Sand calculator for Mississippi
Get mason or washed sand quantities in tons and cubic yards, along with job-specific depth guidance.
Enter your project dimensions
A cubic yard of dry sand weighs about 2,700 lb, or 1.35 tons. When saturated, that same yard may weigh 3,200 lb, making it tougher to move after rain without changing the amount ordered. Enter the area and depth to calculate yards and tons for mason or washed sand. Depth is especially important: use a 1-inch bed for pavers, while a sandbox may need 6-inch.
Sand calculations
- Start by measuring the space in feet. For round areas, including pools and fire pits, enter the diameter in circle mode.
- Set the depth required for the project rather than estimating it. Check the list in the following section.
- Divide cubic feet by 27 to get cubic yards. For dry-sand tons, multiply yards by 1.35.
Sand depth by project
- For paver bedding, screed 1 inch of coarse sand and stop there. More depth can cause pavers to wobble later. The Paver Sand Calculator explains the full layer stack.
- Washed sand should be 6 inches deep in sandboxes. A box measuring 8 x 8 needs about 1.2 yards, or 1.6 tons.
- Place 2 inches of mason sand below an above-ground pool, screeded completely flat, with no stones touching the liner.
- For lawn leveling, mix a quarter to a half inch of sand into the soil. Over Mississippi clay, a plain sand layer can keep roots from growing through it.
- For ordinary mortar and concrete, allow a ton of sand for 7 to 8 bags of cement, then use the specified 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
Mason sand has a finer, more even texture for mortar, paver joints, pool bases, and work that calls for a smooth grain. Washed sand has clay and silt rinsed away, making it suitable for bedding, sandboxes, and mixes. Their per-yard weights are the same, so either selection produces the same calculator result. For pool bases, mason sand provides a smooth surface that screeds flat.
Comparing bulk and bag quantities
A 50 lb bag contains about half a cubic foot, meaning 54 bags equal a cubic yard. At 1 inch of depth, each bag spreads over roughly 6 square feet. For a 300-square-foot bedding area, that works out to 25 store-shelf bags or one tipped ton without a skid, delivered free. Tarp the sand pile on site because wet sand is difficult to screed and can weigh a fifth more per shovel.
Sand for mortar and concrete
When mixing at the site, a standard 3:2:1 concrete blend of stone, sand, and cement uses about a ton of sand per 7 to 8 bags of cement. Mortar for a 100-block wall requires roughly a third of a ton of mason sand. Use washed sand in concrete and mason sand in mortar. Since batch plants control tolerances more closely than a wheelbarrow, compare ready-mix pricing with DIY calculations before using a yard or two for structural pours.
Common sand quantity questions
How much sand is needed?
What does a yard of sand weigh?
How many 50 lb bags equal one yard of sand?
How much sand goes in a sandbox?
Which sand should go beneath an above-ground pool?
Which sand is used for paver beds and joints?
Is sand priced by ton or by yard?
Other calculators
Mason and washed sand
Mason and washed sand sold by the ton, with free delivery across Mississippi.
