Sand Calculator
Calculate how much sand you need in cubic yards, tons and 50 lb bags — for paver bedding, sandboxes, fill, or concrete mixing — with a cost estimate built in.
1″ for paver bedding, 6″ for sandboxes
Typical bulk sand: $25–$60 per ton delivered
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Enter a price per ton to estimate cost.
You might also need:Paver Calculator·Gravel Calculator
How to calculate sand
Like all bulk materials, sand quantities come from a simple volume calculation, converted to the units suppliers sell in:
tons = cubic yards × density · 50 lb bags = total lb ÷ 50
A 10 × 10 ft paver patio with a 1-inch bedding layer needs 8.3 cubic feet — about 0.31 cubic yards or 0.42 tons of concrete sand. If you're also laying a gravel base, run the numbers in our gravel calculator.
Sand weight chart
| Sand type | Per cubic yard | Per cubic foot |
|---|---|---|
| Dry sand | 2,700 lb (1.35 t) | 100 lb |
| Concrete (sharp) sand | 2,900 lb (1.45 t) | 107 lb |
| Mason sand | 2,800 lb (1.4 t) | 104 lb |
| Play sand (washed) | 2,600 lb (1.3 t) | 96 lb |
| Wet sand | 3,200 lb (1.6 t) | 119 lb |
Buying tips
- Moisture matters: sand sold by the ton after rain contains paid-for water weight. Buying by the yard avoids the issue.
- Don't over-bed pavers: more than 1 inch of bedding sand will settle unevenly. Screed it flat and don't compact the sand itself.
- Polymeric sand is different: it's a jointing product for the gaps between pavers, sold in bags — typically one 50 lb bag per 50–100 sq ft depending on joint width.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cubic yard of sand weigh?+
Dry sand weighs about 2,700 lb (1.35 tons) per cubic yard. Damp sand is heavier at around 3,200 lb (1.6 tons) per cubic yard, and washed masonry sand sits in between. Always use the density that matches how your supplier sells it.
How many 50 lb bags of sand are in a yard?+
About 54 bags of 50 lb sand equal one cubic yard (2,700 lb dry weight). At that quantity, bulk delivery is far cheaper — bags only make sense for jobs under a quarter yard.
How much sand do I need under pavers?+
Use a 1-inch bedding layer of concrete (sharp) sand under pavers — no more. Thicker sand layers shift and create ruts. The compacted gravel base below does the structural work; see our paver calculator for the full build-up.
What kind of sand should I use for a sandbox?+
Buy washed play sand, which is screened and rinsed of dust and clay. A typical 4 × 4 ft sandbox filled 6 inches deep needs 8 cubic feet — about sixteen 50 lb bags.
What is the difference between concrete sand and mason sand?+
Concrete sand is coarser and angular — ideal for paver bedding and mixing concrete. Mason sand is finer and more uniform, used for mortar, sandboxes and smoothing surfaces. They weigh roughly the same per yard.