# Sandbox Sand Calculator

> This sandbox sand calculator tells you how much play sand to buy for a square, rectangular or round sandbox, in cubic yards, tons and 50 lb bags.

**Quick answer:** An 8 × 8 ft sandbox filled 6 inches deep holds 32 cubic feet of sand. With 5% extra that is 33.6 cubic feet, about 1.24 cubic yards, roughly 1.6 tons or about 65 fifty-pound bags. Play sand is sold dry and washed; bulk delivery is cheaper than bags above about 1 cubic yard.

_Last updated: October 3, 2026. Estimates only; confirm quantities with your supplier._

## How much sand does a sandbox need?

Work out the volume of the sandbox (area times sand depth), add a little extra, then convert to the unit you buy. Bulk sand is sold by the cubic yard or ton; bagged play sand by weight (usually 40 to 60 lb).

```
volume (cu ft) = area (sq ft) × depth (in) ÷ 12
cubic yards = cu ft ÷ 27
weight (lb) = cubic yards × 1.3 × 2,000
bags = weight ÷ bag size
```

Example: an 8 × 8 ft sandbox with 6 inches of sand is 64 × 0.5 = **32 cubic feet**. With 5% extra that is 33.6 cubic feet, or **1.24 cubic yards**. At 1.3 tons per yard that weighs about **1.62 tons (3,235 lb)**, which is **65 bags of 50 lb**.

### Sand needed by sandbox size (6 in deep, 5% extra)

| Size | Cubic feet | Cubic yards | 50 lb bags |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 4 × 4 ft | 8.4 | 0.31 | 17 |
| 5 × 5 ft | 13.1 | 0.49 | 26 |
| 6 × 6 ft | 18.9 | 0.70 | 37 |
| 8 × 8 ft | 33.6 | 1.24 | 65 |
| 10 × 10 ft | 52.5 | 1.94 | 102 |

### Bags or bulk?

- Small boxes under about half a cubic yard are easy with bags.
- Above about one cubic yard, bulk delivery is usually cheaper and avoids dozens of bags, but you need a place to dump it.
- Choose washed, dust-free play sand that is labeled safe for children, and cover the box to keep animals out.

For other shapes and materials use the [sand calculator](../sand-calculator/), convert yards to weight with the [yards to tons calculator](../yards-to-tons-calculator/), or find the volume with the [cubic yard calculator](../cubic-yard-calculator/).

## Frequently asked questions

### How much sand do I need for a sandbox?

Multiply length × width × depth in feet to get cubic feet, add 5%, and divide by 27 for cubic yards. An 8 × 8 ft box 6 in deep needs about 1.24 cubic yards.

### How deep should sand be in a sandbox?

Six inches is common for play; 9–12 inches lets children dig. Keep at least a few inches so the base doesn't show.

### How many bags of play sand fill a sandbox?

An 8 × 8 ft box 6 in deep takes about 65 bags of 50 lb. Divide the weight you need by the bag weight.

### How much does a cubic yard of sand weigh?

About 1.3 tons (2,600 lb) dry, and more when wet. This calculator uses 1.3.

### What sand is safe for a sandbox?

Use washed play sand sold for children. Avoid construction sand with dust or sharp particles unless it is labeled for sandboxes.

## Sources and further reading

- [NIST Special Publication 811: conversion factors](https://www.nist.gov/pml/special-publication-811/nist-guide-si-appendix-b-conversion-factors) — National Institute of Standards and Technology