Sand Calculator - Estimate Sand Volume & Weight
Calculate how much sand you need for an area and depth, in cubic feet, cubic yards, or cubic meters, with estimated weight.
Volume Needed
16.67 ft³
0.617 cubic yards
Estimated Weight
1,667 lb
How to Calculate How Much Sand You Need
This calculator finds the volume of sand needed to cover a rectangular area to a given depth, using Volume = Length × Width × Depth. It also estimates the total weight using a typical loose sand density of about 100 lb per cubic foot (roughly 1,600 kg per cubic meter), which is a reasonable average for dry, loose sand used in landscaping, sandboxes, and construction projects.
Example
A 10 ft × 10 ft area filled to a 2-inch depth needs 10 × 10 × (2 ÷ 12) = 16.67 cubic feet of sand, which is about 0.62 cubic yards and weighs roughly 1,667 lb. In metric units, a 3 m × 3 m area filled to 5 cm deep needs 3 × 3 × 0.05 = 0.45 cubic meters, weighing about 720 kg.
Common Use Cases
- Estimating how much sand to order for a sandbox, paver base, or playground surface.
- Planning material quantities for a landscaping or garden leveling project.
- Figuring out delivery weight so you know what size truck or how many bags are needed.
FAQs
Does sand density vary?
Yes — sand density varies with moisture content, grain size, and compaction. Dry, loose sand is close to 100 lb/ft³ (1,600 kg/m³), but wet or compacted sand can weigh 10-20% more. Treat the weight estimate here as a planning guide rather than an exact figure.
Should I buy extra sand?
It's common practice to add 5-10% extra to account for compaction, uneven ground, and spillage during handling, especially for larger projects.
How do I convert cubic feet to bags of sand?
Bag sizes vary by brand, but a common 50 lb bag covers roughly 0.5 cubic feet. Divide your total cubic feet by the coverage per bag listed on your chosen product to estimate how many bags to buy.