Sand Calculator

Enter the area and depth and get cubic yards, cubic feet, cubic metres, tons and bag counts.

Sand weighs roughly 1.35 tons per cubic yard, so bulk orders add up quickly.

How to use the sand calculator

Why use the Build Tally sand calculator

Which sand for which job

Bedding sand under pavers should be coarse and angular — usually sold as concrete sand or sharp sand — because it locks together and resists rutting. Play sand is washed, screened and finer, and is the wrong choice under pavers because it shifts. Polymeric sand goes in the joints between pavers after laying, not underneath, and is sold separately by the bag.

Depth for a paver bedding layer

One inch of bedding sand is the standard, screeded flat over a compacted gravel base. It is tempting to use more to smooth out an uneven base, but a thick sand layer will settle and the pavers will follow it — the fix for an uneven base is more compaction, not more sand. A one inch bedding layer over 100 square feet takes about 0.31 cubic yards.

Bulk versus bags

A 50 lb bag holds roughly half a cubic foot, so a cubic yard takes about 54 bags. Bulk becomes worthwhile from about half a yard upward once delivery is factored in. For a sandbox, bagged play sand is usually simpler and guarantees the sand is washed and screened.

Read the guide: How Much Gravel Do I Need? Tons, Cubic Yards and the Right Depth