Sand calculator for Minnesota
Find the mason or washed sand volume in cubic yards and tons, then review depth guidance by project.
Enter your project dimensions
For dry material, a cubic yard of sand weighs about 2,700 lb, or 1.35 tons. Once wet, it may weigh as much as 3,200 lb, making it harder to handle after rain even though the ordered amount is unchanged. Enter the area and depth to calculate yards and tons for mason or washed sand. Depth needs careful attention, from a firm 1-inch paver bed to a 6-inch sandbox.
Sand calculation basics
- Start with the area measured in feet. For round pools or fire pits, enter the diameter and let circle mode calculate it.
- Project requirements determine the depth, so do not estimate it. Refer to the next section.
- Divide cubic feet by 27 to convert to cubic yards. Multiply yards by 1.35 to estimate dry-sand tons.
Sand depths for common jobs
- Keep paver bedding to 1 inch of screeded coarse sand. More depth can cause pavers to shift later. The Paver Sand Calculator explains the full layer setup.
- For a sandbox, use 6 inches of washed sand. An 8 x 8 box needs about 1.2 yards and 1.6 tons.
- Use 2 inches of mason sand beneath an above-ground pool. Screed it flat and keep stones away from the liner.
- Blend a quarter to a half inch of sand into the soil for lawn leveling. With clay soils, plain sand laid as its own layer may stop roots from crossing through.
- For standard mortar or concrete mixes, allow a ton of sand for 7 to 8 bags of cement and use the specified mix ratio.
Sand coverage and weights
| Depth | 1 cubic yard covers | 1 ton covers |
|---|---|---|
| 1 inch | 324 sq ft | ≈ 240 sq ft |
| 2 inches | 162 sq ft | ≈ 120 sq ft |
| 3 inches | 108 sq ft | ≈ 80 sq ft |
| 6 inches | 54 sq ft | ≈ 40 sq ft |
| Project | Typical size | Depth | Volume | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paver bedding layer | 20 x 15 ft patio | 1" | 0.9 yd³ | 1.3 tons |
| Kids' sandbox | 8 x 8 ft | 6" | 1.2 yd³ | 1.6 tons |
| Above-ground pool base | 15 ft round | 2" | 1.1 yd³ | 1.5 tons |
| Volleyball court refresh | 30 x 60 ft | 2" | 11.1 yd³ | 15 tons |
| Lawn leveling blend | ≈ 500 sq ft | 0.5" | 0.8 yd³ | 1 tons |
Choosing mason or washed sand
Choose finer, more evenly screened mason sand for mortar, paver joints, pool bases, and other work where a smooth grain is needed. Washed sand has its clay and silt removed and suits bedding, sandboxes, and general mixes. Since each weighs the same per yard, the calculator result is unchanged by your selection. Mason sand is a sensible pool-base material because it can be screeded smoothly.
Comparing bag quantities
A 50 lb bag contains roughly half a cubic foot, while a cubic yard is 54 bags. At 1 inch of depth, each bag spreads over about 6 square feet. For a 300-square-foot bedding area, that works out to 25 bags or one bulk ton. Cover sand with a tarp on site because wet material is harder to screed and can weigh a fifth more per shovel.
Sand in concrete and mortar mixes
For concrete mixed on site, the usual 3:2:1 proportion of stone, sand, and cement uses about a ton of sand per 7 to 8 bags of cement. Mortar for a 100-block wall needs roughly a third of a ton of mason sand. Choose washed sand for concrete and mason sand for mortar. Since batch plants provide tighter tolerances than wheelbarrow mixing, compare ready-mix with DIY costs for structural pours over a yard or two before planning the weekend.
Common sand quantity questions
How much sand is needed?
What does a yard of sand weigh?
How many 50 lb sand bags make a yard?
How much sand should go in a sandbox?
Which sand belongs under an above-ground pool?
What sand works for paver beds and joints?
Is sand priced by ton or yard?
Other calculators
Mason and washed sand options
Mason and washed sand are sold by the ton with free delivery across Minnesota.
