Sand calculator for Idaho
Calculate mason and washed sand in cubic yards or tons, then check the depth guidance for your type of work.
Enter your project dimensions
One cubic yard of dry sand weighs about 2,700 lb, or 1.35 tons. Once wet, it can reach 3,200 lb, so rain makes a pile harder to move without changing the amount ordered. Use this calculator to turn your area and depth into yards and tons for mason or washed sand. Set depth carefully: paver bedding needs 1-inch, while a sandbox can need 6-inch.
Sand calculations
- Enter the dimensions in feet. For pools and fire pits, use the diameter, then circle mode does the calculation.
- Follow the required installation depth instead of estimating. Find the listed depths in the section below.
- Divide cubic feet by 27 to get cubic yards. Multiply yards by 1.35 for tons of dry sand.
Sand depths by project
- For pavers, screed 1 inch of coarse sand and stop there. More depth can cause pavers to wobble later. See the Paver Sand Calculator for the full stack.
- Sandboxes need 6 inches of washed sand. A box measuring 8 x 8 uses about 1.2 yards and 1.6 tons.
- Place 2 inches of mason sand beneath an above-ground pool. Screed it dead flat and keep stones off the liner.
- Blend a quarter to a half inch of sand into soil when leveling a lawn. Over clay, plain sand can form a layer that roots will not cross.
- For standard mortar and concrete mixes, use a ton of sand for 7-8 bags of cement, following the mix ratio.
Sand coverage and weight
| 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
Mason sand has a fine, even texture suited to mortar, paver joints, pool bases, and jobs where smooth grain is needed. Washed sand is rinsed to remove clay and silt, making it useful for sandboxes, bedding, and general mixes. Either material weighs the same by the yard, so the calculator result stays the same. Select based on the job. Use mason sand beneath pool liners.
Comparing bag quantities
A 50 lb bag contains about half a cubic foot, while a cubic yard takes 54 bags. Spread 1 inch deep, one bag covers roughly 6 square feet. A 300-square-foot bedding area needs 25 bags from a store shelf or one bulk ton, delivered free. Tarp the pile at the job site because soaked sand screeds poorly and weighs a fifth more per shovel.
Sand in concrete and mortar
When mixing on site, use the standard 3:2:1 concrete proportion of stone, sand, and cement: about a ton of sand for 7-8 bags of cement. A 100-block wall needs roughly a third of a ton of mason sand for mortar. Put washed sand in concrete and mason sand in mortar. For structural pours over a yard or two, compare ready-mix pricing with the DIY calculation before starting.
Common sand volume questions
How much sand is needed?
How much does one yard of sand weigh?
How many 50 lb sand bags equal a yard?
How much sand is required for a sandbox?
Which sand belongs below an above-ground pool?
Which sand works for paver bedding and joints?
Do we sell sand by ton or yard?
More calculators
Mason and washed sand delivery
Order mason or washed sand by the ton with free delivery across Idaho.
