Sand calculator for South Dakota
Calculate mason or washed sand in cubic yards and tons, then check the depth guidance for your type of work.
Enter your project dimensions
One cubic yard of dry sand weighs about 2,700 lb, or 1.35 tons. After rain, that yard can reach 3,200 lb, making the pile feel heavier even though the ordered amount is unchanged. This calculator turns your area and depth into yard and ton estimates for mason and washed sand. Use the depth notes below, since jobs can call for a firm 1-inch paver setting bed or a 6-inch sandbox fill.
Sand calculation steps
- Enter measurements in feet. For round areas like pools and fire pits, provide the diameter and use circle mode.
- Match the depth to the application instead of estimating. The guidance is in the next section.
- Divide cubic feet by 27 to find cubic yards. Multiply yards by 1.35 to estimate dry-sand tons.
Sand depth for each job
- Keep paver bedding at 1 inch of screeded coarse sand. More depth can lead to pavers moving later. The Paver Sand Calculator explains the full layer arrangement.
- Use washed sand to a depth of 6 inches in sandboxes. For an 8 x 8 box, plan on about 1.2 yards and 1.6 tons.
- For an above-ground pool, place 2 inches of mason sand and screed it level. Keep stones off the liner.
- Blend a quarter to a half inch of sand into the soil for lawn leveling. On the water-holding soils found across East River and West River, placing straight sand over clay can create a boundary roots will not cross.
- For ordinary mortar and concrete work, use a ton of sand for 7 to 8 bags of cement, then 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 sand or washed sand
For mortar, pool bases, paver joints, and other smooth-finish work, use finely screened mason sand. Washed sand has clay and silt rinsed out, making it useful for mixes, sandboxes, and bedding. Both materials have the same weight per yard, so either returns the same calculator estimate. Mason sand works well below pools because it can be screeded to an even surface.
Comparing bags with bulk sand
Each 50 lb bag contains about half a cubic foot, meaning 54 bags equal a cubic yard. Spread 1 inch deep, a bag covers roughly 6 square feet. That makes bulk practical for a 300-square-foot bedding area: 25 bags from store shelves or one skid-free tipped ton from us, delivered free. Cover stored sand with a tarp, since wet material screeds poorly and can weigh a fifth more per shovel.
Sand for mortar and concrete
For mixing at the site, a typical 3:2:1 concrete proportion of stone, sand, and cement uses about a ton of sand per 7 to 8 bags of cement. Mortar for a 100-block wall uses roughly a third of a ton of mason sand. Put washed sand in concrete and use mason sand for mortar. For structural pours beyond a yard or two, check ready-mix pricing against the DIY calculation before giving up your weekend.
Common questions about sand amounts
What quantity of sand is needed?
What is the weight of a yard of sand?
How many 50 lb bags make one yard of sand?
How much sand belongs in a sandbox?
Which sand should go below an above-ground pool?
Which sand works for paver beds and joints?
Do you sell sand by ton or by yard?
Other calculators
Two sand choices with free delivery.
Order mason or washed sand by the ton with free delivery across South Dakota.
