How it works
Enter the area and depth to get the tons of sand to order, along with cubic yards and the number of 50 lb bags if you are buying it bagged.
Dry sand weighs about 100 lb per cubic foot, or 1.35 tons per cubic yard. Sand from a yard pile is often damp and heavier, so if your supplier sells by weight you may want 5% to 10% extra.
A paver patio needs a 1 inch screeded bedding layer. A sandbox is usually filled 6 to 12 inches deep.
Formula
Tons = length (ft) × width (ft) × depth (in) ÷ 12 ÷ 27 × density × (1 + extra). 50 lb bags = tons × 2,000 ÷ 50.
Questions people ask
How much does a cubic yard of sand weigh?
About 2,700 lb (1.35 tons) when dry, and up to about 3,000 lb when damp.
How many 50 lb bags of sand are in a ton?
Forty. A ton is 2,000 lb.
How much sand do I need under pavers?
One inch of coarse concrete sand, screeded flat over a compacted gravel base. For 100 sq ft that is about 0.31 cubic yards, or roughly 17 bags of 50 lb.