How Much Sand for an 18 Ft Round Above Ground Pool?
An 18 ft round pool covers roughly 254 square feet of ground. Spread 2 inches deep, the sand base is 1.57 cubic yards. How much sand for an 18 ft round above ground pool in bags: about 85 bags of 50 lb.
Volume and tonnage calculator →Footprint math
Area of a circle: 3.1416 × radius². For this pool that is about 254.5 square feet. At 2 inches (0.167 ft) the volume is 42.4 cubic feet, or 1.57 yards.
Related: How Much Sand for a 12 Ft Round Above Ground Pool?
Sand by depth
| Sand depth | Cubic yards | Tons | 50 lb bags |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 in | 0.79 | 1.1 | 43 |
| 2 in | 1.57 | 2.1 | 85 |
| 3 in | 2.36 | 3.2 | 128 |
The sand cove
Many installers build a cove of sand or pre-formed foam along the base of the wall. If you use sand, plan on extra material beyond the flat base.
Related: How Much Sand for a 30 Ft Round Above Ground Pool?
Level the ground first
The sand layer is a cushion, not a fix for uneven ground. Level the site by digging down the high side rather than filling the low side, and compact it. Pools need to be very close to level; a tilt shows plainly in the waterline.
Which sand
Mason sand is the usual choice: fine, clean and free of rocks. Concrete sand is coarser. A ground cloth or foam floor pad over the sand adds liner protection.
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.
Topping up later
After a season of use, the level usually drops an inch or more. A few bags of the same sand restore it; rake the old sand loose first so the new layer blends in.
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.
Questions people ask
How much sand for an 18 ft round pool?
About 1.57 cubic yards, roughly 2.1 tons, at 2 inches.
How many bags of sand for an 18 ft round pool?
About 85 bags of 50 lb for a 2-inch base, plus extra for the cove.
How thick should sand be under an above ground pool?
About 2 inches is common; follow your pool manufacturer’s guide.
What sand is best under a pool?
Fine mason sand without stones.
Can sand level an above ground pool?
No. Level the soil first; the sand is a cushion layer.
Related guides
- Asphalt Around an Above-Ground Pool
- How Much Sand for a 15 Ft Round Above Ground Pool?
- How Much Sand for a 30 Ft Round Above Ground Pool?
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