How much does sand weigh?
Dry sand weighs about 100 pounds per cubic foot, roughly 1.35 tons per cubic yard. Damp sand is heavier. Bagged play sand and all-purpose sand usually come in 50 lb bags of about half a cubic foot.
Common sand depths
| Use | Typical depth |
|---|---|
| Bedding sand under pavers | 1 in |
| Sandbox | 6–12 in |
| Base under a pool or shed | 2 in |
For the stone base under pavers, use the gravel calculator.
Frequently asked questions
How many bags of sand are in a cubic yard?
About 54 bags of 50 lb (0.5 cubic feet each).
How much sand do I need for a sandbox?
Multiply the inside length and width by the depth you want. A 5 × 5 ft box filled 6 inches deep needs about 0.46 cubic yards, or about 25 bags of 50 lb.
How much sand per ton?
A ton of dry sand is roughly 0.74 cubic yards, or about 20 cubic feet.