Sand calculator
Work out how much sand to order for a layer, a measured area or a known volume. Get the volume with your allowance, the dry mass and the number of whole bags.
Lengths up to 10 km and depth up to 10 m, with the area (entered, or length × width) up to 1,000,000 m² and the sand volume before the allowance up to 1,000,000 m³ in every mode; allowance and bulking from 0 to 50%, dry bulk density from 500 to 3,000 kg/m³ and bags from 0.1 to 2,000 kg, up to 1 billion bags. Calculated on your device; download a JSON report and a CSV of results. This calculator uses the measurement fields only. Results update as you type. Up to 1,000,000 characters.
Your result
How to use Sand calculator
- Choose how you will measure, then enter the length, width and depth, an area and depth, or a known volume.
- Set the extra allowance and, for damp sand bought by volume, the moisture bulking.
- Enter the dry bulk density and bag mass from your supplier.
- Review the volume, mass and whole bags, then download the JSON report or CSV.
Useful next steps
From layer to volume
The net volume is the layer area multiplied by its average finished depth, or the volume you enter. A 4 × 2.5 m area at 0.05 m depth holds 0.5 m³. The extra allowance for spillage, settling and uneven ground is added before anything else, so 10% gives 0.55 m³.
From volume to mass and bags
Mass is volume multiplied by bulk density (OpenStax University Physics, section 14.1, checked 16 October 2026). With an editable example density of 1,600 kg/m³, 0.55 m³ weighs 880 kg, which is 36 bags of 25 kg after rounding up. Use the dry bulk density your supplier gives; it varies with grading, moisture and compaction.
Damp sand takes more room
Damp sand bulks: thin water films push the grains apart, so the same dry sand fills more loose volume. Percentage bulking is measured against the saturated volume (Virtual Labs, Bulking of Fine Aggregate, checked 16 October 2026). Enter your measured bulking to see the loose volume to order; it does not change the dry mass, and water weight is not included.
Limits
Depth is limited to 10 m, areas to 1,000,000 m², sand volumes before the allowance to 1,000,000 m³ and counts to 1 billion bags. The area and volume limits apply in every mode, including length × width and area × depth. The estimate does not check structural, drainage or paving design. Unit conversions use NIST SP 811 factors.