Sand goes under pavers, into concrete and mortar, into sandboxes and onto lawns. It is sold by the bag, the cubic yard or the ton, and its weight depends heavily on moisture: damp sand can be 20% heavier than dry sand. This calculator estimates the volume and weight for rectangular, round and triangular areas and prices the order.
How to use the Sand Calculator
- Material
- Custom density
- Area shape
- Length (or diameter)
- Width
- Depth
- Extra for waste and compaction
- Priced by
- Price per weight
- Price per volume
- Every result field is editable: type into Volume needed or any other result and Depth plus every other field update to match.
Results update as you type, and every field accepts the units shown in its menu.
How it works
The calculator finds the area of your rectangle, circle or triangle, multiplies it by the depth and adds the waste allowance to get the volume. Multiplying by the density of the chosen material gives the weight, and the price you enter turns either one into a cost.
Densities used
| Material | kg/m³ | lb/ft³ | US tons per yd³ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sand, dry | 1,602 | 100.0 | 1.35 |
| Sand, wet | 1,922 | 120.0 | 1.62 |
| Mason / play sand | 1,550 | 96.8 | 1.31 |
| Concrete sand | 1,650 | 103.0 | 1.39 |
| Sand with gravel, dry | 1,650 | 103.0 | 1.39 |
| Sand with gravel, wet | 2,020 | 126.1 | 1.70 |
Typical sand depths
| Job | Depth |
|---|---|
| Paver bedding | 1 in (25 mm) |
| Sandbox | 6–12 in |
| Under an above-ground pool | 2 in |
| Lawn top-dressing | ¼–½ in |
| Pipe bedding | 4–6 in |
Good to know
A U.S. (short) ton is 2,000 lb; a metric tonne is 1,000 kg (2,204.6 lb). Quarries in the U.S. sell by the short ton, so check which one your quote uses.
Tips for an accurate estimate
- Sketch the job and split irregular areas into rectangles, circles and triangles before you measure.
- Add a waste allowance – typically 5–10% for simple layouts and 15–20% for diagonal, curved or heavily cut work.
- Check the coverage or yield printed on the product, because sizes and densities vary between manufacturers.
- Buy all units of a finished material (tile, brick, siding) from the same batch so colours match, and keep a few spares for repairs.
- Confirm local prices – quarry, lumber and steel prices vary widely by region and season.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Ordering exactly the calculated amount with no allowance for breakage, offcuts and settlement.
- Forgetting to subtract doors, windows and other openings – or subtracting small ones that still need cutting around.
- Confusing US short tons (2,000 lb) with metric tonnes (1,000 kg) when comparing quotes.
Inputs explained
| Field | What to enter |
|---|---|
| Material | Choose one: Sand, dry, Sand, wet, Mason / play sand, Concrete sand … |
| Custom density | Units: kg/m³, lb/ft³, g/cm³, lb/yd³ |
| Area shape | Choose one: Rectangle / square, Circle (length = diameter), Triangle (length = base, width = height) |
| Length (or diameter) | Units: ft, m, in, yd, cm |
| Width | Units: ft, m, in, yd, cm |
| Depth | Units: in, cm, mm, ft, m |
| Extra for waste and compaction | In % |
| Priced by | Choose one: Weight (per ton / tonne), Volume (per yd³ / m³) |
| Price per weight | Units: /US ton, /t, /lb, /kg |
| Price per volume | Units: /yd³, /m³, /ft³ |
Formula
Volume = area × depth × (1 + waste)Weight = volume × densityCost = weight × price per ton (or volume × price per yd³)Worked example
Inputs — Material: Sand, dry; Custom density: 1,600 kg/m³; Area shape: Rectangle / square; Length (or diameter): 10 ft; Width: 8 ft; Depth: 2 in; Extra for waste and compaction: 10 %; Priced by: Weight (per ton / tonne); Price per weight: $45 /US ton; Price per volume: $60 /yd³.
Results — Area = 80 ft²; Volume needed = 0.543 yd³; Weight needed = 0.733 US ton; Estimated cost = $33.00.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cubic yard of sand weigh?
About 2,700 lb (1.35 US tons) when dry and up to 3,200 lb when wet.
How much sand do I need under pavers?
A 1-in (25 mm) screeded bedding layer is standard over 4–6 in of compacted gravel.
How many bags of play sand fill a sandbox?
A 50 lb bag is about 0.5 ft³; a 4 × 4 ft box filled 6 in deep needs 8 ft³, about 16 bags.
What is the difference between concrete sand and mason sand?
Concrete sand is coarser and used in concrete and paver bedding; mason sand is finer and screened for mortar and play sand.
What formula does the Sand Calculator use?
Volume = area × depth × (1 + waste).