Sand calculator for Oregon
Get mason or washed sand amounts in tons and cubic yards, along with depth guidance for different jobs.
Enter your project dimensions
One cubic yard of dry sand weighs about 2,700 lb, equal to 1.35 tons. After rain, wet sand may reach 3,200 lb, making the pile feel heavier even though the order amount is unchanged. This calculator turns area and depth into yard and ton estimates for our mason and washed sand. Use the depth guide below, since applications run from a 1-inch paver setting bed to a 6-inch sandbox.
Sand calculations
- First measure the space in feet. For round pools and fire pits, enter the diameter and let circle mode calculate the area.
- Job specifications set the depth, so use those instead of estimating. See the next section for the listed depths.
- To get cubic yards, divide cubic feet by 27. Multiply yards by 1.35 for tons of dry sand.
Job-specific sand depths
- Use 1 inch of screeded coarse sand for paver bedding, and do not go deeper. Extra depth can leave pavers unsteady over time. See the Paver Sand Calculator for the full layer setup.
- Fill sandboxes with 6 inches of washed sand. For an 8 x 8 box, plan on about 1.2 yards and 1.6 tons.
- For an above-ground pool, use 2 inches of mason sand and screed it completely flat. Keep stones away from the liner.
- For lawn leveling, blend a quarter to a half inch of sand into the soil. In Willamette Valley clay, straight sand can create a layer that roots do not cross.
- Typical mortar and concrete mixes use a ton of sand for 7 to 8 bags of cement. Follow the mix ratio for the job.
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
Use fine, closely graded mason sand where a smooth grain is needed, including mortar, paver joints, and pool bases. Washed sand has the clay and silt rinsed away, making it suitable for bedding, sandboxes, and mixed material. Both have the same weight per yard, so either choice produces the same calculator result. For pool bases, mason sand is commonly used because it screeds to a smooth surface.
Comparing bulk and bag quantities
A 50 lb bag provides about half a cubic foot, while a cubic yard takes 54 bags. At 1 inch of depth, each bag spreads over roughly 6 square feet. For a 300-square-foot bedding project, that means 25 store bags or one bulk ton with free delivery. Cover stockpiled sand with a tarp, since soaked material is harder to screed and can weigh a fifth more per shovel.
Sand for mortar and concrete
When mixing on site, use the 3:2:1 concrete proportion of stone, sand, and cement, which takes about a ton of sand for 7 to 8 bags of cement. A 100-block wall needs roughly a third of a ton of mason sand for mortar. Use washed sand in concrete and mason sand in mortar. Since batch plants provide closer proportion control than a wheelbarrow, compare ready-mix pricing with DIY costs for structural pours beyond a yard or two before giving up your weekend.
Common sand quantity questions
How much sand is needed?
How heavy is a yard of sand?
How many 50 lb bags make a yard?
What quantity of sand is right for a sandbox?
Which sand belongs below an above-ground pool?
Which sand should be used for paver beds and joints?
Do you buy sand by ton or by yard?
More calculators
Two sand options, free delivery.
Order mason or washed sand by the ton with free delivery throughout Oregon.
