How much does a yard of sand weigh?
A loose cubic yard of sand weighs about 2,600–2,900 lb dry and 2,800–3,100 lb wet.
| Sand | lb per cubic yard | US tons per cubic yard | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dry, loose | 2,600–2,900 | 1.3–1.45 | [1] |
| Wet, loose | 2,800–3,100 | 1.4–1.55 | [1] |
| General figure | 2,900 | 1.45 | [2] |
| Bagged dry sand, 50 lb per ~0.5 cu ft | about 2,700 | about 1.35 | [3][4] |
The bagged figure is worked out from manufacturer data: a 50 lb bag of mason sand or play sand holds about 0.5 cu ft (14 L).[3][4] It sits inside the dry range from the engineering tables, which is a useful cross-check. Other materials are compared in how much a cubic yard weighs, and the tons to cubic yards converter turns a tonnage quote into volume.
Damp sand takes up more space
Damp sand can take up 28% more room than the same sand dry, so a yard of damp sand holds less sand.
Sand has a quirk called bulking: a little water pushes the grains apart, so damp sand occupies more volume than the same sand dry. A US Army engineering course gives an example of sand with 6% free moisture bulking by 28%.[6] Gravel does not bulk.[6] So if you order damp sand by the yard you may get less sand than the volume suggests, and if you order by the ton you pay for the water.
Which setting to pickChoose dry sand in the calculator for bagged sand and covered stock, and wet for sand delivered after rain or straight from an open pile.
Sandbox sand calculator: how much sand for a sandbox?
A 4 × 4 ft sandbox 6 inches deep takes 16 bags of 50 lb play sand.
A 50 lb bag of play sand holds about half a cubic foot,[4] so a sandbox needs two bags for every cubic foot (54 bags per cubic yard; see bags per cubic yard). The manufacturer's own play sand chart gives bag counts for 4, 6 and 8 inch deep boxes and notes that its yields do not allow for waste or uneven ground,[4] so round up and keep a bag spare.
| Sandbox (ft) | 4 in | 6 in | 8 in |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 × 4 | 11 | 16 | 22 |
| 5 × 5 | 17 | 25 | 34 |
| 6 × 6 | 24 | 36 | 48 |
| 8 × 8 | 43 | 64 | 86 |
Bedding sand under pavers
Interlocking pavers sit on a nominal 1 inch (25 mm) of bedding sand that is screeded level and left uncompacted until the pavers are compacted on top of it.[7] Oregon State's homeowner guide screeds it over 1-inch pipes used as rails.[8] The industry guide calls for bedding sand meeting ASTM C33 and joint sand meeting ASTM C144.[7] The paver base calculator works out the bedding sand and the base under it together.
Bagged sand types
One manufacturer sells all-purpose sand in 50, 60 and 70 lb bags and play sand in 50 lb bags.[5] Check the label for a volume or coverage; when only a weight is given, divide by about 100 lb per cubic foot of dry sand (50 lb per half cubic foot) to estimate the volume.[3]
Frequently asked questions
How much does a yard of sand weigh?
About 2,600–2,900 lb dry and 2,800–3,100 lb wet per loose cubic yard,[1] roughly 1.3–1.55 US tons.
How many bags of sand do I need for a sandbox?
Cubic feet × 2 for 50 lb bags. A 5 × 5 ft box at 6 inches is 12.5 cu ft, or 25 bags.
How many 50 lb bags of sand are in a yard?
About 54, since each is about 0.5 cu ft and a cubic yard is 27 cu ft.
How much sand do I need under pavers?
A nominal 1 inch of bedding sand.[7] For 100 sq ft that is 8.3 cu ft, or 0.31 cubic yards.
Sources
- FM 5-434 Earthmoving Operations, Tables 1-1 and 1-2 (material weights, swell and conversion factors)
- Conversion Factors for Construction Materials and Common Minerals (from BLM Handbook H-3890-1)
- QUIKRETE Mason Sand No. 1961-56 data sheet
- QUIKRETE Play Sand calculator (No. 1113)
- QUIKRETE Sand & Gravel Products data sheet
- Subcourse EN5466, Lesson 2: Materials Estimation (sand bulking)
- Construction of Interlocking Concrete Pavements (PAV-TEC-002-22)
- 10-Step Guide to Installing Pavers