Sand Calculator

On average, one cubic yard of dry sand weighs approximately 2,700 pounds, which equals 1.35 short tons.

• Dry loose sand: ~2,600 to 2,800 lbs per cubic yard (1.3 to 1.4 tons).
• Damp, washed sand: ~2,700 to 3,000 lbs per cubic yard (1.35 to 1.5 tons).
• Wet, fully saturated sand: ~3,000 to 3,300 lbs per cubic yard (1.5 to 1.65 tons).

Most landscape and aggregate quarries sell sand priced by the short ton (2,000 lbs) rather than by the cubic yard.

For an interlocking brick or concrete paver patio, the standard bedding layer is exactly 1 inch thick (never exceed 1.5 inches).

• 100 sq. ft. patio (10' × 10'): Requires 0.31 cubic yards (8.33 cu ft), which equals 17 bags of 50 lb sand or ~0.42 tons.
• 300 sq. ft. patio (15' × 20'): Requires 0.93 cubic yards (25 cu ft), which equals 50 bags of 50 lb sand or ~1.25 tons.
• 1,000 sq. ft. driveway/patio: Requires 3.09 cubic yards (83.3 cu ft), which equals ~4.17 tons in bulk delivery.

Always use coarse concrete sand (ASTM C33 specification) rather than smooth mason sand for paver bedding to ensure interlock.

Washed masonry sand (also known as pool sand or mortar sand) is the only recommended sand to place beneath an above-ground swimming pool.

• Smooth, Rounded Texture: Masonry sand is finely screened to remove sharp pebbles, jagged rock fragments, and wood splinters that can puncture vinyl liners under thousands of pounds of water pressure.
• Recommended Depth: Spread a uniform 2-inch base layer across the entire pool interior, plus build a 6-inch high angled perimeter sand cove around the inside metal wall base.
• Avoid: Never use coarse builders sand, play sand with clay binders, or decomposed granite directly against a vinyl liner.

Each standard 50-pound bag of retail play sand contains exactly 0.5 cubic feet of volume. Calculate by multiplying sandbox length × width in feet, multiplied by depth in inches divided by 12, then divide by 0.5:

• 4 ft × 4 ft sandbox (6" deep): 4 × 4 × (6 ÷ 12) = 8 cu ft → Requires 16 bags (50 lbs each) (~800 lbs).
• 5 ft × 5 ft sandbox (6" deep): 5 × 5 × (6 ÷ 12) = 12.5 cu ft → Requires 25 bags (50 lbs each) (~1,250 lbs).
• 6 ft × 6 ft sandbox (6" deep): 6 × 6 × (6 ÷ 12) = 18 cu ft → Requires 36 bags (50 lbs each) (~1,800 lbs).

Always ensure you purchase sand certified as "Play Sand", which is sanitized and washed free of carcinogenic crystalline silica dust.