How Many Bags of Sand in a Yard? Chart and Tips

How many bags of sand in a yard? A cubic yard is 27 cubic feet. Most bagged sand, including play sand, all-purpose sand, and paver leveling sand, comes in 50-pound bags that hold about 0.5 cubic feet, so it takes about 54 bags to make one cubic yard. Some sand is sold in 0.5 cubic foot bags at slightly different weights, and some in 1 cubic foot bags; always check the volume or weight on the bag. Damp sand weighs more, so weight-based bags may hold a little less volume.

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Bags per cubic yard

Bag	Approx. volume	Bags per cubic yard
50 lb	about 0.5 cu ft	about 54
60 lb	about 0.6 cu ft	about 45
1 cu ft	1 cu ft	27
0.5 cu ft	0.5 cu ft	54

A cubic yard of dry sand weighs roughly 2,600 to 3,000 pounds. See how much does a yard of sand weigh.

Types of bagged sand

Sand	Common use
Play sand	Sandboxes; washed and screened
All-purpose sand	Mixing mortar, general fill
Paver leveling sand	Bedding layer under pavers
Polymeric sand	Filling paver joints; sold by coverage
Masonry sand	Mortar mixing

Polymeric sand is typically rated by square feet of joints, not volume. See polymeric sand coverage.

Coverage per bag

Depth	0.5 cu ft bag covers
1 in	about 6 sq ft
2 in	about 3 sq ft
6 in	about 1 sq ft

Paver bedding is usually about 1 inch, so a 200-square-foot patio needs about 17 cubic feet, roughly 34 bags. See how much sand for pavers.

Sandbox example

A 6x6-foot sandbox filled 8 inches deep needs 24 cubic feet, or about 48 bags of 50 pounds. That is just under a cubic yard.

Bags vs bulk sand

Above about half a yard, bulk sand from a landscape supplier is usually cheaper. Bulk sand varies more in moisture and grade, so specify the type, such as concrete sand, mason sand, or screened fill. See how much does a ton of sand cover. The asphalt base calculator can estimate volumes and tons.

Hauling

Fifty-four 50-pound bags weigh about 2,700 pounds. Most half-ton pickups cannot carry that safely in one trip.

Storage

Keep bags off the ground and covered. Wet bags are heavy and can tear; paver sand works best when it is dry and evenly damp, not soaked.

Bottom line

A cubic yard of sand takes about 54 bags of 50 pounds, or 27 bags of 1 cubic foot. A 0.5 cubic foot bag covers about 6 square feet at 1 inch deep. For half a yard or more, bulk sand is usually cheaper.

Questions people ask

How many 50 lb bags of sand make a cubic yard?

About 54.

How many bags of play sand do I need for a sandbox?

Multiply length x width x depth in feet and divide by 0.5 for 50-pound bags.

How much does a bag of sand cover?

A 0.5 cubic foot bag covers about 6 square feet at 1 inch.

Is bagged sand cheaper than bulk?

No, bulk is usually cheaper for larger amounts.

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