Sand Calculator for Pavers and Sandboxes
Pick what the sand is for, enter the area and depth, and get the volume, weight and bag count rounded up for ordering. After switching units, re-enter your measurements.
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Formula
- Volume:
length × width × depth - Paver base: multiply by
1.10for compaction (sandbox: no change) - Order volume:
volume × (1 + waste % ÷ 100) - Weight:
cubic feet × bulk density, bags:weight ÷ bag weight, rounded up
Worked example
A 10 ft by 10 ft patio with 2 in of sand under pavers: 10 × 10 × (2 ÷ 12) = 16.667 ft³. Compaction gives 18.333 ft³, and 10% waste gives 20.167 ft³. That is 20.167 ÷ 27 = 0.747 yd³, shown as 0.75 yd³. At 100 lb/ft³ it weighs 2,016.7 lb = 1.008 tons, shown as 1.01 tons, and 2,016.7 ÷ 50 = 40.3, so 41 bags.
Assumptions
- Bulk density defaults to 100 lb/ft³ for dry sand. Damp sand is heavier.
- The 10% compaction allowance is a common rule of thumb for paver bedding and base sand.
- Tons are US short tons of 2000 lb. Metric users enter bag weight in kg.
- Volumes and weights are rounded up, and bags are rounded up to whole bags.
- This does not size the gravel sub-base under pavers.
Frequently asked questions
How much sand do I need for a paver base?
Multiply length, width and depth, add 10% because loose sand compacts, then add your waste allowance. A 10 ft by 10 ft patio with 2 in of sand is 16.67 ft3. With compaction and 10% waste that is 20.17 ft3, or 0.75 cubic yards.
How many bags of sand is that?
Divide the total weight by the bag weight and round up. In the example above, 20.17 ft3 at 100 lb/ft3 is 2,017 lb, which is 40.3 bags of 50 lb, so buy 41.
How much does a cubic yard of sand weigh?
Dry sand is roughly 100 lb/ft3, so a cubic yard (27 ft3) weighs about 2,700 lb, or 1.35 US tons. Wet sand is heavier, so raise the density if yours is damp.
How deep should the sand be in a sandbox?
Around 6 to 12 in is typical so children can dig. A 4 ft by 4 ft box at 8 in deep holds about 10.7 ft3 before waste, roughly 0.4 cubic yards.