Sand calculator for Vermont
Find mason or washed sand quantities in tons and cubic yards, then use the right depth for the job.
Enter your project dimensions
A cubic yard of dry sand is about 2,700 lb, or 1.35 tons. Once saturated, it can reach 3,200 lb, so it handles heavier after rain without changing what was ordered. Use this calculator to turn area and depth into yard and ton amounts for mason and washed sand. Depth matters: work can call for a 1-inch paver setting bed or a 6-inch sandbox.
Sand quantity math
- Lay out the space in feet. For pools and fire pits, enter the diameter and select the circle option.
- Set depth from the job requirement instead of estimating it. The next section gives the common depths.
- To get cubic yards, take cubic feet ÷ 27. For dry-sand tons, use yards × 1.35.
Recommended depth for each job
- Paver bedding takes 1 inch of coarse sand, screeded only to that depth. More sand can leave pavers unsteady later. See the Paver Sand Calculator for the full base layout.
- For sandboxes, use washed sand at 6 inches deep. An 8 x 8 box needs about 1.2 yards and 1.6 tons.
- For an above-ground pool, place 2 inches of mason sand, level it dead flat, and keep stones off the liner.
- Lawn leveling calls for a quarter to a half inch of sand worked into soil. On Champlain Valley clay, a straight sand layer can stop roots from growing through it.
- For standard mortar and concrete, allow a ton of sand for 7 to 8 bags of cement, then follow the specified mix ratio.
Coverage and material 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
Use mason sand where a fine, even material is needed, including mortar, paver joints, and pool bases. Washed sand has clay and silt removed and suits bedding, sandboxes, and mixes. Both use the same per-yard weight in the calculator. For pool bases, mason sand levels cleanly under the liner.
Comparing bulk and bag quantities
Each 50 lb bag provides about half a cubic foot, making 54 bags equal to a cubic yard. At 1 inch of depth, a bag covers roughly 6 square feet. A 300-square-foot bedding area means 25 store bags or one bulk ton tipped on site, delivered free. Cover the pile with a tarp: wet sand is hard to screed and can weigh a fifth more per shovel.
Sand for mortar and concrete
For site mixing, a 3:2:1 concrete blend of stone, sand, and cement uses about a ton of sand for each 7 to 8 bags of cement. Mortar for a 100-block wall uses roughly a third of a ton of mason sand. Use washed sand in concrete and mason sand for mortar. On structural pours beyond a yard or two, check ready-mix pricing against the DIY calculation before giving up the weekend.
Common sand quantity questions
What quantity of sand is needed?
What is the weight of a yard of sand?
How many 50 lb bags make one yard of sand?
How much sand is required for a sandbox?
Which sand belongs under an above-ground pool?
Which sand should be used for paver bedding and joints?
Do you sell sand by ton or by yard?
More calculators
Mason and washed sand delivery
Mason and washed sand are sold by the ton with free delivery throughout Vermont.
