Bagged sand from a hardware store costs roughly 5 to 8 times more per ton than the same sand delivered in bulk. A project that needs more than a few bags almost always costs less through a bulk supplier, but figuring out exactly how much to order is where most people get stuck.
The sand calculator above solves the ordering problem directly. Enter your area, depth, sand type, and a waste allowance, and you get volume, weight, and a bag count if bags fit your project better than bulk delivery.
Every result starts from one simple relationship: volume times density equals weight. Get the volume right and pick the correct density for your sand type, and the rest of the math follows automatically.
Table of Contents
- What a Ton of Sand Actually Covers
- How to Use the Sand Calculator
- Picking the Right Sand Type and Density
- Bagged Sand vs Bulk Sand: Doing the Math First
- Common Sand-Ordering Mistakes
- Key Takeaways
- FAQ
What a Ton of Sand Actually Covers
A few mental shortcuts save a trip back to the calculator every time a number sounds off.
One cubic yard of dry sand weighs around 2,700 pounds, close to 1.35 tons. One ton of sand covers roughly 200 square feet at a 1-inch depth, or about 100 square feet at 2 inches. Wet sand weighs 10 to 15 percent more than dry sand for the same volume, since the water adds weight without adding bulk.
These numbers move fast once depth changes. Doubling the depth, say from 1 inch to 2 inches, doubles both the volume and the weight, not just a small increase.
A small backyard sandbox, 4 feet by 4 feet at 6 inches deep, needs 8 cubic feet of sand, around 800 pounds of dry material. A driveway base covering 600 square feet at 4 inches deep needs 200 cubic feet, well over 7 cubic yards, a completely different order of magnitude from the sandbox example.
How to Use the Sand Calculator
Nine inputs feed the sand calculator, organized around how the math actually works.
- Measurement units: Switch between feet and inches or meters and centimeters. Every label updates to match.
- Area shape: Pick rectangular or circular. The right fields show automatically.
- Length and width, or diameter: Enter your dimensions in the larger unit.
- Depth: Enter how deep the sand layer needs to be, in the smaller unit.
- Sand type: Pick dry, wet, packed, or a sand-gravel mix. Each one carries a different density.
- Compaction or waste allowance: Defaults to 10 percent, raise it for paver base or other compacted layers.
- Bag size: Choose a common bag weight or volume, or pick bulk to skip bag counting entirely.
- Cost per bag: Optional, unlocks a total cost estimate.
The sand calculator above updates every result the moment you change a field.
Picking the Right Sand Type and Density
Density is where most flat-rate sand calculators fall short, since they apply one number to every project regardless of moisture or composition.
| Sand Type | Approx. Density | Typical Use |
|---|---|---|
| Dry sand | 100 lb/ft³ (1,602 kg/m³) | General fill, sandboxes, light landscaping |
| Packed sand | 105 lb/ft³ (1,682 kg/m³) | Paver base, sub-base layers |
| Sand and gravel mix (dry) | 108 lb/ft³ (1,731 kg/m³) | Driveway base, drainage layers |
| Wet sand | 120 lb/ft³ (1,922 kg/m³) | Sand delivered damp or stored outdoors |
| Sand and gravel mix (wet) | 125 lb/ft³ (2,002 kg/m³) | Wet-delivered base material |
Using a dry sand density on a wet delivery undercounts the actual weight you are paying for, and using a wet density on dry sand overstates how much you need. Either mistake throws off a cost estimate by 10 to 25 percent.
For paver base work specifically, the Interlocking Concrete Pavement Institute standard calls for roughly a 1-inch bedding layer once compacted, which usually means starting with about 1.5 inches of loose sand before compaction does its work. For driveway base specifically, see our paver base depth guide.
Bagged Sand vs Bulk Sand: Doing the Math First
A 50-pound bag of sand at a hardware store typically costs $4 to $10. Scale that price up to a full ton, and bagged sand works out to $160 to $400 per ton, compared to $20 to $55 per ton for the same material delivered in bulk.
This gap holds for almost any sand type, which makes bags the expensive option past a certain project size.
Bags still make sense in a few specific situations: small projects under a few hundred pounds, sites bulk trucks cannot access, or projects where storage space for a bulk pile does not exist. Outside those cases, bulk delivery wins on cost almost every time, even after adding a delivery fee.
One detail worth checking before you order bulk: most suppliers carry a 1 to 3 ton delivery minimum. A project calculating out to 0.6 tons might still get billed for a full minimum load, so confirm the minimum before assuming bulk pricing applies to your exact number. See our bulk sand delivery guide for typical minimums by region.
Common Sand-Ordering Mistakes
Most over-ordering and under-ordering problems share a few root causes.
- Using the wrong density for the sand type: Dry, wet, and gravel-mixed sand all weigh differently per cubic foot. Match the density to what is actually getting delivered.
- Skipping the compaction allowance: Sand settles once installed, especially under pavers. Build in extra depth from the start rather than topping off later.
- Mixing measurement units mid-calculation: Switching between feet and inches, or meters and centimeters, without converting consistently throws off the entire volume.
- Ignoring delivery minimums: Ordering the exact calculated amount sometimes leaves you paying minimum-load pricing anyway. Round up to the supplier’s minimum whenever your number falls close to the cutoff.
Catching these four habits before you call a supplier saves both money and a second delivery.
Key Takeaways
Four numbers cover most of what matters when ordering sand:
- A cubic yard of dry sand weighs about 2,700 pounds, roughly 1.35 tons
- One ton covers about 200 square feet at a 1-inch depth, a useful shortcut for quick estimates
- Bagged sand runs 5 to 8 times more per ton than bulk delivery, so bulk wins past a small project size
- A 5 to 10 percent waste allowance covers settling and handling loss, paver base often needs more
Run your own dimensions through the sand calculator above to get an exact volume, weight, and bag count before you order.
FAQ
How much sand do I need for my project?
Multiply your area by depth to get volume, then multiply volume by sand density to get weight. A 10-by-10-foot area at 2 inches deep needs about 16.7 cubic feet, roughly 1,670 pounds of dry sand before adding a waste allowance.
How much does a cubic yard of sand weigh?
A cubic yard of dry sand weighs about 2,700 pounds, or 1.35 tons. Wet sand runs 10 to 15 percent heavier because of the added water weight.
Should I buy bagged sand or bulk sand?
Bagged sand costs roughly 5 to 8 times more per ton than bulk delivery, so bulk wins for anything beyond a small project. Bags make sense for small jobs, tight access, or when a delivery minimum would force you to buy more than you need.
How much extra sand should I order?
Most guides recommend 5 to 10 percent extra to cover compaction, settling, and material lost during transport and handling. Paver base projects often need more, since sand compacts once installed.
What sand density should I use for paver base?
Paver base typically uses a packed sand density, since the sand gets compacted before pavers go on top. Confirm the exact depth and density with your paver manufacturer’s installation guide, since requirements vary by paver type and base design.
