Sand Calculator
This sand calculator finds how much sand you need from the area and the depth. Enter the length, width, depth, and bulk density and the sand calculator returns the volume in cubic meters and the weight in tonnes and kilograms. As a sand estimator it covers paver bedding, leveling, and fill jobs, so you can order by volume or by weight.
Results
The Sand Calculator is part of our Materials Estimating collection. Browse more materials estimating to size, convert, and check your work alongside this tool.
What the sand calculator shows
The sand calculator turns a length, a width, and a depth into a volume, then uses the bulk density to give a weight. It reports cubic meters for ordering loose sand and tonnes or kilograms for a delivery priced by weight. Whether you run it as a paver sand calculator, a mason sand calculator, or a fill sand calculator, the method is the same, so it suits bedding, leveling, and backfill alike.
How the sand estimator finds volume and weight
The sand estimator multiplies the area by the depth for the volume, then multiplies by the bulk density for the weight:
The depth is divided by 1000 to change millimeters into meters. Bulk density links volume to weight, which is how a sand tonnage calculator turns a bed of sand into a delivery figure. Dry sand runs near 1.6 t/m³, so a cubic meter weighs about 1.6 tonnes.
Sand calculator example
A bed 8 m by 4 m at 25 mm deep, with dry sand at 1.6 t/m³. The sand calculator gives:
So the bed needs 0.8 cubic meters, about 1.28 tonnes of sand. Change the depth and the sand calculator updates the volume and weight at once.
How to use the sand calculator
Enter the area length and width in meters, the depth in millimeters, and the bulk density in tonnes per cubic meter, and the sand calculator returns the volume and the weight. Use about 1.6 t/m³ for typical dry sand, a touch lower for loose fill. To calculate sand volume for an odd area, split it into rectangles and add them, then read the total in tonnes.
Reading the sand estimator result
The volume in cubic meters is what you order loose sand by; the weight in tonnes is what a bagged or bulk delivery is priced by. Round up a little, since sand settles and compacts, and a bed always loses some to the edges. If your supplier sells by the bag, divide the weight by the bag size to get the count. The sand estimator gives both volume and weight, so you can match whichever unit your yard quotes.
When to use the sand calculator
- Bedding a patio with the sand calculator
- Ordering by weight with the sand tonnage calculator
- Filling a trench where you calculate sand volume
- Topping a base with a leveling sand calculator
Common sand calculator mistakes
- Depth in the wrong unit. Enter the depth in millimeters; a bed is tens of millimeters, not meters.
- One density for every sand. Dry, wet, and compacted sand differ, so set the bulk density before you calculate sand volume.
- No allowance for settling. Round up, since sand compacts and edges lose material.
Tips for ordering sand
- Order loose sand by cubic meters and bulk sand by tonnes.
- Use about 1.6 t/m³ for dry sand and more if it is wet.
- Add a little extra for compaction and edge loss.
Paver sand calculator and polymeric sand calculator
Paving uses sand in two layers, and each one changes how you set the depth. A paver sand calculator sizes the bedding course under the pavers, usually 25 to 40 mm of sharp or bedding sand, spread and screeded flat before the pavers go down. A polymeric sand calculator instead fills the narrow joints between pavers, so the volume is small and the depth you enter is the joint depth, not a full bed. Sweep polymeric sand into the joints, then wet it so the binder sets. For a patio, run the sand calculator for patio bedding first at the bed depth, then a second pass for the joints, and add a bag of sand calculator estimate on top for the small top ups you always need.
Calculate sand volume, then convert to tons
The order of operations is always volume first, weight second. Calculate sand volume from the area and depth, then multiply by the bulk density to reach tonnes, since suppliers quote loose sand by the cubic meter but bulk deliveries by weight. A cubic yard sand calculator does the same in imperial units, and to calculate cubic yards of sand you divide the cubic meters by 0.765. Bulk density is the number that shifts with the sand: dry sharp sand near 1.6 t/m³, softer mason sand a little less, and wet sand more, because water fills the gaps. Set the density to match your sand and the sand tonnage calculator lands close to the delivery ticket.
Sand calculator in tons reference
Typical bulk density by sand type, to set the density in the sand calculator in tons:
| Sand type | Bulk density | Common use |
|---|---|---|
| Sharp / concrete sand | 1.6 t/m³ | Concrete, bedding |
| Mason / building sand | 1.5 t/m³ | Mortar, render |
| Paver / bedding sand | 1.6 t/m³ | Under pavers |
| Fill sand | 1.5 t/m³ | Backfill, leveling |
Sand Calculator FAQ
How does the sand calculator work?
It multiplies the area by the depth for the volume, then by the bulk density for the weight. The sand calculator returns cubic meters, tonnes, and kilograms.
How do I calculate sand volume?
Multiply length by width by depth in the same units. To calculate sand volume for 8 m by 4 m at 25 mm you get 0.8 cubic meters, which the tool converts to tonnes.
How much does a cubic meter of sand weigh?
About 1.6 tonnes for dry sand, or 1600 kg. Wet or compacted sand weighs more, so the sand tonnage calculator lets you set the bulk density.
Does it work for paver and polymeric sand?
Yes. As a paver sand calculator or a polymeric sand calculator it uses the same area and depth math; polymeric sand fills joints, so use a thin depth for it.