Sand Calculator
Find out how much sand to buy for a paver base, sandbox, or fill job — in tons, cubic yards, or bags — for any sand type, with a cost estimate.
Paver base, sandbox, or fill area
Estimate only. These figures help you plan how much to buy — they are not engineering or structural advice. Actual needs vary with site conditions, waste, and installation method, so order a little extra and confirm final quantities with your supplier or contractor before you buy or start the job.
Popular paver base sizes
Jump to a ready-made answer for a common paver base.
How the sand calculation works
Sand is priced by weight, so we find the volume first, then convert to tons and bags using the sand's density.
Rectangle = length × width. Circle = π × radius². Use feet.
Area (sq ft) × depth (ft) = cubic feet. Depth in inches ÷ 12 gives feet. Divide by 27 for cubic yards.
Weight = cubic feet × density (≈ 95–110 lb/cu ft). Tons = weight ÷ 2,000. Bags = weight ÷ bag weight.
Leveling sand under pavers is usually about a 1-inch layer over a compacted gravel base.
Sources & assumptions
Frequently asked questions
How much sand do I need for a paver patio?
Paver patios use about a 1-inch leveling-sand bed. For a 10 ft × 12 ft patio that's 120 sq ft × 0.083 ft ≈ 10 cubic feet of sand, around 0.37 cubic yards — roughly 20 bags of 50 lb sand, or about half a ton in bulk.
How many tons of sand are in a cubic yard?
Sand runs about 1.3 to 1.5 tons per cubic yard depending on type and moisture — roughly 100 pounds per cubic foot, so about 2,700 pounds (1.35 tons) per cubic yard for typical all-purpose sand.
How many 50 lb bags of sand are in a cubic yard?
A cubic yard of sand weighs roughly 2,700 pounds, so it takes about 54 bags of 50 lb sand to equal one cubic yard (2,700 ÷ 50).
What kind of sand do I need?
Use paver or leveling sand under pavers, play sand for sandboxes, mason sand for mortar and fine work, and fill sand for backfilling or raising grade. They have similar volumes but are graded and cleaned differently.
Is bagged or bulk sand cheaper?
Bagged sand is convenient for small jobs but costs more per pound. Once you need more than a couple of cubic yards, bulk sand delivered by the ton is far cheaper.