How to use the sand calculator
- Pick a sand type — fill sand, paver / concrete sand or play sand — since each weighs a little differently.
- Choose a shape (rectangle, circle, triangle or ring) and enter your area's dimensions.
- Enter the depth: about 1 in for paver bedding, 2–4 in for leveling, 6–12 in for a sandbox.
- Covering more than one area? Press Add another area to add them together.
- Read the result in cubic yards, tons and bags (including 50 lb bags), tick a waste allowance, and enter a price for an estimated cost.
Don't have the square footage yet? The square footage calculator can help you measure the area first.
How much sand do I need? The formula
Cubic yards = length (ft) × width (ft) × depth (ft) ÷ 27.
- Measure length and width in feet, and decide the depth in inches.
- Multiply length × width × (depth ÷ 12) to get cubic feet.
- Divide by 27 for cubic yards, then multiply by the sand's density for tons, or use the 50 lb bag count directly.
Worked example: a 12 × 10 ft patio with a 1 in paver-sand bedding layer: 12 × 10 × (1 ÷ 12) = 10 cu ft, ÷ 27 = 0.37 cubic yards, ×1.4 ton/yd³ = 0.52 tons, or about 21 bags of 50 lb sand.
Sand types and recommended depth
| Sand type | Typical density | Recommended depth | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fill sand | 1.35 tons/yd³ | 2–4 in | Leveling and backfill: 2–4 in deep. |
| Paver / concrete sand | 1.4 tons/yd³ | 1 in | Bedding layer under pavers or concrete: about 1 in deep. |
| Play sand | 1.3 tons/yd³ | 6–12 in | Sandboxes and play areas: 6–12 in deep. |
Typical, widely published values — density depends on moisture and grain size. Ask your supplier for their exact figure, especially for a paid order.
Pavers, play sand and leveling
- Under pavers: about 1 in of paver / concrete sand, screeded flat as a bedding layer (joint-filling sand between the pavers afterward is a separate, much smaller amount). The 12 × 10 ft example above needs about 0.37 cubic yards.
- Sandboxes and play areas: 6–12 in of washed play sand. A 6 × 6 ft sandbox at 8 in deep needs about 0.89 cubic yards, or 47 bags of 50 lb play sand.
- Leveling and backfill: 2–4 in of fill sand, the cheapest option when appearance doesn't matter. A 15 × 12 ft area at 2 in deep needs about 1.11 cubic yards.
Sand compacts once it's walked on, rained on or vibrated (as pavers often are), so add a 10% allowance for jobs where the finished depth matters, like paver bedding — the calculator has a checkbox for this.
Other landscaping calculators
- Laying pavers on gravel base first? Try the gravel calculator.
- Filling beds with topsoil nearby? Try the topsoil calculator.
- Topping beds with mulch? Try the mulch calculator.
- Pouring concrete instead of pavers? Try the concrete calculator.
- Just need the area, not the material? Try the square footage calculator.
Frequently asked questions
How much sand do I need?
Multiply the area in square feet by the depth in feet, then divide by 27 for cubic yards. A 12 × 10 ft patio with a 1 in paver-sand bedding layer needs 10 cubic feet, or 0.37 cubic yards. The calculator above works the same for fill, play or paver sand — just pick the type first.
How much sand do I need for pavers?
Bedding sand under pavers is usually laid about 1 in deep, screeded flat before the pavers go down (plus more for filling the joints afterward, which this calculator doesn't estimate separately). A 12 × 10 ft patio at 1 in deep needs about 0.37 cubic yards of paver / concrete sand, around 0.52 tons.
How many tons of sand do I need?
Tons = cubic yards × density. Paver sand is about 1.4 tons per cubic yard, fill sand about 1.35, and play sand about 1.3 — close to each other, but not identical, so pick the right type in the calculator before ordering a paid delivery.
How much sand do I need for a sandbox?
Play sand for a sandbox is usually 6 to 12 in deep, enough for digging without hitting the bottom. A 6 × 6 ft sandbox at 8 in deep needs about 0.89 cubic yards (24 cu ft), which is around 47 bags of 50 lb play sand.
How many 50 lb bags of sand do I need?
The calculator converts your volume straight to 50 lb bags for whichever sand type you pick, always rounded up. The sandbox example above (24 cu ft of play sand) needs 47 bags of 50 lb play sand; the same volume of denser paver sand would need slightly fewer bags, since each bag holds a bit less of the heavier material by volume.
What's the difference between paver sand, fill sand and play sand?
Paver (or concrete) sand is coarse and angular, used as a stable bedding and joint-filling layer under pavers and concrete. Fill sand is a cheaper, general-purpose sand for leveling and backfilling where drainage and stability matter more than appearance. Play sand is washed and screened to be finer and safer for sandboxes and play areas. They have similar but not identical densities, so the calculator treats them as separate options.
How much sand do I need to level a yard or patio base?
For light leveling, a 2 to 4 in layer of fill sand is common before laying pavers, sod or a shed base. A 15 × 12 ft area at 2 in deep needs about 1.11 cubic yards (1.5 tons) of fill sand.
Should I order sand by the ton or by the cubic yard?
Both describe the same amount of sand once you know the density — bulk suppliers commonly quote by the ton, though some quote by the cubic yard. Use the calculator to see both figures, and confirm the exact density with your supplier before a large or paid order, since moisture content changes the weight noticeably.
Should I add extra sand for settling?
Yes — sand compacts once it's screeded, walked on or rained on, so many pros add 10% extra, especially under pavers. Tick "Add a waste / compaction allowance" in the calculator to add that on top of the raw volume.
Is my data saved or sent anywhere?
Your measurements are saved only in your own browser, so they are there next time you open this page on the same device. Nothing is sent to our servers.