Sand Calculator
A sand calculator turns length × width × depth into cubic yards (÷ 27), then tons at 1.35 t/yd³. An 8 × 6 ft sandbox filled 12 in deep needs 2.40 tons.
What your order looks like
One bulk delivery is usually easier than hauling it yourself.
1.78 yd³ · 2.4 tons
24 wheelbarrow trips (2 cu ft each)
4 pickup loads (0.75 ton each)
1 small dump truck load (6 tons each)
Rules of thumb: A wheelbarrow trip is 2 cubic feet of heavy material, about 200 lb, a load most people can push. A pickup load is 0.75 ton, the payload of a full-size half-ton pickup (1,500 lb). A small single-axle dump truck carries about 6 tons.
Sand calculator: tons from length, width, and depth
To use a sand calculator, find the volume of the space in cubic yards, then multiply by sand’s weight per cubic yard. This calculator uses 1.35 tons per cubic yard. An 8 × 6 ft sandbox filled 12 inches deep is 1.78 yd³, which is 2.40 tons.
Sand is usually sold by the ton at yards and quarries, with bags for small jobs. The tonnage figure is the number to quote when you call a supplier.
The formula in plain words
Think of the space as a shallow tray. Multiply the three sides to find how many cubic feet of sand fill it. Twenty-seven of those cubes make one yard. Then weigh each yard.
- Depth in feet = inches ÷ 12
- Cubic yards = length × width × depth in feet ÷ 27
- Tons = cubic yards × 1.35
- With waste = tons × 1.10 when the box is checked
- Cost = tons × price per ton
Unlike bagged goods, tons are not rounded to a whole number.
Worked examples
- Sandbox, 8 ft × 6 ft, 12 in deep, $40 per ton
- Volume: 8 × 6 × 1.0 = 48 ft³ = 1.78 yd³
- Tons: 1.78 × 1.35 = 2.40 tons, or $96.00
- With 10% extra: 2.64 tons, or $105.60
- Leveling bed under a 10 ft × 10 ft shed, 2 in deep
- Volume: 10 × 10 × (2 ÷ 12) = 16.7 ft³ = 0.617 yd³
- Tons: 0.617 × 1.35 = 0.83 tons, about $33.33
- With waste: 0.92 tons
Example 2 is under a single ton. At that size, you may pay a delivery or small-load fee that outweighs the sand itself, so compare to bagged prices before ordering.
Coverage per ton
One ton is 20 cubic feet at this density.
| Depth | Area covered per ton | Tons for 100 sq ft |
|---|---|---|
| 2 in | ~120 sq ft | 0.83 |
| 4 in | ~60 sq ft | 1.67 |
| 6 in | ~40 sq ft | 2.50 |
| 12 in | ~20 sq ft | 5.00 |
| 18 in | ~13 sq ft | 7.50 |
Types of sand and what they are for
| Sand | Typical use |
|---|---|
| Play sand | Sandboxes and playgrounds, washed and screened |
| Masonry sand | Mortar mixes and fine joint filling, finer grains |
| Paver sand | 1-inch bedding layer beneath pavers |
| Fill sand | Leveling, backfill, and base build-up |
The same 1.35 t/yd³ figure applies to all of them, so pick the sand that suits the job.
How to measure your area
- Sandbox: Use the inside dimensions of the frame, because you are filling the interior only.
- Round spaces: Estimate the diameter and treat it as a square slightly larger than the circle, or split it into pieces.
- Uneven ground: Measure depth at several spots and average them.
- Settling: Fresh sand compacts when wet and walked on. A bit of overfill helps.
Common mistakes
- Forgetting the bag alternative. A ton is 2,000 lb, which is 40 bags of 50 lb. That is too many bags to fill a sandbox.
- Picking the wrong sand. Fill sand holds dirt and fines that make a poor play surface.
- Skipping the liner. Without landscape fabric, sand mixes with the soil below and vanishes over time.
- Measuring depth in the wrong unit. The depth field takes inches, not feet.
- Not covering a play area. A cover keeps animals out and rain from compacting the surface.
Buying sand by the bag instead
At 1.35 tons per cubic yard, sand weighs 2,700 lb per yd³, which is 100 lb per ft³. A 50 lb bag therefore holds about 0.5 ft³.
The 8 × 6 ft sandbox needs 48 ft³, so bagged sand would take 48 ÷ 0.5 = 96 bags. Hauling and lifting 4,800 lb in 50 lb bags is a big job. For anything past a few bags, bulk delivery or a pickup-truck load from a yard is the usual route.
Related calculators
For the bedding layer under pavers, use the paver sand calculator. To price a delivered load, try the sand cost calculator, and for fill beds that need nutrients the topsoil calculator works from the same geometry.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cubic yard of sand weigh?
This calculator uses 1.35 tons (2,700 lb) per cubic yard, slightly less than gravel because sand packs a bit less densely. Wet sand is noticeably heavier, so your supplier's scale ticket is the real number.
How much sand do I need for a sandbox?
A 12-inch fill is a common depth for a play sandbox, enough to dig without hitting the bottom. An 8 × 6 ft box at 12 inches is 1.78 yd³, or 2.40 tons, and 2.64 tons with the 10% allowance. A shallower 6-inch fill halves that.
What's the difference between this and the paver sand calculator?
This calculator is for bulk fill sand such as sandboxes, fill, and leveling. The paver sand calculator defaults to the thin 1-inch bedding layer under pavers. The density is the same, so only the depth differs.
Can I use this for play sand and fill sand?
Yes, both use roughly the same density, so the tonnage is close. Adjust the depth field to match your project. Play sand is usually washed and screened, so buy it by that name for a sandbox rather than the cheapest fill.
How many square feet does one ton of sand cover?
At 1.35 tons per cubic yard, a ton is 20 cubic feet. That covers about 120 sq ft at 2 inches deep, 60 sq ft at 4 inches, 40 sq ft at 6 inches, and 20 sq ft at 12 inches, before any waste allowance.
Estimates only. Verify quantities with your supplier before purchasing.