SAND / MATERIAL PLANNING
Calculate how much sand you need in cubic yards, cubic feet, US short tons and metric tonnes. Estimate whole bags and sand cost using your dimensions, supplier density and prices.
Measure the length and width of the sand layer, or the diameter of a circular area, then enter the intended loose layer depth. Each field has its own unit. Changing a unit converts that measurement and leaves the other fields unchanged.
This sand volume calculator gives geometric volume first. Weight depends on the loose bulk density of your product. Select masonry sand, fill sand or a supplier specification and enter that density; leave it blank to calculate volume without guessing weight. Extra material is an ordering allowance, not a loose-to-compacted conversion.
Rectangle: length × width × depth. Circle: π × (diameter ÷ 2)² × depth. In feet, the answer is cubic feet; divide by 27 for cubic yards. Convert depth in inches to feet by dividing by 12. This is also the sand coverage formula when area and depth are known.
Weight = volume × bulk density, using matching units. Divide pounds by 2,000 for US short tons; divide kilograms by 1,000 for metric tonnes. A cubic yard has no fixed sand weight: grading, moisture and packing change the density.
Bulk material cost = ordered quantity × the entered price per short ton, cubic yard or cubic meter. Add delivery. Bagged cost = rounded whole-bag count × price per bag + its separate delivery fee. Both quotes exclude tax, labor and unentered fees.
WORKED EXAMPLE
200 ft² × 0.25 ft = 50 ft³, or 1.851852 yd³. At the illustrative 100 lb/ft³ density, that is 5,000 lb / 2.5 US short tons. At an example $50 per short ton plus $40 delivery, the bulk order is $165.
If your actual bag label says 50 lb, this estimate needs 100 bags. At an example $5 per bag plus $20 bagged delivery, that separate quote is $520. With 10% extra, the order becomes 55 ft³,5,500 lb and 110 of those bags. These densities and prices are control examples, not supplier specifications or market quotes.
Enter the quantity printed on your package. For volume-based bags, divide the order volume by the bag volume. For weight-based bags, divide the estimated order weight by the bag weight. Round up to whole bags; the estimate shows the surplus after rounding. The allowance is applied before bag rounding.
A 50 lb bag is a weight, not a guaranteed number of cubic feet. Weight-based bags require a positive density. Volume-based bags work with unknown density. Leave package quantity blank to skip bags; an entered bag price or delivery fee requires a package quantity. Bulk and bagged quotes use independent prices and delivery fees.
A fill sand calculator and a mason sand calculator use the same geometric formula, but the product specification differs. Confirm grading, moisture and suitability with your supplier. The material selector deliberately clears the illustrative density for these products. One cubic yard covers 108 ft² at 3 inches before any extra allowance; changing the depth changes coverage.
For a sand and gravel project, calculate the sand layer here and each aggregate layer with the gravel calculator or crushed stone calculator. Sand under pavers is a bedding layer; polymeric sand fills joints and needs joint dimensions or manufacturer coverage. This tool does not calculate joint consumption, pool filter loading, cement recipes or a compacted target from a universal factor.
Yes. Volume in yd³, ft³ and m³ does not require density. Weight, weight-based bags and a ton-priced quote do. An unknown weight is shown as unknown, not zero.
Multiply the order volume by the supplier’s matching bulk density. A US short ton is 2,000 lb. Metric tonnes are displayed separately. Check the supplier’s meaning of ton before entering a density or price.
The measured volume is area × depth. Ordered volume adds your chosen allowance. The live preview shows the measured space only; it is schematic and not to scale.
You can estimate a rectangular or circular loose sand layer using its internal dimensions and specified depth. It does not choose a suitable material or safe depth, model objects inside the space, or calculate polymeric joints. Specialized project calculators are planned separately.