Sand Calculator

The final screed layer over compacted gravel is 1 inch of concrete sand — for a 10 × 10 patio that is 0.31 cubic yards, about half a ton. The structural base under it is crushed stone (see our crushed stone calculator); the sand layer is just the bedding the pavers sit and settle into.

A 5 × 5 sandbox filled 8 inches deep needs 1.23 cubic yards — roughly 1.85 tons of sand, which is 46 of the half-cubic-foot play sand bags. Buying bulk "play sand" and getting help unloading beats 46 bags from the big-box store at 3-4× the price per yard.

Play sand is washed and screened, fine and dust-free — the only choice for kids and sandboxes. All-purpose/paver sand is coarser for screeding and mixing. Concrete sand is sharp-grained for mortar and concrete. Never put concrete sand in a sandbox (the dust is the issue) and never use play sand where structure matters.

About 1.35 tons dry (2700 lb/yd³). Wet sand runs noticeably heavier — up to 1.5+ tons per yard. Suppliers sell by weight, so a rainy week at the quarry quietly raises your per-yard cost; the calculator's dry figure is the planning number.

A 50 lb bag of sand is roughly 0.5 cu ft, so a cubic yard takes ~54 bags. At typical bag prices that is $130-200 per yard against $15-50 bulk — above about 5 bags, buying bulk (or a pickup load) always wins.