Example 1
- 6 × 4 × 0.05 m
- 1600 kg/m³
- +5% waste
1.26 m³ · 2.02 t
About 50 mm sand bedding under pavers.
Sand requirement calculator
Type length, width, and bed thickness. The calculator multiplies the three sizes, adds waste, and a mass from density. A 6 by 4 m bed 5 cm thick at 1600 kg/m³ and 5% is 1.26 m³ and 2.02 t. A thinner 10 by 5 m layer 3 cm thick at 1750 kg/m³ and 8% is 1.62 m³ and 2.84 t.
Moisture changes mass a lot at the same volume. Treat results as a purchasing estimate. Also see gravel and cement in mortar.
Results
Length, Width, Depth / thickness and Waste (%). The result shows up here.
How results are calculated
The sand calculator counts volume and tons. The formula is length times width times thickness times (1 plus waste). Mass is V times density. Bags and bulk bags work like gravel: ceil(V / bulk-bag volume) and ceil(mass / bag size) when you fill those fields.
A paver bed 6 by 4 m and 5 cm at 1600 kg/m³ and 5% is 1.26 m³ and 2.02 t. A thin 10 by 5 m layer 3 cm at 1750 kg/m³ and 8% is 1.62 m³ and 2.84 t. A 3 by 2 m sandbox 10 cm at 1600 kg/m³ and 5% is 0.63 m³ and 1.01 t. Gravel on 10 by 3 m and 10 cm is 3.15 m³ on the next card.
Type length, width, and depth or thickness in the header unit. Five centimeters is 0.05, not 5. Waste, a density preset, custom density, bulk bag, small bag, and price are optional. A comma in 0.05 works like 0,05.
Gravel and topsoil share this field layout with other densities. Cement 367.50 kg from a meter of mortar lives on cement in mortar. Floor area 6 by 4 m is 24 m², which you multiply here by thickness.
Wet sand weighs more at the same volume. The mass result is an estimate: 2.02 t at 1600 kg/m³ can drop or rise after rain. Bags round up. Typing 5 as thickness instead of 0.05 overstates the order a hundred times.
Type 6, 4, and 0.05, set 1600 and 5%, click Calculate, and match 1.26 m³ and 2.02 t. Then 3, 2, and 0.1: 0.63 m³ and 1.01 t.
How to use this calculator
- Type length, width, and thickness in the header unit. A 5 cm bed is 0.05, not 5.
- Set waste, usually 5-10%, and density from a preset or your own kg/m³, for example 1600.
- Optionally enter bulk-bag volume and bag size if you buy in packs.
- Click Calculate. 6×4×0.05 m, 1600 kg/m³, and 5% give 1.26 m³ and 2.02 t.
- Gravel and topsoil sit next door with the same sizes. This calculator stays sand.
m³ of sand on 6 by 4 m at 5 cm
Three sizes plus waste and a mass from density. A 6 by 4 m bed 5 cm thick at 1600 kg/m³ and 5% is 1.26 m³ and 2.02 t.
- m³
- Sand volume. 6 × 4 × 0.05 × 1.05 = 1.26. A thinner 10 by 5 m layer 3 cm at 1750 kg/m³ and 8% is 1.62 m³.
- kg/m³
- Density from the preset or the custom field. 1600 on 1.26 m³ is 2.02 t. Moist 1750 on 1.62 m³ is 2.84 t.
- t
- Metric tons from volume times density. 1.26 m³ × 1600 kg/m³ = 2.02 t on the first bedding card.
Practical tips
- Paving bed: often about 30-50 mm over a compacted base.
- Moisture: if you buy by the tonne, match the preset to what the yard delivers.
- Small jobs: 25 kg bags can be easier than a loose load.
Usage examples
Example 2
- 10 × 5 × 0.03 m
- 1750 kg/m³
- +8% waste
1.62 m³ · 2.84 t
Thinner moist sand over a larger area.
Example 3
- 3 × 2 × 0.1 m
- 1600 kg/m³
- +5% waste
0.63 m³ · 1.01 t
A narrow strip - bag count is clearer for purchasing.
Example 4
- 4 × 3 × 0.20 m
- 1600 kg/m³
- +5% waste
2.52 m³ · 4.03 t
How much sand for a 4×3 m sandbox 20 cm deep? 2.52 m³, 4.03 t.
Example 5
- 8 × 5 × 0.04 m
- 1600 kg/m³
- +8% waste
1.73 m³ · 2.76 t
How much bedding sand under an 8×5 m patio at 4 cm? 1.73 m³, 2.76 t.
Example 6
- 2.5 × 2.5 × 0.25 m
- 1600 kg/m³
- +5% waste
1.64 m³ · 2.63 t
How much sand for a 2.5×2.5 m play pit 25 cm deep? 1.64 m³, 2.63 t.
Example 7
- 12 × 6 × 0.03 m
- 1750 kg/m³
- +10% waste
2.38 m³ · 4.16 t
How much moist sand to level 12×6 m by 3 cm? 2.38 m³, 4.16 t.
Example 8
- 15 × 1.2 × 0.05 m
- 1600 kg/m³
- +5% waste
0.945 m³ · 1.51 t
How much sand under a 15 m path 1.2 m wide at 5 cm? 0.945 m³, 1.51 t.
Related calculators
Frequently asked questions
How much sand for 6×4×0.05 m at 1600 kg/m³ and 5%?
1.26 m³ and 2.02 t. 6×4×0.05 = 1.2, times 1.05, times 1600 kg/m³.
How much at 10×5×0.03 m, 1750 kg/m³, and 8%?
1.62 m³ and 2.84 t. A thinner layer, a higher density.
How much at 3×2×0.1 m, 1600 kg/m³, and 5%?
0.63 m³ and 1.01 t. A sandbox or a thicker bed uses the same volume times density.
How do I type a 5 cm thickness?
As 0.05 m. Typing 5 in a meter field would be a 5 m bed.
What waste should I add for sand?
Usually 5-8% for scatter and compaction. 5% on 1.2 m³ is an extra 0.06 m³.
Does wet sand change the 2.02 t?
Volume stays. Mass rises with moisture. 1600 kg/m³ is a dry order of magnitude, not the weight after rain.
How much gravel on a similar 10×3×0.1 m?
3.15 m³ and 5.04 t at 1600 kg/m³ and 5% on the gravel page. A different material, the same V formula.
Where are 15 bags of cement?
On cement in mortar: 1.00 m³ at 350 kg/m³ and 5% is 367.50 kg. Sand here is bulk.
Do bags round up?
Yes. Mass divided by bag size goes through ceil, the same as gravel.
How many m² is a 6 by 4 m bed?
24 m² on floor area. The calculator multiplies that by 0.05 m of thickness.
Knowledge sources
Volume and waste come from the sizes you type. Below are volume and NIST SI units.
Page updated in 2026.