Sand Calculator
Estimate how much sand your project needs. Enter the area and depth to get cubic yards, tons and an optional cost.
Picks a typical depth & material — tweak anything below.
For a 20 × 10 feet area at 2 in deep, order about 1.36 cubic yards (1.83 US tons) of sand.
All units & details ▾
- Coverage area
- 200 ft²
- Cubic feet
- 36.7 ft³
- Cubic meters
- 1.04 m³
- Metric tons
- 1.66 t
- Total weight
- 3,662 lb
- Density used
- 1,600 kg/m³
Estimates only. Densities vary by moisture, compaction and supplier — confirm quantities before ordering.
What is sand?
Sand is fine granular material with grains from about 0.06 to 2 mm. Common landscaping and construction types include sharp/concrete sand, masonry sand, and paver (bedding) sand.
What is sand used for?
Used as a bedding layer under pavers, for filling paver joints, in concrete and mortar mixes, in sandboxes, and for leveling. Different jobs call for different sands — paver bases use sharp/concrete sand, joints use fine sand.
How much does sand weigh?
A cubic yard of sand weighs about 1.35 US tons — roughly 1600 kg/m³, or about 100 lb/ft³. Moisture and compaction shift this, so the calculator applies this density and lets you change it in the extra options if your supplier quotes a different figure.
Coverage by depth
| Depth | Coverage per ton | Coverage per cubic yard |
|---|---|---|
| 1 inch | ~240 sq ft | 324 sq ft |
| 2 inches | ~120 sq ft | 162 sq ft |
| 3 inches | ~80 sq ft | 108 sq ft |
| 4 inches | ~60 sq ft | 81 sq ft |
| 6 inches | ~40 sq ft | 54 sq ft |
Based on about 1600 kg/m³. Actual coverage varies with compaction and moisture.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Guessing the depth. Too shallow and the material shifts and shows the ground beneath. Most surface layers want 2–4 inches; load-bearing bases are built up thicker.
- Forgetting to convert inches to feet. Depth is quoted in inches but volume math is in feet — 4 inches is 0.33 ft, not 4. The calculator handles this, but hand estimates often don't.
- Skipping the waste allowance. Ground is never perfectly flat and material settles once it's placed. Order 5–10% extra so a small shortfall doesn't trigger a second delivery.
- Using the wrong density. Each material weighs differently, so tonnage can be off by 20%+ if you use a generic figure. Pick the right material and adjust the density if your supplier differs.
- Buying bags for a big job. Bagged material costs far more per cubic yard than bulk. Past roughly one cubic yard, a bulk delivery is almost always cheaper.
Frequently asked questions
How much sand for a paver base?+
A 1-inch sand bedding layer over a compacted road-base sub-base is standard. Enter your paver area and 1 inch of depth to get the sand amount; order a little extra for screeding.
How much does a yard of sand weigh?+
Dry sand runs roughly 1.2–1.4 tons per cubic yard; wet sand is heavier. The calculator uses a typical dry-sand density you can adjust in the options.