How much does a yard of sand weigh?

2,800lb

dry sand, about 1.4 tons

A cubic yard of dry sand weighs about 2,800 lb, or 1.4 US tons. Wet sand runs 3,000–3,400 lb because the water fills the spaces between grains and adds weight you still pay for.

weight = 104 lb per cubic foot × 27 ≈ 2,800 lb per cubic yard

Dry sand: about 2,800 lb per cubic yard (1.4 tons)
Wet sand: 3,000–3,400 lb per cubic yard
One cubic foot of dry sand weighs about 104 lb
A cubic yard is 54 fifty-pound bags
One cubic yard covers about 324 sq ft at 1 inch, the usual paver bedding depth

Sand by the unit

Unit	Volume	Approximate weight
50 lb bag	0.5 ft³	50 lb
Cubic foot	1 ft³	104 lb
Cubic yard	27 ft³	2,808 lb (1.4 tons)
Ton	19.2 ft³	2,000 lb (0.71 yd³)

Gravel calculator

Driveways, paths and bases — in tons, yards and cost.

Length

Width

Depth

Driveway: 4 in base + 2–3 in top. Path or patio base: 2–3 in.

Material

Waste

Price per ton

Optional.

Crushed stone / #57 gravel needed

5.43 cubic yards

Tons

8.07

Range 7.63–9.24

Metric

4.15 m³

Covers

400 sq ft

at 4 in deep

About 1.5 US tons per cubic yard, within the 1.4–1.7 ton range published for ¼–2 in gravel. Wet stone weighs more.

Show the math

Area 40 ft × 10 ft = 400 sq ft
Volume 400 sq ft × 0.333 ft
Plus 10% waste 146.7 ft³
To cubic yards 146.7 ÷ 27 = 5.43 yd³
Weight 146.7 × 110 lb = 8.07 tons

Updates as you type, in your browser. Figures used

Bedding sand for pavers

Paver bedding is normally one inch of sand over a compacted base. One cubic yard covers about 324 square feet at that depth, so a 200 square foot patio needs roughly 0.6 cubic yards.

Bags add up fast

A cubic yard is 54 fifty-pound bags. Anything above about half a yard is cheaper and far easier delivered loose.