How Much Sand for a 10x10 Sandbox?
A 10 by 10 foot sandbox has 100 square feet of floor. Filled 10 inches deep, how much sand for a 10x10 sandbox comes to 83.3 cubic feet, or about 167 fifty-pound bags.
Volume and tonnage calculator →Sand by fill depth
| Fill depth | Cubic feet | 50 lb bags | Cubic yards |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 in | 50.0 | 100 | 1.85 |
| 8 in | 66.7 | 134 | 2.47 |
| 10 in | 83.3 | 167 | 3.09 |
| 12 in | 100.0 | 200 | 3.70 |
A 50 lb bag of play sand holds roughly 0.5 cubic feet; check the bag, since brands differ.
Related: How Much Sand for a 6x8 Sandbox?
Fill depth
Fill a sandbox about 2 to 4 inches below the rim so sand stays in during play. Most kids are happy with 8 to 12 inches of sand.
Choosing the sand
Look for washed, screened sand sold for play use. Avoid fine silica dust and sharp construction sand. Bulk mason sand is sometimes used for large boxes; ask the supplier whether it is washed.
Related: How Much Sand for a 4x4 Sandbox?
Cover and drainage
A cover keeps out rain, leaves and animals. Put landscape fabric on the bottom so water drains while weeds stay out.
Keeping it in place
Plan for some loss each season from splashing, digging and rain. A sturdy border, a fitted cover and fabric underneath keep the sand clean and contained, so you top it up less often.
Measuring the area
Mark the outline on the ground first with paint or a string so measurements match the real shape. Then measure the longest and widest points and the planned depth. Converting to yards and tons is simple arithmetic once those numbers are right.
Common mistakes
Underestimating depth and forgetting extra for settling and spreading are common. So is laying sand straight on sod, which lets grass and weeds come through. Clear and level the ground first.
Bags vs bulk
A 50 lb bag holds about half a cubic foot, so a single cubic yard is roughly 54 bags. For anything larger than a small box, a bulk delivery or a pickup load from a supplier saves money and trips.
Questions people ask
How many bags of sand for a 10x10 sandbox?
About 167 bags of 50 lb at 10 inches deep.
How many cubic feet of sand for a 10x10 sandbox?
About 83.3 cubic feet at 10 inches.
How deep should sand be in a sandbox?
About 6 to 12 inches, a few inches below the rim.
How much does a bag of play sand cover?
A 50 lb bag is roughly 0.5 cubic feet.
Related guides
- Fill Dirt vs Topsoil: Differences, Uses and Tons to Order
- How Much Sand for an 8x8 Sandbox?
- How Much Sand for an 8x10 Sandbox?
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