Yards · Tons · Bags

Sand Calculator

Same live volume as the topsoil tool, tuned for play sand, mason sand, and fill sand. The pile in the scene is sand-colored so the depth is easy to read.

Volume grows with your numbers

2.0 yd³

Shape

Units

LengthftWidthftDepthin

Your price

Priced as

Supplier unit price$/ton

Leave blank to use the published planning band. Citations: Sources. Enter a quote to lock the total.

Add 10% for compaction

Cubic yards: 2
Tons: 2.7
2 cu ft bags: 27
Est. cost ($/ton): $40–$107

Sand cost reference

Type	Typical price	Notes
Fill sand	$15–30 / ton	HomeGuide 2026
Play sand	$35–55 / ton	HomeGuide 2026
Mason sand	$30–85 / ton	HomeGuide 2026
Delivery	$50–150	HomeGuide 2026; distance matters

HomeGuide's 2026 sand table: fill about $15–$30/ton, mason $30–$85/ton, play sand $35–$55/ton, delivery often $50–$150¹². This tool's $15–$40/ton default spans fill to the low end of play sand. Dry sand uses the same 1.35 t/yd planning factor as topsoil^{1, 2}; wet sand can weigh more.

How much sand do I need?

Enter the project area and desired sand depth. The formula is the same as topsoil: cubic yards = (area × depth in inches) ÷ 324¹. A 500 sq ft area with 2 inches of sand needs about 3.1 cubic yards. One cubic yard of dry sand is planned at about 2,700 pounds (1.35 tons) — the same moist planning factor as topsoil, not a quarry lab sheet². The default cost band is per ton because that is how many pits sell it. If your ticket is per yard, switch the price mode.

Patios are a one-inch problem

A paver patio that lasts is mostly compacted gravel. ICPI Tech Spec 2 tells crews to screed bedding sand to a nominal 1 inch (25 mm), not to use sand to fill a wavy base¹³. Bedding sand should follow ASTM C33 (concrete sand); mason sand is ASTM C144 for mortar^{14, 15, 16}. A 10 × 12 patio is 0.4 yards of sand and about 2.2 yards of 6-inch gravel. If you type 4 inches of sand here, the math is correct and the patio spec is still wrong. Use the paver-base guide before you order a truck of the wrong layer.

Play sand is a different product

Kids need 6 to 8 inches in a box, and they need material sold as play sand. A 4 × 4 at 8 inches is 0.4 yards — bag territory. A 6 × 6 is 0.9 yards — ask the yard for a scoop. Mason sand packs and concrete sand is coarse on skin. The comparison page play vs mason vs concrete and the sandbox walk-through exist so those bags do not get swapped at the register.

Weight and trucks

Damp sand hits legal truck weight sooner than a dry pile. You buy volume; the truck is limited by pounds. If a pit quotes tons, do not treat tons as yards. The same 1.35 factor as topsoil is the planning default. Pickup-truck “loads” on this site are a 2.5-yard sketch for a heavy truck or trailer. Never exceed the payload on the driver’s door-jamb label (49 CFR 571.110)²³.

Sand guides

Common questions

How much sand do I need for 1,000 sq ft?+

For 1,000 sq ft at 2 inches deep, you need about 6.2 cubic yards of sand (1,000 × 2 ÷ 324). NIST: 1 yd³ = 27 ft³. About 8.4 tons at this site’s 1.35 t/yd dry-sand planning factor.

How much sand for a 10×12 paver patio?+

ICPI Tech Spec 2: screed bedding sand to a nominal 1 inch (25 mm), not 4. 120 sq ft at 1 inch is 0.4 cubic yards (about 0.5 tons). The gravel base under that is a separate, larger order (often 4–6 in compacted aggregate).

How much play sand for a 4×4 sandbox?+

At 8 inches, a 4 × 4 box is 0.4 cubic yards, about 0.5 tons, or about 22 bags if each 50-lb bag is ~0.5 cubic feet. Use play sand, not mason sand.

How much does a yard of sand weigh?+

This site plans one cubic yard of dry sand at about 2,700 pounds (1.35 tons), the same moist/dry planning factor as topsoil. NRCS oven-dry bulk density is a lab number that changes with texture. Damp sand weighs more and can weight-limit a truck (door-jamb payload is 49 CFR 571.110).

What is the difference between play, mason, and concrete sand?+

Play sand is washed and rounded for kids. Mason sand is ASTM C144 (mortar). Concrete / bedding sand should meet ASTM C33 — that is the ICPI Tech Spec 17 bedding choice. Volume math is the same; the product is not. HomeGuide 2026: fill about $15–$30/ton, mason $30–$85/ton, play $35–$55/ton.

Why is the default price per ton, not per yard?+

Many pits sell sand by the ton. Type a per-yard price if that is how your ticket reads. Do not multiply a ton price by yards.

Can I use this for a volleyball court?+

Yes — enter the court area and the sand depth you want (often 8–12 inches for play sand). Confirm the product is play-grade, not fill sand.

Sources

Numbers on this page are planning figures. Follow the link for the original table or standard. Full list: Sources.

NIST. Handbook 44, Appendix C — General Tables of Units of Measurement. 1 cubic yard = 27 cubic feet. Coverage identity: 27 × 12 = 324 sq ft at 1 inch.
USDA NRCS. Soil Bulk Density / Moisture / Aeration (Soil Quality Kit). Oven-dry bulk density varies by texture; silt loam example ≈ 1.33 g/cm³. Not the same as a wet truckload.
South Dakota State University Extension. Bulk Density is an Indicator of Soil Health. Ideal bulk-density bands by texture (NRCS table). 1 g/cm³ ≈ 62.3 lb/ft³.
HomeGuide. How Much Does Sand Delivery Cost? (2026). Fill sand about $15–$30/ton; mason $30–$85/ton; play sand $35–$55/ton; delivery often $50–$150.
Interlocking Concrete Pavement Institute. Tech Spec 2 — Construction of Interlocking Concrete Pavements (PDF reprint). Bedding sand screeded to a nominal 1 in (25 mm). Pedestrian/driveway bases often 4–6 in compacted aggregate.
Interlocking Concrete Pavement Institute. Tech Spec 17 — Bedding Sand Selection (PDF reprint). Bedding sand should meet ASTM C33 (concrete sand) gradation; joint sand often ASTM C144.
ASTM International. C33/C33M — Standard Specification for Concrete Aggregates. Gradation used for concrete sand / ICPI bedding sand.
ASTM International. C144 — Standard Specification for Aggregate for Masonry Mortar. Gradation used for mason / mortar sand.
U.S. Code of Federal Regulations. 49 CFR 571.110 — Tire selection and rims; motor vehicle. Payload / vehicle capacity weight is the number on the driver’s door-jamb label — not a generic “half-ton.”