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Sand Calculator
Calculate how much sand you need for a paver base, sandbox, or landscape fill. Get cubic yards, tons, 50 lb bags, and total cost by sand type.
Area and sand details
Sand you need
1.74 tons
1.36 cubic yards over 100 sq ft
- Area
- 9.29 sq m
- Volume
- 36.67 cu ft
- Cubic meters
- 1.04 cu m
- Weight
- 3,483 lb
- Weight (kg)
- 1,580 kg
- 50 lb bags
- 70
- Total cost
- $69.67
Frequently Asked Questions about the Sand Calculator
How deep should the sand layer be?
For paver bases, lay 1 inch of bedding sand over a compacted gravel base. Sandboxes need 6-12 inches. Volleyball courts use 12-18 inches of fine sand. Enter your target depth and the calculator returns tons, cubic yards, and 50 lb bag count.
How much does a cubic yard of sand weigh?
Fine dry sand runs about 2,565 lb (1.28 tons) per cubic yard, loose sand about 2,430 lb, paver bedding sand about 2,700 lb, and wet sand about 3,240 lb. Wet sand can weigh 25-30% more than dry.
How much area does 1 ton of sand cover?
Roughly 80-100 sq ft at 2 inches deep for typical paver sand at 100 lb per cubic foot. At 1 inch deep, 1 ton covers about 200 sq ft. Above 1 ton, bulk delivery is almost always cheaper per pound than bagged.
Which sand type should I pick?
Use paver bedding sand under interlocking pavers. Pick fine dry mason sand for sandboxes and play areas. Loose fill sand works for raised garden beds and drainage layers. Wet sand density only applies after rain or saturation.
Why does the calculator add a waste percentage?
Some sand always escapes during transport, leveling, and compaction. A 10% buffer keeps you from running short halfway through the job and forcing a second delivery, which usually costs more in delivery fees than the extra sand itself.