How do I calculate cubic feet of sand?

Multiply length × width × depth in feet. A 10 × 10 ft paver patio with a 1-inch sand bed needs 10 × 10 × 0.083 ≈ 8.3 ft³.

How much does 1 cubic foot of sand weigh?

Dry sand weighs about 100 lb/ft³; wet sand is closer to 130 lb/ft³ because moisture fills the voids between grains.

How many cubic feet are in a 50 lb bag of sand?

About 0.5 cubic feet (since dry sand is ~100 lb/ft³). A 50 lb bag covers ~6 ft² at 1 inch deep.

How much sand do I need for a sandbox?

A 4 × 4 × 1 ft sandbox needs 16 ft³, or about 32 of the 50 lb bagged sand products. For a 6-inch fill, 8 ft³ (~16 bags).

How thick should the sand bed be under pavers?

1 inch is standard for paver setting sand on top of a compacted gravel base. Going thicker creates an unstable bed that lets pavers shift.

Sand Calculator (Cubic Feet) — Bag, Ton & Yard Volume for Paver Base & Beds

How to calculate cubic feet for sand

Sand sells by the bag (most commonly 50 lbs) or in bulk by the ton or yard. Plan jobs in cubic feet first, then convert. Multiply length × width × depth in feet to get cubic feet of sand.

Quick depth conversions: 1 in = 0.083 ft, 2 in = 0.167 ft, 6 in = 0.5 ft.

Worked examples

Example 1: 10 × 10 ft paver patio with 1-inch sand bed

10 × 10 × 0.083 ≈ 8.3 ft³ = ~17 of the 50 lb bags.

Example 2: 4 × 4 ft sandbox at 6 inches deep

4 × 4 × 0.5 = 8 ft³ = ~16 of the 50 lb bags.

Example 3: 500 ft² walkway base, 2 inches of sand

500 × 0.167 ≈ 83.5 ft³ = 3.09 yd³ — order in bulk.

Sand weight reference

Sand type	Conversion factor	Worked example
Dry sand	~100 lb/ft³	1 yd³ ≈ 1.35 tons
Wet sand	~130 lb/ft³	1 yd³ ≈ 1.76 tons
Concrete sand	~105 lb/ft³	1 yd³ ≈ 1.42 tons
Mason sand	~110 lb/ft³	1 yd³ ≈ 1.49 tons
Play sand	~100 lb/ft³	1 yd³ ≈ 1.35 tons

Tips and considerations

Use the right sand for the job

Paver/leveling sand is coarse and angular for stability. Play sand is fine and washed. Mason sand is smoother for mortar. They aren't interchangeable.

Account for sand loss

Some sand washes and sweeps away during installation. Order 5–10% extra to avoid running short during the bedding phase.

Common mistakes to avoid

Confusing wet and dry density. Dry sand is 100 lb/ft³; saturated sand is 130 lb/ft³. Truck-bed weight limits depend heavily on which one you have.
Forgetting to convert depth to feet. A paver base is usually 1 inch of bedding sand — that is 0.0833 ft, not 1 ft.
Mixing brass with cubic feet. A brass (used in some markets) is 100 cubic feet. Confirm units when ordering large quantities.
Treating mason sand and play sand as interchangeable. They have different grain sizes and densities. Use the right product for the application.