Sand Calculator
You need your area times the depth in feet, divided by 27 for cubic yards. Enter the area and depth to get cubic yards, tons, bags, and cost.
How to estimate sand
Multiply the area by the depth in feet, then divide by 27 to convert cubic feet to cubic yards. A 2-inch bedding layer is 0.167 ft deep. The calculator also shows the bagged equivalent and the weight in tons for delivery planning.
Bags vs bulk
A 50 lb bag holds about half a cubic foot, so it takes roughly 54 bags to equal a cubic yard. For paver bedding, fill, or a play area larger than a cubic yard, bulk delivery is far cheaper.
Paver bedding
The most common use is the 1-inch bedding layer under pavers — the paver calculator returns that directly. For any other fill volume, use the cubic yard calculator.
Frequently asked
How much sand do I need?
Multiply area by depth in feet, then divide by 27 for cubic yards. A 20 × 20 ft area at 2 inches deep needs about 2.5 cubic yards.
How many bags of sand are in a cubic yard?
A cubic yard is 27 cubic feet, so it equals about 54 of the 0.5 cu ft (50 lb) bags. Bulk delivery is cheaper for anything over a yard.
How much does a cubic yard of sand weigh?
Around 1.3 to 1.4 tons depending on moisture and type. The calculator uses 1.35 tons per cubic yard by default.