Over-excavation, spillage and uneven subgrade. 5-10% for formed work, 10-15% on rough ground.
Loose aggregate loses volume when it is rolled. Order the loose volume, not the finished volume.
Optional. Leave at zero to skip the cost estimate.
Material quantity estimate for planning and purchasing. Not structural engineering advice, not a bid, and not a code determination.
How many 50 lb bags of sand are in a cubic yard?
It takes 54 bags of 50 lb sand to make a cubic yard.
A 50 lb bag holds roughly 0.5 cubic feet and a cubic yard is 27 cubic feet, so 27 ÷ 0.5 = 54. A cubic yard of dry sand weighs about 2,700 lb (1.35 tons), rising to 2,970 lb damp.
At $5-6 a bag that is $270-325 per cubic yard against $30-55 per ton in bulk. Bags stop making sense past about 20 of them, which is around 10 cubic feet.
Which sand?
Sand is not one product, and using the wrong one under pavers or in a mix is a common and irritating mistake.
| Type | Grain | Use |
|---|---|---|
| Concrete sand (ASTM C33) | Coarse, angular | Paver bedding, concrete mix |
| Mason sand | Fine, uniform | Mortar, grout, stucco |
| Play sand | Fine, washed, screened | Sandboxes only |
| Fill sand | Coarse, unwashed | Backfill, sub-base, grading |
| Polymeric sand | Fine plus binder | Paver joints, not bedding |
Weight and bags
Dry loose sand runs about 2,700 lb per cubic yard (1.35 tons); damp or compacted sand goes to 2,970 lb (1.49 tons), so a rain shower before delivery genuinely changes what arrives on the scale ticket.
A 50 lb bag holds roughly 0.5 cubic feet, so it takes 54 bags to make a cubic yard. At $5-6 a bag that is $270-325 per yard against $30-55 per ton in bulk — bags only make sense under about 10 cubic feet, which is around 20 bags.
Common questions
How many 50 lb bags of sand in a cubic yard?
54 bags. A 50 lb bag holds about 0.5 cubic feet and a cubic yard is 27 cubic feet. That is why bulk delivery wins on anything past about 20 bags.
How much does a cubic yard of sand weigh?
About 2,700 lb (1.35 tons) dry and loose, rising to roughly 2,970 lb (1.49 tons) damp or compacted. Moisture content moves this number more than people expect.
What sand goes under pavers?
Coarse concrete sand meeting ASTM C33, laid exactly 1 inch thick. Not play sand, not mason sand — both are too fine and will consolidate unevenly under the pavers.