Sand calculator for Wyoming
Use tons or cubic yards to estimate mason and washed sand, then check the depth guidance for your project.
Enter your project dimensions
A cubic yard of dry sand is about 2,700 lb, equal to 1.35 tons. Rain-soaked sand may weigh 3,200 lb, making the pile feel heavier even though the amount ordered is the same. This calculator changes your area and depth measurements into yards and tons for mason and washed sand. Use the depth notes below, since jobs run from a precise 1-inch paver layer to a 6-inch sandbox.
Sand calculations
- Take your area measurements in feet. For a round pool or fire pit, enter its diameter and use circle mode for the calculation.
- Set the depth required for the application. Check the next section for the listed depths.
- For cubic yards, take cubic feet ÷ 27. To get dry-sand tons, use yards × 1.35.
Recommended depths by project
- For pavers, use 1 inch of screeded coarse sand and stop there. Added depth can lead to pavers moving over time. See the Paver Sand Calculator for the complete layer layout.
- Use 6 inches of washed sand in a sandbox. A box measuring 8 x 8 needs about 1.2 yards, or 1.6 tons.
- Set an above-ground pool on 2 inches of mason sand. Screed the bed completely flat, and keep stones off the liner.
- For lawn leveling, blend a quarter to a half inch of sand into the soil. On gumbo clay, a separate layer of straight sand can keep roots from growing through it.
- For typical mortar or concrete mixes, allow a ton of sand for 7 to 8 bags of cement. Follow the required 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 or washed sand
Choose finer, closely graded mason sand for mortar, paver joints, pool bases, and work where an even, smooth texture is needed. Washed sand has clay and silt removed, making it useful for bedding, sandboxes, and general mixes. Since each weighs the same per yard, either choice produces the same calculator result. Pick based on the job, as mason sand is the usual material beneath pool liners.
Comparing bags to bulk
A 50 lb bag contains about half a cubic foot, and a cubic yard works out to 54 bags. At 1 inch of depth, a bag will cover roughly 6 square feet. A 300-square-foot bedding area needs 25 bags from the shelf or one bulk ton with delivery at no charge. Cover stored sand with a tarp. Soaked sand is harder to screed and can weigh a fifth more with each shovel.
Sand in concrete and mortar
For site-mixed concrete, a 3:2:1 blend of stone, sand, and cement uses about a ton of sand per 7 to 8 bags of cement. A 100-block wall needs roughly a third of a ton of mason sand for its mortar. Use washed sand in concrete and mason sand in mortar. For structural pours larger than a yard or two, compare ready-mix pricing with your DIY calculation before setting aside your weekend.
Common sand quantity questions
How much sand is required?
What does a yard of sand weigh?
How many 50 lb sand bags make a yard?
How much sand goes in a sandbox?
Which sand should go beneath an above-ground pool?
Which sand works for paver beds and joints?
Do you buy sand by ton or yard?
Other calculators
Mason and washed sand delivery
Order mason or washed sand by the ton with free delivery across Wyoming.
