How Many Cubic Feet of Sand Do I Need? Pavers, Sandboxes, Fill Sand & Masonry
Use our free sand calculator in cubic feet to quickly estimate how much sand you need for paver bedding, sandboxes, fill layers, masonry jobs, and general landscaping. This sand calculator cubic feet tool gives instant results in cubic feet and cubic yards, plus estimated tons, 50 lb bag count, and cost. Whether you are checking how many cubic feet of sand a sandbox needs or pricing a paver base order, this cubic feet of sand calculator keeps the math and buying guidance in one place.
Bulk Conversion
1 yd³ = 27 ft³
Paver Shortcut
12x12 patio = 12 ft³ @ 1"
Sandbox Shortcut
4x6 box = 16 ft³ @ 8"
Bag Rule
50 lb bag ≈ 0.5 ft³
Use standard mode for fill sand, mortar sand, base layers, firepit circles, and any measured area where you need a uniform depth.
Switch between rectangular and circular areas while keeping multiple sand zones in one total.
Common depths are 1" for paver bedding and 2" to 4" for fill or leveling.
Use 10% for settling, waste, and uneven grade.
Coarse washed sand for concrete mixes, paver beds, and drainage-friendly leveling.
Current density follows Concrete Sand.
Multiple Areas
Use this for multiple patios, circular firepit pads, fill patches, or separate sand zones.
16.67 ft³
18.33 ft³ with overage
Common sand depths for pavers, sandbox fill, masonry, leveling, and recreational areas.
Depth: 1 inch
Best for
Volume impact
Recommended sand: Concrete sand, Paver leveling sand
Do not use a thick sand base under pavers. Keep bedding sand near 1" after screeding.
Depth: 6-12 inches
Best for
Volume impact
Recommended sand: Washed play sand only
Use clean play sand and replace or refresh it when it becomes compacted or contaminated.
Depth: Project specific
Best for
Volume impact
Recommended sand: Masonry sand, Fine screened sand
Mortar mix ratios matter; use this page for sand volume, then confirm cement ratio separately.
Depth: 1/4-1 inch
Best for
Volume impact
Recommended sand: Screened sand, Sand-compost leveling blend
Use shallow passes. Heavy pure-sand topdressing can create drainage layers in some soils.
Depth: 2-6 inches
Best for
Volume impact
Recommended sand: Fill sand, Utility sand
For load-bearing work, use compacted gravel base below the sand layer.
Depth: 8-12 inches
Best for
Volume impact
Recommended sand: Washed beach sand, Clean play sand
Large sand areas are usually bulk-delivery projects, not bagged-material projects.
Pre-calculated volumes for common paver, fill, and sandbox footprints.
| Project Size | Area | ft³ (+10%) | yd³ | tons |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 x 8 ft | 32 ft² | 2.9 ft³ | 0.11 | 0.15 |
| 10 x 10 ft | 100 ft² | 9.2 ft³ | 0.34 | 0.46 |
| 12 x 12 ft | 144 ft² | 13.2 ft³ | 0.49 | 0.66 |
| 10 x 20 ft | 200 ft² | 18.3 ft³ | 0.68 | 0.92 |
| 16 x 20 ft | 320 ft² | 29.3 ft³ | 1.09 | 1.47 |
| 20 x 20 ft | 400 ft² | 36.7 ft³ | 1.36 | 1.83 |
Use these formulas to verify cubic feet, cubic yards, tons, bags, and ordering shortcuts.
Sand Volume Formulas (cubic feet) RECTANGULAR AREA: ft³ = Length(ft) x Width(ft) x Depth(in) ÷ 12 CIRCULAR AREA: ft³ = pi x (Diameter(ft) ÷ 2)² x Depth(in) ÷ 12 SANDBOX: ft³ = Length x Width x Depth(in) ÷ 12 x Quantity PAVER BEDDING: ft³ = Area(ft²) x Depth(in) ÷ 12 UNIT CONVERSIONS: yd³ = ft³ ÷ 27 tons = ft³ x density ÷ 2,000 50 lb bags ≈ pounds ÷ 50 OVERAGE: Order = calculated ft³ x 1.10 COVERAGE: ft² = ft³ x 12 ÷ Depth(in)
Paver projects usually need a thin 1 inch bedding layer on top of compacted aggregate. Fill sand projects are different because the sand itself may be the material doing the full-depth fill.
That means a 12 x 12 patio only needs 12 ft³ base volume at 1 inch, while a 4 x 6 sandbox at 8 inches already needs 16 ft³. Sand jobs can look small on plan view but heavy in total weight.
A 12 x 12 ft patio with a 1 inch bedding sand layer.
Step 1: ft³ = 12 x 12 x 1 ÷ 12 = 12.0 ft³
Step 2: Add 10% overage = 13.2 ft³
Step 3: yd³ = 13.2 ÷ 27 = 0.49 yd³
Step 4: At 100 lb/ft³, weight = 1,320 lbs = 0.66 tons
Result: Buy about 0.5 yd³ or 27 x 50 lb bags of paver sand.
A 4 x 6 ft sandbox, filled 8 inches deep.
Step 1: ft³ = 4 x 6 x 8 ÷ 12 = 16.0 ft³
Step 2: Add 10% overage = 17.6 ft³
Step 3: yd³ = 17.6 ÷ 27 = 0.65 yd³
Step 4: Play sand at 90 lb/ft³ = 1,584 lbs = 0.79 tons
Result: Plan on about 32 x 50 lb bags or a small bulk delivery.
A 20 x 20 ft area with a 2 inch leveling layer.
Step 1: ft³ = 20 x 20 x 2 ÷ 12 = 66.7 ft³
Step 2: Add 10% overage = 73.3 ft³
Step 3: yd³ = 73.3 ÷ 27 = 2.72 yd³
Step 4: At 95 lb/ft³, weight = 6,967 lbs = 3.48 tons
Result: This is a bulk sand project, not a bagged-material job.
Concrete sand, masonry sand, play sand, and fill sand are not interchangeable for every project.
Coarse washed sand with angular grains. It drains better than fine sand and works well below pavers.
Best for
Avoid for
Density: 100 lb/ft³
$30-$45/ton bulk or $45-$65/yd³
Fine screened sand that packs smoothly and creates a clean finish for masonry work.
Best for
Avoid for
Density: 105 lb/ft³
$35-$55/ton bulk
Washed and screened sand intended for play use. It is usually lighter per cubic foot than masonry sand.
Best for
Avoid for
Density: 90 lb/ft³
$4-$7 per 50 lb bag
Budget sand for volume fill where cleanliness and finish texture are less important.
Best for
Avoid for
Density: 95 lb/ft³
$20-$35/ton bulk
A screened leveling material used above compacted aggregate base before pavers are installed.
Best for
Avoid for
Density: 100 lb/ft³
$5-$8 per 0.5 ft³ bag or bulk by yard
Jointing sand with binders. It is not a replacement for bedding sand or fill sand.
Best for
Avoid for
Density: 110 lb/ft³
$20-$35 per 40-50 lb bag
Six common sand scenarios with cubic feet estimates and buying notes.
A 4 x 6 ft sandbox at 8 inches deep needs 17.6 ft³ with overage. That is roughly 32 x 50 lb bags of play sand.
A 16 x 20 ft patio with a 1 inch bedding layer needs 29.3 ft³ base or 32.3 ft³ with overage before pavers go down.
Brick and block work often uses smaller but denser volumes of fine masonry sand, especially when batching mortar on site.
A 1,000 ft² lawn at 1/2 inch needs 41.7 ft³ base or 45.8 ft³ with overage, so even thin layers add up quickly.
Sand is commonly used around pipes and conduit because it cushions edges and provides a more uniform bed than native rocky soil.
Large recreational sand areas jump into multi-yard deliveries quickly because the depth is usually 8 to 12 inches, not a thin surface coat.
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Common questions about calculating sand in cubic feet, cubic yards, tons, and bags.
From cubic meters to cubic feet, compare volumes quickly with clear formulas and fast results.