Sand Calculator
A sand calculator works out how much sand you need by multiplying your area by the depth, giving a volume in cubic yards, then converting to tons. It covers paver sand, play sand and fill sand. Enter your length, width and depth below for cubic yards, tons and cost.
depth in inches; sand density ~1.3 tons per cubic yard.
- Tons
- 0
- Estimated cost
- $0.00
Enter your dimensions to see the result.
Estimate only. Material yields and prices vary by supplier and region; confirm before ordering.
How Do You Calculate How Much Sand You Need?
To calculate sand, multiply length by width for the area, then by the depth in feet for cubic feet, and divide by 27 for cubic yards. Multiply cubic yards by about 1.3 for tons. A 20 by 20 foot area at 1 inch deep is about 33.3 cubic feet, roughly 1.23 cubic yards, or 1.6 tons. The calculator handles this and lets you add a waste allowance.
How Much Sand Do You Need Under Pavers?
A paver base typically uses a 1 inch layer of bedding sand over a compacted gravel base. So for a paver patio, set the sand depth to 1 inch in the calculator and size the gravel base separately with the gravel calculator. This thin, even sand layer is what levels and beds the pavers, so getting the depth right matters for a flat finished surface.
What Type of Sand Should You Calculate For?
Sand types differ in use but calculate the same way by volume: paver or bedding sand beds pavers, play sand fills sandboxes, and fill sand levels ground. Coverage depends on depth, not type, so the main calculator works for any sand. Just match the depth to your use, since a sandbox is much deeper than a 1 inch paver bedding layer.
Calculators in this family
Frequently asked questions
- How much sand do I need under pavers?
- Paver bedding sand is usually 1 inch deep over a gravel base. A 20 by 20 foot patio at 1 inch needs about 1.23 cubic yards, or 1.6 tons of sand.
- How many tons of sand in a cubic yard?
- One cubic yard of sand weighs about 1.3 tons. Multiply your cubic yards by 1.3 for an approximate tonnage to order.
- How much sand for a sandbox?
- A sandbox needs much more depth than paver bedding, often 6 inches or more of play sand. Set the deeper figure in the calculator for sandboxes.