How this instrument works
Sand quantity, like most bulk construction and landscaping aggregates, is a volume-times-density question: multiply the footprint area by the layer's depth to get a volume, then multiply by its density to convert that volume into a weight worth ordering by the ton. This instrument follows that same pattern — length times width times depth (converted to feet) gives cubic yards, and cubic yards times density gives tons.
The built-in density default of 100 lb/ft³ is a typical figure for dry sand, but the real number commonly ranges from about 90 to 110 lb/ft³ depending on moisture content and how tightly the grains are packed. Wet sand and compacted sand both weigh meaningfully more per cubic foot than the same volume of loose, dry material, since water and compaction both reduce the air gaps between individual grains — adjust the Sand density field if you know your specific figure.
Depth conventions vary enormously by use: bedding sand under pavers or a patio is typically a thin layer, often around 1 inch, meant only to level and cushion the units above it, while a sandbox or a play-area base is usually built much deeper, commonly 6 inches or more, since it needs enough volume for actual digging and play. Entering the right depth for your specific project matters far more here than the density figure does, since a thin bedding layer and a deep sandbox for the same footprint can differ in tonnage by an order of magnitude.
- Enter Length (ft) and Width (ft) — the footprint of the area to fill.
- Enter Depth (in) — a thin layer for paver bedding, much deeper for a sandbox or play area.
- Adjust Sand density (lb/ft³) if you know your sand's actual figure; wet or compacted sand runs heavier than the 100 lb/ft³ dry default.
- Read Volume (cu yd) and Weight (US tons) beneath the inputs.
Worked example — a 20 × 10 ft area, 2 in of sand
Enter 20 into Length (ft), 10 into Width (ft), 2 into Depth (in), and leave Sand density (lb/ft³) at its 100 default — a typical dry sand figure. Volume works out to 20 × 10 × (2 ÷ 12) = 33.3333 ft³, which is 1.2346 cubic yards after dividing by 27.
Weight (US tons) reads 1.6667 — 33.3333 cubic feet at 100 lb/ft³ gives 3,333.33 lb, divided by 2,000 to convert to US tons. A thin leveling or bedding layer like this uses far less material than a deeper sandbox fill over the same footprint would.
Questions
How much does sand density actually vary?
The commonly cited range for dry sand is roughly 90 to 110 lb/ft³, with 100 lb/ft³ used here as a typical mid-range default. Real density depends on grain size, moisture content, and how tightly the material is packed or compacted — adjust the Sand density field toward the higher end for wet or compacted material, or use your supplier's specific product figure if you know it, rather than relying on the default for a large or precise order.
Why does wet sand weigh more than dry sand?
Water fills the small air gaps between individual grains, adding weight to the same volume without meaningfully changing how much space it takes up — so a cubic foot of wet sand contains more actual mass than the same cubic foot of loose, dry material. This is the same reason compacted material also weighs more than loose material of the same volume: compaction, like moisture, squeezes out air gaps and packs more of it into the same space.
How is this different from the site's other aggregate calculators?
This instrument is scoped specifically to plain sand with its own typical density default, distinct from this site's gravel, crushed stone, and paver-sand calculators, each of which uses a different disclosed default density appropriate to that specific material. Paver-sand in particular is a related but separate calculator tuned to a standard 1 inch bedding-sand depth convention, if that's the specific use case you're estimating for.
How deep should sand be for pavers versus a sandbox?
Paver bedding sand is typically a thin layer, commonly around 1 inch, meant only to level and cushion the pavers sitting on top of a properly compacted base — it isn't structural fill on its own. A sandbox or play-area base is built much deeper, often 6 inches or more, since it needs enough real volume for digging and play rather than just a thin leveling course.
Should I order extra sand beyond the calculated amount?
A small overage is common practice, since real project areas rarely come out to an exact perfect rectangle, and some material is typically lost to spillage, settling, or minor grading adjustments during placement. A margin of roughly 5 to 10 percent beyond the calculated tonnage is a reasonable cushion for most projects.