Sand Calculator
Free sand calculator. Instant cubic yards, tons (at 2,700 lb/yd³), and square-foot coverage at any depth. Mobile-friendly, no Calculate button.
How much does a cubic yard of sand weigh?
One cubic yard of sand weighs 2,700 lb (1.35 US tons). That's the compacted weight — sand compacts by a factor of ×1.15 when ordered by the yard.
| Depth | Coverage |
|---|---|
| 2 inches | 162 ft² |
One cubic yard of sand is 0.8 half-ton pickup loads, or about 0.06 tandem-axle dump truck loads.
Sand is one of the most-ordered materials for a cubic yard calculator. It's used for paver bases, sandbox fill, under concrete slabs, on top of ice, and as a leveling layer under hot tubs. The trick with sand is that it compacts quite a bit when wet and when walked on, so order 10–15% extra for any project that will see foot traffic or compaction.
A cubic yard of sand weighs about 2,700 lb (1.35 US tons). That's the dry, loose weight for typical mason sand or fill sand. Wet sand can weigh up to 3,000 lb per yard. One yard covers about 162 ft² at 2 inches deep — a useful number when you're ordering for a patio base or sandbox.
How much sand do I need for a 12×12 patio?
A 12×12 ft paver patio with a 1-inch sand base needs about 0.44 yd³ of sand (144 ft² × 1 in ÷ 12 ÷ 27). Order half a yard to be safe — sand spills, and you want a little extra for the final leveling pass.
Mason sand vs fill sand
Mason sand (also called masonry sand) is fine-grained, washed, and screened. It sweeps cleanly into paver joints and sets smooth under pool liners. Fill sand is coarser and cheaper; it compacts well and is the right choice for filling low spots or building up grade. For under pavers and under pool liners, use mason sand. For building up a yard or filling a hole, fill sand is the better value.
Common mistakes
- Ordering by bag when bulk is cheaper. A yard of sand delivered is usually $40–$60; the same yard in 50 lb bags costs $400+. If you need more than half a yard, bulk is almost always cheaper.
- Forgetting compaction. Sand compacts 10–15% under foot traffic and even more when wet. The calculator's waste factor (default 10%) covers this.
- Confusing sand with crushed stone. A paver base of pure sand without a crushed-stone sub-base will settle over time. Most codes and paver manufacturers want 4–6 inches of compacted crushed stone, then 1 inch of sand.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a yard of sand weigh?
One cubic yard of sand weighs about 2,700 lb (1.35 US tons). That's the typical dry, loose weight for mason sand or fill sand.
How many square feet does a yard of sand cover?
One cubic yard of sand covers about 162 ft² at 2 inches deep, or 81 ft² at 4 inches.
How much sand do I need for a sandbox?
For a 6×6 ft sandbox at 6 in deep, you need about 0.67 yd³ (1,800 lb) of sand.