Sand Calculator
Find out exactly how much sand you need for a sandbox, paver base or fill area — bags, tons, cubic yards and cost.
Your area
6 in is typical for a sandbox; 1 in for paver bedding.
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Coverage breakdown
71 bags covers 64 sq ft at 6 in deep
Hauling & delivery
12
Wheelbarrow loads, ~3 cu ft each
Compaction planner
The short answer
An 8×8 ft sandbox filled 6 inches deep needs about 32 cubic feet of sand, roughly 1.6 tons or 71 × 50 lb bags of play sand once waste is added. Work it out precisely by finding the area, multiplying by depth in feet to get volume, adding 5–10% waste, then converting to weight using your sand’s density — around 90 to 100 lb per cubic foot depending on type.
Sand needed by area and depth
Figures below use play sand at 100 lb per cubic foot, no waste added.
| Area | Depth | Volume | Weight | 50 lb bags |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4×4 ft | 6 in | 8 cu ft | 800 lb | 16 |
| 6×6 ft | 6 in | 18 cu ft | 1,800 lb | 36 |
| 8×8 ft | 6 in | 32 cu ft | 3,200 lb | 64 |
| 10×10 ft | 6 in | 50 cu ft | 5,000 lb | 100 |
| 100 sq ft | 1 in (bedding) | 8.3 cu ft | 830 lb | 17 |
For anything over about a ton, bulk delivery by the yard or ton is almost always cheaper and easier than carrying bags.
Sand types compared
| Play sand | Paver / leveling sand | All-purpose / fill sand | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Typical density | ~100 lb/cu ft | ~95 lb/cu ft | ~90 lb/cu ft |
| Texture | Fine, washed and screened | Coarse, angular | Mixed, coarser silt content |
| Best for | Sandboxes, play areas | Paver and patio bedding | Fill, grading, backfill |
| Compaction | Not usually needed | Compacts well when tamped | Compacts, but less predictably |
How to calculate how much sand you need
Sand is priced by weight, so the calculation converts a volume into pounds or tons.
- Find the area. Length × width for a rectangle, or π × radius² for a circle.
- Convert depth to feet. Divide the depth in inches by 12.
- Find the volume. Multiply area by depth in feet to get cubic feet.
- Add waste. 5–10% covers spillage and settling.
- Convert to weight. Multiply the volume by your sand’s density — around 90 to 100 lb per cubic foot.
- Divide by bag size and round up, or order the equivalent in tons for bulk delivery.
Worked example
An 8×8 ft sandbox, filled 6 inches deep, using 50 lb bags of play sand:
- Area8 × 8 = 64 sq ft
- Depth in feet6 ÷ 12 = 0.5 ft
- Volume64 × 0.5 = 32 cu ft
- Plus 10% waste35.2 cu ft
- Weight (× 100 lb/cu ft)3,520 lb
- Divide by bag size3,520 ÷ 50 = 70.4
- Round up71 × 50 lb bags (≈1.76 tons)
Past about a ton, ask your supplier about bulk delivery — it’s usually cheaper and saves carrying 70+ bags by hand.
Filling a sandbox or laying a sand base: a quick checklist
- Clear and level the areaRemove grass, debris and roots, then level the base ground.
- Add a weed barrier if neededLandscape fabric under a sandbox helps stop weeds growing up through the sand.
- Order a little extraSand settles over time and compacts under weight — a waste allowance covers this.
- Spread in layersFor deep fills, spread and lightly compact in stages rather than dumping it all at once.
- Compact bedding sandFor paver bases, dampen and tamp the sand to remove air pockets before laying pavers.
- Screed levelDrag a straight board across the surface to leave an even, level layer.
Common mistakes
- Forgetting sand compactsA loose layer of sand settles once walked on or tamped — order a bit more than the bare minimum.
- Using the wrong sand typeFill sand isn’t washed for play areas, and play sand isn’t coarse enough for a stable paver base.
- Underestimating weight, not just volumeSand is heavy — a “small” 8×8 sandbox is still over 1.5 tons. Plan for moving it.
- Skipping the waste allowanceUneven ground and spillage during spreading both eat into your total.
- Buying bags for a bulk-sized jobPast roughly a ton, bulk delivery is usually cheaper and far less labor than dozens of bags.
- Not compacting bedding sandAn uncompacted base under pavers can settle unevenly after installation.
What this calculator assumes
Adjust your result if your project differs from these.
- Densities of roughly 100, 95 and 90 lb per cubic foot for play, paver and fill sand
- Areas treated as simple rectangles or circles at a uniform depth
- Bag weights of 50, 40 and 25 lb
- Wheelbarrow loads of about 3 cubic feet each
- A pickup truck bed holding about 2 cubic yards
- A 20% loose-to-compacted allowance shown in the compaction planner is a general guide, not a guarantee
- Prices are whatever you enter; they are not live market rates
Common questions
How much sand do I need for a sandbox?
For a standard 4×4 ft sandbox filled 6 inches deep, you need about 8 cubic feet of sand, roughly 800 lb or 16 × 50 lb bags of play sand.
How much sand do I need for paver base or leveling?
A leveling or bedding layer of sand under pavers is typically 1 inch deep, which works out to about 0.083 cubic feet per square foot, or roughly 8 lb per square foot.
What is the difference between play sand and paver sand?
Play sand is washed and screened fine sand, safe for sandboxes and free of large debris. Paver sand, also called leveling or bedding sand, is coarser and compacts better, making it suited to supporting pavers and patio stones.
How deep should a layer of paver sand be?
About 1 inch after compaction is standard for a bedding layer under pavers. Order slightly more loose sand than that, since sand settles and compacts once tamped.
How much does a ton of sand cover?
A ton of sand covers roughly 80 to 100 square feet at 2 inches deep, or about 240 square feet at a thin ½ inch bedding layer, depending on the sand’s density.
Does sand need to be compacted before use?
For structural uses like paver bases, yes — sand should be dampened and tamped to remove air gaps. Play sand for a sandbox typically doesn’t need compaction.
How much sand comes in a 50 lb bag?
A 50 lb bag of sand is typically about half a cubic foot, since most sand weighs roughly 90 to 100 lb per cubic foot.
Can I use regular sand instead of play sand?
For sandboxes, dedicated play sand is recommended since it’s washed and screened to remove dust and debris. All-purpose or fill sand can contain finer silt and isn’t intended for direct contact play.
How much sand do I need for a volleyball court?
A regulation beach volleyball court, about 26 × 52 ft, filled 12 inches deep, needs roughly 1,350 cubic feet of sand, around 50 to 60 tons.
Is it cheaper to buy sand in bulk or in bags?
Bulk sand by the ton is almost always cheaper per pound for larger projects, often half the cost of bagged sand or less. Bags are more convenient for small areas or when delivery access is limited.
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Sand Estimate
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materialcalculate.com/tools/sand-calculator-bags-tons-cost-for-any-area/
Project
| Area shape | — |
| Dimensions | — |
| Depth | — |
| Sand type | — |
| Waste allowance | — |
Volume & weight
| Volume | — |
| Weight | — |
| Tons | — |
Total shopping list
| 50 lb bags | — |
| 40 lb bags | — |
| 25 lb bags | — |
| Estimated cost | — |
Notes
Estimate generated by materialcalculate.com. Assumes rectangular or circular areas at uniform depth, and sand densities of roughly 90 to 100 lb per cubic foot depending on type. Confirm quantities with your supplier before buying.