Sand Calculator
Estimate how much sand you need for a sandbox, paver base or fill, in cubic yards and tons.
Sand needed
0.74 cubic yards
- US tons
- 0.97 tons
- Cubic feet
- 20.0 ft³
- Area covered
- 120.0 sq ft
You need about 0.74 cubic yards of dry sand, which weighs about 0.97 US tons, to cover 120 sq ft at 2 in deep.
Calculation breakdown
| Step | Formula | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Area | 10 × 12 | 120.00 sq ft |
| Depth in feet | 2 in ÷ 12 | 0.1667 ft |
| Volume | 120 × 0.1667 | 20.00 ft³ |
| Cubic yards | 20 ÷ 27 | 0.74 yd³ |
| Weight | 0.74 yd³ × 1.31 tons/yd³ | 0.97 tons |
How it works
Enter the area and depth of the sand layer. Choose dry or wet sand in the material list, and add a price per ton to see the cost.
Worked example
A 10 ft by 10 ft area covered with 3 inches of dry sand:
- Volume: 10 × 10 × (3 ÷ 12) = 25 cubic feet
- Cubic yards: 25 ÷ 27 = 0.93 cubic yards
- Weight: 25 × 97 = 2,425 lb = 1.21 US tons
Rounding
Quantities are shown to two decimal places. Round up when you order.
Sources
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate how much sand I need?
Multiply the length, width and depth, all in feet, to get cubic feet, then divide by 27 to get cubic yards. A 10 ft by 10 ft area covered 3 inches deep is 25 cubic feet, or about 0.93 cubic yards. Multiply by the weight per cubic yard to get tons.
How much does a cubic yard of sand weigh?
Using Engineering ToolBox figures, dry sand weighs about 97 pounds per cubic foot, which is about 1.31 tons per cubic yard. Wet sand weighs about 119 pounds per cubic foot, or about 1.61 tons per cubic yard. Suppliers weigh their own sand, so use their figure when you order.
Does wet sand weigh more than dry sand?
Yes, because water fills the gaps between the grains. The calculator lets you choose dry or wet sand. Sand delivered from a stockpile is often damp, so the true weight is usually between the two.
How much sand do I need for pavers?
Pavers sit on a layer of bedding sand over the compacted base, and the thickness comes from the paver maker's instructions. Enter the area and that thickness here. The paver base calculator on this site covers the base layer under the sand.
How many bags of sand are in a cubic yard?
A cubic yard is 27 cubic feet, so it equals 27 one-cubic-foot bags or about 54 half-cubic-foot bags. Bag sizes vary, so check the label. The calculator shows cubic feet so you can divide by the bag size.
Estimates only. Bulk density varies by supplier and moisture, so confirm tons per cubic yard before you order.