How to Use This Calculator
Enter your area length and width in feet. Set depth in inches: 1 inch for paver leveling sand, 6 to 8 inches for a residential sandbox, and 9 to 12 inches for playground fall-protection zones per ASTM F1292. Select the sand type that matches your project: play sand for sandboxes, paver or concrete sand for bedding under pavers, fill sand for grading, or polymeric sand for locking paver joints after installation.
The result shows cubic yards for bulk delivery and the equivalent number of 50-pound bags. For sandboxes, measure the interior dimensions of the frame, not the outside. For paver projects, calculate the bedding layer and joint sand separately: bedding sand goes down first at 1 inch depth, polymeric joint sand is swept in last after all pavers are set. Run the calculator twice and add the totals.
How to Calculate How Much Sand You Need
Formula: cubic yards = (length × width × depth in inches ÷ 12) ÷ 27. Convert depth from inches to feet, find cubic feet, then divide by 27.
Example: a 4×8 sandbox at 6 inches deep. Step 1: 6 ÷ 12 = 0.5 ft. Step 2: 4 × 8 × 0.5 = 16 cubic feet. Step 3: 16 ÷ 27 = 0.59 cubic yards. Add 10% settling: 0.59 × 1.10 = 0.65 cubic yards. For 50-pound bags (each covers 0.5 cubic feet): 16 × 1.10 ÷ 0.5 = 35.2, rounded up to 36 bags.
| Project | Depth | Cubic yards (+10%) | 50-lb bags |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4×4 sandbox | 6 in | 0.33 | 18 |
| 4×8 sandbox | 6 in | 0.65 | 36 |
| 4×8 sandbox | 8 in | 0.87 | 47 |
| 10×10 paver base | 1 in | 0.34 | 19 |
| 20×20 paver base | 1 in | 1.36 | 74 |
| 10×10 fill area | 4 in | 1.36 | 74 |
Sand Buying Tips
Buy 10% extra for settling. Sand compacts and shifts after installation, especially in high-traffic areas and after rain. The calculator already includes this allowance in every result. If you are splitting your order between locations or storing bags for later, add another bag or two per load as a buffer.
Match the sand type to the job. Play sand is washed, screened, and tested for child safety; it is the only type appropriate for sandboxes. Construction sand, concrete sand, and fill sand are not tested for play safety. For paver bedding, coarse concrete sand compacts properly and resists shifting. Fine play sand does not hold pavers in position and is not the right choice for bedding.
Order bulk for projects over 0.75 cubic yards. Landscape supply yards sell play sand, concrete sand, and fill sand in bulk at a fraction of the per-bag price at hardware stores. Most have a 1 cubic yard minimum delivery. Call ahead for current pricing and delivery availability in your area.
What to Buy
For sandboxes and play areas: 50-pound bags of washed play sand from any hardware or garden store. Choose bags clearly labeled "play sand" or "play-grade washed sand." Common brands: Quikrete Play Sand, Sakrete Natural Play Sand, and store-brand options at Home Depot and Lowe's. Bags cost $5 to $8 each. For a 4×8 sandbox at 6 inches, budget about $180 to $290 for bags.
For paver bedding: coarse concrete sand or masonry sand from a landscape or masonry supply yard. Specify "bedding sand" or "concrete sand" and they will know what you need. Avoid fine or silty sand for this application. Bulk pricing runs $20 to $35 per cubic yard.
For fill and grading: fill sand ordered in bulk from a local quarry or landscape supplier. It is the lowest-cost option and comes in truckload quantities. Fill sand runs $15 to $25 per cubic yard delivered. For large fill projects over 5 cubic yards, get at least two quotes. Material pricing varies significantly by distance from the source quarry.