How to Calculate Sand Volume
Sand volume follows the same basic formula as any fill material: area times depth. Multiply length by width to get square footage, multiply by depth in feet, and you have cubic feet. Divide by 27 for cubic yards — the unit suppliers use for bulk orders. For weight, multiply cubic yards by the sand's density in pounds per cubic yard, then divide by 2,000 for tons.
Formula
Volume (cu yd) = Length (ft) × Width (ft) × Depth (in) ÷ 324
Weight (tons) = Volume (cu yd) × Density (lb/cu yd) ÷ 2,000
Weight (tons) = Volume (cu yd) × Density (lb/cu yd) ÷ 2,000
Sand is one of the heavier materials on a construction site. A cubic yard of dry concrete sand weighs about 2,800 pounds — 1.4 tons. That matters when you are calculating truck load limits, comparing delivery quotes by weight vs volume, or figuring out whether your vehicle can carry a partial load home from the supplier.
Sand Types and Recommended Depths
- Play sand — 6 to 12 inches in play areas. The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) recommends at least 9 inches of loose sand under play equipment where fall heights are 4 to 7 feet, and 12 inches for heights above that. Play sand is washed and rounded — safer for children than sharp sand.
- Mason sand / bedding sand — 1 inch as a leveling bed under pavers, flagstone, or brick. Sometimes called screened or torpedo sand. The fine, consistent particle size makes it ideal for creating a smooth, compactable base layer.
- Concrete sand — used by volume per your mix design, typically a 3:1 sand-to-cement ratio by volume for standard mixes. This is coarser and angular than mason sand, which is what gives concrete its compressive strength.
- All-purpose sand — 0.5 to 1 inch for general leveling, joint filling, or as a top dressing for lawn low spots. A general-use product without the specific grading of mason or concrete sand.
- Polymeric sand — swept into paver joints after installation. Typical joint depth is 1/8 to 3/8 inch. This is not a volume-fill application — you are filling thin linear joints, not an area. Use the calculator to estimate the surface area of your paver project and the joint depth, which is much shallower than other sand applications.
Sand Coverage Reference
- 1 ton of sand at 1 inch deep — covers approximately 160 to 200 sq ft, depending on sand type
- 1 cubic yard at 1 inch deep — covers 324 sq ft
- 1 cubic yard at 2 inches (paver base) — covers 162 sq ft — a 12 × 14 ft patio area
- 1 cubic yard at 6 inches (sandbox fill) — covers 54 sq ft — about a 7 × 8 ft sandbox
- 50 lb bag at 1 inch deep — covers approximately 8 sq ft