Why order extra? The headline number is the exact material your project needs. When you actually order, add about 5–10% on top — the “with 5% waste” figure in the result is a safe starting point. That margin covers what you lose to compaction, cuts around edges and corners, and ordinary spillage during handling. It is cheaper to have a little left over than to stop mid-job and wait on a second delivery.
Field notes
Order sand in half-yard steps — most yards won't split finer, and a tight order leaves you short once the pile settles. For paver bedding, screed to exactly 1 inch; going deeper feels safer but lets pavers rut under load. Damp sand from the bottom of a pile weighs noticeably more than the 100 lb/ft³ dry figure, so buy by volume, not by the bag weight on the tag.
How the sand calculator works
The math behind the tool:
cubic yards = (length ft × width ft × depth ft) ÷ 27
tons = cubic feet × 100 lb/ft³ ÷ 2000Material density
| Material | Density | Per cubic yard |
|---|---|---|
| Dry sand | 100 lb/ft³ | 1.35 tons |
Sources: Oregon State University Extension (soil and compost volume guidance).