foot — bulk delivery is far cheaper for anything over about half a cubic yard.
- Line a sandbox with landscape fabric to keep sand from mixing into the soil while letting water drain.
Frequently asked questions
How much sand do I need for a 6×6 sandbox?
A 6 × 6 ft sandbox filled 8 in deep holds 24 cubic feet of sand (0.89 cubic yards). Dry, that’s about 2,400 lb — 48 bags of 50 lb.
How many bags of sand are in a ton?
Forty 50 lb bags make one US ton (2,000 lb).
How much does a cubic yard of sand weigh?
About 2,700 lb (1.35 tons) dry and around 3,200 lb (1.6 tons) damp.
How much area does a ton of sand cover?
At about 1.35 tons per cubic yard for dry sand, one ton is roughly 20 cubic feet. That covers about 240 sq ft at 1 in deep or 40 sq ft at 6 in deep.