Everyday ToolboxSand Estimator
How much sand do I need? Whether it is a sandbox, a paver base, or leveling a lawn, enter your project's length, width, and depth below for cubic feet, cubic yards, tons, and bags — with 10% waste already included.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much sand do I need for a sandbox?
Multiply length × width × depth (in feet) to get cubic feet, then divide by 27 for cubic yards. A common 8×8 ft sandbox filled 6 inches deep needs about 35 cu ft — roughly 1.3 cubic yards, 1.8 tons, or 71 fifty-pound bags. This calculator does the math and adds 10% for settling and waste.
How many bags of sand do I need?
Divide your total cubic feet by the bag size: a 50 lb bag holds about 0.5 cu ft of sand, so you need roughly 2 bags per cubic foot. Bulk is cheaper for big jobs — once you pass about 20 bags, a bulk cubic-yard delivery usually costs less.
How much does a cubic yard of sand weigh?
About 2,600–3,000 lbs (1.3–1.5 tons), depending on moisture. Dry sand is lighter; wet sand is heavier. This calculator uses ~2,700 lbs per cubic yard for dry sand.
What is the difference between play sand and all-purpose sand?
Play sand is washed, screened, and dried for sandboxes — finer and cleaner. All-purpose sand is coarser and cheaper, fine for paver bases and general fill. Mason sand is the finest, used for mortar mixes. For a sandbox, always use labeled play sand, not all-purpose.
How deep should sand be for pavers?
About 1 inch of bedding sand under pavers, over 4–6 inches of compacted gravel base. Too much sand bedding causes pavers to shift; too little leaves them uneven. Screed it level, lay pavers, then sweep paver sand into the joints.
Is this sand estimator free?
Yes — completely free, no signup, no downloads. It runs 100% in your browser, so your answers never leave your device.