Sand Tonnage Calculator
Convert your project’s sand needs into cubic yards, tons, or delivered cost, for concrete mixing, paver bedding, fill, or a sandbox, based on the sand type and depth you choose.
Measure straight across the widest point.
Adjust depth below if needed.
Covers spillage and compaction. 5–10% is normal.
Everything is calculated in your browser. Nothing you type is sent anywhere or stored.
Bags or bulk delivery?
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Coverage & weight
Material profile
A 20×10 ft paver bedding layer, 1 inch deep, needs about 0.62 cubic yards (0.92 tons of concrete/mason sand with a 10% waste allowance). Fill sand for grading needs far more per square foot, since it’s typically laid 4 inches deep or more.
Sand needed for common project sizes
Tons below vary by sand type and depth, matched to the job each is typically used for.
| Project | Depth | Cubic yards | Tons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paver bedding layer (20×10 ft) | 1 in | 0.62 yd³ | 0.83 tons |
| Paver patio bedding (15×15 ft) | 1 in | 0.69 yd³ | 0.92 tons |
| Backfill around a foundation (30×10 ft) | 4 in | 3.70 yd³ | 4.81 tons |
| Large grading fill (50×20 ft) | 4 in | 12.35 yd³ | 16.05 tons |
| Sandbox (6×6 ft) | 12 in | 1.33 yd³ | 1.77 tons |
| Concrete mixing sand pad (12×8 ft) | 2 in | 0.59 yd³ | 0.80 tons |
Sand types, density and typical use
| Type | Weight per yd³ | Best for | Drainage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Concrete / mason sand | 2,700 lb | Concrete mixing, bedding | Good |
| Play sand | 2,650 lb | Sandboxes, play areas | Good |
| Paver / jointing sand | 2,650 lb | Paver joints & bedding | Good |
| Fill sand | 2,600 lb | Grading, backfill | Moderate |
Figures are for dry material. Wet or freshly delivered material can weigh noticeably more.
How to calculate sand you need
- Measure the area. Length and width, or diameter, of the space you’re filling.
- Pick the right sand type. Concrete/mason sand for structural work, play sand for sandboxes, paver sand for joints, fill sand for grading.
- Set your depth. 1″ for a paver bedding layer, 4″ for fill or grading, 12″ for a sandbox.
- Add a waste factor. 10% default covers spillage, screeding waste, and compaction.
- Convert to what you're buying. Compare the ton figure against bag counts (about 50 lb each) to see which is more economical.
Worked example
The calculator’s default scenario is a 20×10 ft paver bedding layer, 1 inch deep, using concrete/mason sand.
- Area20 ft × 10 ft = 200 sq ft
- Depth in feet1 ÷ 12 = 0.083 ft
- Volume200 × 0.083 = 16.67 cu ft
- Cubic yards16.67 ÷ 27 = 0.62 yd³
- MaterialConcrete/mason sand at 2,700 lb/yd³
- Tons before waste0.62 × 2,700 ÷ 2,000 = 0.83 tons
- Order with 10% waste0.83 × 1.10 = 0.92 tons
Recommended depth by project
| Project | Recommended depth | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Project type | Depth | Notes |
| Paver / flagstone bedding layer | 1 in | Thin leveling layer under pavers or flagstone set on a compacted base |
| Sweep-in paver joint sand | 0.5 in | Thin layer swept across the surface and vibrated into joints, not poured |
| Backfill / rough grading | 4 in | Typical lift depth for filling low spots or grading a yard |
| Under-slab sand cushion | 2 in | Leveling course beneath a concrete slab, shed pad, or walkway |
| Sandbox / play area | 12 in | Standard play sand depth for digging and tunneling |
Bags or bulk delivery?
At $5.25 a bag (50 lb each), bagged sand costs about $210 per ton equivalent, versus roughly $48 per ton plus a $75 delivery fee in bulk. The crossover is about 0.46 tons (around 18 bags) — below that, bags are cheaper; above it, bulk wins.
- Small (under 0.5 tons)Bedding for a short paver walkway or joint sand top-up — bags give you better control over spillage and small batches.
- Medium (0.5–3 tons)Patio bedding, a sandbox, or a small grading job — bulk usually wins past ~18 bags, but many yards have a 1–2 ton delivery minimum.
- Large (3+ tons)Large paver patios or fill/grading jobs — bulk delivery only; ask for a dump-and-spread near the work area to cut down wheelbarrow trips.
Common mistakes
- Using the wrong sand for the job.Fill sand and mason sand aren’t interchangeable with paver or play sand — grain size and washing affect performance and safety.
- Confusing bedding sand with joint sand.Bedding sand is coarser and goes under pavers; joint sand (often polymeric) is swept into the gaps between them.
- Skipping compaction of the base beneath the sand.Screeded sand alone shifts under load; the base below it needs compacting, not the sand layer itself.
- Ordering by volume instead of tons.Suppliers sell by weight; convert cubic yards to tons using the specific sand’s density, not a generic average.
- Ignoring moisture content.Wet sand weighs more and measures differently than dry sand; order slightly conservatively if buying by the scoop or bucket.
- Not accounting for screeding waste.Screeding off excess for a level bedding layer wastes 5–10% of what you buy — the waste factor covers this.
What this calculator assumes
Adjust your result if your project differs from these.
- Density ranges 2,600–2,700 lb per cubic yard depending on the sand type selected.
- Depth entered is the finished, compacted or screeded depth.
- Waste factor defaults to 10% for spillage and screeding loss.
- Bags are assumed to be 50 lb each.
- Area is the fill footprint only, not surrounding excavation.
- Sand is assumed dry-weight density; wet sand can weigh 10–15% more.
Common questions
How much sand do I need per ton conversion?
It depends on type — 1 cubic yard of play sand is about 1.33 tons (2,650 lb/yd³), mason sand about 1.35 tons (2,700 lb/yd³).
How thick should a bedding sand layer be under pavers?
1 inch, compacted and screeded level before the pavers are laid.
What's the difference between mason sand and play sand?
Mason/concrete sand is coarser and used structurally; play sand is finer, washed extra clean, and dust-free for skin contact.
Can I use fill sand for paver bedding?
No. Fill sand is coarser and unwashed, meant for grading and backfill, not a level bedding course.
How many tons of sand fill a sandbox?
It depends on size — a 6×6 ft box at 12 inches deep needs about 1.77 tons of play sand.
Does sand weigh the same wet and dry?
No, wet sand can weigh 10–25% more than dry sand due to absorbed water, sometimes called bulking.
How much sand do I need for grading a yard?
About 16 tons of fill sand per 1,000 sq ft at a 4-inch depth.
How much does a ton of paver sand cover?
About 245 sq ft at a 1-inch bedding depth.
Should I buy sand in bags or bulk?
Bulk is cheaper above about 0.46 tons (roughly 18–19 bags) once the delivery fee is factored in.
Is fill sand the same as sand used for concrete?
No. Concrete/mason sand is washed and graded for structural mixing; fill sand is unwashed, cheaper, and meant for backfill or grading only.
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Project
| Shape | — |
| Dimensions | — |
| Depth | — |
| Area | — |
| Material | — |
| Waste allowance | — |
Volume & weight (incl. waste)
| Cubic yards | — |
| Cubic feet | — |
| Weight | — |
| Tons (rounded up) | — |
Shopping list
| Bulk order | — |
| Bagged alternative (0.5 cu ft) | — |
| Estimated cost | — |
Notes
Estimate generated by materialcalculate.com. Assumes uniform depth and standard dry material densities. Confirm quantities with your supplier before ordering.