Sand Calculator
Enter your dimensions for an instant answer — the exact quantity to buy (waste included), a material cost, and an estimated installed cost. Change any figure to update the result live.
| ITEM | QTY | PRICE RANGE |
|---|---|---|
| tons | 0.88 | $26.4–$48.4 |
| Estimated material total | $26.4–$48.4 |
- 0.65 × cubic yards — $18.2–$32.5
How much sand do I need?
Measure the length and width of the area in feet, then pick the depth: 1 inch is standard for a paver sand bedding layer, about 2 inches for a pool sand base under a liner, and 2–4 inches for fill or leveling. The calculator multiplies area by depth, converts the volume, and shows the answer in both cubic yards and tons — bulk sand is sold either way.
As a rule of thumb, one cubic yard of sand weighs about 1.35 tons and covers roughly 320 square feet at 1 inch deep. Jointing sand is different: polymeric sand comes in bags, and one 50 lb bag typically fills the joints across 50–100 square feet of pavers depending on joint width.
Formula & methodology
tons = (length ft × width ft × depth in ÷ 12) ÷ 27 × 1.35, + 5% waste
We compute the exact volume from your dimensions, add a 5% waste allowance for spillage and settling, convert cubic yards to tons at 1.35 tons per cubic yard (typical for dry construction sand), and round up to what you can actually buy.
All constants are published on the material reference; the full model is on the methodology page.
200 sq ft, 1 in deep: you need 0.83 tons (buy 0.88 with waste), about $26.4–$48.4 in materials. See how we calculate this →
Popular sizes
Sand cost
Bulk sand runs $30–$55 per ton nationally; delivered-and-spread pricing varies by state.
sand cost by state →Frequently asked questions
How much sand do I need?
Multiply length × width × depth (in feet) for cubic feet, divide by 27 for cubic yards, and multiply by 1.35 for tons. A 200 sq ft area at 1 inch deep needs about 0.62 cubic yards — the calculator above does the math and adds 5% waste.
How much sand for a paver base?
A 1-inch bedding layer of sand under pavers takes about 0.5 cubic yards per 160 square feet.
How much sand for a pool base?
A 2-inch screeded layer is typical under an above-ground pool liner. For a 15-foot round pool (about 177 sq ft) that is roughly 1.1 cubic yards, or around 1.5 tons.
How much does a yard of sand weigh?
About 2,700 lb (roughly 1.35 tons), depending on moisture.
Embed this calculator
Bloggers and contractors: embed the free sand calculator on your own site — copy the snippet below. Please keep the attribution link visible.