Sand Calculator
Tons & cubic yards of sand for any project
Setting pavers, filling a sandbox or leveling a base? Enter your dimensions to get the sand needed in cubic yards and tons.
How much sand do I need?
Sand volume is area × depth. A 1-inch screeded leveling layer over compacted gravel is typical under pavers; sandboxes are usually filled 8–12 inches deep. We add 10% for the sand that works down into the base below.
Sand: tons vs. cubic yards
Dry sand weighs about 1.35 tons per cubic yard (we estimate with ~100 lb/ft³); wet sand is heavier, closer to 1.5 tons. Bulk sand is sold by the yard or ton, while bagged play and paver sand comes in 50 lb bags (≈0.5 ft³ each).
Which sand for the job?
Use coarse, sharp concrete or bedding sand under pavers — it compacts and locks. Polymeric sand goes in the joints between pavers, where it hardens to resist weeds and ants. Play sand is washed and rounded for sandboxes, and mason sand is fine for mortar. They aren't interchangeable, so match the sand to the task.
Sand Calculator: frequently asked questions
How many tons of sand in a cubic yard?
About 1.35 tons dry; wet sand is heavier, ~1.5 tons.
How thick should paver sand be?
A 1-inch screeded bedding layer over compacted gravel.
What's the difference between paver sand and polymeric sand?
Bedding (paver) sand is the leveling layer the pavers sit on. Polymeric sand is swept into the joints afterward and misted with water so it sets firm, locking pavers together and blocking weeds.