Sand Calculator
Work out how much sand you need for a project — enter the area and depth, and get the volume in cubic yards and cubic feet, plus the approximate tonnage.
Sand Calculator
Densities are typical values — moisture, grading and compaction change them. Confirm with your supplier and round up.
Runs in your browser — nothing you enter is uploaded or stored.
Scratchpad auto-saved
How it works — in four simple steps
No signup and nothing to install — it all runs in your browser.
Measure your area
Measure the length and width in feet (or the diameter for a round area) and enter them.
Set the depth
Enter how deep you want the sand in inches — a typical range is suggested for you.
Calculate
Read the volume in cubic yards and cubic feet, plus the tonnage.
Order with a little spare
Keep the 10% waste allowance on, or add your own margin, so you don't run short.
Pavers need about 1″ of bedding sand; a kids' sandbox is usually filled 10–12″ deep with washed play sand.
Features
Estimates in the units you buy
Enter the area and depth and get the volume in cubic yards and cubic feet, plus the approximate weight in tons — the quantities suppliers actually sell by, so you can order with confidence.
Rectangle or circle
Works for straight rectangular areas and for round patios, fire-pit surrounds or planters — switch shape and enter the diameter.
Built-in waste allowance
A 10% extra is added by default for waste, compaction and uneven ground, so you're less likely to run short mid-job. Turn it off for an exact volume.
Great for paver bedding
Perfect for working out bedding or leveling sand under pavers and patios — set a shallow depth like 1 inch and the tool handles the rest.
About the Sand Calculator
Estimating sand comes down to one idea: volume = area × depth. Measure the area you're covering (length × width, or π × radius² for a circle), multiply by how deep you want the sand, and you have the volume. This calculator does that and converts the result into the units suppliers sell by — cubic yards, cubic feet and an approximate weight in tons.
Depth is entered in inches because most sand layers are only a few inches deep, while the area is in feet — the tool handles the unit conversion for you. A 10% waste allowance is added by default, since real ground is uneven and material compacts. Everything is calculated in your browser.