Sand Calculator for Sandboxes
Estimate play sand to fill a sandbox.
A sandbox is filled deep — often 10–12 inches so kids can dig. The calculator starts at 11 inches; adjust to your box depth and enter the length and width below.
Sand Calculator
Estimate how much you need — and the cost.
- cubic feet 91.67
- cubic meters 2.596
- tons (US) 4.75
- tonnes 4.31
Tip: Buy washed, dust-free play sand rated as non-toxic — ordinary construction sand can contain silica dust.
How it's calculated
1 cubic yard covers about 324 sq ft at 1 in deep; about 1.4 US tons per cubic yard; a 1 in bedding layer needs about 0.43 US tons per 100 sq ft.
See the full Sand Calculator for the complete how-to, unit conversions, and data sources.
Sand Calculator for Sandboxes FAQ
How much sand for a sandbox?
Multiply the box length × width by its fill depth. A 4 × 4 ft box filled 11 inches deep needs about 0.45 cubic yards (≈ 24 of the 0.5 cu ft bags).
What kind of sand is safe for a sandbox?
Use washed, screened play sand labeled non-toxic and dust-free — not generic builder's or beach sand.