Sand calculator for Arkansas
Determine mason or washed sand volume in cubic yards and tons, with depth guidance matched to the work.
Enter your project dimensions
A cubic yard of dry sand is about 2,700 lb, or 1.35 tons. Once rain wets it, the same yard may reach 3,200 lb, so it is harder to move despite the order quantity staying the same. Use this calculator to turn area and depth into tonnage and yards. Check the depth notes below: installations range from a precise 1-inch paver setting bed to a 6-inch sandbox.
Sand calculation basics
- Use feet for the area measurements. For round features such as pools or fire pits, enter the diameter and let circle mode calculate the area.
- Choose the specified installation depth instead of estimating. The following section provides the depths.
- To get cubic yards, take cubic feet ÷ 27. For dry-sand tonnage, multiply yards × 1.35.
Recommended depth by application
- Paver bedding: Keep coarse sand at 1 inch and screed it evenly. Added depth can lead to unstable pavers. See the Paver Sand Calculator for the full assembly.
- Sandboxes: place washed sand 6 inches deep. A box measuring 8 x 8 needs about 1.2 yards and 1.6 tons.
- Under an above-ground pool: use 2 inches of mason sand, leveled flat by screeding, with no stones touching the liner.
- Lawn leveling: work a quarter to a half inch of sand into the soil. Over Arkansas clay, unmixed sand can form a boundary that roots will not readily cross.
- Mortar and concrete mixes: for typical work, allow a ton of sand for each 7 to 8 bags of cement, then use the specified 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 tighter, finer screen and suits mortar, paver joints, pool bases, and other work needing an even, smooth grain. Washed sand is rinsed to remove clay and silt, making it useful for bedding, sandboxes, and general mixes. Both calculate at the same weight per yard, so select based on the application. Mason sand is the usual material beneath pools because it screeds evenly.
Comparing bags with bulk sand
A 50 lb bag provides about half a cubic foot, meaning 54 bags make a cubic yard. Spread at 1 inch, each bag covers roughly 6 square feet. A 300-square-foot bedding area therefore needs 25 store bags or one tipped bulk ton, delivered free. Cover site sand with a tarp: wet material does not screed well and may weigh a fifth more with every shovel.
Sand in concrete and mortar
Mixing concrete at the site? In a standard 3:2:1 concrete blend of stone, sand, and cement, plan on 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. Put washed sand in concrete and mason sand in mortar. For structural pours beyond a yard or two, check ready-mix pricing against the DIY calculation before using the weekend for the work.
Common sand quantity questions
How much sand is required?
What is the weight of a yard of sand?
How many 50 lb bags make one yard?
How much sand belongs in a sandbox?
Which sand should go below an above-ground pool?
Which sand works for paver bedding and joints?
Is sand priced by ton or yard?
More calculators
Two sand types, free delivery.
Order mason or washed sand by the ton with free delivery across Arkansas.
