How much sand do I need?
Working out how much sand to buy comes down to one thing: the volume of the space you're filling. Measure the area, choose a depth, multiply them together, then convert that volume into the unit your supplier sells by — cubic yards, tons, or bags.
To get the weight in tons, multiply the cubic yards by the sand's density — dry sand is about 1.3–1.5 tons per cubic yard. The calculator above does all of this the instant you type, in whichever units and shape you pick.
How much sand for a paver base?
A paver patio uses a thin bedding layer of sand — about 1 inch of paver or leveling sand, screeded flat, for the pavers to sit on. Set the depth to 1 inch and pick Paver / leveling sand. Remember the sand sits on top of a compacted gravel base that carries the load — size that base separately with the gravel calculator.
Worked example
A paver patio 12 ft long and 10 ft wide, with a 1-inch bedding sand layer:
12 × 10 × 0.0833 ÷ 27 = 0.37 cubic yards, or about 0.5 tons. Add ~10% for compaction and you'd order about half a ton.
What depth of sand?
- 1 inch — bedding layer under pavers (screeded flat)
- 2 inches — leveling under above-ground pools and slabs
- 3–6 inches — general fill and sandbox base
Tap a depth chip in the calculator to drop in one of these common depths without typing.
Typical sand densities
Weight depends on the sand type and how damp it is. These are the typical dry figures the calculator uses; your supplier's number may differ with moisture and grain size — pick Custom density to enter your own.
| Sand type | Tons / yd³ |
|---|---|
| All-purpose sand | 1.35 |
| Paver / leveling sand | 1.4 |
| Concrete / sharp sand | 1.5 |
| Masonry sand | 1.3 |
| Fill sand | 1.45 |
| Play sand | 1.25 |
Buying bagged play or paver sand instead? Switch Sold by to Bag and set your bag size — the calculator rounds up to whole bags. Note that polymeric joint sand is sold by coverage per bag, not by volume, so it isn't covered here.
Common questions
How much sand do I need?
Multiply your area by the depth to get a volume, then convert to cubic yards or tons. For a rectangle, area is length × width; for a circle it's π × radius². Multiply by depth in feet, divide by 27 for cubic yards, then multiply by the sand density for tons. The calculator above does all of this instantly as you type.
How much sand do I need for a paver patio?
For the bedding layer under pavers, use about a 1-inch layer of paver or leveling sand. Enter your patio's length and width, set the depth to 1 inch, and pick Paver / leveling sand. The bedding sand sits on top of a compacted gravel base — calculate that base separately with the gravel calculator.
How many tons are in a cubic yard of sand?
Dry sand weighs roughly 1.3 to 1.5 tons per cubic yard. Fine play sand sits near the lighter end, coarse concrete or sharp sand toward the heavier end, and damp sand weighs more than dry. Density varies with moisture and grain size, so use your supplier's figure when they give one — or pick a sand type above and the calculator applies a typical density automatically.
How deep should paver bedding sand be?
The screeded bedding sand layer under pavers should be about 1 inch. Going much deeper lets pavers shift and settle unevenly — the strength comes from the compacted gravel base below the sand, not a thick sand layer. Tap the 1-inch depth chip in the calculator to use this depth.
Does this sand calculator work in metric?
Yes. Switch to "Metric" to enter your area in metres and depth in centimetres. The result is shown in cubic metres and tonnes, or bags, so you can order in whichever unit your supplier uses.