Sand Calculator — Volume, Weight & Bags
Work out the volume and weight of sand for a patio base, sandbox, fill project or construction job. Enter the length, width and depth of the area and pick your sand type to get tonnes, cubic metres, and the number of 25 kg bags to order.
Units
m
m
cm
Sand type
t/m³
Total weight at the specified bulk density
1.5 m³
Sand volume- 1
Volume
5 × 3 × 0.1 m = 1.5 - 2
Weight
1.5 m³ × 1.68 t/m³ = 2.52
How does this calculator work?
Multiply length × width × depth (all in metres) to get volume in m³, then multiply by the sand's bulk density (typically 1.44–1.92 t/m³ depending on moisture) to get the weight in tonnes. Divide weight by 0.025 to find the number of 25 kg bags needed. Add 5–10% extra for waste.
Formula
How this is calculated
The calculator treats the sand-filled area as a rectangular layer. All dimensions are converted to metres — imperial feet are multiplied by 0.3048 and inches by 0.0254; metric centimetres are divided by 100. Multiplying length × width × depth gives the volume in cubic metres, which is also shown in cubic yards (1 m³ ≈ 1.308 yd³).
Volume is converted to weight by multiplying by the sand's bulk density. Bulk density depends strongly on how wet and how tightly packed the sand is: dry loose sand is around 1.44 t/m³, dry packed around 1.68 t/m³, and wet sand around 1.92 t/m³. Select the type closest to your use case or override the density to match your supplier's data sheet. The calculator also estimates how many standard 25 kg bags you would need.
Limitations: this assumes a flat, level rectangular area. For irregular shapes, break the area into rectangles and add the totals. Always order 5–10% extra for wastage, settling and spillage. If you enter a price per tonne, the calculator estimates material cost — it does not include delivery or labour.
Frequently asked questions
At a dry packed density of 1.68 t/m³, one tonne is about 0.595 m³. At a 10 cm depth that covers about 5.95 m². At 5 cm depth it covers about 11.9 m². Exact coverage depends on the actual bulk density of the sand you buy.
A bedding layer of sharp sand under paving slabs is typically 30–50 mm (3–5 cm) compacted. A sand sub-base may be 100–150 mm (10–15 cm). For a sandbox or play area, 15–30 cm of play sand is common.
Sharp (coarse) sand has angular grains and good load-bearing properties — used for mortar mixes and paving bases. Play sand is finely graded, washed and rounded — safer for sandboxes. Their bulk densities are similar; the choice depends on the application.
Also known as
TG we-Calculate Editorial Team. (2026). Sand Calculator — Volume, Weight & Bags [Online calculator]. TG we-Calculate. https://we-calculate.com/calculator/sand-calculator
TG we-Calculate Editorial Team. "Sand Calculator — Volume, Weight & Bags." TG we-Calculate. 2026. https://we-calculate.com/calculator/sand-calculator.
TG we-Calculate Editorial Team, "Sand Calculator — Volume, Weight & Bags," TG we-Calculate, 2026. [Online]. Available: https://we-calculate.com/calculator/sand-calculator
@misc{wecalculate_sand_calculator, title = {Sand Calculator — Volume, Weight & Bags}, author = {{TG we-Calculate Editorial Team}}, howpublished = {\url{https://we-calculate.com/calculator/sand-calculator}}, year = {2026}, note = {TG we-Calculate} }
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