Sand calculator for Maine
Determine mason or washed sand amounts by the ton and cubic yard, with depth guidance for different jobs.
Enter your project dimensions
One cubic yard of dry sand is about 2,700 lb, or 1.35 tons. Once saturated, sand may reach 3,200 lb, making it tougher to handle after rain without changing the amount ordered. Enter the area and depth in this calculator to get yard and ton estimates for mason or washed sand. Check the depth notes carefully, since uses range from a 1-inch paver setting bed to a 6-inch sandbox.
Sand calculations
- Enter dimensions in feet. For round pools or fire pits, provide the diameter and circle mode does the calculation.
- Choose the depth specified for the work rather than estimating. Depth recommendations are listed next.
- Divide cubic feet by 27 to get cubic yards. For dry-sand tons, multiply yards by 1.35.
Job depths for sand
- Use 1 inch of coarse sand for paver bedding and screed it evenly. Adding depth can cause pavers to shift later. The Paver Sand Calculator explains the full base setup.
- Sandboxes need 6 inches of washed sand. For an 8 x 8 box, plan on about 1.2 yards or 1.6 tons.
- An above-ground pool base needs 2 inches of mason sand. Screed the surface level and keep stones off the liner.
- For lawn leveling, blend sand into soil at a quarter to a half inch. On clay, a layer of straight sand can stop roots from growing through.
- For ordinary mortar and concrete mixes, use a ton of sand for each 7 to 8 bags of cement, following the applicable mix ratio.
Sand weight and coverage
| 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
For mortar, paver joints, pool bases, and other work needing an even, smooth grain, use finer screened mason sand. Washed sand has clay and silt rinsed away, so it suits bedding, sandboxes, and general mixes. Both materials have the same weight per yard, meaning the calculator result stays the same. Mason sand also creates a smooth screeded surface beneath pools.
Comparing bulk with bags
A 50 lb bag contains around half a cubic foot, and 54 bags equal a cubic yard. Applied 1 inch deep, each bag spreads over roughly 6 square feet. For a 300-square-foot bedding area, that works out to 25 bags or one tipped bulk ton. Tarp sand after delivery because a wet pile is difficult to screed and may weigh a fifth more per shovel.
Sand in concrete and mortar
For a standard 3:2:1 concrete batch using stone, sand, and cement, estimate 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. Use washed sand in concrete and mason sand for mortar. For structural pours larger than a yard or two, compare ready-mix pricing with the do-it-yourself estimate before setting aside 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 belongs in a sandbox?
Which sand goes below an above-ground pool?
What sand works for paver bedding and joints?
Do you sell sand by ton or yard?
More calculators
Two sand options with free delivery.
Order mason or washed sand by the ton with free delivery throughout Maine.
