How many bags of play sand make a cubic yard?

A cubic yard of sand fills 54 bags of 0.5 cu ft play sand. All-purpose sand bags (50, 60, 70 lb) list no cubic feet, so their count per yard is not published.

Does wet sand weigh more per yard?

Yes, wet sand weighs 3,100 lb per yard against 2,400 lb dry and loose (Caterpillar).

Sand Calculator

Sand weighs 1.35–1.5 tons per cubic yard as delivered, damp. Enter length, width and depth below to get yards, tons, bags and cost for your paver bedding.

Area

Length ft

Width ft

Count

Depth in

Order options No waste · ¼ yd steps · reference price

Extra for waste

Supplier sells by

Your price $ per yd³, optional

Know the tons? Supplier quote in tons → yards

Tons

Tape readings work: 10' 6", 10 1/2, 10½ or 10.5. Depth takes inches or feet (1 ft). Areas add up. Other material? Use the cubic yard calculator.

Order

0.5 cubic yards to order

rounded up to the nearest ¼ yd³

Each cube is 1 yd³ (3 × 3 × 3 ft). Solid: exact 0.37 yd³. Order: ½ of a yard.

Exact 0.37 yd³ · 10 ft³ · 0.28 m³

At 1 in deep, 1 yd³ covers 324 ft².

Weight: 0.68–0.75 tons (damp, as delivered)
Bags: 20 × 0.5 cu ft (50 lb)
Trucks: 1–2 pickup loads (half-ton class)
Cost: $13–$30

Compare with bags

Price per 0.5 cu ft (50 lb) bag, $

You need 0.5 cubic yards of sand ≈ 0.68–0.75 tons (damp, as delivered) ≈ 20 bags of 0.5 cu ft (50 lb).

Suppliers sell by the ¼, ½ or whole yard, often with a minimum order — round up to your supplier's step.

Order sheet for your supplier

Sand weight: damp, as delivered (Caterpillar, Vulcan Materials). Cost: reference range, pickup at two supply yards (OH, WA) (supplier price lists, 2026); local prices vary.

Sand weight dry, damp and wet

Sand as delivered is damp and weighs 2,700–3,000 lb per cubic yard; dry, loose sand weighs 2,400 lb.

Sand state	lb per yd³	tons per yd³
Dry, loose	2,400	1.2
Damp	2,850	1.43
Wet	3,100	1.55

Moisture rows: Caterpillar Performance Handbook. Supplier figures from Vulcan and Smoky Mountain Sand & Gravel match the damp row, so the calculator uses damp sand.

Sand per cubic yard as delivered
Material	lb per yd³	tons per yd³	Bags	$ per yd³
Sand	2,700–3,000	1.35–1.5	0.5 cu ft (50 lb)	$26–$60

Weight basis: sand damp, as delivered. Prices are reference ranges from dated cost guides and supplier lists (updated September 2026); local prices vary. Sources: Caterpillar; Vulcan Materials; Smoky Mountain Sand & Gravel; Lowe's; MRM Landscape Supply (WA); Tri-State Landscape Supply (OH).

Sand price at two supply yards

Sand cost $26–$60 per cubic yard at two supply yards in 2026; no national sand price source was found.

Supply yard	Sand	$ per yd³
Tri-State Landscape Supply (OH)	fill sand	$26
Tri-State Landscape Supply (OH)	mason sand	$48
MRM Landscape Supply (WA)	sand, pickup	$60

MRM prices date from Mar 2026; the Tri-State list is undated.

Sand worked example: 12 × 10 ft paver bedding

A 12 × 10 ft area at 1 in of sand takes 0.5 cubic yards, or 20 bags of 0.5 cu ft (50 lb) sand.

Area12 ft × 10 ft120 ft²
Volume120 ft² × 1 in ÷ 1210 ft³
Cubic yards10 ft³ ÷ 270.37 yd³
Ordernext ¼ yard up0.5 yd³
Weight0.5 yd³ × 2,700–3,000 lb0.68–0.75 tons
Play sand bags10 ft³ ÷ 0.5 ft³20 bags

Sand calculator FAQ

How many bags of play sand make a cubic yard?: A cubic yard of sand fills 54 bags of 0.5 cu ft play sand. All-purpose sand bags (50, 60, 70 lb) list no cubic feet, so their count per yard is not published.
Does wet sand weigh more per yard?: Yes, wet sand weighs 3,100 lb per yard against 2,400 lb dry and loose (Caterpillar).