Sand calculator for North Dakota
Find mason or washed sand amounts in cubic yards and tons, plus depth recommendations by project.
Enter your project dimensions
A cubic yard of dry sand is about 2,700 lb, or 1.35 tons. Once rain soaks it, the same volume can weigh 3,200 lb, so it is tougher to handle despite matching the amount ordered. Enter the area and depth here to calculate yards and tons for mason and washed sand. Getting depth right matters, from a 1-inch paver setting layer to a 6-inch sandbox.
Sand calculations
- Use feet to measure your space. For circular areas such as pools and fire pits, enter the diameter and let circle mode calculate it.
- Set the depth for the application instead of estimating it. Job depths appear in the section below.
- Divide cubic feet by 27 for cubic yards, then multiply yards by 1.35 to find dry-sand tons.
Recommended depths by project
- For paver bedding, use 1 inch of screeded coarse sand and do not build it thicker. Added depth can lead to loose, shifting pavers. See the Paver Sand Calculator for the full assembly.
- For sandboxes, use washed sand at 6 inches deep. An 8 x 8 box needs about 1.2 yards, or 1.6 tons.
- Place 2 inches of mason sand below an above-ground pool. Level it by screeding, and do not leave stones where they can contact the liner.
- For leveling a lawn, mix sand with soil in a quarter to a half inch layer. A straight sand layer over clay can keep roots from passing through it.
- For standard concrete or mortar, allow a ton of sand for 7-8 bags of cement, then follow 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 sand or washed sand
Choose finer, more uniform mason sand for mortar, paver joints, pool bases, and jobs needing a smooth grain. Washed sand has its clay and silt rinsed out, making it useful for bedding, sandboxes, and mixes. Since both weigh the same per yard, the calculator result is unchanged by your selection, though the job result is not. For pool bases, mason sand makes a sound screeded layer.
Comparing bulk sand with bags
Each 50 lb bag provides about half a cubic foot, meaning 54 bags make a cubic yard. Spread 1 inch deep, a bag covers roughly 6 square feet. For a 300-square-foot bedding area, that works out to 25 bags from the shelf or one skid-free tipped ton from us, delivered free. Tarp the material after it arrives: wet sand is harder to screed and can weigh a fifth more with every shovel.
Sand for mortar and concrete
For a standard 3:2:1 concrete blend of stone, sand, and cement, expect about a ton of sand for each 7-8 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. Ready-mix plants control proportions more closely than wheelbarrow batches, so compare ready-mix pricing with DIY costs for structural pours over a yard or two before setting aside your weekend.
Common questions about sand amounts
What amount of sand is needed?
What does a cubic yard of sand weigh?
How many 50 lb bags make one yard of sand?
How much sand should go in a sandbox?
Which sand belongs beneath an above-ground pool?
What sand should be used for paver beds and joints?
Do you buy sand by ton or by yard?
Other calculators
Mason and washed sand
Mason and washed sand sold by the ton in North Dakota.
