How the volume and weight are worked out
The area is treated as a rectangle: length multiplied by width multiplied by depth, with the depth converted to the same unit as the length first. That gives the volume in cubic yards.
Weight is the volume multiplied by the density, which for sand is 100 lb per cubic foot. Loose material is less dense than the same material compacted, so this figure matches what a supplier loads rather than what it becomes in place.
The bag or bulk bag count is the weight divided by the pack size and rounded up, because you cannot buy part of a bag.
Worked example
A bedding layer 10 feet by 8 feet at 2 inches is 13.3 cubic feet, or 0.49 cubic yards. At 100 lb per cubic foot that is 0.67 short tons, which is 27 bags of 0.5 cubic feet.
Change any input and all three outputs move together. The count always rounds up, so a job that needs 2.1 bulk bags is quoted as 3.
Limits of this calculator
It assumes a flat rectangular area at one depth. It does not account for a slope, a curved edge or a trench, all of which need the area measured separately.
It uses a typical loose density of 100 lb per cubic foot. Suppliers vary, and damp material weighs more, so treat the weight as an estimate and the volume as the figure to order on.
It does not include a price, delivery, a crane charge or waste from spillage. Add your own percentage if the site is awkward.
For a decorative surface layer rather than a base, use the US gravel calculator.
Inputs for the US sand calculator
Length
The long side of the area, in feet.
Width
The short side of the same area, in feet.
Depth
The layer thickness in inches, which is the finished depth, not the loose depth.
CALCULATOR QUESTIONS
US sand calculator questions
How much does a cubic yard of sand weigh?
About 100 lb per cubic foot. The exact figure depends on moisture and grading, which is why suppliers quote a range.
Should I order extra?
Add 5 to 10 per cent for an irregular shape or an uneven base. For a simple rectangle at a constant depth, the calculated figure is enough.
Is the depth the loose or the finished depth?
Enter the finished depth. If the material compacts, the loose layer you lay will be thicker than the number you enter.
Does this work for a paving bedding, mortar or a sandpit?
It works for any flat area. For a paving bedding, mortar or a sandpit it gives the quantity; it does not specify the material grade, which your supplier should confirm.