Calculate sand for paver bedding, leveling, play areas or mixing, in cubic yards, tons and bags.
Quick answer: Sand is sold by volume or weight, and a cubic yard of typical sand weighs about 1.35 tons. A 144 sq ft patio with 1 inch of bedding sand needs 144 × 0.083 = 12 cubic feet, which is 0.44 cubic yards, about 0.6 tons and roughly 24 bags of 50 lb sand.
ft
ft
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Typical depth for sand: 2 in.
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$
Delivered bulk prices vary widely by region and haul distance — call two suppliers.
Volume needed
1.30 cu yd
35.0 cu ft · 0.99 m³
Weight
1.75 tons
3,500 lb — check your vehicle or delivery limits
How to buy it
Bulk (delivered)1.30 cu yd — $59
Bags (50 lb bags)70 bags
Area covered200 sq ft at 2.0 in deep
A cubic yard covers 324 sq ft at 1 in deep, so a quick check is: sq ft ÷ 324 × depth in inches = cubic yards. Ask the yard whether they sell by volume or by weight — wet material weighs more but covers the same.
Use sharp or masonry sand for paver base, play sand for sandboxes. Bulk delivery is almost always cheaper than bags once you pass about one cubic yard.
Core facts
Weight per cubic yard
about 1.35 tons when damp
Paver bedding layer
1 in, screeded flat
50 lb bag
roughly 0.5 cu ft
Play sand depth
at least 6 in in a sandbox, typical
What is Sand Calculator?
Sand covers a wide range of jobs, and they do not all use the same product. Paver bedding sand is coarse and angular, screeded an inch thick under the pavers. Concrete sand is washed and graded for mixing. Masonry sand is finer and blends into mortar. Play sand is washed, rounded and screened for children's sandboxes. All of them are sold by the cubic yard or in 50 lb bags, and all weigh around 1.35 tons per cubic yard when damp. The estimate is always area times depth, so the useful question is not how much sand but which sand and how deep.
Common uses for Sand Calculator
Order bedding sand for a paver patio or walkway
Estimate fill for a child's sandbox at safe depth
Work out sand for a leveling layer under a shed base
Convert square footage into 50 lb bags of sand
Calculate sand for mixing mortar or concrete on site
Pick the product before you pick the volume
Sand is a category, not a single material. Bedding sand, masonry sand, concrete sand, play sand and polymeric sand behave differently and are not interchangeable. Getting the volume right for the wrong product wastes a weekend. Decide what the sand has to do first, then work out depth and area, and only then calculate cubic yards or bags to order.
Bedding sand under pavers
The bedding layer is the leveling course that pavers sit on, usually one inch thick and screeded flat with a straight edge. Deeper than that and it compacts unevenly, which shows up as a rippled patio within a season. You also need a compacted gravel base below it, commonly 4 inches for a footpath and 6 inches or more under a driveway.
Sand, drainage and long-term behavior
Sand drains fast, which is exactly why it is the standard bedding material. That same quality means it will not hold water or nutrients, so it is a poor growing medium on its own and a poor choice for filling low spots in a lawn. In a sandbox, keep it covered, and in pavement joints expect to top it up every few years as it settles.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a cubic yard of sand weigh?
About 1.35 tons, or roughly 2,700 lb, when damp. Dry sand is lighter and saturated sand heavier, so a load delivered after rain can weigh noticeably more. That matters for trailer capacity and for suppliers who price by weight rather than by volume. Ask which measure they use before you order.
What kind of sand goes under pavers?
Concrete or paver bedding sand: coarse, angular and free of fines so it locks together when compacted. Masonry sand is too fine and holds water, and play sand is too round, so pavers shift on it. Spread bedding sand an inch thick, screed it flat, and keep off it before laying.
How deep should sand be in a sandbox?
Six inches is a reasonable minimum for toddlers, and nine to twelve inches gives older children room to dig properly. A 4 by 4 ft box filled 6 inches deep needs about 8 cubic feet of sand, which is roughly 16 bags of 50 lb or a third of a cubic yard. Cover it when not in use.
Is polymeric sand the same as regular sand?
No. Polymeric sand is swept into the joints between pavers and then watered so it sets and locks them in place. It goes on top of a compacted bedding sand layer, not instead of it, and the coverage per bag is printed on the bag because joint width and paver size change it a great deal.
Can I use beach sand for a sandbox?
It is best avoided. Beach sand is usually too fine, contains salt and organic matter, and compacts into a hard surface rather than staying loose. Washed play sand is screened for dust and contaminants and is the right product for anything children will use. The cost difference for one sandbox is small.