How Much Sand for a 5x6 Sandbox?
A 5 by 6 foot sandbox has 30 square feet of floor. Filled 10 inches deep, how much sand for a 5x6 sandbox comes to 25.0 cubic feet, or about 50 fifty-pound bags.
Volume and tonnage calculator →Sand by fill depth
| Fill depth | Cubic feet | 50 lb bags | Cubic yards |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 in | 15.0 | 30 | 0.56 |
| 8 in | 20.0 | 40 | 0.74 |
| 10 in | 25.0 | 50 | 0.93 |
| 12 in | 30.0 | 60 | 1.11 |
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 10x10 Sandbox?
How deep to fill
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
Bagged play sand is washed and screened. For big boxes, bulk washed sand can cost less; make sure it is clean and soft, not a coarse concrete sand.
Related: How Much Sand for an 8x10 Sandbox?
Keep it clean
Lay fabric under the sand for drainage and weed control, and cover the box when not in use.
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.
Bags vs bulk
Bagged sand is convenient for small jobs and easy to carry in a car. Once you pass about half a cubic yard, bulk sand from a landscape supplier usually costs much less. Ask whether the bulk sand is washed and screened.
Common mistakes
Using the wrong sand type is the big one: sharp concrete sand or sand with pebbles is uncomfortable and can damage liners. Another is skipping the ground prep, expecting sand to hide bumps and slopes. It does not; it shifts and washes out.
Keeping it in place
Sand moves with wind, rain and use. A frame, edging or a cover keeps it where you put it. Where sand meets lawn, a border of pavers or timber stops it from spreading into the grass and makes mowing easier.
Questions people ask
How many bags of sand for a 5x6 sandbox?
About 50 bags of 50 lb at 10 inches deep.
How many cubic feet of sand for a 5x6 sandbox?
About 25.0 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 a 4x6 Sandbox?
- How Much Sand for a 5x5 Sandbox?
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