Sand Calculator Tons

Sand Tonnage Calculator

Total Sand Needed 0.00 Tons

Cubic Yards: 0.00 yd³

Estimated Cost: $0.00

function calculateSand() { var length = parseFloat(document.getElementById('lengthInput').value); var width = parseFloat(document.getElementById('widthInput').value); var depth = parseFloat(document.getElementById('depthInput').value); var price = parseFloat(document.getElementById('priceInput').value) || 0; if (isNaN(length) || isNaN(width) || isNaN(depth) || length <= 0 || width <= 0 || depth <= 0) { alert("Please enter valid positive numbers for length, width, and depth."); return; } // Calculate Cubic Feet var cubicFeet = length * width * (depth / 12); // Calculate Cubic Yards (27 cubic feet in a cubic yard) var cubicYards = cubicFeet / 27; // Average density of dry sand is approx 2,700 lbs per cubic yard // 2,700 / 2,000 = 1.35 tons per cubic yard var tons = cubicYards * 1.35; // Add a 5% waste factor var totalTons = tons * 1.05; var totalCost = totalTons * price; document.getElementById('tonnageResult').innerHTML = totalTons.toFixed(2) + " Tons"; document.getElementById('yardageResult').innerHTML = (cubicYards * 1.05).toFixed(2) + " yd³"; document.getElementById('costResult').innerHTML = "$" + totalCost.toLocaleString(undefined, {minimumFractionDigits: 2, maximumFractionDigits: 2}); document.getElementById('sand-results').style.display = 'block'; }

How to Calculate Sand in Tons

Planning a landscaping project, a new sandbox, or a patio base requires precise measurements. Ordering too little sand leads to project delays, while ordering too much results in wasted money and materials. Our Sand Calculator uses the standard density of construction sand to provide an accurate estimate of how many tons you need to order.

The Sand Calculation Formula

To calculate the tonnage manually, we follow three primary steps:

1. Calculate Volume in Cubic Feet: Multiply Length (ft) × Width (ft) × [Depth (in) / 12].
2. Convert to Cubic Yards: Divide the total cubic feet by 27 (since there are 27 cubic feet in one yard).
3. Convert to Tons: On average, dry sand weighs approximately 1.35 tons per cubic yard. Multiply your cubic yards by 1.35 to find the weight.

Typical Sand Density Reference

Note: This calculator uses a standard density of 100 lbs per cubic foot (approx 1.35 tons/yard). Be aware that wet sand is significantly heavier than dry sand and may increase your tonnage requirements by 20% or more.

Example Calculation

Imagine you are building a volleyball court that is 30 feet long, 15 feet wide, and you want a depth of 6 inches.

• Step 1: 30 × 15 × (6/12) = 225 cubic feet.
• Step 2: 225 / 27 = 8.33 cubic yards.
• Step 3: 8.33 × 1.35 = 11.25 tons.

With a 5% spillage and compaction buffer, you should order approximately 11.8 tons of sand.

Why the 5% Buffer?

When sand is delivered and spread, it naturally compacts as air pockets are removed. Additionally, some sand is inevitably lost to the ground or wind during the spreading process. Professionals always recommend adding 5-10% to the final total to ensure the project can be completed in a single delivery.