Sandbox Calculator
Building a sandbox for the kids? This calculator tells you exactly how much sand to buy. Enter your sandbox dimensions and desired depth to get the volume in cubic feet and yards, number of 50-lb bags, total weight, and estimated cost.
The amount of sand needed depends on the shape and depth of your sandbox:
- Rectangular: Volume = Length x Width x Depth
- Circular: Volume = Pi x (Diameter/2)^2 x Depth
Play sand weighs approximately 100 pounds per cubic foot. A standard 50-lb bag of play sand contains about 0.5 cubic feet. For a typical 6x6 foot sandbox filled to 6 inches deep, you will need about 18 cubic feet of sand, which equals roughly 36 bags weighing a total of 1,800 pounds.
For sandboxes requiring more than 1 cubic yard (27 cubic feet), consider buying sand in bulk from a landscape supply company rather than in bags. Bulk delivery is typically $25-$50 per cubic yard plus a delivery fee, which is much cheaper than bagged sand at scale. Always use play sand (washed, screened, non-toxic) rather than construction sand, which may contain dust, debris, or harmful materials.