Skip to content
CostToUpgrade
CalculatorsCost GuidesCost DataMethodology Search Browse calculators
Landscaping

Sand Calculator

Work out exactly how much sand to order for a paver bed, a sandbox, or a fill job. Enter the area and depth, pick dry or damp sand, and you get the volume in cubic feet and yards, the weight in tons, the number of 50 lb bags, and a delivered cost.

Reviewed by The CostToUpgrade Estimating Desk Last reviewed How we estimate

Your project

Dimensions

Paver bedding sand is 1 inch — do not go deeper or the pavers will settle.

Material

Dry sand runs ~2,700 lb per yard; damp or compacted bedding sand is closer to 3,000 lb.

Pricing

Bulk sand is commonly $25–$60 per ton at the yard, plus a delivery fee.

Estimate

0.74yd³

Sand needed · Bulk yards sell by the yard or ton

Weight
1.11tons
Volume
20ft³
50 lb bags (small jobs)
40bags
Estimated material cost
$46.67

Estimates are guidance only and exclude tax, labor, and site conditions unless stated. Confirm with a local pro.

How it's calculated

No black boxes — here is the exact math behind your estimate, so you can check it or adapt it for your own quote.

  1. 1Volume (ft³) = length × width × (depth ÷ 12)
  2. 2Cubic yards = volume (ft³) ÷ 27
  3. 3Tons = cubic yards × sand density (1.35 dry, 1.5 damp)
  4. 450 lb bags = ⌈ volume (ft³) ÷ 0.5 ⌉
  5. 5Cost = tons × price per ton

Worked example

A 20 ft × 12 ft paver patio bedded with 1 inch of damp concrete sand.

Inputs

Length
20 ft
Width
12 ft
Depth
1 in
Sand type
1.5
Price per ton
42 $/ton

Result

Sand needed
0.74 yd³
Weight
1.11 tons
Volume
20 ft³
50 lb bags (small jobs)
40 bags
Estimated material cost
$46.67

Tools & materials for this project

As an Amazon Associate we may earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you.

  • Polymeric joint sand Sweep into paver joints after setting to lock them and block weeds.
    View on Amazon
  • 1 inch screed rails Screed a dead-flat 1 inch bedding layer instead of eyeballing it.
    View on Amazon
Get real quotes

Compare local pros for bulk sand

An estimate gets you a budget. A few competing quotes get you the real price. Tell us about the job and we'll help you find vetted contractors nearby.

Get matched

Sand cost by state

The calculator does the quantity math exactly. What it can't know is what a fair unit price looks like where you live — bulk sand runs 61% more in the priciest US market than the cheapest.

Sand cost in all 50 states + DC US average $42 per ton delivered · regional averages, full ranked table, and typical project totals.

Frequently asked questions

How thick should bedding sand be under pavers?
Exactly 1 inch, screeded flat and left uncompacted before the pavers go down. That is the depth every major paver institute and manufacturer specifies. Thicker sand is the single most common DIY mistake: sand is not a structural base, so a 2–3 inch bed compresses unevenly under traffic and the pavers dip, rock, and open their joints within a season or two. Load is supposed to be carried by 4–6 inches of compacted crushed base under a patio (8–12 inches under a driveway). If your grade is off, fix it in the base layer, not by adding sand.
Is polymeric sand the same thing?
No — they are two different products bought separately. Bedding sand is coarse, washed, angular concrete sand (ASTM C33) that goes under the pavers. Polymeric sand is a fine jointing sand blended with a binder that you sweep into the joints after the pavers are set and compacted, then mist with water so it hardens and resists weeds and washout. A 50 lb bag of polymeric sand typically fills the joints of 60–100 ft² of standard pavers, or 25–40 ft² of flagstone with wide joints. Never use polymeric sand as your bedding layer.
How much area does a ton of sand cover?
At the 1 inch bedding depth, one ton of damp concrete sand (about 0.67 cubic yards, or 18 ft³) covers roughly 215 square feet. Dry masonry sand is lighter, so a ton is about 0.74 yards and covers close to 240 square feet at the same depth. At 2 inches deep, halve those numbers; at 4 inches for a fill or sandbox, expect about 54 ft² per ton of damp sand. Order about 10% extra — screeding, spillage, and an uneven base always eat more than the math says.
Should I buy bulk sand or bagged sand?
Bagged sand is easier below roughly half a cubic yard, which is about 27 fifty-pound bags. Above that, bulk is far cheaper per unit: bagged sand often works out to $100–$180 per ton equivalent versus $25–$60 per ton in bulk. The catch is delivery. Most yards have a 1–3 ton minimum and charge $50–$150 for a local drop, so a 1 ton order can cost as much in freight as in material. Ask whether the truck can dump where you want it and whether the sand is stored covered — soaked sand weighs more per yard.
Can I use play sand for pavers, or bedding sand in a sandbox?
Neither swap works well. Play sand is fine, rounded, and washed smooth so it is comfortable for kids, but rounded grains roll under load and will not lock up, so pavers set on it stay shifty. Bedding sand is sharp and angular, which is exactly what pavers need and exactly what makes it unpleasant in a sandbox. A typical 8 ft × 8 ft sandbox filled 6 inches deep takes about 32 ft³, or roughly 1.2 cubic yards, which is about 64 fifty-pound bags of play sand.

Related calculators

Landscaping

Paver Calculator

Open calculator

Landscaping

Gravel Calculator

Open calculator

Concrete

Concrete Slab Calculator

Open calculator

Landscaping

Firewood Cord Calculator

Open calculator