Sand Calculator — How Much Sand Do I Need?
Calculate tons, cubic yards, and delivered cost to your ZIP.
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3. Enter Dimensions
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Enter your dimensions on the left to see your recommended order quantity for the selected product.
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Sand comes in several grades, each for a different job — mason sand for mortar and paver bedding, fill sand for grading, concrete sand for structural mixes. Enter your dimensions to find the exact tons or cubic yards.
How to use this sand calculator
- 1
Pick the right sand
Mason sand for paver bedding, mortar, sandboxes. Concrete sand for concrete mixes and pipe bedding. Fill sand for grading and backfill. White and beach sand for decorative and recreation areas.
- 2
Measure your area
Length × Width in feet. For paver bedding, the area equals the paver footprint. For a sandbox, the inside dimensions of the box.
- 3
Set the depth
Paver bedding: 1 inch. Sandboxes: 6–12 inches. Fill: as needed (often 4–24 inches in lifts). Pipe bedding: 4–6 inches under and over the pipe.
- 4
Get the delivered price
Florida ZIPs return a live delivered price. Outside Florida the sizing still works — request a quote.
How the math works
Volume in cubic yards equals Length × Width × Depth ÷ 27, with depth converted from inches to feet by dividing by 12.
Sand densities are roughly 1.2–1.4 tons per cubic yard depending on grade and moisture. Mason sand is typically 1.3 tons/yd³. Most sand is sold by the ton at the scale.
The calculator applies the product-specific buffer (often 15–25% for sand because of settling and screed waste) and rounds up to a whole ton.
How much does sand cover?
Quick reference for how much area one ton and one cubic yard cover at common depths.
| Depth | 1 ton covers | 1 cubic yard covers |
|---|---|---|
| 1" | 249 sq ft | 324 sq ft |
| 2" | 125 sq ft | 162 sq ft |
| 3" | 83 sq ft | 108 sq ft |
| 4" | 62 sq ft | 81 sq ft |
| 6" | 42 sq ft | 54 sq ft |
| 12" | 21 sq ft | 27 sq ft |
Assumes a density of about 1.3 tons per cubic yard, typical for mason and concrete sand. Wet or compacted sand covers slightly less per ton.
Typical quantities by project
| Project | Depth | Area | Estimate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paver patio 400 sq ft | 1" | 400 sq ft | ~1.3 cubic yards |
| Sandbox 6 ft × 6 ft | 8" | 36 sq ft | ~1 cubic yard |
| Volleyball court 30 ft × 60 ft | 8" | 1,800 sq ft | ~45 cubic yards |
| Pipe bedding trench 50 ft × 2 ft | 6" | 100 sq ft | ~2 cubic yards |
| Low-spot fill 500 sq ft | 4" | 500 sq ft | ~6.2 cubic yards |
Which size should you use?
The right sand depends on what you are building. Grain size and washing matter more than color.
Mason sand (0.1–0.5 mm)
Mortar, paver and flagstone bedding, stucco, sandboxes. ASTM C144.
Concrete sand (up to 4.75 mm)
Concrete mixes, pipe bedding, base material under slabs. ASTM C33.
Fill sand
Grading, backfill behind walls, low-spot fill, general site prep.
Beach sand
Volleyball courts, decorative pool areas, water filtration, playgrounds.
White sand
Decorative landscaping, golf bunkers, white-themed beach areas.
Common ordering mistakes
From real deliveries — these are the mistakes we see most often. Avoiding any one of them saves a callback order.
Wrong sand for the job
Mason sand is too fine for concrete; concrete sand is too coarse for mortar. Using the wrong grade leads to weak joints, lumpy beds, or stucco that cracks. Check the use case before ordering.
Paver bedding too thick
A paver setting bed should be 1 inch — not 2 or 3. Thicker beds let pavers shift, twist, and sink unevenly. Order for 1 inch over the entire paver footprint.
Forgetting the settling buffer for sandboxes
Play sand settles 20–25% in the first month. A sandbox that looked full on install will look half-empty by week four. Order 20% extra and top off at the start.
Buying bagged sand for bulk jobs
Bagged sand from a hardware store costs 4–6× more per ton than bulk delivery. For anything over 1 ton, bulk delivery is the obvious choice.
Untreated sand in concrete mixes
Beach sand or unwashed sand carries salt and organic matter that weakens concrete. Use washed concrete sand for any structural mix.
Ignoring drainage
Sand on top of impermeable clay traps water. Under pavers, install a 4-inch crushed stone base for drainage before the 1-inch sand setting bed. Skipping the base causes heaving.
Frequently asked questions
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