Bagged vs bulk
Bulk is cheaper for this job
With these prices and $100 delivery, bulk starts to win at about 0.4 cu yd (about 10 sq ft at 12 in). Bulk cost rises in half-yard steps.
Prices used in this comparison
Typical price (estimate, checked Oct 2026): $4.00–$8.00 per 0.5 cu ft bag of sand
Use a price like 4.00.
Typical price (estimate, checked Oct 2026): $15.00–$70.00 per cu yd of sand
Use a price like 15.00.
Typical price (estimate, checked Oct 2026): $50.00–$150.00 per delivery
Use a price like 50.00.
1.5 cu yd × $15.00–$70.00 + $50.00–$150.00 delivery = $72.50–$255
Delivery is one fee for the bulk order, and it carries over to the gravel, mulch and topsoil calculators. Bags are priced per 0.5 cu ft bag. Bulk uses the per cu yd price.
How it works
The formula
cu yd = cu ft ÷ 27
bags = cu ft ÷ 0.5, round up
tons = cu yd × tons per cu yd
Assumptions
- Depth presets: paver bedding 1 in, sandbox 12 in, leveling 2 in. A 1 in bed is the usual guideline under pavers. Sandbox depth is a rule of thumb; 6 to 12 in is common.
- Bags are counted by the volume printed on the bag (0.5 cu ft, about 50 lb), not the weight, which changes with moisture.
- Bulk is rounded up to the half cubic yard, or the half ton, which is how most suppliers sell it.
- A cubic yard of dry sand weighs about 1.35 tons (2,700 lb). Wet sand can reach 1.6 tons (3,200 lb). Treat tons as an estimate.
- No extra is added. Sand under pavers compacts a little, so many people order about 5 to 10% more.
Worked example
A 6 × 6 ft sandbox, 12 in deep
- 6 × 6 × 12 ÷ 12 = 36.0 cu ft
- In yards: 36.0 ÷ 27 = 1.33 cu yd
- In 0.5 cu ft bags: 36.0 ÷ 0.5 = 72.0, round up to 72 bags
- In bulk: 1.33 cu yd rounds up to 1.5 cu yd, or about 1.80 tons, which rounds up to 2 tons
- At $6.00 a bag (the middle of our typical range): 72 × $6.00 = $432
Common sizes
| Area | Depth | Cu yd | Tons (dry) | 0.5 cu ft bags | Bulk order |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sandbox 4 × 4 ft | 12 in | 0.59 | 0.80 | 32 | 1 cu yd |
| Sandbox 6 × 6 ft | 12 in | 1.33 | 1.80 | 72 | 1.5 cu yd |
| Sandbox 8 × 8 ft | 12 in | 2.37 | 3.20 | 128 | 2.5 cu yd |
| Paver bed 10 × 10 ft | 1 in | 0.31 | 0.42 | 17 | 0.5 cu yd |
| Paver bed 12 × 12 ft | 1 in | 0.44 | 0.60 | 24 | 0.5 cu yd |
| Paver bed 16 × 20 ft | 1 in | 0.99 | 1.33 | 54 | 1 cu yd |
Tons at 1.35 per cu yd (dry sand). Bag counts are rounded up; bulk is rounded up to the half yard.
Questions people ask
How much sand do I need for a sandbox?
A 4 × 4 ft sandbox filled 12 in deep takes 16 cu ft, which is 0.59 cu yd or 32 bags of 0.5 cu ft. A 6 × 6 ft box at the same depth takes 72 bags. Many sandboxes are filled only 6 to 8 in deep, which cuts those numbers by a third to a half.
How many bags of sand are in a yard?
54 bags of 0.5 cu ft. A cubic yard is 27 cu ft. One yard covers about 324 sq ft at 1 in deep, or 162 sq ft at 2 in.
How much does a yard of sand weigh?
About 1.35 tons (2,700 lb) when dry. Wet sand can weigh up to about 1.6 tons (3,200 lb) per cubic yard, so treat any weight as an estimate and ask your supplier for theirs.
How much sand goes under pavers?
Plan on 1 in of bedding sand over a compacted gravel base. A 10 × 10 ft patio takes 8.3 cu ft, which is 0.31 cu yd or 17 bags. Order a little extra, since the bed is screeded and compacts.
What is the difference between play sand and all-purpose sand?
Play sand is washed and screened to be fine and clean, which makes it the safer choice for a sandbox. All-purpose (concrete or mason) sand is coarser and often sold cheaper. For paver bedding, use coarse, sharp sand; ask your supplier which one they recommend.