Loan Sand Estimator
Sand is a mineral, sold by weight, and three common types differ enough in density to matter. Pick your sand, enter the area and depth — get yards for volume, tons for the scale ticket, and bags for the small jobs.
Depths that come up often: 1 in of bedding sand under pavers, 2 in for a sandbox refresh, 3–4 in for a full sandbox or a masonry mixing stockpile pad. Sand for mixing mortar or concrete is washed concrete sand; sandbox sand is washed, screened play sand — they are not interchangeable for kids or for mortar strength.
How it works
Sand math is volume × a density that depends on the sand. Cubic yards come from area × depth as usual, then tons = yards × density: 1.40 tons per yard for concrete/masonry sand, 1.35 for play sand, 1.30 for fill sand — typical published bulk densities for dry material. Bags divide the total weight into 50-lb units. Those densities are why "a yard of sand" is not a fixed weight: the same yard can legitimately scale anywhere from about 2,600 to 2,900 lb depending on type and moisture, and wet sand straight after rain sits at the heavy end.
Formula & worked example
Formula: Cubic yards = area × depth ÷ 27 as usual; tons = yards × density for the sand type — 1.40 for concrete/masonry sand, 1.35 for play sand, 1.30 for fill sand, per published bulk densities for dry material. Bags = tons × 2,000 ÷ 50.
Worked example: A 10 × 10 ft area at 2 in of concrete sand: 16.67 cu ft = 0.62 cu yd, weighing 0.86 tons — 35 fifty-pound bags. The same volume in play sand weighs 0.83 tons; density, not volume, is what the scale charges you for.
When to use this
- Bedding a paver patio or topping up jointing sand (with the Paver Estimator for counts).
- Mixing mortar or concrete and stockpiling washed sand by the ton.
- Filling or refreshing a sandbox with play sand — by the bag or the yard.
- Bedding pipe or a pool base with fill sand at a stated depth.
How to use it, step by step
- Measure the area and set the depth for the job (1 in bedding, 2–4 in sandbox).
- Choose the sand type — its density sets the tonnage.
- For jobs under ~0.3 tons, bags win; over a ton, price bulk delivery.
- Check truck payload before self-hauling: a ton is a real load.
- Order a little extra for bedding work — screeding wastes some by design.
What the inputs mean
| Input | What it is | Typical values |
|---|---|---|
| Length & width | Area to cover | Patios 10 × 10, sandboxes 4–12 ft |
| Depth | Layer thickness | 1 in bedding, 2–4 in fill |
| Sand type | Sets the density used for tons | Concrete/masonry 1.40 t/yd |
Another worked example
A proper sandbox build: 12 × 12 ft at 3 in of play sand. Volume 36 cu ft = 1.33 cu yd; at play sand's 1.35 tons per yard that is 1.80 tons — or 72 fifty-pound bags, which is why sandboxes are the classic first bulk delivery a homeowner ever books.
Frequently asked questions
How much sand do I need under a 10 × 10 ft patio?
At the standard 1-in bedding depth that is 0.31 yards — about 0.43 tons, or 18 bags. At the 2-in default shown here (a sandbox-style depth) it is 0.62 yards, 0.86 tons, 35 bags.
How many 50-lb bags are in a ton of sand?
Exactly 40 by weight — a ton is 2,000 lb. The useful question is bags per job: the default 10 × 10 ft area at 2 in of concrete sand needs 0.86 tons, which is 35 bags. Above a ton, bulk delivery almost always wins on price.
What sand goes under pavers?
Washed concrete sand for the 1-in bedding layer — its angular grains lock together. The joints on top take a different product (fine jointing or polymeric sand), which the Paver Estimator counts separately. Never use play sand for bedding: its rounded grains shift under load.
Why do densities differ by sand type?
Grain shape and grading. Concrete sand is angular and well-graded, packing tight at about 1.40 tons per yard. Play sand is rounded and uniform — looser at 1.35. Fill sand varies most; 1.30 is a fair planning figure. Moisture can add 10–15% to any of them.
How much sand does a sandbox hold?
A 12 × 12 ft sandbox filled 3 in deep takes 36 cu ft — 1.33 yards, about 1.80 tons of play sand, or 72 fifty-pound bags. That number surprises everyone exactly once.
🧩 Laying the pavers on top?
The Paver Estimator counts the pavers themselves plus the gravel base, bedding and jointing sand in one shopping list.
What is the difference between concrete sand and masonry sand?
Grain size. Concrete sand is coarser and goes into concrete mixes and paver bedding; masonry sand is finer, for mortar joints that tool cleanly. Both sit near 1.40 tons per yard — the estimator's 'concrete/masonry' type — but they are not interchangeable in the mix.
How much sand do I need to level a pool base?
About 2 in under the liner inside the wall: a 18-ft round pool is 254 sq ft, needing roughly 0.63 tons of masonry sand at 2 in — run the estimator with the pool's diameter as both length and width and multiply by 0.785 for the circle.