Raised Bed Soil Calculator
Calculate the exact volume of soil needed to fill any size raised garden bed. Get cubic feet, cubic yards, and bag counts instantly.
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🏖️ Sand Calculator
Calculate tons, cubic yards, and bag counts of sand for paver bases, sandboxes, pool installations, and more.
📐 Enter Your Dimensions
in
💡 Paver base: 1" · Sandbox: 8–12" · Pool base: 2–3"
$/t
📊 Your Results
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Tons of Sand
Cubic Yards—
Cubic Feet—
Weight (lbs)—
50 lb Bags—
Estimated Cost
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Sand: $25–$50/ton bulk. 50 lb bags: ~$4–$7 each.
How to Calculate How Much Sand You Need
Sand is essential for paver installations, children's sandboxes, pool bases, and concrete mixing. Getting the quantity right ensures your project stays on budget and schedule.
The Sand Formula
Tons = (L × W × D in inches ÷ 324) × Density
Example: A 15×12 ft patio at 1" bedding sand:
15 × 12 × 1 ÷ 324 = 0.56 yd³ × 1.5 = 0.84 tons
Sand Uses and Recommended Depths
- Paver bedding layer: 1 inch of screeded coarse sand on top of compacted gravel base
- Children's sandbox: 8–12 inches of clean play sand
- Under above-ground pool: 2–3 inches of masonry sand
- Beach volleyball court: 16–18 inches of clean sand
- Concrete mixing: Per mix design specification
🧱 Paver Tip
For pavers you also need a 4" compacted gravel base under the sand. Use our Gravel Calculator for the base and this calculator for the 1" sand layer.
📦 Bags vs. Bulk
A 50 lb bag ≈ 0.5 cu ft. For projects over 0.5–1 cubic yard, bulk sand from a landscaping supplier at $25–$50/ton is much more economical.
Frequently Asked Questions
A paver patio requires 1 inch of coarse sand as a bedding layer over a 4-inch compacted gravel base. Calculate sand with this calculator (1-inch depth), then calculate your gravel base separately using the Gravel Calculator.
Use coarse concrete sand (also called sharp sand or bedding sand) under pavers. Avoid fine play sand — it holds water and doesn't compact properly. The coarse texture locks into place and provides a firm, stable bedding layer.
One 50 lb bag covers approximately 0.5 cubic feet. You need about 54 bags per cubic yard. For anything over 0.5 cubic yards, ordering bulk sand is more economical.
Use masonry sand (also called mortar sand or pool sand) under above-ground pools. Apply 2–3 inches over a clean, level surface. Never use sharp or angular sand — use rounded masonry sand to avoid puncturing the pool liner over time.