Sand Calculator
Work out how much sand a bed, base or fill needs — volume, weight and bag count — from the area and depth, with wastage included.
Sand is the quiet material in almost every outdoor job — bedding for pavers, a base for slabs, an ingredient in mortar and concrete. This calculator turns an area and a depth into the volume, weight and bag count you actually order.
As with gravel, the weight uses a stated density of 1,600 kg/m³ and is labelled an estimate; the volume is exact.
Your results
Enter your measurements and press Calculate.
Quantities are rounded up to whole tiles, planks, boxes or bags, after the wastage allowance. Cost appears only when you enter a price.
Formula
All lengths are converted to a single unit before the calculation: 1 ft = 0.3048 m, 1 in = 25.4 mm, 1 ft² = 0.09290304 m², 1 yd² = 9 ft². Material quantities are rounded up — you cannot buy part of a tile, plank or bag.
How to use this calculator
- Measure the length and width of the area, and the depth of sand.
- Set wastage at 10%.
- Read the volume in cubic yards, the weight in tons, or the bag count.
- Add a price per bag if you want a cost estimate.
Worked example
| Area | 10 ft × 10 ft × 2 in deep |
|---|---|
| Volume | 10 × 10 × (2 ÷ 12) = 16.67 ft³ |
| In cubic yards | 16.67 ÷ 27 = 0.62 yd³ |
| With 10% wastage | 16.67 × 1.10 = 18.33 ft³ = 0.52 m³ |
| Weight | 0.52 m³ × 1.6 = 0.83 tonnes |
| 25 kg bags | ⌈0.52 ÷ 0.015625⌉ = 34 bags |
Check it by hand: every step above uses the formula in the box. If your numbers match the example inputs but the calculator gives a different answer, please report it via the contact page.
Frequently asked questions
What type of sand do I need?
It depends on the job: sharp sand (concreting sand) for concrete and mortar, soft/building sand for bricklaying mortar, and kiln-dried sand for brushing between pavers. They are not interchangeable — building sand in concrete weakens it.
How is sand weight calculated?
From a stated density assumption: dry sand is about 1,600 kg per cubic metre (100 lb per cubic foot). Wet sand is heavier. The weight is an estimate; the volume is exact.
How deep should sand be under pavers?
1–2 in (25–50 mm) of compacted sharp sand as a bedding layer, on top of a compacted sub-base. More than 2 in settles unevenly under load.
Can I use the gravel calculator for sand?
The volume formula is the same, but the bag count and the type guidance differ — sand is usually bought in 25 kg bags, gravel in bulk. Use this page for sand so the bag maths is right.
Related calculators
Estimates only. Results are for planning. Measure twice, confirm box coverage and tile sizes on the packaging you buy, and follow the manufacturer's instructions. See the disclaimer.