How much sand do I need under pavers?

A bedding layer of about 1 inch of coarse concrete sand (not fine play sand, which ruts) is standard over a compacted gravel base — set the depth to 1 in for that layer. Don't use bedding sand as the main base; it isn't structural.

How much does a cubic yard of sand weigh?

About 1.35 tons (≈2,700 lb) dry; wet sand can run 1.5 tons or more. This calculator uses ~1.35 tons per cubic yard as a dry planning figure.

How big is a bag of sand?

A 50-lb bag of sand is roughly 0.5 cubic foot, so it takes about 54 bags to make a cubic yard. Enter the volume printed on your bag if it differs.

Sand Calculator

Sand for paver bases, sandboxes, and fill is sold by the cubic yard, ton, or bag. Enter the area and depth and this works out all three.

Cubic yards

0.62cu yd

Tons (approx): 0.83 tons
Cubic feet: 16.7 cu ft
Bags (0.5 cu ft): 34 bags

How these numbers are worked out

The formula

Volume = area × depth. Area is length × width; multiply by the depth in feet (inches ÷ 12) for cubic feet, then divide by 27 for cubic yards. Tons ≈ cubic yards × 1.35 (dry sand is roughly 1.35 tons per cubic yard; wet sand is heavier). Bags = cubic feet ÷ the bag's size, rounded up.

Constants and sources

Coverage geometry: 1 cu yd = 27 cu ft. Dry sand density ≈1.35 tons/cu yd (wet is heavier). 50-lb bag ≈0.5 cu ft — verify on the bag.

How it was checked

Last reviewed June 16, 2026. Before this calculator was published, its formula, constants and worked example were checked in a separate, AI-assisted review that redid the arithmetic and tested the factual claims; the site owner then approved it for publishing. No engineer or tradesperson reviews these pages. Where a figure depends on the product (a density, a coverage rate, a bag size), it is either an input you can change above or a fixed planning value stated on this page, so check it against your product's label or your supplier.

Spot a wrong number or an outdated figure? Send a correction.

Worked example

A 10 ft × 10 ft area, 2 inches deep: 100 sq ft × (2 ÷ 12) ≈ 16.7 cubic feet ÷ 27 ≈ 0.62 cubic yards (~0.83 tons). In 0.5-cu-ft (50-lb) bags: 16.7 ÷ 0.5 ≈ 34 bags.

FAQs

How much sand do I need under pavers?: A bedding layer of about 1 inch of coarse concrete sand (not fine play sand, which ruts) is standard over a compacted gravel base — set the depth to 1 in for that layer. Don't use bedding sand as the main base; it isn't structural.
How much does a cubic yard of sand weigh?: About 1.35 tons (≈2,700 lb) dry; wet sand can run 1.5 tons or more. This calculator uses ~1.35 tons per cubic yard as a dry planning figure.
How big is a bag of sand?: A 50-lb bag of sand is roughly 0.5 cubic foot, so it takes about 54 bags to make a cubic yard. Enter the volume printed on your bag if it differs.