You need about
0.33 cubic yards of sand
Includes 10% extra for waste. Weight assumes about 1.35 tons per cubic yard (range 1.25–1.5).
The working
4 ft × 4 ft × 6/12 ft = 8.0 cubic feet. Add 10% = 8.8 cubic feet. Divide by 27 = 0.33 cubic yards.
Change the numbers
What if it is a different depth?
| Depth | Cubic yards | Tons | Bags |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 in | 0.11 | 0.15 | 6 |
| 3 in | 0.16 | 0.22 | 9 |
| 4 in | 0.22 | 0.29 | 12 |
| 6 in (this page) | 0.33 | 0.44 | 18 |
What you will also need for sand
Tools and supplies that go with this job. These are Amazon search links, so you can compare options and current prices there.
- Paver edge restraint
- Screed board and pipes
- Hand tamper or plate compactor
- Sandbox cover
- Wheelbarrow
- Work gloves
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Good to know
A paver bedding layer is a nominal 1 in (ICPI). There is no official depth standard for a home sandbox. We calculate at 6 in, the low end of the 6 to 12 in range supplier guides suggest, and you can change the depth. For a sandbox for children buy sand labelled as play sand (look for a silica-free label) and do not use construction or paver sand. Damp sand is heavier than dry sand.