Sand Calculator

Volume = area × depth, then multiply by the density for tonnage. A 20 × 10 ft area (200 sq ft / 18.6 m²) of bedding sand at 1 in (25 mm) is about 0.6 yd³ (0.47 m³); at roughly 1.35 US tons per cubic yard (1.6 t/m³) that is about 0.8 US tons (0.7 t) — order around 0.9 US tons with a 10% allowance. The calculator does the units and the allowance for you.

Pavers bed on a screeded layer of sharp/washed sand, normally 1 in (25 mm) thick — set the type to “Paver / bedding sand”. Area × depth gives the volume: 200 sq ft at 1 in is about 17 cu ft (0.5 m³). Do not confuse it with the jointing sand swept into the gaps, or the compacted base gravel underneath — those are separate orders.

About 1.3–1.4 US tons per cubic yard of dry sand (roughly 1.5–1.6 tonnes per m³), because sand weighs around 90–105 lb per cubic foot. So 10 yd³ is about 13–14 US tons. Damp sand weighs more; your supplier can give the exact figure for their product.

Match it to the job: sharp (concrete) sand for bedding pavers and mixing concrete; soft (building/masonry) sand for mortar and plaster; washed sand for paver joints; clean, graded play sand for sandboxes; and cheap fill sand for bulk filling. They have slightly different densities, which is why the calculator sets one per type.

A 50 lb (about 40 kg) bag of sand holds roughly 0.5 cu ft (0.014 m³), so it takes about 54 bags to make a cubic yard. Bags suit small jobs and touch-ups; above about half a cubic yard, bulk (loose) delivery is far cheaper. The calculator shows both the bag count and the loose volume.