Sand calculator for New Mexico
Find mason or washed sand quantities in cubic yards and tons, plus job-specific depth guidance.
Enter your project dimensions
For each cubic yard, dry sand is about 2,700 lb, or 1.35 tons. After getting wet, it may reach 3,200 lb, making the pile tougher to move after rain despite the order staying the same. This calculator turns your area and depth into yard and ton amounts for mason and washed sand. Get the depth right: a paver bed calls for 1-inch, while a sandbox can need 6-inch.
Working out sand
- Take your measurements in feet. For circular spaces, including pools and fire pits, enter the diameter and circle mode does the calculation.
- Set the depth called for by the project instead of estimating it. The guide below covers the common uses.
- To get cubic yards, take cubic feet ÷ 27. For dry-sand tons, multiply yards × 1.35.
Sand depths by project
- Paver bedding: Use 1 inch of coarse sand, screeded level. A thicker bed can leave pavers unsteady. See the Paver Sand Calculator for the full assembly.
- For a sandbox, use washed sand at 6 inches deep. An 8 x 8 box needs about 1.2 yards and 1.6 tons.
- Set an above-ground pool on 2 inches of mason sand. Screed the surface flat and do not leave stones against the liner.
- Level a lawn by mixing a quarter to a half inch of sand into the soil. On clay, a solid layer of sand can keep roots from growing through.
- For standard mortar or concrete, allow a ton of sand for 7 to 8 bags of cement, then follow 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 other work where a smooth grain is needed. Washed sand is cleaned of clay and silt, making it suited to bedding, sandboxes, and general mixes. Since both weigh the same by the yard, either choice calculates the same. Mason sand is commonly used beneath pools because it screeds smoothly.
Comparing bags with bulk
Each 50 lb bag has about half a cubic foot, and 54 bags make a cubic yard. Spread at 1 inch, a bag covers roughly 6 square feet. That is why bulk makes sense: a 300-square-foot bedding project calls for 25 shelf bags or one loose tipped ton with delivery at no charge. Cover sand with a tarp at the site, since a saturated pile is hard to screed and can weigh a fifth more with each shovel.
Sand for mortar and concrete
When mixing on site, use the standard 3:2:1 concrete proportion of stone, sand, and cement, allowing about a ton of sand for each 7 to 8 bags of cement. A 100-block wall needs roughly a third of a ton of mason sand for mortar. Put washed sand in concrete and mason sand in mortar. Batch plants maintain closer proportions than wheelbarrow work, so compare ready-mix pricing with the DIY calculation before taking on structural pours beyond a yard or two.
Common sand amount questions
How much sand is needed?
What does a yard of sand weigh?
How many 50 lb bags make a yard?
How much sand fills a sandbox?
Which sand goes below an above-ground pool?
What sand should be used for paver beds and joints?
Do you sell sand by ton or yard?
Other calculators
Mason and washed sand
Mason and washed sand sold by the ton in New Mexico.
