Choose your project and sand type, enter the area, and get tons, cubic yards and bags of sand.
Extra for compaction and cost
Weights are typical for dry, loose material. Your supplier's figure may differ slightly.
Types of sand
Sand is sold under different names for different jobs. Using the right one matters more than you might think.
| Sand | What it’s like | Weight per cubic yard | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| All-purpose or concrete sand | Coarse, sharp grains | about 1.35 tons | Paver bedding, mixing concrete, drainage |
| Masonry sand | Fine, even grains | about 1.30 tons | Mortar, and a soft finish for some play areas |
| Play sand | Washed and screened fine sand | about 1.30 tons | Sandboxes |
| Fill sand | Unwashed, mixed grain sizes | about 1.40 tons | Filling and leveling, around pipes, under pools |
How deep should sand be?
| Project | Typical depth | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Paver bedding layer | 1 in | Coarse sand, screeded flat on a compacted stone base |
| Leveling base (pool, shed, slab) | 2 in | Spread, level and compact before building on it |
| Sandbox | 6 in or more | Deeper sand is better for digging |
For pavers, the sand is only the thin top layer. The strength comes from the compacted stone base underneath, which you can work out with the crushed stone calculator.
Worked example
A 10 ft × 12 ft paver patio, with a 1 inch sand bedding layer:
- 10 × 12 = 120 square feet
- 120 × 1 ÷ 12 = 10 cubic feet, or 0.37 cubic yards
- With 10 percent extra: 0.41 cubic yards
- 0.41 × 1.35 = about 0.55 tons, or 22 bags of 0.5 cubic feet
Bags of sand
A 50 lb bag of sand is about 0.5 cubic feet. That means 54 bags make one cubic yard and 40 bags make one ton. For a sandbox or a single paver walkway, bags are handy. For a patio base or a pool, a bulk load is usually cheaper.
Sand also gets much heavier when it’s wet. A damp load can weigh noticeably more per cubic yard than the dry figures in the table above.
How far does a cubic yard of sand go?
| Depth | 1 cubic yard covers |
|---|---|
| 1 in | 324 sq ft |
| 2 in | 162 sq ft |
| 6 in | 54 sq ft |
Frequently asked questions
How much sand do I need for pavers?
For a standard 1 inch bedding layer, one cubic yard covers about 324 square feet. Joint sand between the pavers is extra; check the coverage printed on the bag, because it depends on the joint width.
How many bags of sand are in a ton?
About 40 bags of 50 lb each.
How much does a cubic yard of sand weigh?
Dry sand weighs about 1.3 to 1.4 tons per cubic yard. Wet sand is heavier.
How much sand do I need for a 5 × 5 sandbox?
At 6 inches deep, a 5 ft × 5 ft sandbox holds 12.5 cubic feet of sand. With 10 percent extra, that’s about 28 bags of 50 lb, or about 0.65 tons.
Can I use play sand under pavers?
It’s not ideal. Play sand is very fine and round, so it doesn’t lock together. Coarse concrete sand makes a firmer bedding layer.
Results are estimates for planning. Weights are typical for dry, loose material. See How We Calculate for the formulas and values we use.