Contractor & construction
Sand Calculator
Works sand quantity, where compacted and loose volume differ.
Result
Sand compacts. Bedding sand under pavers typically settles about 15%, so order a little over the calculated volume rather than exactly.
Get a Free Business AuditHow the calculation works
Area times depth gives volume, converted to cubic yards or to weight using the material's density. The complication is compaction: sand delivered loose occupies more volume than the same material compacted in place, so a calculation of the finished depth understates what has to be ordered.
What moves the number
- Finished depth required against loose volume delivered.
- Compaction factor for the material and method.
- Whether the figure needed is volume or weight.
- Delivery minimums and whether it is bagged or bulk.
Where this one goes wrong
Ordering to the finished compacted depth leaves you short, because the material compacts as it is placed, and the allowance depends on the sand and the compaction method rather than being a fixed figure. Ask the supplier. Converting between volume and weight also needs the material's actual density, since sand densities vary with type and moisture content and using a generic figure can be meaningfully wrong on a large order.
Before you quote
- Order for loose volume, allowing for compaction to finished depth.
- Use the supplier's density figure for volume to weight conversion.
- Check delivery minimums for bulk material.
Questions
About this calculator
Why do I need more sand than calculated?
Compaction. Sand delivered loose occupies more volume than the same material compacted in place, so a calculation of the finished depth understates the order. The allowance depends on the material and method, which the supplier can advise on.
How do I convert volume to weight?
Using the material's density, which the supplier can provide. Sand densities vary with type and moisture content, so a generic figure can be meaningfully wrong on a large order where the material is sold by weight.
Bagged or bulk?
Bulk is far cheaper per unit and has a delivery minimum and a place to put it. Bagged suits small quantities and awkward access, and the crossover point is usually reached sooner than people expect once handling time is counted.
The formula
cubic yards = length × width × (depth ÷ 12) ÷ 27
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How to use this calculator
- Length (ft) (ft). Enter your own figure; the page starts at 20 ft.
- Width (ft) (ft). Enter your own figure; the page starts at 15 ft.
- Depth (inches) (in). Enter your own figure; the page starts at 1.5 in.
- Waste / compaction allowance (%). Enter your own figure; the page starts at 10%.
- Cost per cubic yard delivered ($). Enter your own figure; the page starts at $38.
The result updates as you type, so you can try a figure, see what it does to cubic yards needed, and change it back. Nothing you enter is sent anywhere or saved.
A worked example
These are the figures the calculator opens with. Every number in the results column below is produced by the same calculation the page runs, so you can follow it through before putting your own figures in.
What goes in
| Input | Value |
|---|---|
| Length (ft) | 20 ft |
| Width (ft) | 15 ft |
| Depth (inches) | 1.5 in |
| Waste / compaction allowance | 10% |
| Cost per cubic yard delivered | $38 |
What comes out
| Result | Value |
|---|---|
| Cubic yards needed main result | 1.5 |
| Cubic feet | 41.3 |
| Approximate tons | 2.1 |
| Estimated cost | $58.06 |
You need about 1.5 cubic yards (2.1 tons), costing roughly $58.06 delivered.
How sensitive the answer is
Holding everything else steady and changing only cost per cubic yard delivered, this is what happens to cubic yards needed. It is worth knowing which of your inputs the answer actually hinges on, and which barely move it.
| Cost per cubic yard delivered ($) | Cubic yards needed |
|---|---|
| $19 | 1.5 |
| $29 | 1.5 |
| $38 example above | 1.5 |
| $57 | 1.5 |
| $76 | 1.5 |
Every other input is held at the example value while this one changes, which is not how a real job behaves. Treat it as a guide to which number matters most, not as five separate quotes.
What each figure means
- Length (ft) (ft)
- Measured in ft, starting at 20 ft.
- Width (ft) (ft)
- Measured in ft, starting at 15 ft.
- Depth (inches) (in)
- Measured in in, starting at 1.5 in.
- Waste / compaction allowance (%)
- A percentage, between 0 and 60, starting at 10%.
- Cost per cubic yard delivered ($)
- A money amount, starting at $38.
What the results tell you
| Result | What it is |
|---|---|
| Cubic yards needed | The headline result. A decimal figure. |
| Cubic feet | A decimal figure. |
| Approximate tons | A decimal figure. |
| Estimated cost | A money figure. |
Overhead is where these go wrong
Pricing and margin figures are only as good as the cost you put in. If your cost covers parts and wages but not the van, the insurance, the phone and the unbilled hours, the markup is paying for those before it becomes profit, and the margin you think you are making is not the one you are making.
Keep going
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